Map of Ghana | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background:


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

Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 238,533 km²
Land: 227,533 km²
Water: 11,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Country comparison total: 2,420 km
Country comparison border countries: (3) Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km

Land boundaries
Total: 2,420 km
Border countries: (3) Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km

Coastline: 539 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm

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

Terrain: mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Elevation
Highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 190 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 21.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 9.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 360 km² (2013)

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

Major watersheds area km²: Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 56.2 billion m³ (2020 est.)

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

Geography
Note: Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake (manmade reservoir) by surface area (8,482 km²; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created following the completion of the Akosombo Dam in 1965, which holds back the White Volta and Black Volta Rivers


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Population
Distribution: population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast as shown in this population distribution map
Total: 34,589,092
Male: 16,902,073
Female: 17,687,019 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.15% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 23.4% (2016 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Ghanaian(s)
Adjective: Ghanaian

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.)

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

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.)

Demographic profile

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 68.7
Youth dependency ratio: 62.9
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.9
Potential support ratio: 17 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 21.4 years (2024 est.)
Male: 20.6 years
Female: 22.3 years

Population growth rate: 2.15% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 27.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

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

Major urban areas
Population: 3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)

Environment
Current issues: recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threaten wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water
International 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 46.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 16.67 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 22.75 megatons (2020 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.)

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

Maternal mortality ratio: 263 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 31.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
Male: 68.4 years
Female: 71.8 years

Total fertility rate: 3.56 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 27.2% (2017/18)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 98.7% of population
Unimproved rural: 16.2% of population
Unimproved total: 7.6% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 1.3% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 84.8% of population
Improved rural: 52.8% of population
Improved total: 71.1% of population
Unimproved urban: 15.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 47.2% of population
Unimproved total: 28.9% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 10.9% (2016)

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

Tobacco use
Total: 3.5% (2020 est.)
Male: 6.6% (2020 est.)
Female: 0.3% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12.6% (2017/18)

Education expenditures: 3.9% of GDP (2018 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 79%
Male: 83.5%
Female: 74.5% (2018)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 12 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
Conventional short form: Ghana
Former: Gold Coast
Etymology: named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name but whose location was actually further north than the modern country

Government type: presidential republic

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 'ants,' and refers to the numerous anthills in the area around the capital

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 6 March 1957 (from the UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Constitution
History: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
Amendments: 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; amended 1996

Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017)
Head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
Elections/appointments: 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); election last held on 7 December 2024 (next to be held on 7 December 2,028); the president is both chief of state and head of government
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)

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)
Elections: last held on 7 December 2020 (next to be held in December 2024)
Elections results: percent of vote by party - NPP 50.4%, NDC 46.2%, independent 2.3%, other 1.1%; seats by party- NPP 137, NDC 137, independent 1; composition- men 235, women 40, percentage women 14.6%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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 upon 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

Political parties and leaders: 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

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Alima MAHAMA (since 7 July 2021)
In the us chancery: 3,512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 686-4,520
In the us fax: [1] (202) 686-4,527
In the us email address and website: info@ghanaembassydc.org; [link]
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Virginia E. PALMER (since 16 June 2022)
From the us embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2,288, Accra
From the us mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20,521-2020
From the us telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000
From the us email address and website: ACSAccra@state.gov; [link]

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

National symbols: black star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black

National anthem
Name: 'God Bless Our Homeland Ghana'
Lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO
Note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy 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

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $229.639 billion (2023 est.); $223.07 billion (2022 est.); $214.867 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 2.94% (2023 est.); 3.82% (2022 est.); 5.08% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $6,700 (2023 est.); $6,700 (2022 est.); $6,500 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 5.9% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 10.7% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 34% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -35% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.1% (2023 est.)
Industry: 29.5% (2023 est.)
Services: 42.5% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, cocoa beans, oranges, pineapples (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: -1.22% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 14.887 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 3.08% (2023 est.); 3.08% (2022 est.); 3.34% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 5.5% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 5.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 5.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $16.842 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

Taxes and other revenues: 12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 71.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 3.51% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 38.11% (2023 est.); 31.26% (2022 est.); 9.97% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$1.517 billion (2022 est.); -$2.541 billion (2021 est.); -$2.134 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $25.744 billion (2022 est.); $23.901 billion (2021 est.); $22.077 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: UAE 24%, Switzerland 17%, US 14%, India 10%, China 10% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, coconuts/Brazil nuts/cashews, cocoa paste (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $26.329 billion (2022 est.); $25.967 billion (2021 est.); $24.545 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 41%, Netherlands 7%, India 5%, US 5%, Cote d'Ivoire 4% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, plastic products, garments, coated flat-rolled iron, ships (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 85.1% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 95%
Access electrification rural areas: 71.6%
Installed generating capacity: 5.444 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 19.142 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 1.787 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 48.461 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.619 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 66% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 33.3% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 85,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 9 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 85,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 174,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 110,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 3.192 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 3.912 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Imports: 539.629 million m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 22.653 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 22.882 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 172,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 15.035 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.675 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 11.416 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 330,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 40.045 million (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.); 0.4% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Navy, Air Force (2024)
Note: the Ghana Police Service is under the Ministry of the Interior

Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2024)
Note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 15% of the military; Ghanaian women first began serving in the late 1950s

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 3 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 21
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 467,438 (2018)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9G

Airports: 11 (2024)

Heliports: 7 (2024)

Pipelines: 681.3 km gas, 11.4 km oil, 435 km refined products (2022)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 65,725 km
Paved: 14,948 km
Unpaved: 50,777 km (2021)
Urban: 28,480 km 27% total paved 73% total unpaved

Waterways: 1,293 km (2011) (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta)

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: Ghana is a transit and destination point for illicit drugs trafficked from Asia and South America to other African countries, Europe, and to a lesser extent North America; not a significant source for drugs entering the United States; limited local consumption of controlled pharmaceuticals, cocaine, and heroin from Asia and South America; cannabis cultivated and produced in large quantities in most rural areas of Ghana