Ghana birth & fertility rate decline on charts

Ghana has a birth rate of 26.3 (annual births per 1,000 people) and a fertility rate of 3.4 (the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime based on current age-specific birth rates).

In 1960, the fertility rate in Ghana was 6.89 children per woman — 2.03 times higher than in 2023.

Ghana birth rate statistics:

Ghana is ranked 47/196 by birth rate now and was ranked 20/194 in 1960.
The mean age at first birth in Ghana is 22.1 — it was 22.6 in 2017.
The mean age at childbearing (for all the births, not just the first) is 29.4, a change from 30 in 1990.
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19 (adolescent birth rate or teenage mother rate) changed from 167.6 in 1960 to 58.2 in 2023.
25.6% of the population in 2024 is composed of women of reproductive age (15-49), a change from 22.6% in 1960.

Fertility rate in Ghana by year

1x

Year	Fertility rate	Rank
2023	3.4	46
2022	3.43	45
2021	3.49	45
2020	3.54	45
2019	3.59	45
2018	3.65	47
2017	3.72	47
2016	3.87	46
2015	3.98	44
2014	4.03	44
2013	4.11	44
2012	4.15	44
2011	4.18	46
2010	4.18	46
2009	4.18	46
2008	4.22	46
2007	4.29	46
2006	4.4	44
2005	4.5	43
2004	4.5	44
2003	4.6	43
2002	4.69	43
2001	4.77	43
2000	4.83	43
1999	4.82	44
1998	4.83	46
1997	4.88	49
1996	4.96	49
1995	5.11	46
1994	5.25	48
1993	5.41	48
1992	5.52	47
1991	5.63	49
1990	5.74	50
1989	5.82	48
1988	5.92	51
1987	6.02	49
1986	6.08	51
1985	6.12	53
1984	6.15	54
1983	6.23	53
1982	6.31	53
1981	6.42	50
1980	6.47	50
1979	6.51	50
1978	6.56	50
1977	6.64	46
1976	6.7	44
1975	6.76	42
1974	6.82	39
1973	6.87	37
1972	6.92	36
1971	6.95	35
1970	6.95	37
1969	6.95	38
1968	6.89	40
1967	6.89	40
1966	6.86	45
1965	6.88	43
1964	6.9	43
1963	6.94	43
1962	6.94	42
1961	6.91	43
1960	6.89	40

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

According to the latest birth rate data available, the fertility rate in Ghana is 3.4, which is above the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In 1993, the fertility rate was 5.41 — a 37.3% decline in 30 years.

Check population clock for a dynamic visualization of the changing population.

The chart above shows the historical changes in fertility rate and ranking compared to other countries, where a lower rank number indicates a higher relative fertility rate.

Births, deaths, and natural population change by year

1x

Year	People
Year	Natural change	Births	Deaths
2023	651,094	888,960	237,866
2022	646,441	881,634	235,193
2021	635,805	879,109	243,304
2020	637,469	874,682	237,213
2019	642,403	871,843	229,440
2018	641,551	869,739	228,188
2017	641,218	868,021	226,803
2016	659,910	885,751	225,841
2015	667,729	892,849	225,120
2014	660,829	884,628	223,799
2013	658,638	882,355	223,717
2012	646,595	869,371	222,776
2011	631,501	852,917	221,416
2010	613,133	832,319	219,186
2009	592,825	810,149	217,324
2008	579,695	795,131	215,436
2007	572,332	785,467	213,135
2006	569,474	780,549	211,075
2005	563,234	772,328	209,094
2004	543,339	749,688	206,349
2003	536,656	740,678	204,022
2002	528,620	730,151	201,531
2001	519,382	718,350	198,968
2000	508,738	704,932	196,194
1999	487,210	680,815	193,605
1998	471,313	662,827	191,514
1997	459,822	649,306	189,484
1996	450,259	638,281	188,022
1995	451,748	639,013	187,265
1994	449,589	637,125	187,536
1993	454,669	638,547	183,878
1992	452,156	634,494	182,338
1991	448,159	629,873	181,714
1990	442,211	623,067	180,856
1989	432,541	613,628	181,087
1988	425,031	607,344	182,313
1987	419,328	603,400	184,072
1986	411,191	596,649	185,458
1985	401,722	588,539	186,817
1984	392,053	580,056	188,003
1983	379,846	564,843	184,997
1982	369,061	550,954	181,893
1981	359,572	539,572	180,000
1980	346,816	526,952	180,136
1979	334,848	510,476	175,628
1978	324,428	496,349	171,921
1977	315,429	484,170	168,741
1976	305,769	473,984	168,215
1975	298,267	466,352	168,085
1974	290,796	458,924	168,128
1973	283,385	451,127	167,742
1972	275,236	442,858	167,622
1971	265,442	434,927	169,485
1970	257,938	425,555	167,617
1969	251,925	416,138	164,213
1968	242,821	403,978	161,157
1967	237,156	394,959	157,803
1966	231,440	385,849	154,409
1965	229,061	380,280	151,219
1964	226,685	374,466	147,781
1963	225,367	369,889	144,522
1962	223,842	364,418	140,576
1961	222,372	358,047	135,675
1960	217,134	350,664	133,530

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

Over the past 10 years, the natural population change in Ghana (from births and deaths only, excluding migration) has been +2.1% annually. On average, 648,444 more people were born each year than died.

Excluding migration, the natural population change due to births and deaths from 2022 to 2023 was 1.93% — 651,094 more people were born than died.

In 2023, Ghana ranks 30/196 for absolute natural population change and 49/196 for natural change rate, where a lower rank number indicates faster natural growth and a higher number indicates greater decline.

Birth rates in Ghana compared to other countries

	Ghana	Rank
Fertility rate	3.4	46/196
Birth rate	26.3	47/196
Population change due to births and deaths	+651,094	30/196
Natural population change rate	+1.93%	49/196
Population growth	+1.89%	57/197
Age at first childbirth	22.1 years	83/137
Average age at childbearing	29.4 years	81/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 15-19	56.3	54/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 20-29	148.6	58/197
Annual births per 1,000 women ages 30+	52.5	36/197
Female of reproductive age (15-49), share of population	25.6%	59/196
Any modern method of contraceptive prevalence among married women ages 15-49	27.8%	129/179
Share of births attended by skilled health staff	78.9%	155/191
Maternal mortality per live birth	0.23%	32/193
Neonatal mortality rate (before reaching 28 days of age)	2.12%	44/193
Infant mortality rate (before reaching 1 year of age)	2.82%	52/196
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age	3.71%	52/192
Life expectancy	66.1 years	169/197

Birth rates by women's age

Annual births per 1,000 women

1x

Year	Annual births per 1,000 women
Year	Total	15-19	20-29	30+
2026	50.3	56.3	148.6	52.5
2025	50.9	57.2	150.1	53.9
2024	51.6	58	151.6	55.4
2023	52.4	58.8	153.6	57
2022	52.9	59.4	155.3	58.2
2021	53.8	60.4	157.3	59.9
2020	54.6	62.7	159.5	61.1
2019	55.5	65.1	161.6	62.3
2018	56.5	67.4	163.9	63.5
2017	57.6	68.9	166.7	65
2016	60.1	71.5	173.1	68.2
2015	62	73.4	177.8	70.5
2014	62.8	73.2	179.8	71.9
2013	64.1	72.9	182.9	74
2012	64.7	72	183.9	75.3
2011	65	71.6	184.1	76.2
2010	64.9	71	183	77
2009	64.7	71.8	182.3	76.8
2008	65.1	73.6	184	77
2007	65.9	76	187	78
2006	67.2	74.7	192.8	80.4
2005	68.2	74.3	196	83
2004	67.8	76.3	195.3	83.1
2003	68.8	77.9	199.8	84.7
2002	69.6	81	203.7	86
2001	70.3	83.6	206.5	87.4
2000	70.8	85.7	207	88.8
1999	70.1	82.6	207.9	88.6
1998	69.9	87.3	208.6	87.5
1997	70.2	89.8	210.1	88.2
1996	70.7	90.5	212	89.4
1995	72.3	96.6	216.1	91.4
1994	73.9	99.3	221.1	94
1993	75.8	102.6	228.7	95.7
1992	77.2	108.6	233.2	95.7
1991	78.6	111.6	237.1	96.6
1990	79.6	112.3	242.3	97.8
1989	80.4	110.8	247.3	99.1
1988	81.6	111.2	251.8	101.2
1987	83	116	253.9	103.4
1986	84	116.2	257.1	105
1985	84.7	118.2	257.8	106.5
1984	85.2	117.9	259.6	108.1
1983	85.1	119.6	261.5	111.1
1982	85.5	121.4	262.3	114.8
1981	86.3	121.6	265.2	117.9
1980	86.7	124.4	266.9	118.6
1979	86.4	123	270.2	120.7
1978	86.8	125.8	272	123.4
1977	87.4	126.8	273.6	127.7
1976	88.1	128.6	273.3	131.6
1975	89.2	132.4	277.3	132.8
1974	90.5	136	280.6	134.3
1973	91.6	140	282.6	135.5
1972	92.6	139	285.6	136.4
1971	93.5	136.6	289.6	135.7
1970	94	138.2	292	134.8
1969	94.6	138.3	292.8	135.2
1968	94.3	138.3	291.4	133.8
1967	94.8	138.9	288.9	134.8
1966	95.1	143	286.7	134.1
1965	96.2	152.6	286.1	133.8
1964	97.3	155.9	284.3	135.2
1963	98.7	159.2	283.5	136.9
1962	99.9	163.6	282.2	137.8
1961	100.9	165.2	282	137.8
1960	101.9	167.1	282.3	135.6

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

Above is a chart displaying birth rates in Ghana by maternal age. In 2026, of all live births, 11.2% will be to women under age 20, 49.2% to women ages 20-29, and 39.6% to women ages 30 and above. The respective shares in 1990 were 14.9%, 51.7%, and 33.4%.

Children 0-14 years as share of population by year

1x

Year	Children 0-14 as share of population
Year	Ghana	World
2100	19.3%	16.5%
2099	19.5%	16.6%
2098	19.6%	16.6%
2097	19.7%	16.7%
2096	19.8%	16.8%
2095	20%	16.8%
2094	20.1%	16.9%
2093	20.2%	17%
2092	20.4%	17%
2091	20.5%	17.1%
2090	20.7%	17.2%
2089	20.8%	17.2%
2088	21%	17.3%
2087	21.1%	17.4%
2086	21.3%	17.4%
2085	21.4%	17.5%
2084	21.6%	17.5%
2083	21.7%	17.6%
2082	21.9%	17.7%
2081	22.1%	17.7%
2080	22.2%	17.8%
2079	22.4%	17.8%
2078	22.5%	17.9%
2077	22.7%	17.9%
2076	22.9%	18%
2075	23%	18%
2074	23.2%	18.1%
2073	23.4%	18.2%
2072	23.5%	18.2%
2071	23.7%	18.3%
2070	23.9%	18.3%
2069	24.1%	18.4%
2068	24.2%	18.5%
2067	24.4%	18.6%
2066	24.6%	18.6%
2065	24.8%	18.7%
2064	25.1%	18.8%
2063	25.3%	18.9%
2062	25.5%	19.1%
2061	25.7%	19.2%
2060	26%	19.3%
2059	26.2%	19.4%
2058	26.4%	19.5%
2057	26.7%	19.6%
2056	26.9%	19.8%
2055	27.2%	19.9%
2054	27.4%	20%
2053	27.7%	20.1%
2052	27.9%	20.2%
2051	28.2%	20.3%
2050	28.4%	20.4%
2049	28.6%	20.5%
2048	28.9%	20.6%
2047	29.1%	20.7%
2046	29.3%	20.8%
2045	29.5%	20.9%
2044	29.7%	20.9%
2043	29.9%	21%
2042	30.2%	21.1%
2041	30.4%	21.2%
2040	30.6%	21.2%
2039	30.8%	21.3%
2038	31%	21.4%
2037	31.3%	21.5%
2036	31.5%	21.6%
2035	31.8%	21.8%
2034	32%	22%
2033	32.3%	22.2%
2032	32.7%	22.4%
2031	33%	22.7%
2030	33.5%	23%
2029	33.9%	23.3%
2028	34.3%	23.6%
2027	34.8%	23.9%
2026	35.2%	24.2%
2025	35.6%	24.6%
2024	35.8%	24.7%
2023	36.2%	25%
2022	36.5%	25.3%
2021	36.9%	25.6%
2020	37.2%	25.8%
2019	37.6%	26%
2018	37.8%	26.2%
2017	38.1%	26.4%
2016	38.4%	26.5%
2015	38.6%	26.6%
2014	38.8%	26.8%
2013	38.9%	26.9%
2012	38.9%	27%
2011	39%	27.1%
2010	39.1%	27.3%
2009	39.3%	27.5%
2008	39.5%	27.6%
2007	39.8%	27.9%
2006	40.1%	28.1%
2005	40.4%	28.5%
2004	40.7%	28.8%
2003	41.1%	29.2%
2002	41.5%	29.6%
2001	41.9%	30%
2000	42.3%	30.4%
1999	42.7%	30.8%
1998	43.1%	31.1%
1997	43.5%	31.5%
1996	43.9%	31.8%
1995	44.2%	32.1%
1994	44.5%	32.3%
1993	44.8%	32.5%
1992	45%	32.7%
1991	45.2%	32.9%
1990	45.3%	33%
1989	45.4%	33.2%
1988	45.4%	33.4%
1987	45.5%	33.6%
1986	45.4%	33.8%
1985	45.3%	34%
1984	45.2%	34.3%
1983	45.4%	34.6%
1982	45.7%	34.9%
1981	45.9%	35.2%
1980	46.2%	35.5%
1979	46.5%	35.9%
1978	47%	36.3%
1977	47.5%	36.7%
1976	47.9%	36.9%
1975	48.2%	37.1%
1974	48.3%	37.2%
1973	48.4%	37.3%
1972	48.4%	37.5%
1971	48.4%	37.6%
1970	48.2%	37.7%
1969	48.1%	37.8%
1968	47.9%	37.9%
1967	47.8%	38%
1966	47.6%	38%
1965	47.4%	38%
1964	47.1%	38%
1963	46.8%	37.8%
1962	46.4%	37.6%
1961	45.9%	37.5%
1960	45.4%	37.4%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

The share of children aged 0-14 in Ghana was 45.4% in 1960, 45% in 1992, and 35.8% as of the latest data in 2024.

More about the demographics of Ghana.

Fertility rates around the globe

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

Maternal mortality by year

1x

Year	Maternal mortality per 100K births
Year	Ghana	World
2023	234	197
2022	239	203
2021	264	242
2020	253	211
2019	260	207
2018	276	211
2017	287	215
2016	296	220
2015	310	228
2014	317	231
2013	338	235
2012	351	239
2011	356	247
2010	363	253
2009	369	258
2008	380	264
2007	377	269
2006	385	276
2005	390	283
2004	403	291
2003	410	301
2002	434	311
2001	460	321
2000	472	328
1999	490	340
1998	521	360
1997	553	358
1996	591	366
1995	630	371
1994	670	382
1993	696	389
1992	718	395
1991	745	395
1990	769	391
1989	799	401
1988	834	414
1987	873	429
1986	908	438
1985	943	460

Data sources: World Bank | Gender (1985–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

The maternal mortality rate in Ghana was 234 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023 — a 0.23% chance of dying during childbirth or within 42 days of pregnancy termination. This is a 50.4% decrease compared to the year 2000.

Under-five mortality by year

Probability that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five

1x

Year	Under 5 mortality rate
Year	Ghana	World
2023	3.71%	2.49%
2022	3.85%	2.59%
2021	4.02%	2.66%
2020	4.2%	2.75%
2019	4.39%	2.86%
2018	4.6%	2.97%
2017	4.81%	3.11%
2016	5.02%	3.22%
2015	5.25%	3.35%
2014	5.48%	3.48%
2013	5.74%	3.61%
2012	6.02%	3.77%
2011	6.33%	3.97%
2010	6.65%	4.11%
2009	6.99%	4.31%
2008	7.31%	4.5%
2007	7.63%	4.7%
2006	7.93%	4.92%
2005	8.22%	5.16%
2004	8.52%	5.43%
2003	8.85%	5.65%
2002	9.21%	5.94%
2001	9.61%	6.21%
2000	10%	6.48%
1999	10.4%	6.75%
1998	10.8%	7.05%
1997	11.1%	7.28%
1996	11.3%	7.52%
1995	11.5%	7.76%
1994	11.6%	7.98%
1993	11.8%	8.19%
1992	12%	8.46%
1991	12.3%	8.66%
1990	12.8%	8.81%
1989	13.3%	9.02%
1988	13.8%	9.31%
1987	14.4%	9.47%
1986	15%	9.81%
1985	15.5%	10.1%
1984	15.9%	10.4%
1983	16.2%	10.6%
1982	16.4%	10.8%
1981	16.6%	11%
1980	16.7%	11.4%
1979	16.9%	11.7%
1978	17.2%	12.2%
1977	17.7%	12.6%
1976	18.2%	13%
1975	18.7%	13.4%
1974	19.2%	13.8%
1973	19.6%	14.1%
1972	19.9%	14.5%
1971	20.1%	15.1%
1970	20.2%	15.2%
1969	20.3%	15.4%
1968	20.3%	15.6%
1967	20.3%	15.9%
1966	20.3%	16.1%
1965	20.3%	16.4%
1964	20.3%	16.6%
1963	20.4%	16.5%
1962	20.5%	16.7%
1961	20.7%	17%
1960	20.9%	17.2%

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/birth-rate/ghana | CC BY

The under-5 mortality rate in Ghana was 37.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023 — a 3.71% chance that a newborn baby will die before reaching age five. This is down from 100.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000.