Total population (thousands) in Ghana
Ghana: Total population (thousands) was 34,746 thousands in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
34,746 thousands
Change on year
up 1.9%
World rank
46th
of 233 countries
All-time high
34,746 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
8,802 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Total population in Ghana, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Ghana recorded 34,746 thousands for total population in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.9% on the previous year and up 22.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total population in Ghana peaked at 34,746 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 8,802 thousands, in 1970.
Ghana ranks 46th of 233 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Total population (thousands) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,802 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 9,050 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1972 | 9,303 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1973 | 9,574 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1974 | 9,856 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1975 | 10,145 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1976 | 10,443 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1977 | 10,746 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1978 | 11,077 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1979 | 11,420 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1980 | 11,775 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 12,108 thousands | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 12,455 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 12,832 thousands | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 13,227 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 13,514 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 13,809 thousands | +2.2% |
| 1987 | 14,122 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1988 | 14,456 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1989 | 14,817 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1990 | 15,197 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 15,592 thousands | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 15,983 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 16,387 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 16,792 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1995 | 17,194 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 17,604 thousands | +2.4% |
| 1997 | 18,017 thousands | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 18,461 thousands | +2.5% |
| 1999 | 18,915 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2000 | 19,385 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2001 | 19,889 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 20,445 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 21,014 thousands | +2.8% |
| 2004 | 21,579 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 22,157 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2006 | 22,742 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2007 | 23,340 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 23,945 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 24,555 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2010 | 25,170 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2011 | 25,780 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 26,410 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2013 | 27,058 thousands | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 27,714 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2015 | 28,369 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 29,023 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 29,690 thousands | +2.3% |
| 2018 | 30,326 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 30,949 thousands | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 31,569 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 32,206 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 32,831 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2023 | 33,467 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 34,108 thousands | +1.9% |
| 2025 | 34,746 thousands | +1.9% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 34,746 thousands is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 12,314 thousands, 2.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 34,746 thousands is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,783 thousands, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10,042 thousands | 8,802 thousands | 11,420 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 13,312 thousands | 11,775 thousands | 14,817 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,014 thousands | 15,197 thousands | 18,915 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 21,905 thousands | 19,385 thousands | 24,555 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,049 thousands | 25,170 thousands | 30,949 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 33,155 thousands | 31,569 thousands | 34,746 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
- 43 Uzbekistan 36,713 thousands compare
- 44 Malaysia 35,771 thousands compare
- 45 Mozambique 35,134 thousands compare
- 47 Peru 34,401 thousands compare
- 48 Saudi Arabia 34,264 thousands compare
- 49 Madagascar 32,352 thousands compare
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 total population in Ghana?
- Total population in Ghana was 34,746 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest total population recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 34,746 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest total population recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,802 thousands in 1970.
- How does Ghana rank for total population?
- Ghana ranks 46th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is total population rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Total population (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release