Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana

Ghana: Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) was 46.0% in 2016. ▼ Falling

Latest (2016)
46.0%
Change on year
down 4.4%
World rank
28th
of 187 countries
All-time high
80.7%
in 1991
All-time low
46.0%
in 2016
Years of data
26
1991–2016

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana, 1991–2016

0204060801991200320161991: 80.71992: 80.11993: 73.21994: 74.11995: 75.41996: 76.91997: 72.11998: 72.71999: 73.82000: 73.42001: 73.62002: 73.62003: 75.12004: 76.82005: 76.22006: 67.82007: 66.12008: 69.12009: 70.82010: 68.62011: 55.92012: 512013: 50.52014: 49.92015: 48.12016: 46

Source: International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.

Analysis

The most recent figure for own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana is 46.0%, measured in 2016. That is the lowest value across all 26 years on record.

The figure is down 4.4% on the previous year and down 32.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana peaked at 80.7% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 46.0%, in 2016.

Ghana ranks 28th of 187 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.

Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana, year by year

Annual values for Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate) in Ghana, 1991 to 2016.
Year Value Change
1991 80.7%
1992 80.1% -0.7%
1993 73.2% -8.6%
1994 74.1% +1.2%
1995 75.4% +1.8%
1996 76.9% +1.9%
1997 72.1% -6.1%
1998 72.7% +0.8%
1999 73.8% +1.6%
2000 73.4% -0.6%
2001 73.6% +0.3%
2002 73.6% +0.1%
2003 75.1% +2.0%
2004 76.8% +2.3%
2005 76.2% -0.8%
2006 67.8% -11.1%
2007 66.1% -2.5%
2008 69.1% +4.6%
2009 70.8% +2.5%
2010 68.6% -3.1%
2011 55.9% -18.5%
2012 51.0% -8.7%
2013 50.5% -1.0%
2014 49.9% -1.2%
2015 48.1% -3.6%
2016 46.0% -4.4%

Ghana compared with similar countries

  • Ghana's 46.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 34.8%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
  • Ghana's 46.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 47.8%, 96% of the median. (47 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 75.4% 72.1% 80.7% 9
2000s 72.2% 66.1% 76.8% 10
2010s 52.9% 46.0% 68.6% 7

Countries ranked near Ghana

  1. 25 Mali 50.7% compare
  2. 26 Lesotho 48.1% compare
  3. 27 Chad 47.8% compare
  4. 29 Papua New Guinea 44.3% compare
  5. 30 Tajikistan 43.2% compare
  6. 31 Mauritania 43.0% compare

See the full ranking of 213 places →

More gender data for Ghana

All data for Ghana →

Frequently asked questions

What is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana?
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana was 46.0% in 2016, according to International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017.
What is the highest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Ghana?
The highest recorded value was 80.7% in 1991.
What is the lowest own-account workers, female (% of female employment) recorded in Ghana?
The lowest recorded value was 46.0% in 2016.
How does Ghana rank for own-account workers, female (% of female employment)?
Ghana ranks 28th out of 187 countries with data for 2016.
Is own-account workers, female (% of female employment) rising or falling in Ghana?
Over the last ten years it is down 32.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Ghana data come from?
The figures come from International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017, published as part of Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) in Ghana. Statizoid, drawing on International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2026, from https://gender.statizoid.com/stat/own-account-workers-female-percent-of-female-employment-modeled-ilo-estimate/ghana/

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About this data

Indicator
Own-account workers, female (% of female employment) (modeled ILO estimate)
Source
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database. Data retrieved in March 2017
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
213 places, 5,537 data points, 1991–2016
Last refreshed

Own-account workers are workers who, working on their own account or with one or more more partners, hold the types of jobs defined as "self-employment jobs" and have not engaged on a continuous basis any employees to work for them. Own account workers are a subcategory of "self-employed".