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.

Area
Total: 238,533 km²
Land: 227,533 km²
Water: 11,000 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries
Total: 2,420 km
Border countries (3): (3) Burkina Faso 602 km; Côte 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

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.)

Irrigated land: 360 km² (2013)

Major rivers: 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

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 after the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965

Population
Total: 34,589,092 (2024 est.)
Male: 16,902,073
Female: 17,687,019
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
Growth rate: 2.15% (2024 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.)

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: 71.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 64.2 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 13.2 (2024 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.)

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

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)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 11.6% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 14.3% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 44.7% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 3.1% (2024 est.); 3.1% (2023 est.); 3.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

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

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
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 2,028

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 2,028

Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band

National anthem
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 heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

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

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

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

Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

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): 3.1% (2024 est.); 3.1% (2023 est.); 3.1% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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

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

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

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

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.)
Access electrification - total population: 85.1% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 95%
Access electrification - rural areas: 71.6%
Generation sources fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 51,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 52,000 metric tons (2023 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.)

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.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 20.822 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 107,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 13.349 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.366 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 320,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 33.4 million (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 223,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

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.)

Airports: 11 (2025)

Heliports: 7 (2025)

Railways
Total: 947 km (2022)
Narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine
Total: 52 (2023)
By type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41