Net primary income in Ghana
Ghana: Net primary income was -5.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net primary income in Ghana, 1975–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
In 2025, net primary income in Ghana stood at -5.14 billion BoP, current US$.
The figure is up 4.2% on the previous year and down 362.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net primary income in Ghana peaked at -5.90 million BoP, current US$ in 1997 and was at its lowest, -5.37 billion BoP, current US$, in 2024.
That places Ghana 158th out of 200 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net primary income in Ghana, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | -36.34 million BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1976 | -41.78 million BoP, current US$ | +15.0% |
| 1977 | -34.88 million BoP, current US$ | -16.5% |
| 1978 | -27.40 million BoP, current US$ | -21.4% |
| 1979 | -55.48 million BoP, current US$ | +102.5% |
| 1980 | -82.50 million BoP, current US$ | +48.7% |
| 1981 | -83.98 million BoP, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 1982 | -85.27 million BoP, current US$ | +1.5% |
| 1983 | -89.36 million BoP, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1984 | -114.80 million BoP, current US$ | +28.5% |
| 1985 | -110.30 million BoP, current US$ | -3.9% |
| 1986 | -104.70 million BoP, current US$ | -5.1% |
| 1987 | -126.40 million BoP, current US$ | +20.7% |
| 1988 | -130.90 million BoP, current US$ | +3.6% |
| 1989 | -117.80 million BoP, current US$ | -10.0% |
| 1990 | -111.40 million BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 1991 | -119.40 million BoP, current US$ | +7.2% |
| 1992 | -106.20 million BoP, current US$ | -11.1% |
| 1993 | -111.30 million BoP, current US$ | +4.8% |
| 1994 | -110.90 million BoP, current US$ | -0.4% |
| 1995 | -129.20 million BoP, current US$ | +16.5% |
| 1996 | -139.90 million BoP, current US$ | +8.3% |
| 1997 | -5.90 million BoP, current US$ | -95.8% |
| 1998 | -136.30 million BoP, current US$ | +2210.2% |
| 1999 | -131.80 million BoP, current US$ | -3.3% |
| 2000 | -107.64 million BoP, current US$ | -18.3% |
| 2001 | -107.76 million BoP, current US$ | +0.1% |
| 2002 | -174.30 million BoP, current US$ | +61.7% |
| 2003 | -180.96 million BoP, current US$ | +3.8% |
| 2004 | -197.84 million BoP, current US$ | +9.3% |
| 2005 | -187.11 million BoP, current US$ | -5.4% |
| 2006 | -127.36 million BoP, current US$ | -31.9% |
| 2007 | -361.26 million BoP, current US$ | +183.6% |
| 2008 | -42.99 million BoP, current US$ | -88.1% |
| 2009 | -595.18 million BoP, current US$ | +1284.5% |
| 2010 | -581.82 million BoP, current US$ | -2.2% |
| 2011 | -1.23 billion BoP, current US$ | +111.4% |
| 2012 | -2.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +73.2% |
| 2013 | -1.35 billion BoP, current US$ | -36.6% |
| 2014 | -1.72 billion BoP, current US$ | +27.1% |
| 2015 | -1.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -35.3% |
| 2016 | -1.22 billion BoP, current US$ | +10.0% |
| 2017 | -2.74 billion BoP, current US$ | +124.3% |
| 2018 | -3.92 billion BoP, current US$ | +43.1% |
| 2019 | -3.95 billion BoP, current US$ | +0.8% |
| 2020 | -3.40 billion BoP, current US$ | -14.0% |
| 2021 | -4.38 billion BoP, current US$ | +28.9% |
| 2022 | -5.13 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.1% |
| 2023 | -4.11 billion BoP, current US$ | -20.0% |
| 2024 | -5.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +30.7% |
| 2025 | -5.14 billion BoP, current US$ | -4.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's -5.14 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -988.90 million BoP, current US$, 5.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's -5.14 billion BoP, current US$ is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -348.88 million BoP, current US$, 14.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net primary income in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -2210.2% | -5.90 million BoP, current US$ | -136.30 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2009 | -1284.5% | -42.99 million BoP, current US$ | -595.18 million BoP, current US$ |
| 2007 | -183.6% | -127.36 million BoP, current US$ | -361.26 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | -39.18 million BoP, current US$ | -55.48 million BoP, current US$ | -27.40 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
| 1980s | -104.60 million BoP, current US$ | -130.90 million BoP, current US$ | -82.50 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | -110.23 million BoP, current US$ | -139.90 million BoP, current US$ | -5.90 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | -208.24 million BoP, current US$ | -595.18 million BoP, current US$ | -42.99 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | -2.00 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.95 billion BoP, current US$ | -581.82 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | -4.59 billion BoP, current US$ | -5.37 billion BoP, current US$ | -3.40 billion BoP, current US$ | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 155 Uruguay -4.42 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 156 Cyprus -4.61 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 157 Panama -4.65 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 159 Bangladesh -5.27 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 160 Portugal -5.42 billion BoP, current US$ compare
- 161 Angola -5.71 billion BoP, current US$ compare
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$), annual growth rate 23.42 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net primary income in Ghana?
- Net primary income in Ghana was -5.14 billion BoP, current US$ in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest net primary income recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was -5.90 million BoP, current US$ in 1997.
- What is the lowest net primary income recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.37 billion BoP, current US$ in 2024.
- How does Ghana rank for net primary income?
- Ghana ranks 158th out of 200 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net primary income rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 362.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Net primary income (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net primary income includes the net labor income and net property and entrepreneurial income components of the SNA. Labor income covers compensation of employees paid to nonresident workers. Property and entrepreneurial income covers investment income from the ownership of foreign financial claims (interest, dividends, rent, etc.) and nonfinancial property income (patents, copyrights, etc.). This indicator is expressed in current prices, meaning no adjustment has been made to account for price changes over time. This indicator is expressed in United States dollars.