Ghana Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Ghana, State of West Africa; 238,500 km², 29.8 million residents (2019).Ghana borders in the west to the Ivory Coast, in the north to Burkina Faso and in the east to Togo and has the south coast to the Atlantic. The capital is Accra (2.2 million residents, 2012).

Country facts

Republic of Ghana / Republic of Ghana
Country abbreviation: GH
Area: 238 500 km²
Population (2019): 29.8 million residents
Capital: Accra
Main languages: English, moore
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: Nana Akufo-Addo (President)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 2,202
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 2 130
Currency unit: 1 cedi = 100 pesewas
Currency code: GHS
Country number (telephony): 233
Internet Domain Name: gh
Time difference compared to Sweden: −1
National Day: March 6 (Independence Day, 1957)

Nature

Land use: forest (38%), agricultural land (23%), other (39%)
Highest mountain: Afadjato (885 m asl)
Largest lake: Lake Volta (8 470 km² )

Population

Population density (2019): 125 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 2.3%; birth number 30 ‰, death number 7 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (38%), 15-64 (59%), 65- (3%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 62 years, women 65 years
Infant mortality (2019): 37 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 52 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.592 (place 140 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 56%
Most populous cities (2012): Accra (2.3 million residents), Kumasi (2 million)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (18%), industry (24%), service (58%)
Exports (2017): US $ 13,840 million
Main export products: oil, gold, cocoa,
Main exporting countries: India, China, Switzerland
Imports (2017): US $ 12,650 million
Main import products: capital goods, oil, food
Main importing countries: China, USA, UK
Railway network (2014): 950 km

Ghana consists of a low lying area and is drained by the river Volta, which includes the artificial Lake Volta. The coastline alternates low sandy bays and mountainous headlands.

The country is a multi-party state where the executive power is held by a president who is elected by universal suffrage for a period of four years and can be re-elected once. The legislative power is exercised by a single-chamber parliament, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term. The country became independent in 1957.

Agriculture is traditionally the dominant industry in Ghana. Previously, the country was the world’s largest cocoa producer, but that role has been taken over by Ivory Coast. In addition to cocoa, gold and timber are the most important export products.

The dependence on a few commodities has made the country sensitive to changes in world market prices. However, during the 2000s, the country’s economic development has stabilized, thanks in large part to an increase in production in the oil and mining industry.