Poverty and living standards in Western, Ghana: official figures
32.4% of people in the Western Region (654,418) were multidimensionally poor by the 2021 census measure of the Ghana Statistical Service, 6th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 29.9%). People count as poor when deprived in at least 4 of 12 indicators of education, health and living conditions.
How many people in the Western Region are among the poorest in Ghana?
9.0% of people in the Western Region lived in households in Ghana's poorest fifth by household wealth in the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, 4th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program) · saved copyHow many homes in the Western Region have electricity?
89.7% of households in the Western Region used electricity as their main source of lighting at the 2021 census, 3rd highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 86.3%); 7.1% relied mainly on a flashlight or torch.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyWhat do households in the Western Region cook with?
In 2021, 37.7% of households in the Western Region cooked mainly with LPG gas (Ghana: 36.9%), 30.0% with wood and 20.5% with charcoal; LPG (gas) was the most common cooking fuel.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyDo households in the Western Region have safe drinking water?
87.8% of households in the Western Region had basic drinking water service at the 2021 census (an improved source within a 30-minute round trip), 5th highest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 87.7%); 9.7% used an unimproved source.
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow many households in the Western Region have no toilet?
11.2% of households in the Western Region had no toilet facility at the 2021 census, 7th lowest of Ghana's 16 regions (Ghana: 17.7%), and 29.9% used a public toilet (Ghana: 23.0%).
Source: Ghana Statistical Service · saved copyHow Western compares with other regions
Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) (2021)
Western ranks 11 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Population in multidimensional poverty (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Bono East | 34.0% |
| 9 | Ahafo | 33.2% |
| 10 | Volta | 33.1% |
| 11 | Western | 32.4% |
| 12 | Central | 31.6% |
| 13 | Eastern | 28.3% |
| 14 | Ashanti | 23.8% |
Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) (2021)
Western ranks 3 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households using electricity for lighting (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Accra | 96.1% |
| 2 | Central | 91.7% |
| 3 | Western | 89.7% |
| 4 | Ashanti | 88.5% |
| 5 | Eastern | 88.0% |
| 6 | Bono | 85.2% |
| 7 | Volta | 85.1% |
Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) (2021)
Western ranks 5 of 16, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Households with basic drinking water service (2021 census) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Ashanti | 94.5% |
| 3 | Central | 93.8% |
| 4 | Bono | 93.3% |
| 5 | Western | 87.8% |
| 6 | Eastern | 87.7% |
| 7 | Ahafo | 85.5% |
| 8 | Volta | 80.7% |
More on Western: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · Ghana
Sources
- Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program): Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2022, final report (tables 2.6, 5.2, 8.3, 9.9, 10.4, 11.1, 11.12 and 14.1.1 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3ec15d8465f…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3K: Housing Characteristics (tables 5.1, 5.10 and 5.11 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdd88e32b71f…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 PHC thematic report: Gender Dynamics in Multidimensional Poverty (Table A.3: multidimensionally poor population by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0fb1860d93ec…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3M: Water and Sanitation (tables 5.3 and 5.8 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6d128406bdbf…)
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