Population in Ghana
Ghana: Population was 33.79 million people in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
33.79 million people
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
46th
of 236 countries
All-time high
33.79 million people
in 2023
All-time low
5.08 million people
in 1950
Years of data
74
1950–2023
Population in Ghana, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 33.79 million people for population in 2023. That is the highest value across all 74 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 23.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population in Ghana peaked at 33.79 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 5.08 million people, in 1950.
That places Ghana 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population in Ghana, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 5.08 million people | — |
| 1951 | 5.23 million people | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 5.39 million people | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 5.55 million people | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 5.73 million people | +3.2% |
| 1955 | 5.91 million people | +3.2% |
| 1956 | 6.11 million people | +3.3% |
| 1957 | 6.31 million people | +3.3% |
| 1958 | 6.52 million people | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 6.74 million people | +3.3% |
| 1960 | 6.96 million people | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 7.16 million people | +2.9% |
| 1962 | 7.34 million people | +2.4% |
| 1963 | 7.51 million people | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 7.70 million people | +2.4% |
| 1965 | 7.88 million people | +2.4% |
| 1966 | 8.07 million people | +2.4% |
| 1967 | 8.27 million people | +2.4% |
| 1968 | 8.48 million people | +2.5% |
| 1969 | 8.69 million people | +2.5% |
| 1970 | 8.93 million people | +2.7% |
| 1971 | 9.18 million people | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 9.44 million people | +2.9% |
| 1973 | 9.71 million people | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 10.00 million people | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 10.29 million people | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 10.59 million people | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 10.91 million people | +3.0% |
| 1978 | 11.25 million people | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 11.60 million people | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 11.94 million people | +3.0% |
| 1981 | 12.28 million people | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 12.64 million people | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 13.03 million people | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 13.37 million people | +2.6% |
| 1985 | 13.66 million people | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 13.97 million people | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 14.29 million people | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 14.64 million people | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 15.01 million people | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 15.39 million people | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 15.79 million people | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 16.18 million people | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 16.59 million people | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 16.99 million people | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 17.40 million people | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 17.81 million people | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 18.24 million people | +2.4% |
| 1998 | 18.69 million people | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 19.15 million people | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 19.64 million people | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 20.17 million people | +2.7% |
| 2002 | 20.73 million people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 21.30 million people | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 21.87 million people | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 22.45 million people | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 23.04 million people | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 23.64 million people | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 24.25 million people | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 24.86 million people | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 25.48 million people | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 26.10 million people | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 26.73 million people | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 27.39 million people | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 28.04 million people | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 28.70 million people | +2.3% |
| 2016 | 29.36 million people | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 30.01 million people | +2.2% |
| 2018 | 30.64 million people | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 31.26 million people | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 31.89 million people | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 32.52 million people | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 33.15 million people | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 33.79 million people | +1.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 33.79 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12.20 million people, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 33.79 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14.26 million people, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 5.86 million people | 5.08 million people | 6.74 million people | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.81 million people | 6.96 million people | 8.69 million people | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.19 million people | 8.93 million people | 11.60 million people | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.48 million people | 11.94 million people | 15.01 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.22 million people | 15.39 million people | 19.15 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.19 million people | 19.64 million people | 24.86 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.37 million people | 25.48 million people | 31.26 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 32.84 million people | 31.89 million people | 33.79 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 43 Uzbekistan 35.65 million people compare
- 44 Malaysia 35.13 million people compare
- 45 Peru 33.85 million people compare
- 47 Mozambique 33.64 million people compare
- 48 Saudi Arabia 33.26 million people compare
- 49 Madagascar 31.20 million people compare
More population data for Ghana
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2469 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1514 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.1% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 4.28 million people (2100)
- Population density 296.87 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.1% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5066 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.76 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population in Ghana?
- Population in Ghana was 33.79 million people in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 33.79 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest population recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.08 million people in 1950.
- How does Ghana rank for population?
- Ghana ranks 46th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total population, measured on 1 July of the year shown.