Ghana Travel Podcast with Ama Boateng

Location

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Terrain

Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Climate

Tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Elevation

Highest point

Mount Afadjato 885 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

190 m

Area

Total

238,533 sq km

Land

227,533 sq km

Water

11,000 sq km

Size comparison

Slightly smaller than Oregon

Coastline

539 km

Land borders

Total

2,420 km

Border countries

Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d'Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km

Natural resources

Gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Land use

Agricultural land

55.4% (2023 est.)

Arable land

20.7% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops

11.9% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture

22.8% (2023 est.)

Forest

30.7% (2023 est.)

Other

13.9% (2023 est.)

Natural hazards

Dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts

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

Population

Total

35,336,133 (2025 est.)

Male

17,278,776

Female

18,057,357

Nationality

Noun

Ghanaian(s)

Adjective

Ghanaian

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.)

Languages

Asante 16%, Ewe 14%, Fante 11.6%, Boron (Brong) 4.9%, Dagomba 4.4%, Dangme 4.2%, Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.9%, Kokomba 3.5%, Akyem 3.2%, Ga 3.1%, other 31.2% (2010 est.)

Religions

Christian 71.3% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 31.6%, Protestant 17.4%, Catholic 10%, other 12.3%), Muslim 19.9%, traditionalist 3.2%, other 4.5%, none 1.1% (2021 est.)

Median age

Total

21.6 years (2025 est.)

Male

20.6 years

Female

22.3 years

Life expectancy

Total population

70.1 years (2024 est.)

Male

68.4 years

Female

71.8 years

Urbanisation

Urban population

59.2% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization

3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Where people live

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

Largest cities

3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)

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.

Government

Presidential republic

Capital

Accra

Time zone

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Independence

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

National day

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Overview

West African lower-middle income economy; major gold, oil and cocoa exporter; macroeconomic challenges following nearly four decades of sustained growth; recent progress in debt restructuring, fiscal reforms, financial stability, and curbing runaway inflation under 2023-26 IMF credit facility program

GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2024

$7,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$6,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$6,700 (2022 est.)

Inflation

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

22.8% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

38.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

31.3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment

Unemployment rate 2024

3.1% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.1% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

3.1% (2022 est.)

Exchange rate

Currency

Cedis (GHC) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2023

11.02 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

8.272 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

5.806 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

5.596 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

5.217 (2019 est.)

Main industries

Mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum

Agriculture

Cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)

Airports

11 (2025)

Railways

Total

947 km (2022)

Narrow gauge

947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge

Ports

Total ports

4 (2024)

Large

0

Medium

1

Small

1

Very small

2

Ports with oil terminals

3

Key ports

Saltpond, Sekondi, Takoradi, Tema

Internet domain

.gh

Internet users

Percent of population 70% (2023 est.)

Mobile subscriptions

Total subscriptions

39.1 million (2024 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

114 (2024 est.)

Environmental issues

Drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water

Fresh water

56.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)