Ghana

Presidential RepublicPop35.3MGDP (PPP)$243.1BCI58Beta CP0.0→Beta

Ghana

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 227,533 sq km
Water: 11,000 sq km
Total: 238,533 sq km

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

Land Use

Other: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 30.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)

Location: Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Coastline: 539 km

Elevation

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

Irrigated land: 360 sq km (2013)
Map references: Africa

Land Boundaries

Total: 2,420 km
Border countries: Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km

Maritime Claims

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

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
Natural resources: gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Area comparative: slightly smaller than Oregon
Geographic coordinates: 8 00 N, 2 00 W
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

Major Watersheds (Area Sq Km)

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

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

People & Society

Literacy

Male: 81.3% (2021 est.)
Female: 72.1% (2021 est.)
Total population: 76.5% (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.)

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
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 20.6 years
Total: 21.6 years (2025 est.)
Female: 22.3 years

Population

Male: 17,278,776
Total: 35,336,133 (2025 est.)
Female: 18,057,357

Nationality

Noun: Ghanaian(s)
Adjective: Ghanaian

Tobacco Use

Male: 5.4% (2025 est.)
Total: 2.8% (2025 est.)
Female: 0.3% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

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

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.)

Child Marriage

Men married BY age 18: 2.4% (2022)
Women married BY age 15: 3.3% (2022)
Women married BY age 18: 16.1% (2022)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 70.8 (2025 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 63.2 (2025 est.)
Potential support ratio: 13.1 (2025 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2025 est.)

Physician density: 0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Health Expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 4.2% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.51 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Drinking Water Source

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

Education Expenditure

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

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 30.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 2.12% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 1.73 (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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 68.4 years
Female: 71.8 years
Total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)

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

Sanitation Facility Access

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

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 1.59 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.)

Major urban areas population: 3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 10.9% (2016)
Mother's mean age at first birth: 22.1 years (2022 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 53.4% (2022 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 12% (2022 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 12 years (2022 est.)
Total: 12 years (2022 est.)
Female: 12 years (2022 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: Accra
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
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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

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
Conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
Conventional short form: Ghana

Independence: 6 March 1957 (from the UK)
Legal system: mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government type: presidential republic

Judicial Branch

Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)
Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
Chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
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)
Head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
Most recent election date: 7 December 2024
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
Expected date of next election: 7 December 2028

National holiday: Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
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

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

Legislative Branch

Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 276 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Legislature name: Parliament
Scope of elections: full renewal
Legislative structure: unicameral
Most recent election date: 12/7/2024
Expected date of next election: December 2028
Percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
Parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4)

National Anthem(s)

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

National symbol(s): black star, golden eagle
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

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 686-4527
Chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
Chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025)
Consulate(s) general: New York
Email address and website: info.washington@mfa.gov.gh

https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra
Telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000
Mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC  20521-2020
Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025)
Email address and website: ACSAccra@state.gov

https://gh.usembassy.gov/

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

Legislature

GHANA · LEGISLATURE

Parliament

276 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

276

Majority line

139

Largest party

National Democratic Congress (NDC)

Parties

All political parties3 parties · 276 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

JM
John Mahama
- Head of StateSince 2025
NA
Nana Akufo-Addo
- Head of GovernmentSince 2017

Economy

Budget

Note: 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
Revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.)
Expenditures: $19.102 billion (2022 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $29.2B

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

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $28.2B

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

Industries: mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Labor force: 13.928 million (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2016: 73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Remittances

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

Exchange Rates

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

Debt External

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

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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 3.0%

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

Exports partners: Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)
Imports partners: China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $8,020

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

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 5.6%

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

Agricultural products: cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Exports commodities: gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)
Imports commodities: refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $1.7B

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

Taxes and other revenues: 12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $82.825 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 84.1% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 4.8% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 9.8% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 35.3% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -34.1% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line: 23.4% (2016 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

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

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 22.8%

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

Industrial production growth rate: 7.1% (2024 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $243.124 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: data in 2021 dollars
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $223.043 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $230.046 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024: $243.124 billion (2024 est.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 5.5% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 5.4% (2024 est.)
Female: 5.3% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

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

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 28.8% (2024 est.)
Services: 43.9% (2024 est.)
Agriculture: 20.7% (2024 est.)

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

Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income

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

Energy

Coal

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

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 48.449 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 5.519 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Production: 3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

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

Energy Consumption Per Capita

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

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 61.5% 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.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 70% (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

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.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

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

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 1
Key ports: Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema
Very small: 2
Total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 3

Airports: 11 (2025)

Railways

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

Heliports: 7 (2025)

Merchant Marine

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9G

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 13.9% (2023 est.)
Forest: 30.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: arable land: arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent crops: permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Agricultural land: permanent pasture: permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)

Urbanization

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

Methane Emissions

Other: 28.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 134 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 164.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 166.7 kt (2019-2021 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.)

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

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.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.366 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.)

Particulate matter emissions: 43.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Military & Security

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 deployments: 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)

Military Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.4%

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

Military and security forces: Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy

Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025)
Military service age and obligation: 18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (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 and security service personnel strengths: estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Space

Space agency/agencies: Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011) (2025)
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)
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

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Idps: 4,937 (2024 est.)
Refugees: 17,334 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index58.0 / 100as of 2024-Q469 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.57as of 2024-Q449 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusPartly Free (83/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (58/100)as of 2024—2024

Cite this page

Cite this pageAPA · BibTeX · Chicago · JSON

Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Ghana — vintage 2026-Q1: Ghana factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/ghana

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Ghana

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