According to the Ghana Statistical Service's (GSS) report, "Ghana in Numbers, 2025", about 12 million Ghanaians were aged 15 to 35 in 2025, representing roughly one in every three people and the largest youth population in the country's history. This demographic trend presents both opportunities and challenges for Ghana's economy and society. The report examines whether Ghana's large youth population is being matched by the education, skills, and work opportunities needed for young people to participate fully in the economy.
The report reveals that youth unemployment remains above the national rate. During the first three quarters of 2025, unemployment averaged 32.4% among people aged 15 to 24 and 21.9% among those aged 15 to 35, compared to the national average of 12.8%. This means that young jobseekers were more likely than the wider labour force to be unable to find work. The GSS report highlights the need for targeted interventions to address the youth unemployment challenge.
The report also notes that a significant proportion of young people are neither employed nor enrolled in education or training, known as the NEET rate. The average NEET rate for young people aged 15 to 35 was 17.9% during the first three quarters of 2025, with women making up more than 60% of this group. In the third quarter alone, close to two million people aged 15 to 35 were in this group, with the rate being 20.6% in urban areas and 18.0% in rural areas.
Job quality and skills matching are also significant concerns. About 65% of employed youth said their skills fitted their jobs, but only 58% said their level of education matched what the job required. More than 70% of all jobs were informal, which means that the youth employment question is not only whether a person works, but also whether the work uses the person's training and provides stable, protected employment.
Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, Government Statistician, emphasized that the labour figures should be read together, noting that close to two million young people are neither working nor in education or training, with more than six in ten of them being young women. He also highlighted that Ghana's demographic opportunity is time-bound, with the share of children aged 0 to 14 falling from 41.8% of the population in 2000 to 35.0% in 2025, while the youth share remained at about 35%.
The report notes that Ghana's demographic window opened in the early 2000s and has been narrowing since 2019. Dr. Iddrisu warned that Ghana's choices on schooling, skills, and jobs in the next ten years will decide whether the demographic dividend becomes a dividend or a burden. The GSS report provides evidence for education, employment, and skills planning, bringing population, labour market, education, and skills indicators together to support decisions that can be tracked over time.
The "Ghana in Numbers, 2025" report and related data resources are available through the Ghana Statistical Service website, StatsBank, and the GSS Stats App. Future editions will monitor youth unemployment, the NEET rate, informal work, and the match between schooling and jobs. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of Ghana's population, economy, society, governance, and environment, offering insights for policymakers, stakeholders, and the general public.
Key points
- Youth unemployment rate exceeds 32% among people aged 15-35.
- About 12 million Ghanaians are aged 15-35, representing roughly one in every three people.
- The NEET rate for young people aged 15-35 averages 17.9%, with close to two million people in this group.
