Facts & Stats – A brief guide to the Republic of Ghana

Demographics

Population: 27 million

Official language: English

Ethnic groups:

• 47.5% Akan (11.5 m.)
• 16.6% Dagbani / Mole (4 m.)
• 13.9% Ewe (2.9 m.)
• 7.4% Ga-Adangbe (1.8 m.)
• 5.7% Gurma (0.7 m.)
• 3.7% Guan / Gonja (0.3 m.)
• 2.5% Gurunsi (0.1 m.)
• 1.1% Bissa / Mande (0.1 m.)
• 1.6% Other (0.1 m.)

Life expectancy: Females 67 years, Males 66 years

Infant mortality: 39 per 1,000 live births

Literacy rate: Approx. 72%

Geography

Capital: Accra, population 2.3 million (2012)

Area: 238,535 km2 (82nd)

Coastline: 560 km

Calling code: +233

Largest lake: Lake Volta 8,502 km2 (one of the world’s largest man-made lakes)

Highest mountain: Mount Afadjato (885 m)

Neighbouring countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Togo

Government

Indepent from the U.K. since: 6 March 1957

Government: Constitutional Republic

President: John Dramani Mahama (since 2012)

Economy and technology

Currency: Ghana cedi (GHS)

GDP: $108.259 billion (total), $4,129 (per capita)

Internet users: 5.2 million (19%)

Climate

Public holidays:

Emergency phone numbers

Police: 191           

Fire Service: 192/199

Ambulance: 193