Stories and facts

Bound by geographical boundaries, the Zabzugu District shares its borders with the Tatale Sanguli District to the east, the Yendi Municipality to the west, the Nanumba North Municipal to the south, and the Soboba District to the north.

Demographics: Population Dynamics and Composition

Based on the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the Zabzugu District plays host to a population of 63,815 individuals, making up 2.6 percent of the Northern Region's populace. Gender-wise, the male population constitutes 49.1 percent, while females account for 50.9 percent. A notable demographic feature is the higher percentage of residents living in rural localities (68%) compared to those dwelling in urban areas (32%).

The district's age distribution paints a youthful picture, with 46.5 percent of the population below the age of 15. This pattern shapes a population pyramid characterized by a broad base, tapering toward a smaller elderly population (60 years and above), comprising 5.3 percent. The district's overall age dependency ratio registers at 100.2, with rural localities indicating a higher dependency ratio (109.3) than urban locales (83.1).

Fertility, Mortality, and Migration Patterns

The district's Total Fertility Rate of 2.4 stands as a modest figure compared to the regional fertility rate of 3.5. The General Fertility Rate tallies at 65.2 births per 1000 women aged 15 to 49. The Crude Birth Rate (CBR) is reported at 15.9 per 1000 population, while the crude death rate records 3.1 deaths per 1000. Notably, 12.8 percent of all deaths stem from accidents, violence, homicide, or suicide, with other causes accounting for the remaining 87.2 percent. The majority of migrants (69.9 percent) in the district originate from other parts of the region, while 30.1 percent hail from different regions. Among the latter group, those born outside Ghana comprise the largest proportion (44.2%), followed by those born in the Volta region of Ghana (19.7 percent).

Households: Size, Composition, and Structure

Within the Zabzugu District, 6,567 households are distributed across 5,519 residences. The average household size stands at 9.7 individuals. Children dominate household composition, accounting for 55.6 percent, while heads of households make up 10.4 percent of the total. Spouses constitute approximately 9.2 percent, with other relatives comprising 10.5 percent. The most prevalent household structure involves extended families, encompassing the head, spouse(s), children, and the head's relatives, making up 69.5 percent. Nuclear households, composed of the head, spouse(s), and children, form 19.4 percent of the district's households.

Marital Status and Nationality

In terms of marital status, married individuals comprise a significant majority (62.0%) among those aged 12 and older, followed by never-married individuals (33.7%). Widowed persons constitute 2.7 percent of the district's population. A mere 1.6 percent encompass individuals who are divorced, in consensual unions, or separated. Notably, 93.2 percent of widowed individuals have not received formal education. Employment is notable among never-married individuals, with around 65.8 percent employed, compared to 1.6 percent who are unemployed. Approximately 33 percent of this group are economically inactive.

Turning to nationality, the majority of residents are Ghanaians by birth, making up 94.7 percent. Naturalized citizens amount to less than one percent (0.8), while individuals with dual nationality represent 2.2 percent of the district's total population.

Literacy and Education

Among the population aged 11 and above, 69.2 percent lack literacy skills, leaving only 30.8 percent considered literate. A gender disparity emerges, with 56.1 percent of males being literate, compared to 43.9 percent of females. Remarkably, 62.3 percent of respondents report proficiency in both English and Ghanaian languages. A subset of 30.5 percent demonstrates literacy solely in the English language. Among the population aged 3 years and older currently attending school (18,414 individuals), 54.2 percent are males, and 45.8 percent are females. For those who have attended school in the past, 54.9 percent are males, while females represent 45.1 percent. This pattern suggests a consistent gender distribution favoring males. Regarding current attendees, 13.1 percent are in nursery, 16.6 percent in JSS/JHS, 12.5 percent in SSS/SHS, and the largest portion (50.5%) in primary. A mere 0.3 percent of the district's population is enrolled in tertiary institutions.

Economic Activity and Occupation

A substantial portion (81.6%) of the population aged 15 and older actively engages in economic pursuits, contrasting with the 18.4 percent who are economically inactive. Within the economically active segment, 97.7 percent are employed, while the remaining 2.3 percent are unemployed. Of the economically inactive population, students represent the largest group at 36.8 percent, followed by those performing household duties at 31.4 percent, and individuals deemed too young or elderly to work, making up 18.0 percent. Among the unemployed, 46.8 percent are actively seeking employment for the first time.

Occupation-wise, 86.3 percent of the employed population in the Zabzugu District are categorized as skilled agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers. Service and sales workers constitute the second-largest occupational group, comprising 5.3 percent. Craft and related trades workers amount to 4.0 percent, and professionals represent a mere one percent of the employed population.

Employment Status and Sector Distribution

Within the population aged 15 and above, self-employed individuals without employees account for the highest proportion (53.0%), followed by employees at 2.0 percent, contributing family workers at 38.5 percent, and self-employed individuals with employees at 4.8 percent. Notably, a higher percentage of males (58.8%) than females (47.8%) are self-employed without employees. Conversely, female employees make up only 0.9 percent, while males account for 2.0 percent. The private informal sector stands out as the largest employer within the district, absorbing 97.7 percent of the employed population. The public sector's employment share is merely 1.2 percent, with all other sectors combined engaging a total of 1.1 percent of the employed population.