Capital

Ghana

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

Citizenship

Ghana

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

Legal system

Ghana

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Suffrage

Ghana

18 years of age; universal

Area

Ghana

total: 238,533 sq km

land: 227,533 sq km

water: 11,000 sq km

Land use

Ghana

agricultural land: 69.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 20.7% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 11.9% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 36.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 21.2% (2018 est.)

other: 9.7% (2018 est.)

Location

Ghana

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

Age structure

Ghana

0-14 years: 37.72% (male 6,445,288/female 6,321,989)

15-64 years: 57.92% (male 9,420,940/female 10,181,376)

65 years and over: 4.36% (2023 est.) (male 660,991/female 815,530)

Birth rate

Ghana

28 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Ghana

6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Ghana

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

Ghana

total population: 69.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 68.1 years

female: 71.4 years

Major urban areas - population

Ghana

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

Median age

Ghana

total: 21.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 20.4 years

female: 22.2 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Ghana

20.7 years (2014 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Ghana

-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Ghana

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

Population growth rate

Ghana

2.19% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Ghana

3.61 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Ghana

urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Ghana

3.9% of GDP (2018 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Ghana

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Ghana

-6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Ghana

-0.8% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Ghana

14.095 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Ghana

23.4% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Ghana

4.7% (2021 est.)

4.65% (2020 est.)

4.32% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Ghana

71.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Ghana

9.97% (2021 est.)

9.89% (2020 est.)

7.14% (2019 est.)

Exports

Ghana

$23.901 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$22.077 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$25.592 billion (2019 est.)

Exports - partners

Ghana

Switzerland 23%, United Arab Emirates 12%, China 12%, India 9%, Netherlands 5% (2020)

Imports

Ghana

$25.967 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$24.545 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$26.908 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners

Ghana

China 42%, Netherlands 5%, United States 5%, India 5%, United Arab Emirates 3% (2020)

Airports

Ghana

10 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Ghana

total: 78,371 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Ghana

total: 22.44 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 68% (2021 est.)

Railways

Ghana

total: 947 km (2022)

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

Roadways

Ghana

total: 65,725 km (2021)

paved: 14,948 km (2021)

unpaved: 50,777 km (2021)

urban: 28,480 km 27% total paved 73% total unpaved

Telephones - fixed lines

Ghana

total subscriptions: 315,271 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Ghana

total subscriptions: 40,454,073 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2021 est.)

Waterways

Ghana

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)

Disputes - international

Ghana

disputed maritime border with Cote d'Ivoire was resolved in 2017 through a decision of a Special Chamber of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)