Ghana
Republic of Ghana
Population
35.34M
Area
238,533 km²
GDP
$82.83B
GDP Per Capita
$7,100
Pop. Density
148/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
₵Ghanaian cedi(GHS)
Calling Code
+233
Timezone
UTC
Languages
English
Driving Side
right
Demonym
Ghanaian
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.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑294.1% since 2006Population
↑49.4% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 65.5 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography19
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
land: 227,533 sq km
water: 11,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
border countries: Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km
Coastline
539 km
Maritime claims
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
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
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
360 sq km (2013)
Major rivers (by length in km)
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
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
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 sq km; 3,275 sq mi); the lake was created after the Akosombo Dam was completed in 1965
People & Society36
Population
male: 17,278,776
female: 18,057,357
Nationality
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.)
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
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
youth dependency ratio: 63.2 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.1 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 20.6 years
female: 22.3 years
Population growth rate
2.12% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 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
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
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.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
22.1 years (2022 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 68.4 years
female: 71.8 years
Total fertility rate
3.51 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.73 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
10.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
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.)
Tobacco use
male: 5.4% (2025 est.)
female: 0.3% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
12% (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.4% (2022 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 16.1% (2022)
men married by age 18: 2.4% (2022)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 13.2% national budget (2022 est.)
Literacy
male: 81.3% (2021 est.)
female: 72.1% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male: 12 years (2022 est.)
female: 12 years (2022 est.)
Government23
Country name
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
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
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
Constitution
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
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
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
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
Legislative branch
legislature name
legislative structure
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
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
Political parties
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
info.washington@mfa.gov.gh
https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/
consulate(s) general
Diplomatic representation from the US
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/
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
Independence
6 March 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Flag
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
National symbol(s)
black star, golden eagle
National color(s)
red, yellow, green, black
National anthem(s)
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
selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings
Economy32
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
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $230.046 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $223.043 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 3.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $6,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $6,700 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$82.825 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 38.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 31.3% (2022 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 28.8% (2024 est.)
services: 43.9% (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
government consumption
investment in fixed capital
investment in inventories
exports of goods and services
imports of goods and services
Agricultural products
cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Industries
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate
7.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force
13.928 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.1% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 3.1% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 5.5% (2024 est.)
female: 5.3% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
23.4% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Average household expenditures
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 32.2% (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $19.102 billion (2022 est.)
Public debt
Taxes and other revenues
12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022: -$1.741 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2021: -$2.541 billion (2021 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022: $25.52 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2021: $23.901 billion (2021 est.)
Exports - partners
Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)
Imports
Imports 2022: $26.329 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2021: $25.967 billion (2021 est.)
Imports - partners
China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)
Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $5.205 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $9.917 billion (2021 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Exchange rates 2019
Energy7
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 95%
electrification - rural areas: 71.6%
Electricity
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 generation sources
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.)
Coal
exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 52,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
refined petroleum consumption: 96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
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.)
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2024 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 114 (2024 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
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
Transportation6
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9G
Airports
11 (2025)
Heliports
7 (2025)
Railways
narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine
by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security7
Military and security forces
Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2023: 0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
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, Türkiye, 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 service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
Military deployments
875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)
Military - note
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)
Transnational Issues1
Refugees and internally displaced persons
IDPs: 4,937 (2024 est.)