Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana
Ghana: Share of births attended by skilled health staff was 78.9% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana, 1988–2018
Source: Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana is 78.9%, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 13 years on record.
The figure is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 44.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana peaked at 78.9% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 40.1%, in 1988.
Ghana ranks 138th of 169 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 13 years of available data.
Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 40.1% | — |
| 1993 | 43.8% | +9.2% |
| 1994 | 43.8% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 44.3% | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 44.3% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 47.1% | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 49.7% | +5.5% |
| 2007 | 55.2% | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 54.7% | -0.9% |
| 2011 | 67.2% | +22.9% |
| 2014 | 70.8% | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 78.1% | +10.3% |
| 2018 | 78.9% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 40.1% | 40.1% | 40.1% | 1 |
| 1990s | 44.0% | 43.8% | 44.3% | 4 |
| 2000s | 51.7% | 47.1% | 55.2% | 4 |
| 2010s | 73.8% | 67.2% | 78.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More health data for Ghana
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.37 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.6224 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 986.1 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 8,361 deaths (2100)
- Population ages 75-79, female, annual growth rate 3.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, female, per capita 0.0036 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, annual growth rate 3.86 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 75-79, male, per capita 0.0027 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana?
- Share of births attended by skilled health staff in Ghana was 78.9% in 2018, according to Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 78.9% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of births attended by skilled health staff recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 40.1% in 1988.
- How does Ghana rank for share of births attended by skilled health staff?
- Ghana ranks 138th out of 169 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of births attended by skilled health staff rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 44.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and UNICEF, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of births attended by skilled health staff. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Skilled health staff refers to professionals trained to give the necessary supervision, care, and advice to women during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period; to conduct deliveries on their own; and to care for newborns.