How poor is Ghana compared with other African countries? The answer depends on what we measure. The Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) looks at disadvantages in health, education and living standards together. A higher score means more severe, widespread poverty.
| Country | MPI score | People in multidimensional poverty |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 0.025 | 6.3% |
| Ghana | 0.113 | 24.8% |
| Kenya | 0.113 | 25.4% |
| Nigeria | 0.175 | 33.0% |
| Côte d’Ivoire | 0.210 | 42.8% |
| Senegal | 0.226 | 45.1% |
| Uganda | 0.281 | 57.2% |
| Benin | 0.290 | 55.9% |
Source: UNDP’s 2025 global MPI tables. Each country’s figure comes from its most recent eligible survey, conducted in different years.
The comparison puts Ghana’s progress in perspective. Its MPI score matches Kenya’s when rounded to three decimal places and is lower than those of Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Uganda and Benin. South Africa’s published score is lower. Yet Ghana’s 24.8% still represents roughly one person in four facing overlapping disadvantages.
What should Ghana focus on?
For Ghana, the policy question is less about beating another country’s number and more about which disadvantages households face together. In its global MPI profile, living standards contribute the largest share of Ghana’s score. That points to the value of targeting basic living conditions alongside health and education, particularly where several needs affect the same household.
The way forward is to use detailed local data to identify those households, direct services towards them and publish regular evidence of what improves. Ghana Statistical Service reports a newer 21.9% multidimensional poverty rate for Q3 2025. That offers a more recent view within Ghana, although its national measure should not be substituted into this global comparison.