The total population of Ghana was estimated at approximately 34.43 million people in 2024. Following a continuous upward trend, the total population has risen by around 22.49 million people since 1980. Between 2024 and 2030, the total population will rise by around 3.79 million people, continuing its consistent upward trajectory.This indicator describes the total population in the country at hand. This total population of the country consists of all persons falling within the scope of the census.

This statistic shows the total population of Ghana from 2013 to 2023 by gender. In 2023, Ghana's female population amounted to approximately 16.91 million, while the male population amounted to approximately 16.88 million inhabitants.

The total population in Ghana was estimated at 34.4 million people in 2024, according to the latest census figures and projections from Trading Economics. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - Ghana Population - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Population density per pixel at 100 metre resolution. WorldPop provides estimates of numbers of people residing in each 100x100m grid cell for every low and middle income country. Through ingegrating cencus, survey, satellite and GIS datasets in a flexible machine-learning framework, high resolution maps of population counts and densities for 2000-2020 are produced, along with accompanying metadata. DATASET: Alpha version 2010 and 2015 estimates of numbers of people per grid square, with national totals adjusted to match UN population division estimates (http://esa.un.org/wpp/) and remaining unadjusted. REGION: Africa SPATIAL RESOLUTION: 0.000833333 decimal degrees (approx 100m at the equator) PROJECTION: Geographic, WGS84 UNITS: Estimated persons per grid square MAPPING APPROACH: Land cover based, as described in: Linard, C., Gilbert, M., Snow, R.W., Noor, A.M. and Tatem, A.J., 2012, Population distribution, settlement patterns and accessibility across Africa in 2010, PLoS ONE, 7(2): e31743. FORMAT: Geotiff (zipped using 7-zip (open access tool): www.7-zip.org) FILENAMES: Example - AGO10adjv4.tif = Angola (AGO) population count map for 2010 (10) adjusted to match UN national estimates (adj), version 4 (v4). Population maps are updated to new versions when improved census or other input data become available. Ghana data available from WorldPop here.

Ghana GH: Population: Growth data was reported at 2.198 % in 2017. This records a decrease from the previous number of 2.237 % for 2016. Ghana GH: Population: Growth data is updated yearly, averaging 2.596 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 3.482 % in 1983 and a record low of 1.603 % in 1978. Ghana GH: Population: Growth data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Annual population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage . Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; Derived from total population. Population source: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision, (2) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (3) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (4) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Reprot (various years), (5) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database, and (6) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme.; Weighted average;

As of 2021, Western North was the region in Ghana with the highest male population share, reaching 51.3 percent. On the other hand, female inhabitants were most populous in the Volta region, as they occupied a share of 52.3 percent of the region's total inhabitants. Overall, majority of the regions in Ghana had a lower male population in comparison to female ones.

Abstract

The population and housing census (PHC) is the unique source of reliable and comprehensive data about the size of population and also on major socio-economic & socio-demographic characteristics of the country. It provides data on geographic and administrative distribution of population and household in addition to the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of all the people in the country. Generally, it provides for comparing and projecting demographic data, social and economic characteristics, as well as household and housing conditions at all levels of the country’s administrative units and dimensions: national, regional, districts and localities. The data from the census is classified, tabulated and disseminated so that researchers, administrators, policy makers and development partners can use the information in formulating and implementing various multi-sectorial development programs at the national and community levels. Data on all key variables namely area, household, population, economic activity, literacy and education, fertility and child survival, housing conditions and sanitation are collected and available in the census data. The 2021 PHC in Ghana had an overarching goal of generating updated demographic, social and economic data, housing characteristics and dwelling conditions to support national development planning activities.

Geographic coverage

National Coverage , Region , District

Analysis unit

• Individuals
• Households
• Emigrants
• Absentee population
• Mortality
• Type of residence (households and non household)

Universe

All persons who spent census night (midnight of 27th June 2021) in Ghana

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

This 10% sample data for the 2021 PHC is representative at the district/subdistrict level and also by the urban rural classification.

Mode of data collection

Computer Assisted Personal Interview [capi]

Research instrument

GSS developed two categories of instruments for the 2021 PHC: the listing form and the enumeration instruments. The listing form was only one, while the enumeration instruments comprised six questionnaires, designated as PHC 1A, PHC 1B, PHC 1C, PHC 1D, PHC 1E and PHC 1F. The PHC 1A was the most comprehensive with the others being its subsets.

1. Listing Form: The listing form was developed to collect data on type of structures, level of completion, whether occupied or vacant and use(s) of the structures. It was also used to collect information about the availability, number and types of toilet facilities in the structures. It was also used to capture the number of households in a structure, number of persons in households and the sex of the persons residing in the households if occupied. Finally, the listing form was used to capture data on non-household populations such as the population in institutions, floating population and sex of the non-household populations.

2. PHC 1A: The PHC 1A questionnaire was used to collect data from all households in the country. Primarily, it was used to capture household members and visitors who spent the Census Night in the dwelling of the household, and their relationship with the head of the household. It was also used to collect data on homeless households. Members of the households who were absent were enumerated at the place where they had spent the Census Night. The questionnaire was also used to collect the following household information: emigration; socio-demographic characteristics (sex, age, place of birth and enumeration, survival status of parents, literacy and education; economic activities; difficulty in performing activities; ownership and usage of information, technology and communication facilities; fertility; mortality; housing characteristics and conditions and sanitation.

3. PHC 1B: The PHC 1B questionnaire was used to collect data from persons in stable institutions comprising boarding houses, hostels and prisons who were present on Census Night. Other information that was captured with this instrument are socio-demographic characteristics, literacy and education, economic activities, difficulty in performing activities; ownership and usage of information, technology and communication facilities; fertility; mortality; housing characteristics and conditions and sanitation.

4. PHC 1C: The PHC 1C questionnaire was used to collect data from persons in “unstable” institutions such as hospitals and prayer camps who were present at these places on Census Night. The instrument was used to capture only the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals.

5. PHC 1D: The PHC 1D questionnaire was used to collect data from the floating population. This constitutes persons who were found at airports, seaports, lorry stations and similar locations waiting for or embarking on long-distance travel, as well as outdoor sleepers on Census Night. The instrument captured the socio-demographic information of individuals.

6. PHC 1E: All persons who spent the Census Night at hotels, motels and guest houses were enumerated using the PHC 1E. The content of the questionnaire was similar to that of the PHC 1D.

7. PHC 1F: The PHC 1F questionnaire was administered to diplomats in the country.

Cleaning operations

The Census data editing was implemented at three levels: 1. data editing by enumerators and supervisors during data collection 2. data editing was done at the regional level by the regional data quality monitors during data collection 3. Final data editing was done at the national level using the batch edits in CSPro and STATA Data editing and cleaning was mainly digital.

Response rate

100 percent

Data appraisal

A post Enumeration Survey (PES) was conducted to assess the extent of coverage and content error.

Ghana GH: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data was reported at 8,500,789.000 Person in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 8,301,492.000 Person for 2016. Ghana GH: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data is updated yearly, averaging 3,654,828.000 Person from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 8,500,789.000 Person in 2017 and a record low of 1,749,858.000 Person in 1960. Ghana GH: Population: Female: Aged 15-64 data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank.WDI: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Female population between the ages 15 to 64. Population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.; ; World Bank staff estimates using the World Bank's total population and age/sex distributions of the United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; Sum; Relevance to gender indicator: Knowing how many girls, adolescents and women there are in a population helps a country in determining its provision of services.

IPUMS-International is an effort to inventory, preserve, harmonize, and disseminate census microdata from around the world. The project has collected the world's largest archive of publicly available census samples. The data are coded and documented consistently across countries and over time to facillitate comparative research. IPUMS-International makes these data available to qualified researchers free of charge through a web dissemination system. The IPUMS project is a collaboration of the Minnesota Population Center, National Statistical Offices, and international data archives. Major funding is provided by the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Demographic and Behavioral Sciences Branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Additional support is provided by the University of Minnesota Office of the Vice President for Research, the Minnesota Population Center, and Sun Microsystems.

Population trends and statistics

Graph and download economic data for Population Growth for Ghana (SPPOPGROWGHA) from 1961 to 2024 about Ghana, population, and rate.

Ghana: Population ages 65 and above, percent of total: The latest value from 2024 is 3.71 percent, an increase from 3.63 percent in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 10.43 percent, based on data from 196 countries. Historically, the average for Ghana from 1960 to 2024 is 3.07 percent. The minimum value, 2.52 percent, was reached in 1982 while the maximum of 3.71 percent was recorded in 2024.

Actual value and historical data chart for Ghana Population Growth Annual Percent

Historical dataset showing total population for Ghana by year from 1950 to 2025.

Complete population data for Ghana showing how many people live in Ghana from 1960 to 2024

Ghana GSS Projection: Population data was reported at 30,955.202 Person th in 2020. This records an increase from the previous number of 30,280.811 Person th for 2019. Ghana GSS Projection: Population data is updated yearly, averaging 27,989.237 Person th from Dec 2011 (Median) to 2020, with 10 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 30,955.202 Person th in 2020 and a record low of 25,263.597 Person th in 2011. Ghana GSS Projection: Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Ghana Statistical Service. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.G002: Population Projection: by Sex: Ghana Statistical Service.

Ghana GH: Population: Male: Ages 60-64: % of Male Population data was reported at 1.802 % in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 1.768 % for 2016. Ghana GH: Population: Male: Ages 60-64: % of Male Population data is updated yearly, averaging 1.674 % from Dec 1960 (Median) to 2017, with 58 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.865 % in 2010 and a record low of 1.597 % in 1962. Ghana GH: Population: Male: Ages 60-64: % of Male Population data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Ghana – Table GH.World Bank: Population and Urbanization Statistics. Male population between the ages 60 to 64 as a percentage of the total male population.; ; World Bank staff estimates based on age/sex distributions of United Nations Population Division's World Population Prospects: 2017 Revision.; ;

Abstract

The 2010 Census was undertaken to update current information on the size, sex, age, composition and other characteristics of Ghana's population and to ascertain the specific changes in these characteristics which had taken place since the last census was conducted in 2000. The Census was expected to ensure the continuation of a time series of demographic and socio-economic benchmark data at the national and sub-national levels and enhance the capability-building programme of the Statistical Service.

The main objective of the 2010 Population and Housing Census was to update the statistical information on the characteristics of the population of Ghana.

The 2010 Population and Housing Census is the second time a full-scale housing census was conducted with a population census in one single operation.

Geographic coverage

National coverage

Analysis unit

Households (including household emigrants, ameneties and agricultural activities) Individuals (including females 12 years and older and females 12-54 years) communities (including education, health and sanitation facilities)

Universe

The 2010 census covered a de-facto population count of Ghana on Census Night (26th September 2010). These were all usual residents, infants sick as well as the mentally challenged, inmates of institutions. out-door sleepers and all persons who spend census night within the boarders of Ghana, semi-stable floating population enumeration was done immediately after midnight of Census Night. Enumeration was done on Census Night of fishermen, other persons at sea and other persons in Field Camps.

All types of housing structures were listed a week before the census night.

All enumeration of institutional population was done a week before the Census Night

Kind of data

Census/enumeration data [cen]

Sampling procedure

There was no sampling

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f]

Research instrument

PHC-1A: Household questionnaire - admistered to household population. This questionnaire includes modules on Household roster, Usual household members absent, Emigration, Population, Mortality, ICT, Agriculture and Housing

PHC-1A Usual Members Absent Continuation Sheet

PHC-1A Emigration Continuation Sheet

PHC-1B: Group quarter questionnaire - administered to homeless households and group quarter population. This excludes usual members absent, emigration, mortality, ICT at household level, agricultural and housing modules.

PHC-1C: Group quarter questionnaire which was administered to individual members and later transferred to PHC-1B questionnaire

PHC-3: EA Result Sheet - Captured summary information on population by sex and the number of localities in each Enumeration Area (EA).

PHC-4: Final Summary Sheet - Captured summary information on the number of residential structures, number of households, population by sex and household and non-household population and the availability of telecommunication, education, health and toilet facilities in the locality.

Cleaning operations

The Census data editing was implemented at three levels: 1. Field editing by interviewers and supervisors 2. Office editing and coding of occupation and industry 3. Data cleaning and imputation

Data editing was partly manual and partly automatic. Occupation and Industry coding was done by the Field Supervisors but they were edited in the office after the field work. The questionnaire reference numbers were also reviewed as part of the preparatory activities before scanning.

Response rate

100 per cent

Sampling error estimates

There was no sampling.

Data appraisal

A post Enumeration Survey (PES) was conducted to assess the extent of coverage and content error. ( See Adminstrative Report )

This statistic shows the age structure in Ghana from 2013 to 2023. In 2023, about 36.18 percent of Ghana's total population were aged 0 to 14 years.

As of 2021, Ghanaians born and residing in Ghana were over **** million in number, representing over ** percent of the country's population. Around **** thousand people held a dual nationality, Ghanaian included, while **** thousand had naturalized in the country. Furthermore, Nigeria and Togo are notable countries in terms of foreign nationals in Ghana. As of the said year, around ** thousand and **** thousand of people from these countries, respectively, resided in Ghana.