Ghana has strengthened its position as a global mining powerhouse after climbing to sixth place among the world’s largest gold-producing countries, following a record-breaking year for the West African nation.
The country produced approximately 5.94 million ounces of gold in 2025, equivalent to about 185 tonnes, according to figures from the Ghana Chamber of Mines. The milestone allowed Ghana to overtake the United States in the latest global production rankings.
Ghana had traditionally occupied seventh place, but rising domestic output combined with a decline in U.S. production changed the global order. Christopher Nyarko, Director of Analysis, Research and Finance at the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said technical challenges affecting production in parts of the United States contributed to Ghana moving ahead.
The 2025 figures also revealed a major shift within Ghana’s mining industry.
For the first time in more than a century of commercial gold production, small-scale miners reportedly produced more gold than the large-scale sector, accounting for about 52.38% of national output.
Earlier provisional figures from the Chamber showed artisanal and small-scale mining contributing roughly 3.1 million ounces, while large-scale mines produced about 2.9 million ounces. Industry officials linked the surge partly to strong gold prices and reforms aimed at directing more small-scale gold through official channels instead of illicit markets.
Ghana now sits behind China, Russia, Australia, Canada and Peru in the ranking cited by the Chamber, although officials acknowledged that the exact order among major producing countries can vary depending on the data source used.
The momentum may not be over.
The Ghana Chamber of Mines is projecting national gold production of between 6.1 million and 6.7 million ounces in 2026, potentially strengthening Ghana’s position among the world’s mining giants.
For a country historically known as the Gold Coast, the latest numbers represent more than a production record—they mark Ghana’s growing influence in the global gold industry.
