Ghana ranks 18th in Africa on 2025 development index

Ghana has been ranked 18th in Africa in terms of development, according to the 2025 World Population Review. Surprisingly, nations like Sao Tome and Principe and the Republic of Congo performed better than Ghana.

The country recorded a Human Development Index (HDI) score of 0.628, placing it in the medium development category. Seychelles topped the African rankings, followed closely by Mauritius in second place, with both classified as very high in development.

From third to tenth place were Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, South Africa, Gabon, Botswana, Libya, and Morocco, all considered very highly developed countries.

The World Population Review 2025 notes that the term “developed country” is commonly linked to high-income economies and advanced infrastructure. However, this definition does not fully reflect the broader, multidimensional aspects of development.

To provide a more accurate measure of progress, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) evaluates countries based on income, literacy, life expectancy, political stability, and access to essential services such as electricity and healthcare.

These factors are combined into the HDI, offering a comprehensive assessment of a country’s ability to enhance the well-being and quality of life of its citizens.