Stories and facts
Saboba District shares its borders with neighboring districts: to the north lies Chereponi District, to the south is Tatale Sanguli District, and to the west are the Yendi Municipal and Gushegu Municipal districts. To the east, the River Oti flows, serving as both a geographical feature and the international boundary between Ghana and the Republic of Togo.
Population Diversity and Dynamics
As of the 2010 Population and Housing Census, Saboba District's population was recorded at 65,706 individuals, constituting 2.7 percent of the entire Northern Region's populace. Gender distribution stands at 49.2 percent males and 50.8 percent females. The district's rural population comprises a significant portion, accounting for 90.55 percent. The age structure of the district is characterized by a youthful demographic, with 43.4 percent falling within the youth category. The population pyramid exhibits a broad base, gradually tapering towards fewer elderly individuals. The age dependency ratio for the district stands at 114, with males showing a higher ratio (120.3) compared to females (108.4).
Demographic Patterns: Fertility, Mortality, and Migration
The district's Total Fertility Rate rests at 4.2, while the General Fertility Rate is 128.9 births per 1000 women aged 15-49 years, ranking as the highest in the Northern Region (101.9). The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) records 28.5 per 1000 population, juxtaposed with a crude death rate of 3.6 per 1000. Notably, deaths among males are most prominent in the 70 and above age group, accounting for 47 deaths per 1000, while females experience the highest death rate (25 deaths per 1000) between the ages of 65-69. Causes of death reveal that accidents, violence, homicide, and suicide contribute to 9.8 percent, while other factors make up the remaining 90.2 percent of deaths in the district. The majority of migrants (77.8%) within the district originate from other areas within the region, with 44 percent born in other regions. Furthermore, a substantial number of individuals (1,494) residing in Saboba District hail from foreign countries.
Household Characteristics and Composition
The district accommodates a household population of 64,927 distributed among 9,011 households, averaging 7.2 persons per household. Children constitute the largest segment within households, comprising 55.5 percent, while spouses represent 10.9 percent. Extended households, encompassing the head, spouse(s), children, and head's relatives, constitute 55.0 percent of the district's households.
Marital Status and Diversity
Among individuals aged 12 years and older, 49.7 percent are married, 43 percent have never married, 0.7 percent are in consensual unions, 4.8 percent are widowed, 1.1 percent are divorced, and 0.7 percent are separated. Notably, a substantial 66.2 percent of the married population lack formal education. Employment status among the married population indicates that 92.1 percent are employed, with 0.6 percent unemployed. Widowed individuals, in contrast, exhibit a higher proportion of economic inactivity, with 44.4 percent being economically inactive and 0.4 percent unemployed.
Diverse Population: Nationality and Education
The district boasts a diverse population composition, with 93.5 percent being Ghanaian by birth, 2.3 percent having obtained naturalized status, and 3.1 percent categorized as non-Ghanaians. Among those aged 11 years and above, 37.6 percent are literate, while 62.4 percent are non-literate. Gender discrepancies are evident in literacy rates, with males (45.4%) surpassing females (43.4%). Interestingly, 32.0 percent of the population aged 3 years and above report fluency in both English and Ghanaian languages. Approximately 55.0 percent of individuals in the district have never attended school, 37.7 percent are current attendees, and 7.3 percent have prior educational experience.
Economic Engagement and Occupational Diversity
Of the population aged 15 years and older, a noteworthy 80.0 percent are engaged in economic activities, while 20.0 percent are not economically active. The majority (99.0 percent) of the economically active populace are employed, with a mere 1.0 percent experiencing unemployment. Among those not economically active, a substantial portion are students (57.4%), while 14.7 percent contribute through household duties, and 5.4 percent face disability or health-related limitations. Individuals seeking employment for the first time constitute the majority of the unemployed.
Occupational Landscape
Within the employed population, a significant portion (87.2 percent) are skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers, while 1.9 percent are involved in service and sales. Additionally, 4.5 percent are engaged in craft and related trades, and 2.3 percent are managers, professionals, and technicians.
Economic Employability and Sector Distribution
Women emerge as the dominant group across various employment categories. Impressively, the private informal sector takes precedence as the district's primary employer, engaging 96.4 percent of the population, followed by the public sector, which employs 2.5 percent. The district's distinctive demographics, economic activities, and occupational distribution paint a rich tapestry of its character and potential.
Carved out of the former East Dagomba District in 1988, its establishment reflects the government's commitment to decentralization and local governance reform. Saboba, with its administrative prowess, serves as the nucleus of this budding district.
