Ghana

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 223,000 (2023 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable

Internet country code

.gh

Internet users

percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 269,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 39.1 million (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on food: 39.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.) on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.) expenditures: $19.102 billion (2022 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Current account balance

$1.407 billion (2023 est.) -$1.741 billion (2022 est.) -$2.541 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external

$29.241 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Economic overview

West African lower-middle income economy; major gold, oil and cocoa exporter; macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth; recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program

Exchange rates

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 11.02 (2023 est.) 8.272 (2022 est.) 5.806 (2021 est.) 5.596 (2020 est.) 5.217 (2019 est.)

Exports

$25.365 billion (2023 est.) $25.52 billion (2022 est.) $23.901 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

Exports - commodities

gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

GDP (official exchange rate)

$82.825 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 84.1% (2024 est.) government consumption: 4.8% (2024 est.) investment in fixed capital: 9.8% (2024 est.) investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.) exports of goods and services: 35.3% (2024 est.) imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 20.7% (2024 est.) industry: 28.8% (2024 est.) services: 43.9% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

43.5 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 1.6% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 32.2% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports

$26.024 billion (2023 est.) $26.329 billion (2022 est.) $25.967 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

Industrial production growth rate

7.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Industries

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

22.8% (2024 est.) 38.1% (2023 est.) 31.3% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

13.928 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Population below poverty line

23.4% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt

73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

$243.124 billion (2024 est.) $230.046 billion (2023 est.) $223.043 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP growth rate

5.7% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP per capita

$7,100 (2024 est.) $6,800 (2023 est.) $6,700 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

Remittances

3% of GDP (2023 est.) 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.624 billion (2023 est.) $5.205 billion (2022 est.) $9.917 billion (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Taxes and other revenues

12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Unemployment rate

3.1% (2024 est.) 3.1% (2023 est.) 3.1% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 5.4% (2024 est.) male: 5.5% (2024 est.) female: 5.3% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Coal

consumption: 51,000 metric tons (2023 est.) exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.) imports: 52,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 5.519 million kW (2023 est.) consumption: 19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.) exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.) imports: 48.449 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 85.1% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 95% electrification - rural areas: 71.6%

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) hydroelectricity: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

production: 3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) consumption: 3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.) imports: 639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.) proven reserves: 22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

total petroleum production: 176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) refined petroleum consumption: 96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.) crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 107,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 13.349 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from consumed natural gas: 7.366 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Climate

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Environmental issues

drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water

International environmental agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Land use

agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.) forest: 30.7% (2023 est.) other: 13.9% (2023 est.)

Methane emissions

energy: 164.9 kt (2022-2024 est.) agriculture: 166.7 kt (2019-2021 est.) waste: 134 kt (2019-2021 est.) other: 28.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

43.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

municipal: 299.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 95 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually: 3.538 million tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 13.3% (2022 est.)

Area

total : 238,533 sq km land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Coastline

539 km

Elevation

highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 190 m

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created after the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965

Irrigated land

360 sq km (2013)

Land boundaries

total: 2,420 km border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km

Land use

agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.) arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.) forest: 30.7% (2023 est.) other: 13.9% (2023 est.)

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Major rivers (by length in km)

Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) - 1,600 km note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth

Major watersheds (area sq km)

Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts

Natural resources

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Population distribution

population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Terrain

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Administrative divisions

16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North

Capital

name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the name derives from the Akan word nkran , meaning "ant," and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 amendment process: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to "entrenched" constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast etymology: named for a tribal chieftain who ruled a large part of the region prior to the 13th century, even though his territory was northwest of modern-day Ghana; the former name, Gold Coast, came from the gold that Portuguese explorers discovered in the region in the late 15th century

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025) embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020 telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000 email address and website: ACSAccra@state.gov https://gh.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025) chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 email address and website: info.washington@mfa.gov.gh https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/ consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025) head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025) cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament election/appointment process: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); the president is both chief of state and head of government most recent election date: 7 December 2024 election results: 2024: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president in the first round; percent of vote- John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.5%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPC) 41%, other 2.5% 2020: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020) expected date of next election: 7 December 2028

Flag

description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band meaning: red stands for the blood shed for independence, yellow for the country's mineral wealth, and green for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom history: uses the colors of the Pan-African movement note: similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament legislative structure: unicameral number of seats: 276 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 4 years most recent election date: 12/7/2024 parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4) percentage of women in chamber: 14.5% expected date of next election: December 2028

National anthem(s)

title: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO history: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup

National color(s)

red, yellow, green, black

National heritage

total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural) selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings

National holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

National symbol(s)

black star, golden eagle

Political parties

All Peoples Congress or APC Convention People's Party or CPP Ghana Freedom Party or GFP Ghana Union Movement or GUM Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG National Democratic Congress or NDC National Democratic Party or NDP New Patriotic Party or NPP People's National Convention or PNC Progressive People's Party or PPP United Front Party or UFP United Progressive Party or UPP

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Ghana is a multiethnic country rich in natural resources and is one of the most stable and democratic countries in West Africa. Ghana has been inhabited for at least several thousand years, but little is known about its early inhabitants. By the 12th century, the gold trade started to boom in Bono (Bonoman) state in what is today southern Ghana, and it became the genesis of the Akan people's power and wealth in the region. Beginning in the 15th century, the Portuguese, followed by other European powers, arrived and competed for trading rights. Numerous kingdoms and empires emerged in the area, among the most powerful were the Kingdom of Dagbon in the north and the Asante (Ashanti) Empire in the south. By the mid-18th century, Asante was a highly organized state with immense wealth; it provided enslaved people for the Atlantic slave trade, and in return received firearms that facilitated its territorial expansion. The Asante resisted increasing British influence in the coastal areas, engaging in a series of wars during the 19th century before ultimately falling under British control. Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence, with Kwame NKRUMAH as its first leader. Ghana endured a series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS of the National Democratic Congress won the 2008 presidential election and took over as head of state. MILLS died in 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the 2012 presidential election. In 2016, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that Ghana s presidency had changed parties since the return to democracy. AKUFO-ADDO was reelected in 2020. In recent years, Ghana has taken an active role in promoting regional stability and is highly integrated in international affairs.

Military - note

the military s primary missions are border defense, assisting with internal security, peacekeeping, and protecting the country s territorial waters, particularly its offshore oil and gas infrastructure; it has benefited from cooperation with foreign partners, such as the UK and the US, and experience gained from participation in multiple international peacekeeping missions in recent years, Ghana has expanded the Army and reinforced its presence in the northern part of the country to shore up porous borders, interdict smuggling routes, and counter threats from the terrorist organization Jama at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa'ida linked militant groups which has a considerable presence in Burkina Faso and has conducted attacks in Cote d'Ivoire and Togo; Ghana has also made efforts to increase the Navy's capabilities to protect its maritime claims and counter threats such as piracy and illegal fishing (2025)

Military and security forces

Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025) note: the GAF also has a Medical Service/Corps

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025) note: over the past decade, Ghana has sought to increase the size of the GAF, particularly the Army, which has added a number of new units

Military deployments

875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025) note: since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory is a mix of older (mostly Soviet-era) and some newer armaments from such suppliers as China, Japan, Jordan, T rkiye, the UK, and the US; the government has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2025)

Military expenditures

0.4% of GDP (2024 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025) note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 15% of the military; Ghanaian women first began serving in the late 1950s

Age structure

0-14 years: 37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245) 15-64 years: 58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197) 65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Child marriage

women married by age 15: 3.3% (2022) women married by age 18: 16.1% (2022) men married by age 18: 2.4% (2022)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

53.4% (2022 est.)

Death rate

5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 70.8 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 63.2 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 13.1 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 74.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 88.4% of population (2022 est.) urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 25.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 11.6% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

2.9% of GDP (2022 est.) 13.2% national budget (2022 est.)

Ethnic groups

Akan 45.7%, Mole-Dagbani 18.5%, Ewe 12.8%, Ga-Dangme 7.1%, Gurma 6.4%, Guan 3.2%, Grusi 2.7%, Mande 2%, other 1.6% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.73 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

4.2% of GDP (2021) 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.) note: English is the official language

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.) male: 68.4 years female: 71.8 years

Literacy

total population: 76.5% (2021 est.) male: 81.3% (2021 est.) female: 72.1% (2021 est.)

Major urban areas - population

3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

total: 21.6 years (2025 est.) male: 20.6 years female: 22.3 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.1 years (2022 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Nationality

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.9% (2016)

Physician density

0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Population

total: 35,336,133 (2025 est.) male: 17,278,776 female: 18,057,357

Population distribution

population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution map

Population growth rate

2.12% (2025 est.)

Religions

Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 85.7% of population (2022 est.) rural: 55.3% of population (2022 est.) total: 73.1% of population (2022 est.) urban: 14.3% of population (2022 est.) rural: 44.7% of population (2022 est.) total: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years (2022 est.) male: 12 years (2022 est.) female: 12 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 2.8% (2025 est.) male: 5.4% (2025 est.) female: 0.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.51 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Key space-program milestones

2017 - first satellite (GhanaSat-1), a technology demonstration/remote sensing nanosatellite built by a Gabonese university with assistance from Japan and released from the International Space Station; established Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory 2024 - released a national space policy

Space agency/agencies

Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011) (2025) note: the GSSTI is eventually slated to become the Ghana Space Agency

Space program overview

has nascent space program focused on Earth observation, space science education, and telecommunications; seeks to exploit remote sensing (RS) technology for agriculture, natural-resource management, weather forecasting, and national security; relies on foreign imagery for analysis but seeks to develop its own RS satellite capabilities; has established cooperative relationships with China, Japan, and a number of regional states, particularly South Africa; working with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda on a satellite to monitor climate changes in the African continent; member of the African Space Agency; partner in the Square Kilometer Array radio telescope (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees: 17,334 (2024 est.) IDPs: 4,937 (2024 est.)

Airports

11 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9G

Heliports

7 (2025)

Merchant marine

total: 52 (2023) by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41

Ports

total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 1 small: 1 very small: 2 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema

Railways

total: 947 km (2022) narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge