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.
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d’Ivoire and Togo
Geographic coordinates
8 00 N, 2 00 W
Map references
Africa
Area
total : 238,533 sq km
land: 227,533 sq km
water: 11,000 sq km
comparison ranking: total 82
Area – comparative
slightly smaller than Oregon
Land boundaries
total: 2,420 km
border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km; Cote d’Ivoire 720 km; Togo 1098 km
Coastline
539 km
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Terrain
mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area
Elevation
highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 190 m
Natural resources
gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone
Land use
agricultural land: 55.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 11.9% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 22.8% (2022 est.)
forest: 35.2% (2022 est.)
other: 9.4% (2022 est.)
Irrigated land
360 sq km (2013)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) – 1,600 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Population distribution
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
Natural hazards
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds from January to March; droughts
Geography – 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
People and Society
Population
total: 34,589,092 (2024 est.)
male: 16,902,073
female: 17,687,019
comparison rankings: total 44; female 43; male 45
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.)
note: English is the official language
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.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 37.4% (male 6,527,386/female 6,400,245)
15-64 years: 58.2% (male 9,690,498/female 10,444,197)
65 years and over: 4.4% (2024 est.) (male 684,189/female 842,577)
2024 population pyramid:
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio: 71.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 64.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 7.6 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio: 13.2 (2024 est.)
Median age
total: 21.4 years (2024 est.)
male: 20.6 years
female: 22.3 years
comparison ranking: total 191
Population growth rate
2.15% (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 35
Birth rate
27.6 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 33
Death rate
5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 162
Net migration rate
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 107
Population distribution
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
Urbanization
urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Major urban areas – population
3.768 million Kumasi, 2.660 million ACCRA (capital), 1.078 million Sekondi Takoradi (2023)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
Mother’s mean age at first birth
22.1 years (2022 est.)
note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49
Maternal mortality ratio
263 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
comparison ranking: 34
Infant mortality rate
total: 31.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
male: 34.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.8 deaths/1,000 live births
comparison ranking: total 46
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 70.1 years (2024 est.)
male: 68.4 years
female: 71.8 years
comparison ranking: total population 180
Total fertility rate
3.56 children born/woman (2024 est.)
comparison ranking: 32
Gross reproduction rate
1.75 (2024 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rate
27.2% (2017/18)
Drinking water source
improved:
urban: 98.7% of population
rural: 83.8% of population
total: 92.4% of population
unimproved:
urban: 1.3% of population
rural: 16.2% of population
total: 7.6% of population (2020 est.)
Health expenditure
4.2% of GDP (2021)
7.4% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.27 physicians/1,000 population (2023)
Hospital bed density
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2015 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved:
urban: 84.8% of population
rural: 52.8% of population
total: 71.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 15.2% of population
rural: 47.2% of population
total: 28.9% of population (2020 est.)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate
10.9% (2016)
comparison ranking: 136
Alcohol consumption per capita
total: 1.59 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.53 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0.39 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.61 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
comparison ranking: total 137
Tobacco use
total: 2.8% (2025 est.)
male: 5.4% (2025 est.)
female: 0.3% (2025 est.)
comparison ranking: total 167
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
12.6% (2017/18)
comparison ranking: 38
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
54.3% (2023 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 15: 3.3% (2022)
women married by age 18: 16.1% (2022)
men married by age 18: 2.4% (2022)
Education expenditure
2.9% of GDP (2022 est.)
13.2% national budget (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: Education expenditure (% GDP) 158
Literacy
total population: 76.5% (2021 est.)
male: 81.3% (2021 est.)
female: 72.1% (2021 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2020)
Environment
Environment – current issues
drought in north; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction; water pollution; inadequate potable water
Environment – international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
Land use
agricultural land: 55.4% (2022 est.)
arable land: 20.7% (2022 est.)
permanent crops: 11.9% (2022 est.)
permanent pasture: 22.8% (2022 est.)
forest: 35.2% (2022 est.)
other: 9.4% (2022 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 59.2% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 3.06% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Air pollutants
particulate matter emissions: 46.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
carbon dioxide emissions: 16.67 megatons (2016 est.)
methane emissions: 22.75 megatons (2020 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually: 3,538,275 tons (2005 est.)
Major rivers (by length in km)
Volta river mouth (shared with Burkina Faso [s]) – 1,600 km
note: [s] after country name indicates river source; [m] after country name indicates river mouth
Major watersheds (area sq km)
Atlantic Ocean drainage: Volta (410,991 sq km)
Total water withdrawal
municipal: 300 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
industrial: 100 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
agricultural: 1.07 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Total renewable water resources
56.2 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast
etymology: named for a tribal chieftain who ruled a large part of the region prior to the 13th century, even though his territory was northwest of modern-day Ghana; the former name, Gold Coast, came from the gold that Portuguese explorers discovered in the region in the late 15th century
Government type
presidential republic
Capital
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: the name derives from the Akan word nkran, meaning “ant,” and may refer to the nickname local forest dwellers gave to the Nigerian tribes who settled in the area in the 16th century
Administrative divisions
16 regions; Ahafo, Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, North East, Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, Western North
Legal system
mixed system of English common law and customary law
Constitution
history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993
amendment process: proposed by Parliament; consideration requires prior referral to the Council of State, a body of prominent citizens who advise the president of the republic; passage of amendments to “entrenched” constitutional articles (including those on national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, the structure and authorities of the branches of government, and amendment procedures) requires approval in a referendum by at least 40% participation of eligible voters and at least 75% of votes cast, followed by at least two-thirds majority vote in Parliament, and assent of the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: at least one parent or grandparent must be a citizen of Ghana
dual citizenship recognized: yes
residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2025)
head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; nominated by the president, approved by Parliament
elections/appointments: president and vice president directly elected on the same ballot by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 4-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2024 (next to be held on 7 December 2028); the president is both chief of state and head of government
election results:
2024: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president in the first round; percent of vote- John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 56.5%, Mahamudu BAWUMIA (NPC) 41%, other 2.5%
2020: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO reelected president in the first round; percent of vote – Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 51.3%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 47.4%, other 1.3% (2020)
Legislative branch
legislature name: Parliament
legislative structure: unicameral
number of seats: 276 (all directly elected)
electoral system: plurality/majority
scope of elections: full renewal
term in office: 4 years
most recent election date: 12/7/2024
parties elected and seats per party: National Democratic Congress (NDC) (183); New Patriotic Party (NPP) (88); Other (4)
percentage of women in chamber: 14.5%
expected date of next election: December 2028
Judicial branch
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 13 justices)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70
subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals
Political parties
All Peoples Congress or APC
Convention People’s Party or CPP
Ghana Freedom Party or GFP
Ghana Union Movement or GUM
Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP
Liberal Party of Ghana or LPG
National Democratic Congress or NDC
National Democratic Party or NDP
New Patriotic Party or NPP
People’s National Convention or PNC
Progressive People’s Party or PPP
United Front Party or UFP
United Progressive Party or UPP
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires (vacant); note – various News and Events posts on the Embassy website list Paul Kwaw CUDJOE is the Acting Head of Mission (since March 2025)
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://washington.mfa.gov.gh/
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Virginia E. PALMER (since 16 June 2022)
embassy: No. 24, Fourth Circular Road, Cantonments, Accra, P.O. Box 2288, Accra
mailing address: 2020 Accra Place, Washington DC 20521-2020
telephone: [233] (0) 30-274-1000
email address and website:
[email protected]
https://gh.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, ATMIS, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNOOSA, UNSOM, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Independence
6 March 1957 (from the UK)
National holiday
Independence Day, 6 March (1957)
Flag description
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; red stands for the blood shed for independence, yellow for the country’s mineral wealth, and green for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom
note: uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band
National symbol(s)
black star, golden eagle
National colors
red, yellow, green, black
National anthem
name: “God Bless Our Homeland Ghana”
lyrics/music: unknown/Philip GBEHO
note: music adopted 1957, lyrics adopted 1966; the lyrics were changed twice, in 1960 when a republic was declared and after a 1966 coup
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites: 2 (both cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales: Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions; Asante Traditional Buildings
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)
$229.639 billion (2023 est.)
$223.07 billion (2022 est.)
$214.867 billion (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 71
Real GDP growth rate
2.94% (2023 est.)
3.82% (2022 est.)
5.08% (2021 est.)
note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 111
Real GDP per capita
$6,800 (2023 est.)
$6,700 (2022 est.)
$6,600 (2021 est.)
note: data in 2021 dollars
comparison ranking: 161
GDP (official exchange rate)
$76.37 billion (2023 est.)
note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
22.8% (2024 est.)
38.1% (2023 est.)
31.3% (2022 est.)
note: annual % change based on consumer prices
comparison ranking: 199
GDP – composition, by sector of origin
agriculture: 21.1% (2023 est.)
industry: 29.5% (2023 est.)
services: 42.5% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
comparison rankings: services 186; industry 69; agriculture 35
GDP – composition, by end use
household consumption: 84.2% (2023 est.)
government consumption: 5.9% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 10.7% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services: 34% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services: -35% (2023 est.)
note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Agricultural products
cassava, yams, plantains, maize, oil palm fruit, taro, rice, oranges, pineapples, cocoa beans (2023)
note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
Industries
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Industrial production growth rate
-1.22% (2023 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
comparison ranking: 167
Labor force
13.928 million (2024 est.)
note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
comparison ranking: 45
Unemployment rate
3% (2024 est.)
3.1% (2023 est.)
3.1% (2022 est.)
note: % of labor force seeking employment
comparison ranking: 44
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
total: 5.4% (2024 est.)
male: 5.5% (2024 est.)
female: 5.3% (2024 est.)
note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
comparison ranking: total 169
Population below poverty line
23.4% (2016 est.)
note: % of population with income below national poverty line
Gini Index coefficient – distribution of family income
43.5 (2016 est.)
note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
comparison ranking: 29
Average household expenditures
on food: 39.1% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 1.6% (2016 est.)
highest 10%: 32.2% (2016 est.)
note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
Remittances
3.18% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.79% of GDP (2022 est.)
2.42% of GDP (2021 est.)
note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Budget
revenues: $11.684 billion (2022 est.)
expenditures: $16.842 billion (2022 est.)
note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Public debt
71.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
comparison ranking: 52
Taxes and other revenues
12.3% (of GDP) (2022 est.)
note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
comparison ranking: 160
Current account balance
$1.407 billion (2023 est.)
-$1.741 billion (2022 est.)
-$2.541 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
comparison ranking: 52
Exports
$25.365 billion (2023 est.)
$25.52 billion (2022 est.)
$23.901 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – exports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 87
Exports – partners
Switzerland 24%, UAE 18%, India 8%, South Africa 7%, China 7% (2023)
note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Exports – commodities
gold, crude petroleum, cocoa beans, manganese ore, cocoa paste (2023)
note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
Imports
$26.024 billion (2023 est.)
$26.329 billion (2022 est.)
$25.967 billion (2021 est.)
note: balance of payments – imports of goods and services in current dollars
comparison ranking: 85
Imports – partners
China 30%, Netherlands 8%, India 5%, USA 5%, Russia 5% (2023)
note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Imports – commodities
refined petroleum, cars, plastics, plastic products, footwear (2023)
note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$3.624 billion (2023 est.)
$5.205 billion (2022 est.)
$9.917 billion (2021 est.)
note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
comparison ranking: 114
Debt – external
$29.241 billion (2023 est.)
note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
comparison ranking: 27
Exchange rates
cedis (GHC) per US dollar –
Exchange rates:
11.02 (2023 est.)
8.272 (2022 est.)
5.806 (2021 est.)
5.596 (2020 est.)
5.217 (2019 est.)
Energy
Electricity access
electrification – total population: 85.1% (2022 est.)
electrification – urban areas: 95%
electrification – rural areas: 71.6%
Electricity
installed generating capacity: 5.519 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 19.534 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 2 billion kWh (2023 est.)
imports: 48.449 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 2.796 billion kWh (2023 est.)
comparison rankings: transmission/distribution losses 137; imports 117; exports 58; consumption 78; installed generating capacity 86
Electricity generation sources
fossil fuels: 61.5% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
solar: 0.6% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 37.8% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
consumption: 51,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 21 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 52,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production: 176,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
refined petroleum consumption: 96,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves: 660 million barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
production: 3.116 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption: 3.755 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
imports: 639.204 million cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves: 22.653 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
20.822 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke: 107,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids: 13.349 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas: 7.366 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total emissions 83
Energy consumption per capita
10.493 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: 149
Communications
Telephones – fixed lines
total subscriptions: 320,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.) less than 1
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 104
Telephones – mobile cellular
total subscriptions: 33.4 million (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 120 (2022 est.)
comparison ranking: total subscriptions 46
Broadcast media
state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable
Internet country code
.gh
Internet users
percent of population: 70% (2023 est.)
Broadband – fixed subscriptions
total: 223,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)
comparison ranking: total 120
Transportation
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9G
Airports
11 (2025)
comparison ranking: 156
Heliports
7 (2025)
comparison ranking: 88
Railways
total: 947 km (2022)
narrow gauge: 947 km (2022) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine
total: 52 (2023)
by type: general cargo 8, oil tanker 3, other 41
comparison ranking: total 119
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
Military and Security
Military and security forces
Ghana Armed Forces (GAF): Army, Air Force, Ghana Navy
Ministry of Interior: Ghana Police Service (2025)
note: the GAF also has a Medical Service/Corps
Military expenditures
0.4% of GDP (2024 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2023 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.5% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.4% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 15-20,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military’s inventory is a mix of older and some newer Chinese, Russian, and Western equipment, including US, which has donated items such as patrol boats; the government in recent years has committed to an increase in funding for equipment acquisitions, including armor, mechanized, and special forces capabilities for the Army, light attack aircraft for the Air Force, and more modern coastal patrol vessels for the Navy (2024)
Military service age and obligation
18-27 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription (2024)
note: as of 2024, women comprised approximately 15% of the military; Ghanaian women first began serving in the late 1950s
Military deployments
875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 725 (plus about 275 police) South Sudan (UNMISS); 670 Sudan (UNISFA) (2024)
note: since sending a contingent of troops to the Congo in 1960, the military has been a regular contributor to African- and UN-sponsored peacekeeping missions
Military – note
the military’s primary missions are border defense, assisting with internal security, peacekeeping, and protecting the country’s territorial waters, particularly its offshore oil and gas infrastructure; it has benefited from cooperation with foreign partners, such as the UK and the US, and experience gained from participation in multiple international peacekeeping missions
since 2022, Ghana has reinforced its military presence in the north of the country against threats from the terrorist organization Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a coalition of al-Qa’ida linked militant groups, which has conducted attacks in the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, and Togo; Ghana’s northern frontier with Burkina Faso is also an area with well-established smuggling routes, porous borders, and illegal gold mining; Ghana has also made efforts to increase its naval capabilities to protect its maritime claims and counter threats such as piracy
the military traces its origins to the Gold Coast Constabulary that was established in 1879 and renamed the Gold Coast Regiment in 1901; the Gold Coast Regiment was part of the West African Frontier Force, a multi-regiment unit formed by the British colonial office in 1900 to garrison Britain’s West African colonies, which went on to serve in both World Wars; following Ghana’s independence in 1957, the Gold Coast Regiment formed the basis for the new Ghanaian Army (2024)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI; established 2011); note – the GSSTI is eventually slated to become the Ghana Space Agency (2024)
Space program overview
has a small, nascent space program focused on research in space sciences and exploiting remote sensing (RS) technology for natural resource management, weather forecasting, agriculture, and national security issues; relies on foreign imagery for analysis but seeks to develop its own RS satellite capabilities; one of Africa’s leaders in satellite dish research; trains aerospace scientists and engineers; has established relations on space-related issues with China, Japan, and South Africa; cooperating with Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda to establish a joint satellite to monitor climate changes in the African continent; partner of the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) international astronomy initiative (2024)
note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide
Transnational Issues
Illicit drugs
Ghana is a transit and destination point for illicit drugs trafficked from Asia and South America to other African countries, Europe, and to a lesser extent North America; not a significant source for drugs entering the United States; limited local consumption of controlled pharmaceuticals, cocaine, and heroin from Asia and South America; cannabis cultivated and produced in large quantities in most rural areas of Ghana
