Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
223,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: 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
Communications: Internet country code
.gh
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
72.18% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2024 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
269,000 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
114 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
39.1 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
39.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$19.102 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$11.684 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$5.704 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$3.695 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$2.824 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$2.832 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$2.003 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$2.045 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$1.864 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$2.134 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$2.541 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$1.741 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$1.407 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$1.681 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$43.607 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$29.241 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
14.1819 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
cedis (GHC) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
1.9813 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
2.8966 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
3.7146 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
3.9098 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
4.3505 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
4.5853 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
5.2174 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
5.5957 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
5.8057 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
8.2724 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
11.0204 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
14.1819 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$14.530 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$15.437 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$16.725 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$17.513 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$20.457 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$22.502 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$25.598 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$22.070 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$23.901 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$25.52 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$25.365 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$29.197 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
35.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
4.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
84.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-34.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
9.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
20.7% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
28.8% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
43.9% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$8,020 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$82.825 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$276.108 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
43.5 (2016 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
32.2% (2016 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
1.6% (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$14.779 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$21.104 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$20.596 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$22.144 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$23.207 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$26.914 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$24.538 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$25.967 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$26.329 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$26.024 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$28.244 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
7.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
17.15% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
17.45% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
12.37% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
7.81% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
7.14% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
9.89% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
9.97% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
31.26% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
38.11% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
22.85% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
13.928 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
23.40% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
73.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$154.709 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$148.972 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$147.109 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$155.172 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$187.633 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$192.835 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$214.867 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$223.043 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$230.046 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$243.124 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.12% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.37% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
8.13% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
6.20% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
6.51% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
0.51% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
5.08% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
3.80% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.14% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
5.59% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$5,517 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$5,191 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$5,011 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$5,171 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$6,003 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$6,047 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$6,608 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$7,208 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$7,556 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$1.864 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$2.008 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$4.982 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$4.292 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.4% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
2.8% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$3.027 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$5.743 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$5.867 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$7.015 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$6.295 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$7.563 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$7.884 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$9.917 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$5.205 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$3.624 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$4.472 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.07% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
3.18% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.20% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
2.87% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.83% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
2.82% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
5.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
5.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
5.4% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
51,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
21 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
52,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
71.6%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
85.1% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
95%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
48.449 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
5.519 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
660 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
107,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
7.366 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
13.349 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Environment: Environmental issues
drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
55.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
30.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
13.9% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
166.7 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
164.9 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
28.1 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
134 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
43.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
1.07 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
95 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
299.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
58.37% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
3.538 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
13.3% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Geography: Area: land
227,533 sq km
Geography: Area: water
11,000 sq km
Geography: Coastline
539 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Afadjato 885 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
190 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
360 sq km (2013)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
2,420 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
55.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 20.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 11.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
30.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
13.9% (2023 est.)
Geography: 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
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Atlantic Ocean drainage
Volta (410,991 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Government: 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
Government: Capital: 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
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
5 33 N, 0 13 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
yes
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
5 years
Government: 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
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Ghana
Government: Country name: 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: Country name: former
Gold Coast
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSAccra@state.gov https://gh.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[233] (0) 30-274-1000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info.washington@mfa.gov.gh https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 686-4527
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 686-4520
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: 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
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
7 December 2028
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
7 December 2024
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)
Government: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals
Government: Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch: expected date of next election
December 2028
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
unicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament
Government: Legislative branch: most recent election date
12/7/2024
Government: Legislative branch: number of seats
276 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch: parties elected and seats per party
National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4)
Government: Legislative branch: percentage of women in chamber
14.5%
Government: Legislative branch: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch: term in office
4 years
Government: National anthem(s): history
music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
unknown/Philip GBEHO
Government: National color(s)
red, yellow, green, black
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
2 (both cultural)
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Government: National symbol(s)
black star, golden eagle
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and 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 and Security: Military and security forces
Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2025)
Military and Security: 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: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.39% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.29% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.31% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.33% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.34% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.35% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.38% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
0.34% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
0.40% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.38% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
27.09 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
2.4% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
3.3% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
16.1% (2022)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
12% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
2.95% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
53.4% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
7.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
13.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
70.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
63.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 74.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 88.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 98.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 25.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 11.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 1.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
13.2% national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.91% (2022 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.73 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.2% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
1.50% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
27.8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
34.5 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
68.2 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
63.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
72.1% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
81.3% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
76.49% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
234 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
22.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
20.6 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
22.1 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Ghanaian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
10.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
People and Society: Population
34,427,414 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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
People and Society: Population growth rate
1.88% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
18,057,357
People and Society: Population: male
17,278,776
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 55.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 73.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 85.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 44.7% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 26.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 14.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.02 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.93 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.81 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
0.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
5.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
2.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.34 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
58.37% (2024 est.)
Space: 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
Space: Space agency/agencies
Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011) (2025)
Space: 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)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
4,937 (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
17,334 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
11 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9G
Transportation: Heliports
7 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
52 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
1
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
4 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
2
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
947 km (2022)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.