Ghana has moved up to sixth place among the world’s largest gold-producing countries after recording a significant increase in output in 2025.
The country produced a record 5.94 million ounces, equivalent to about 185 tonnes of gold, during the year, surpassing the United States in global production rankings.
Ghana had traditionally ranked seventh, but increased domestic production combined with a decline in US output resulted in the country moving up one place.
Director of Analysis, Research and Finance at the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Christopher Nyarko, disclosed the development in an interview with Channel One TV on Monday, August 17.
“We are number six. We’re number six now, right after Peru. So globally, China, Russia, Australia, Canada, Peru, then Ghana comes in, and then the United States follow,” he said.
Mr Nyarko attributed the decline in US production partly to technical challenges affecting operations in Nevada, one of the country’s major gold-producing regions.
“Last year [2025], they ran into some technical issues. So production for the country as a whole dropped. And of course, given the dynamics in Ghana, we saw Ghana displace the United States,” he said.
The Chamber said small-scale mining accounted for 52.38% of Ghana’s total gold production in 2025, marking the first time the sector had overtaken large-scale mining in the country’s more than 100-year history of commercial gold production.
Ghana now ranks behind China, Russia, Australia, Canada and Peru, although Mr Nyarko noted that rankings among the leading producers can vary depending on the source and methodology used.
“Even depending on the kind of source of your data, there’s always some tension between Russia, China, and Australia, in terms of who is the largest producer,” he said.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines projects further growth in gold production in 2026, with national output expected to reach between 6.1 million and 6.7 million ounces.
