Ghana

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Ghana in 1957 became the first Sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25.

Geography

Area
total : 238,533 sq km
land: 227,533 sq km
water: 11,000 sq km

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

Natural resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

People and Society

Population
total: 34,589,092 (2024 est.)

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.)

Population growth rate
2.15% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Accra

Executive branch
chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Victor Emmanuel SMITH (since 19 September 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Rolf OLSON (since 29 May 2025)

Economy

Economic 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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$243.124 billion (2024 est.)
$230.046 billion (2023 est.)
$223.043 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$7,100 (2024 est.)
$6,800 (2023 est.)
$6,700 (2022 est.)

Exports
$25.365 billion (2023 est.)
$25.52 billion (2022 est.)
$23.901 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)

Exports - commodities
gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)

Imports
$26.024 billion (2023 est.)
$26.329 billion (2022 est.)
$25.967 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.628, ranking it 143rd out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 127th out of 158 countries tested with a score of 4.34. (more information)