Basic Statistics, Ghana Trivia

Basic Statistics

Here are some basic facts about Ghana.

Approximately 30.1 million people as of 2019, 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 over 40 different indigenous languages, Twi (pronounced Ch-wee) being the most common. See our language videos for more information.
In 2019, the median age of the Ghanaian population was 20.9 years.

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's GDP in 2018 was $65.56 billion US, according to the World Bank.
Agriculture accounts for 17% of GDP and employs 29% of the workforce.
The services sector accounts for 44% of GDP and employs 49% of the workforce.
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 are significantly mined. Ghana is the 7th largest gold producer in the world (behind Peru, South Africa, Russia, USA, Australia and China).
Oil in significant quantities was discovered offshore in 2007. This now accounts for over 20% of export revenue.
60% of exports from Ghana go to India, China, Switzerland and South Africa.
China is our biggest import partner, with over 29% of imports coming from China. India, the USA and the Netherlands are the second most important partners, each accounting for about 5% of imports.

President: Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo
Executive President and 275 member unicameral legislature.
Elections every 4 years. Next in December 2020.
President may stand for a maximum of 2 terms.
There are 16 Administrative Regions.
In Ghana there is a system of tribal government in addition to the national government.
The current constitution of ghana came to being on 28 April 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support.

Ghana contributes the 2nd highest number of female peace keepers to the United Nations, behind Ethiopia.
The oldest European structure in Africa is the Elmina castle, with original construction starting in 1482.
Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence post-colonialism. It gained its independence on March 6, 1957.