Ghana

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 (2007)

Internet country code

.gh

Internet users

total: 9,328,018 | percent of population: 34.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Telephone system

general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra | domestic: competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 140 per 100 persons and rising | international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, Main One, and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 251,490 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 38,305,078 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 142 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Agriculture - products

cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Budget

revenues: $8.615 billion | expenditures: $11.98 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-7.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Central bank discount rate

25.5% (31 December 2016) | 26% (31 December 2015) | country comparison to the world: 2

Commercial bank prime lending rate

31.3% (31 December 2016 est.) | 28.6% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 5

Current account balance

$-2.866 billion (2016 est.) | $-2.824 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Debt - external

$21.95 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $20.68 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Distribution of family income - Gini index

42.3 (2012-13) | 41.9 (2005-06) | country comparison to the world: 51

Economy - overview

Ghana has a market-based economy with relatively few policy barriers to trade and investment in comparison with other countries in the region, and Ghana is well-endowed with natural resources. Ghana's economy was strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels, but in recent years has suffered the consequences of loose fiscal policy, high budget and current account deficits, and a depreciating currency. | Agriculture accounts for about 20% of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. Gold and cocoa exports, and individual remittances, are major sources of foreign exchange. Expansion of Ghana’s nascent oil industry has boosted economic growth, but the fall in oil prices since 2015 reduced by half Ghana’s oil revenue. Production at Jubilee, Ghana's offshore oilfield, began in mid-December 2010. The country’s first gas processing plant at Atubao is also producing natural gas from the Jubilee field, providing power to several of Ghana’s thermal power plants. | As of 2016, key economic concerns facing the government include the lack of reliable electricity and the high debt burden, even amid strong GDP growth. While the MAHAMA administration attempted to ameliorate these concerns, little progress has been made, leaving much work to be done in 2017 by the incoming AKUFO-ADDO administration. Ghana signed a $920 million extended credit facility with the IMF in April 2015 to help it address its growing economic crisis. The IMF fiscal targets require Ghana to reduce the deficit by cutting subsidies, decreasing the bloated public sector wage bill, strengthening revenue administration, and boosting tax revenues. Priorities for the new administration include rescheduling some of Ghana’s $31 billion debt, stimulating economic growth, reducing inflation, and stabilizing the currency. Prospects for new oil and gas production, potentially higher global gold prices, and followthrough on tighter fiscal management are likely to help Ghana’s economy in 2017.

Exchange rates

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - | 3.909 (2016 est.) | 3.909 (2015 est.) | 3.712 (2014 est.) | 2.895 (2013 est.) | 1.8 (2012 est.)

Exports

$11.06 billion (2016 est.) | $10.32 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Exports - commodities

oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products

Exports - partners

Switzerland 17.6%, India 14.7%, UAE 13.4%, China 8.9%, Vietnam 5.2%, Netherlands 4.2%, Burkina Faso 4% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$42.78 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$120.9 billion (2016 est.) | $115.3 billion (2015 est.) | $109.9 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 82

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 83.6% | government consumption: 9.1% | investment in fixed capital: 13.8% | investment in inventories: 0.7% | exports of goods and services: 41% | imports of goods and services: -48.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 19.7% | industry: 25.3% | services: 59.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$4,400 (2016 est.) | $4,300 (2015 est.) | $4,300 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 172

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2016 est.) | 3.8% (2015 est.) | 4% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Gross national saving

7.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | 9% of GDP (2015 est.) | 9.3% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2% | highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)

Imports

$12.75 billion (2016 est.) | $13.47 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Imports - commodities

capital equipment, refined petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners

China 17.3%, UK 9.7%, US 7.7%, Belgium 5.1%, India 4.6% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-1.4% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

17.5% (2016 est.) | 17.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 216

Labor force

12.13 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 44.7% | industry: 14.4% | services: 40.9% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$12.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $15.05 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $3.465 billion (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 69

Population below poverty line

24.2% (2013 est.)

Public debt

78.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | 75.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$6.162 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.885 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Stock of broad money

$13.75 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $12.42 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 98

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$16.62 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | $109 million (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$19.85 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | $118 million (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of domestic credit

$13.67 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $12.93 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Stock of narrow money

$6.472 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.736 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Taxes and other revenues

19.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Unemployment rate

11.9% (2015 est.) | 5.2% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 149

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

11 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Crude oil - exports

99,890 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 37

Crude oil - imports

13,860 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 71

Crude oil - production

100,500 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 44

Crude oil - proved reserves

660 million bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 44

Electricity - consumption

8.377 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Electricity - exports

552 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Electricity - from fossil fuels

44.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 163

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

55.7% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 32

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Electricity - from other renewable sources

1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Electricity - imports

223 million kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - installed generating capacity

2.839 million kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - production

11.09 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 96

Electricity access

population without electricity: 7,300,000 | electrification - total population: 72% | electrification - urban areas: 92% | electrification - rural areas: 50% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

1.325 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Natural gas - imports

626 million cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - production

63.54 million cu m (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 84

Natural gas - proved reserves

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 75

Refined petroleum products - consumption

79,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Refined petroleum products - exports

2,761 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 104

Refined petroleum products - imports

80,350 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Refined petroleum products - production

2,815 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Area

total: 238,533 sq km | land: 227,533 sq km | water: 11,000 sq km | country comparison to the world: 83

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate

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

Coastline

539 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 190 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Afadjato 885 m

Environment - current issues

recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

8 00 N, 2 00 W

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 following the completion of the Akosombo Dam in 1965, which holds back the White Volta and Black Volta Rivers

Irrigated land

340 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 2,420 km | border countries (3): Burkina Faso 602 km, Cote d'Ivoire 720 km, Togo 1,098 km

Land use

agricultural land: 69.1% | arable land 20.7%; permanent crops 11.9%; permanent pasture 36.5% | forest: 21.2% | other: 9.7% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm | contiguous zone: 24 nm | exclusive economic zone: 200 nm | continental shelf: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Population - distribution

population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast

Terrain

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Administrative divisions

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Capital

name: Accra | geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W | time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Constitution

history: several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993 | amendments: 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 by the president; amendments to non-entrenched articles do not require referenda; amended 1996 (2017)

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana | conventional short form: Ghana | former: Gold Coast | etymology: named for the medieval West African kingdom of the same name, but whose location was actually further north than the modern country

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert P. JACKSON (since 4 February 2016) | embassy: 24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra | mailing address: P.O. Box 194, Accra | telephone: [233] 030-274-1000 | FAX: [233] 030-274-1389

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Barfour ADJEI-BARWUAH (since 21 July 2017) | chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 | FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (since 7 January 2017); the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (since 7 January 2017); Vice President Mahamudu BAWUMIA (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 2016 (next to be held in December 2020) | election results: Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO elected president; percent of vote - Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO (NPP) 53.8%, John Dramani MAHAMA (NDC) 44.4%, other 1.8%

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 symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands 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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

6 March 1957 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, 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, MINUSMA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 12 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 upon 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

Legal system

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch

description: unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms) | elections: last held on 7 December 2016 (next to be held in December 2020) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NPP 171, NDC 104

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 holiday

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

National symbol(s)

black star, golden eagle; national colors: red, yellow, green, black

Political parties and leaders

note: Ghana has more than 20 registered parties; included are 5 of the more popular parties as of May 2017 | Convention People's Party or CPPm [Edmund DELLE] | National Democratic Congress or NDC [Kofi PORTUPHY] | New Patriotic Party or NPP Nana AKUFO-ADDO] | People's National Convention or PNC Edward MAHAMA] | Peoples Progressive Party or PPP [Dr. Papa Kwesi NDOUM]

Political pressure groups and leaders

public policy think tanks: Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG); IMANI Center for Policy and Education; Ghana Center for Democratic Development; Institute for Economic Affairs | professional and trade groups: Ghana Bar Association; Ghana Trades Union Congress; American Chamber of Commerce; British Chamber of Commerce; and a host of religious organizations | other: wide range of international and domestic human rights and policy advocacy groups, environmental groups, business organizations, traditional leaders and youth groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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. 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, but he died in July 2012 and was constitutionally succeeded by his vice president, John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election. In 2016, however, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO of the NPP defeated MAHAMA, marking the third time that the Ghana’s presidency has changed parties since the return to democracy.

Military branches

Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force (2012)

Military expenditures

0.38% of GDP (2016) | 0.52% of GDP (2015) | 0.68% of GDP (2014) | 0.53% of GDP (2013) | 0.8% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 125

Military service age and obligation

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 38.01% (male 5,253,430/female 5,198,892) | 15-24 years: 18.63% (male 2,548,661/female 2,575,160) | 25-54 years: 34.14% (male 4,554,972/female 4,834,765) | 55-64 years: 4.97% (male 664,866/female 701,277) | 65 years and over: 4.25% (male 538,790/female 629,111) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

30.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

11% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 55

Contraceptive prevalence rate

30.6% (2016)

Death rate

7 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Demographic profile

Ghana has a young age structure, with approximately 57% of the population under the age of 25. Its total fertility rate fell significantly during the 1980s and 1990s but has stalled at around four children per woman for the last few years. Fertility remains higher in the northern region than the Greater Accra region. On average, desired fertility has remained stable for several years; urban dwellers want fewer children than rural residents. Increased life expectancy, due to better health care, nutrition, and hygiene, and reduced fertility have increased Ghana’s share of elderly persons; Ghana’s proportion of persons aged 60+ is among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty has declined in Ghana, but it remains pervasive in the northern region, which is susceptible to droughts and floods and has less access to transportation infrastructure, markets, fertile farming land, and industrial centers. The northern region also has lower school enrollment, higher illiteracy, and fewer opportunities for women. | Ghana was a country of immigration in the early years after its 1957 independence, attracting labor migrants largely from Nigeria and other neighboring countries to mine minerals and harvest cocoa – immigrants composed about 12% of Ghana’s population in 1960. In the late 1960s, worsening economic and social conditions discouraged immigration, and hundreds of thousands of immigrants, mostly Nigerians, were expelled. | During the 1970s, severe drought and an economic downturn transformed Ghana into a country of emigration; neighboring Cote d’Ivoire was the initial destination. Later, hundreds of thousands of Ghanaians migrated to Nigeria to work in its booming oil industry, but most were deported in 1983 and 1985 as oil prices plummeted. Many Ghanaians then turned to more distant destinations, including other parts of Africa, Europe, and North America, but the majority continued to migrate within West Africa. Since the 1990s, increased emigration of skilled Ghanaians, especially to the US and the UK, drained the country of its health care and education professionals. Internally, poverty and other developmental disparities continue to drive Ghanaians from the north to the south, particularly to its urban centers.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 73 | youth dependency ratio: 67.1 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 | potential support ratio: 17.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 92.6% of population | rural: 84% of population | total: 88.7% of population | urban: 7.4% of population | rural: 16% of population | total: 11.3% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

6.2% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 13

Ethnic groups

Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande 1.1%, other 1.4% (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

HIV/AIDS - deaths

15,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

290,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 20

Health expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 170

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 35.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 39.1 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 31.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 53

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% | note: English is the official language (2010 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 67 years | male: 64.5 years | female: 69.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 172

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 76.6% | male: 82% | female: 71.4% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Major urban areas - population

Kumasi 2.599 million; ACCRA (capital) 2.277 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

319 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Median age

total: 21.1 years | male: 20.6 years | female: 21.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 184

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.6 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Ghanaian(s) | adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate

-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

10.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 136

Physicians density

0.1 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

27,499,924 | note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 49

Population distribution

population is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations being on or near the Atlantic coast

Population growth rate

2.17% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Religions

Christian 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 20.2% of population | rural: 8.6% of population | total: 14.9% of population | urban: 79.8% of population | rural: 91.4% of population | total: 85.1% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 12 years | male: 12 years | female: 12 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female | total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

4 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 11.2% | male: 10.2% | female: 12% (2010 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 55.3% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.07% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money-laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 6,656 (Cote d'Ivoire) (flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2017)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Ghana is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; the trafficking of Ghanians, particularly children, internally is more common than the trafficking of foreign nationals; Ghanian children are subjected to forced labor in fishing, domestic service, street hawking, begging, portering, mining, quarrying, herding, and agriculture, with girls, and to a lesser extent boys, forced into prostitution; Ghanian women, sometimes lured with legitimate job offers, and girls are sex trafficked in West Africa, the Middle East, and Europe; Ghanian men fraudulently recruited for work in the Middle East are subjected to forced labor or prostitution, and a few Ghanian adults have been identified as victims of false labor in the US; women and girls from Vietnam, China, and neighboring West African countries are sex trafficked in Ghana; the country is also a transit point for sex trafficking from West Africa to Europe | tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Ghana does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; Ghana continued to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses but was unable to ramp up its anti-trafficking efforts in 2014 because the government failed to provide law enforcement or protection agencies with operating budgets; victim protection efforts decreased in 2014, with significantly fewer victims identified; most child victims were referred to NGO-run facilities, but care for adults was lacking because the government did not provide any support to the country’s Human Trafficking Fund for victim services or its two shelters; anti-trafficking prevention measures increased modestly, including reconvening of the Human Trafficking Management Board, public awareness campaigns on child labor and trafficking, and anti-trafficking TV and radio programs (2015)

Airports

10 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 156

Airports - with paved runways

total: 7 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9G (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 4 | by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 | foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 134

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 4 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 8 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 390,457 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 844,630 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 394 km; oil 20 km; refined products 361 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema

Railways

total: 947 km | narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 92

Roadways

total: 109,515 km | paved: 13,787 km | unpaved: 95,728 km (2009) | country comparison to the world: 45

Waterways

1,293 km (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) (2011) | country comparison to the world: 56