Education in Western, Ghana: official figures
74.8% of people aged 15 and over in the Western Region could read and write with understanding in at least one language at the 2021 census, 6th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 72.2%).
Are women in the Western Region as literate as men?
Literacy among women aged 15 and over in the Western Region was 69.2%, against 80.2% for men (2021 census), a gap of 11.0 percentage points.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the Western Region never went to school?
17.4% of people aged 6 and over in the Western Region (308,212) had never attended school at the 2021 census, 6th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 20.5%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many people in the Western Region have a tertiary education?
7.9% of people aged 6 and over in the Western Region (140,556) had reached tertiary education (a Higher National Diploma, degree or postgraduate study) at the 2021 census, 5th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 8.7%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyMore figures
- 633,787 people aged 6 and over in the Western Region were attending school at the time of the 2021 census, 35.8% of that age group. Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copy
How Western compares with other regions
Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) (2021)
Western ranks 6 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Literacy, people aged 15+ (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Eastern | 78.3% |
| 4 | Central | 77.3% |
| 5 | Volta | 75.1% |
| 6 | Western | 74.8% |
| 7 | Bono | 73.7% |
| 8 | Ahafo | 72.2% |
| 9 | Western North | 65.7% |
People aged 6+ who never attended school (2021 census) (2021)
Western ranks 11 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | People aged 6+ who never attended school (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Western North | 24.0% |
| 9 | Bono | 18.5% |
| 10 | Ahafo | 18.2% |
| 11 | Western | 17.4% |
| 12 | Volta | 16.0% |
| 13 | Central | 14.3% |
| 14 | Eastern | 13.4% |
More on Western: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · Ghana
Sources
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3D district tables: Literacy and Education (tables 3D.3a, 3D.7a and 3D.8a), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 836bec77d67e…)
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