Ghana has climbed to sixth place among the world’s largest gold-producing countries in 2025, producing 185 tonnes of gold, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has disclosed.
The ranking marks a notable improvement from the country’s traditional seventh position, as Ghana overtook the United States following a rise in domestic output and a corresponding decline in US production.
Director of Analysis, Research and Finance at the Chamber, Christopher Nyarko, disclosed this in an interview on Channel One TV on Monday, August 17, 2026.
He confirmed the new global standing with clarity: “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 follows.”
Nyarko explained that Ghana had long occupied the seventh spot on the global league table. The shift occurred in 2025 when production dynamics favoured the West African nation. “Last year [2025], Ghana overtook the US, but traditionally, we’ve always been number seven,” he said.
The displacement of the United States stemmed partly from technical difficulties in one of America’s key mining regions.
“Last year [2025], they ran into a number of 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 added, pointing to challenges in Nevada that weighed on overall US output.
China continues to lead the world as the largest gold producer, followed by Russia, Australia, Canada and Peru.
However, Nyarko cautioned that exact rankings among the top producers can fluctuate depending on the data source. “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 noted.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines relies on independent sources to compile and assess global production figures, ensuring its assessments remain objective.
Ghana’s sixth-place ranking follows a record-breaking year for the country’s gold sector. Total domestic production reached 5.94 million ounces in 2025. In a historic development, small-scale mining accounted for 52.38 per cent of that output, overtaking the large-scale sector for the first time in Ghana’s more than 100-year history of commercial mining.
This shift underscores the growing contribution of artisanal and small-scale operators to national production volumes and foreign exchange earnings.
Looking ahead, the Chamber has projected continued growth. National gold output in 2026 is forecast to range between 6.1 million and 6.7 million ounces, reflecting confidence in both large-scale operations and the expanding small-scale segment.
The improved global ranking and rising production volumes reinforce Ghana’s position as a key player in the international gold market and highlight the sector’s importance to the national economy.
