Share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana
Ghana: Share of population living in urbanized areas was 60.3% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 60.3% for share of population living in urbanized areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
The figure is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 10.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana peaked at 60.3% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1000.
That places Ghana 116th out of 202 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0.0% | — |
| 1100 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0% | +200.0% |
| 1400 | 0.1% | +200.0% |
| 1500 | 0.2% | +200.0% |
| 1600 | 0.5% | +200.0% |
| 1700 | 1.5% | +200.0% |
| 1710 | 1.7% | +12.7% |
| 1720 | 1.9% | +9.5% |
| 1730 | 2.1% | +9.5% |
| 1740 | 2.3% | +9.5% |
| 1750 | 2.5% | +9.5% |
| 1760 | 2.7% | +9.5% |
| 1770 | 3.0% | +9.5% |
| 1780 | 3.3% | +9.5% |
| 1790 | 3.6% | +9.5% |
| 1800 | 3.9% | +9.5% |
| 1810 | 4.3% | +9.5% |
| 1820 | 4.7% | +9.5% |
| 1830 | 5.2% | +9.5% |
| 1840 | 5.7% | +9.5% |
| 1850 | 6.2% | +9.5% |
| 1860 | 6.8% | +9.5% |
| 1870 | 7.5% | +9.5% |
| 1880 | 8.2% | +9.5% |
| 1890 | 8.9% | +9.5% |
| 1900 | 9.8% | +9.5% |
| 1910 | 10.7% | +9.5% |
| 1920 | 11.8% | +9.5% |
| 1930 | 12.9% | +9.5% |
| 1940 | 14.1% | +9.5% |
| 1950 | 15.4% | +9.5% |
| 1951 | 16.2% | +5.1% |
| 1952 | 17.0% | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 17.8% | +4.7% |
| 1954 | 18.6% | +4.6% |
| 1955 | 19.5% | +4.4% |
| 1956 | 20.3% | +4.3% |
| 1957 | 21.2% | +4.2% |
| 1958 | 22.0% | +4.1% |
| 1959 | 22.9% | +4.1% |
| 1960 | 23.7% | +3.5% |
| 1961 | 24.3% | +2.3% |
| 1962 | 24.8% | +2.3% |
| 1963 | 25.4% | +2.3% |
| 1964 | 26.0% | +2.3% |
| 1965 | 26.6% | +2.2% |
| 1966 | 27.1% | +2.2% |
| 1967 | 27.7% | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 28.3% | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 29.0% | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 29.5% | +1.7% |
| 1971 | 29.6% | +0.3% |
| 1972 | 29.7% | +0.7% |
| 1973 | 30.0% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 30.2% | +0.7% |
| 1975 | 30.3% | +0.4% |
| 1976 | 30.5% | +0.7% |
| 1977 | 30.7% | +0.5% |
| 1978 | 30.8% | +0.5% |
| 1979 | 31.1% | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 31.5% | +1.3% |
| 1981 | 31.5% | +0.1% |
| 1982 | 31.7% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 32.0% | +1.0% |
| 1984 | 32.5% | +1.4% |
| 1985 | 33.2% | +2.3% |
| 1986 | 34.0% | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 34.7% | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 35.4% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 36.1% | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 36.9% | +2.2% |
| 1991 | 37.6% | +1.9% |
| 1992 | 38.3% | +2.0% |
| 1993 | 39.1% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 39.9% | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 40.7% | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 41.5% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 42.3% | +1.9% |
| 1998 | 43.1% | +1.9% |
| 1999 | 44.0% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 44.8% | +1.9% |
| 2001 | 45.5% | +1.5% |
| 2002 | 46.1% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 46.8% | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 47.5% | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 48.1% | +1.4% |
| 2006 | 48.8% | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 49.5% | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 50.1% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 50.8% | +1.3% |
| 2010 | 51.5% | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 52.1% | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 52.7% | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 53.4% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 54.0% | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 54.6% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 55.3% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 55.9% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 56.5% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 57.2% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 57.8% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 58.3% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 58.8% | +0.9% |
| 2023 | 59.3% | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 59.8% | +0.9% |
| 2025 | 60.3% | +0.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 60.3% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 47.0%, 1.3× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 60.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 46.2%, 1.3× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1200 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1300 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 1400 | +200.0% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 1500 | +200.0% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 1600 | +200.0% | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1100s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1200s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% | 1 |
| 1700s | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1 |
| 1710s | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1 |
| 1720s | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 1 |
| 1730s | 2.1% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 1 |
| 1740s | 2.3% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 1 |
| 1750s | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 1 |
| 1760s | 2.7% | 2.7% | 2.7% | 1 |
| 1770s | 3.0% | 3.0% | 3.0% | 1 |
| 1780s | 3.3% | 3.3% | 3.3% | 1 |
| 1790s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 1 |
| 1800s | 3.9% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 1 |
| 1810s | 4.3% | 4.3% | 4.3% | 1 |
| 1820s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1830s | 5.2% | 5.2% | 5.2% | 1 |
| 1840s | 5.7% | 5.7% | 5.7% | 1 |
| 1850s | 6.2% | 6.2% | 6.2% | 1 |
| 1860s | 6.8% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 1 |
| 1870s | 7.5% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 1 |
| 1880s | 8.2% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 1 |
| 1890s | 8.9% | 8.9% | 8.9% | 1 |
| 1900s | 9.8% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 1 |
| 1910s | 10.7% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 1 |
| 1920s | 11.8% | 11.8% | 11.8% | 1 |
| 1930s | 12.9% | 12.9% | 12.9% | 1 |
| 1940s | 14.1% | 14.1% | 14.1% | 1 |
| 1950s | 19.1% | 15.4% | 22.9% | 10 |
| 1960s | 26.3% | 23.7% | 29.0% | 10 |
| 1970s | 30.2% | 29.5% | 31.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 33.2% | 31.5% | 36.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 40.4% | 36.9% | 44.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.8% | 44.8% | 50.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 54.3% | 51.5% | 57.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 59.1% | 57.8% | 60.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More population data for Ghana
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -1.09 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2469 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 52,232 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.76 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5066 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Population density 296.87 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.28 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana?
- Share of population living in urbanized areas in Ghana was 60.3% in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 60.3% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urbanized areas recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1000.
- How does Ghana rank for share of population living in urbanized areas?
- Ghana ranks 116th out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of population living in urbanized areas rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in urbanized areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of population living in urban areas in a country over time.