Most young Ghanaians want marriage and children but jobs and finances stand in the way – UNFPA Report

The organisation says the findings reinforce the need for sustained investments in education, employment, housing, reproductive healthcare and social protection to enable young people to achieve their aspirations while contributing to long-term national development.

UNFPA and population experts have long argued that Ghana's youthful population presents an opportunity for a demographic dividend—accelerated economic growth driven by a large working-age population—provided young people have access to quality education, healthcare and decent jobs.

Most young Ghanaians still aspire to get married and have children, but financial insecurity and unstable employment are preventing many from realising those goals, according to findings highlighted to mark World Population Day 2026.