Basic Statistics

Basic Statistics

Here are some basic facts about Ghana.

Ghana Population

• Approximately 23 million people, with nearly 25% of the population estimated to be in the in the five largest urban areas.
• Language: English is the official language. There are many different indigenous languages, Twi (pronounced Ch-wee) being the most common. See our language videos for more information.

Geography of Ghana

• Size: 92,000 square miles. About the size of the United Kingdom, or the US state of Oregon.
• Tropical rainforest covers the south west.
• Forests and highlands in the east and mid-section.
• Savannah and Sahelian conditions north of Volta Lake.
• Ghana sits at 0 GMT. Prince's Town is the closest land on earth to 0 longitude and 0 latitude.
• Created by the Akosombo Dam, Volta Lake is the largest man-made lake in the world by surface area, covering 8,600 square miles.
• Lake Bosumtwi, near Kumasi, is the world's largest lake created by a meteorite impact.

Ghana Economy

• Agriculture accounts for 50% of GDP
• Ghana is the world's second largest producer of cocoa. The chocolate you love probably came from Ghana!
• Mining is the largest earner of foreign capital.
• Gold and bauxite
• Oil in significant quantities has recently been discovered offshore.
• Tourism is the third largest earner of foreign revenue.
• Tourism revenue increased more than 1000% during the period 1985 - 1995

Ghana Politics

• President: John Dramani Mahama
• Executive President and 230 member unicameral legislature.
• Elections every 4 years. Next in December 2016.
• President may stand for a maximum of 2 terms.
• There are 10 Administrative Regions.

Ghana Trivia

• Ghana contributes the highest number of female peace keepers to the United Nations.
• The oldest European structure in Africa is the Elmina castle, with original construction starting in 1482.

Back to Top