Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Ghana
Ghana: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 15.0% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Ghana, 1990–2023
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2023, central government revenues as a share of gdp in Ghana stood at 15.0%.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in Ghana peaked at 23.7% in 2004 and was at its lowest, 11.9%, in 1992.
Ghana ranks 130th of 157 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 27 years of available data.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 12.5% | — |
| 1991 | 14.6% | +17.1% |
| 1992 | 11.9% | -18.5% |
| 1993 | 17.0% | +42.7% |
| 2001 | 18.1% | +6.6% |
| 2002 | 18.0% | -0.5% |
| 2003 | 19.8% | +9.8% |
| 2004 | 23.7% | +20.0% |
| 2005 | 23.7% | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 13.3% | -43.8% |
| 2007 | 15.7% | +17.8% |
| 2008 | 15.7% | +0.2% |
| 2009 | 15.4% | -1.8% |
| 2010 | 16.7% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 19.4% | +16.1% |
| 2012 | 19.3% | -0.2% |
| 2013 | 14.2% | -26.4% |
| 2014 | 14.2% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 14.5% | +2.2% |
| 2016 | 14.2% | -2.6% |
| 2017 | 14.5% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 15.1% | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 14.7% | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 13.8% | -6.4% |
| 2021 | 14.9% | +8.5% |
| 2022 | 15.6% | +4.2% |
| 2023 | 15.0% | -3.4% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 15.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.7%, 76% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 15.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.8%, 95% of the median. (36 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | -43.8% | 23.7% | 13.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 14.0% | 11.9% | 17.0% | 4 |
| 2000s | 18.2% | 13.3% | 23.7% | 9 |
| 2010s | 15.7% | 14.2% | 19.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.8% | 13.8% | 15.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More economy & growth data for Ghana
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.15 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 38.84 million BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.11 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.91 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 8.08 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0167 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 54.42 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 23.42 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government revenues as a share of gdp in Ghana?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in Ghana was 15.0% in 2023, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 2004.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.9% in 1992.
- How does Ghana rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- Ghana ranks 130th out of 157 countries with data for 2023.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.