01
Physical geography
Mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area.
Local timeAccra ·
Africa / Western Africa · Card 022
Ghana
Ghana is a country in Western Africa. Its capital is Accra.
Find Ghana
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Accra
- Languages
- English
- Currency
- Ghanaian cedi (GHS)
- Population
- 35.1 million2025 · World Bank
- Area
- 238,533 km²92,098 square miles
- Independence
- 1957from the UK
Ghana in context
Africa and its surrounding islands. The dot marks Accra; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include English.
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Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo.
Flag
Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green, with a large five-pointed black star centered in the yellow band
History & independence
Ghana became independent from Britain on 6 March 1957 after nationalist mobilization and constitutional negotiations led by Kwame Nkrumah. The new state combined the Gold Coast and British Togoland. Ghana became a republic in 1960.
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Independence as Ghana
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The country becomes a republic
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The Fourth Republic begins under a new constitution
Economy
Main activities
Gold, cocoa and petroleum are major exports. Services, manufacturing and agriculture provide a broader economic base. Commodity prices and the costs of debt and imports affect national finances.
Industry and production
mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building, petroleum
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Millions of people35.12025 · millions of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Millions of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 8,925,813 | 8.926 |
| 1980 | 11,941,448 | 11.941 |
| 1990 | 15,394,648 | 15.395 |
| 2000 | 19,637,087 | 19.637 |
| 2010 | 25,474,995 | 25.475 |
| 2020 | 31,887,809 | 31.888 |
| 2025 | 35,064,272 | 35.064 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars79.32025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 13,175,548,086 | 13.176 |
| 1991 | 13,871,457,663 | 13.871 |
| 1992 | 14,409,589,639 | 14.410 |
| 1993 | 15,108,454,816 | 15.108 |
| 1994 | 15,607,033,786 | 15.607 |
| 1995 | 16,248,860,404 | 16.249 |
| 1996 | 16,996,707,892 | 16.997 |
| 1997 | 17,709,950,508 | 17.710 |
| 1998 | 18,542,387,390 | 18.542 |
| 1999 | 19,358,251,847 | 19.358 |
| 2000 | 20,074,507,181 | 20.075 |
| 2001 | 20,877,487,494 | 20.877 |
| 2002 | 21,816,974,339 | 21.817 |
| 2003 | 22,951,457,033 | 22.951 |
| 2004 | 24,236,738,625 | 24.237 |
| 2005 | 25,666,707,130 | 25.667 |
| 2006 | 27,309,353,955 | 27.309 |
| 2007 | 28,496,442,170 | 28.496 |
| 2008 | 31,103,809,333 | 31.104 |
| 2009 | 32,610,629,349 | 32.611 |
| 2010 | 35,186,775,129 | 35.187 |
| 2011 | 40,129,504,915 | 40.130 |
| 2012 | 43,858,655,297 | 43.859 |
| 2013 | 47,065,830,438 | 47.066 |
| 2014 | 48,410,143,590 | 48.410 |
| 2015 | 49,436,806,230 | 49.437 |
| 2016 | 51,104,539,956 | 51.105 |
| 2017 | 55,258,774,289 | 55.259 |
| 2018 | 58,684,861,221 | 58.685 |
| 2019 | 62,503,939,827 | 62.504 |
| 2020 | 62,825,173,619 | 62.825 |
| 2021 | 66,014,472,471 | 66.014 |
| 2022 | 68,526,223,983 | 68.526 |
| 2023 | 70,678,009,775 | 70.678 |
| 2024 | 74,810,884,164 | 74.811 |
| 2025 | 79,265,436,279 | 79.265 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.628Medium human developmentRank 143 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
19900.432
20000.487
20100.558
20200.614
20230.628
65.5 yearsLife expectancy at birth
7.1 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Presidential republic. Parliament has one chamber (a unicameral legislature). The president holds executive responsibilities; the legislature makes national laws.
Knowledge check
Three questions about Ghana.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
In which year did this event occur in Ghana: Independence as Ghana?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived country profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.