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Population in Burkina Faso compared to Ghana: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Burkina Faso was 23,548,781 in 2024 vs 34,427,414 people in Ghana in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Burkina Faso's population is 24,756,783 people compared to 35,885,254 in Ghana.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.45 times bigger than Burkina Faso's.
  • Burkina Faso is ranked the 59th most populous country in the world, while Ghana is the 46th.
  • The countries together account for 0.73% of the world: 0.3% for Burkina Faso vs 0.43% for Ghana.
  • For the last 10 years, Burkina Faso has had an average growth rate of +2.63% per year vs +2.1% in Ghana.
  • Since 2006, the population of Burkina Faso has increased from 14.4M people to 24.8M (72.2% growth), while Ghana has grown from 23M to 35.9M (55.7% growth).

Burkina Faso vs Ghana: population by year and forecast

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Burkina Faso Ghana
2100 50,408,328 68,131,252
2099 50,383,919 68,021,644
2098 50,352,973 67,902,002
2097 50,313,705 67,772,694
2096 50,266,628 67,638,801
2095 50,218,948 67,494,855
2094 50,162,122 67,339,471
2093 50,097,256 67,176,337
2092 50,020,865 67,005,259
2091 49,941,829 66,817,473
2090 49,849,369 66,618,611
2089 49,746,842 66,408,323
2088 49,633,009 66,186,701
2087 49,506,797 65,950,524
2086 49,374,214 65,712,980
2085 49,231,459 65,464,770
2084 49,078,733 65,209,090
2083 48,912,839 64,935,455
2082 48,738,088 64,651,183
2081 48,550,361 64,355,091
2080 48,350,756 64,047,069
2079 48,139,621 63,730,285
2078 47,915,623 63,397,338
2077 47,674,670 63,059,578
2076 47,421,548 62,711,928
2075 47,161,253 62,350,445
2074 46,887,164 61,987,133
2073 46,596,755 61,616,792
2072 46,296,320 61,239,369
2071 45,987,906 60,847,204
2070 45,669,374 60,454,501
2069 45,339,502 60,053,700
2068 45,000,338 59,639,035
2067 44,651,960 59,215,226
2066 44,295,017 58,786,613
2065 43,931,890 58,353,059
2064 43,554,812 57,904,896
2063 43,171,791 57,451,482
2062 42,781,734 56,986,329
2061 42,378,127 56,511,652
2060 41,969,941 56,031,122
2059 41,556,223 55,540,726
2058 41,132,214 55,042,478
2057 40,699,958 54,535,407
2056 40,263,674 54,018,018
2055 39,819,396 53,492,136
2054 39,368,928 52,959,604
2053 38,908,013 52,417,582
2052 38,440,539 51,869,801
2051 37,966,813 51,311,110
2050 37,484,179 50,740,453
2049 36,994,052 50,163,262
2048 36,499,739 49,577,819
2047 35,993,831 48,982,219
2046 35,483,039 48,383,052
2045 34,962,697 47,776,375
2044 34,435,436 47,163,926
2043 33,904,610 46,548,210
2042 33,368,223 45,925,724
2041 32,828,377 45,300,725
2040 32,285,754 44,669,515
2039 31,738,667 44,038,043
2038 31,188,815 43,402,009
2037 30,636,433 42,760,604
2036 30,081,085 42,120,700
2035 29,523,750 41,478,927
2034 28,963,008 40,831,962
2033 28,405,067 40,184,070
2032 27,853,260 39,540,131
2031 27,304,165 38,900,194
2030 26,759,978 38,258,832
2029 26,220,635 37,623,609
2028 25,682,620 36,986,250
2027 25,146,586 36,349,705
2026 24,612,250 35,713,042
2025 24,080,445 35,071,292
2024 23,548,781 34,427,414
2023 23,025,776 33,787,914
2022 22,509,038 33,149,152
2021 21,995,243 32,518,665
2020 21,478,690 31,887,809
2019 20,961,952 31,258,945
2018 20,438,288 30,637,585
2017 19,894,407 30,008,354
2016 19,334,856 29,356,742
2015 18,777,487 28,696,068
2014 18,229,461 28,041,592
2013 17,695,409 27,386,193
2012 17,172,287 26,734,268
2011 16,661,908 26,095,088
2010 16,176,498 25,474,995
2009 15,710,066 24,862,664
2008 15,258,093 24,249,946
2007 14,816,307 23,642,279
2006 14,373,707 23,040,702
2005 13,932,123 22,449,438
2004 13,500,533 21,868,298
2003 13,082,532 21,296,705
2002 12,680,897 20,729,388
2001 12,295,001 20,167,069
2000 11,925,546 19,637,087
1999 11,574,928 19,149,864
1998 11,240,664 18,688,036
1997 10,934,223 18,238,958
1996 10,655,942 17,810,181
1995 10,386,722 17,399,017
1994 10,123,798 16,993,190
1993 9,871,713 16,589,519
1992 9,629,275 16,184,855
1991 9,394,632 15,787,496
1990 9,159,356 15,394,648
1989 8,921,175 15,006,813
1988 8,687,435 14,636,568
1987 8,457,109 14,289,108
1986 8,228,847 13,965,217
1985 7,999,935 13,661,229
1984 7,772,256 13,370,590
1983 7,551,129 13,029,836
1982 7,340,197 12,643,819
1981 7,140,271 12,281,712
1980 6,947,900 11,941,448
1979 6,763,903 11,597,255
1978 6,590,984 11,248,450
1977 6,428,734 10,911,871
1976 6,280,635 10,594,913
1975 6,147,569 10,294,308
1974 6,024,904 10,000,523
1973 5,911,927 9,714,617
1972 5,807,234 9,438,187
1971 5,707,999 9,176,264
1970 5,610,304 8,925,813
1969 5,513,177 8,690,383
1968 5,418,644 8,475,729
1967 5,326,348 8,271,913
1966 5,237,933 8,074,521
1965 5,152,833 7,882,606
1964 5,071,034 7,695,739
1963 4,993,623 7,514,714
1962 4,919,672 7,337,375
1961 4,848,224 7,162,667
1960 4,778,621 6,961,215

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

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/ghana | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Burkina Faso increased by 4,961,149 people (a 34.5% growth), while Ghana gained 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Burkina Faso gained 5,421,927 people (a 28% growth), while Ghana's population increased by 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth).

Burkina Faso was ranked 63rd most populous country in 2006 and is 59th in 2026. Ghana was ranked 48th in 2006 and ranked 46th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Burkina Faso's population will grow by 51.4% to 37,484,179 people with a rank change from 59th to 56th. The population of Ghana will increase by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people and rank change from 46th to 42nd.

Burkina Faso is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 50.4M people compared to the peak of 68.1M people in 2100 for Ghana.

Population growth rate by year

Burkina Faso
Factual

Projection
Ghana
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Burkina Faso Ghana
2100 0.05% 0.16%
2099 0.06% 0.18%
2098 0.08% 0.19%
2097 0.09% 0.2%
2096 0.09% 0.21%
2095 0.11% 0.23%
2094 0.13% 0.24%
2093 0.15% 0.26%
2092 0.16% 0.28%
2091 0.19% 0.3%
2090 0.21% 0.32%
2089 0.23% 0.33%
2088 0.25% 0.36%
2087 0.27% 0.36%
2086 0.29% 0.38%
2085 0.31% 0.39%
2084 0.34% 0.42%
2083 0.36% 0.44%
2082 0.39% 0.46%
2081 0.41% 0.48%
2080 0.44% 0.5%
2079 0.47% 0.53%
2078 0.51% 0.54%
2077 0.53% 0.55%
2076 0.55% 0.58%
2075 0.58% 0.59%
2074 0.62% 0.6%
2073 0.65% 0.62%
2072 0.67% 0.64%
2071 0.7% 0.65%
2070 0.73% 0.67%
2069 0.75% 0.7%
2068 0.78% 0.72%
2067 0.81% 0.73%
2066 0.83% 0.74%
2065 0.87% 0.77%
2064 0.89% 0.79%
2063 0.91% 0.82%
2062 0.95% 0.84%
2061 0.97% 0.86%
2060 1% 0.88%
2059 1.03% 0.91%
2058 1.06% 0.93%
2057 1.08% 0.96%
2056 1.12% 0.98%
2055 1.14% 1.01%
2054 1.18% 1.03%
2053 1.22% 1.06%
2052 1.25% 1.09%
2051 1.29% 1.12%
2050 1.32% 1.15%
2049 1.35% 1.18%
2048 1.41% 1.22%
2047 1.44% 1.24%
2046 1.49% 1.27%
2045 1.53% 1.3%
2044 1.57% 1.32%
2043 1.61% 1.36%
2042 1.64% 1.38%
2041 1.68% 1.41%
2040 1.72% 1.43%
2039 1.76% 1.47%
2038 1.8% 1.5%
2037 1.85% 1.52%
2036 1.89% 1.55%
2035 1.94% 1.58%
2034 1.96% 1.61%
2033 1.98% 1.63%
2032 2.01% 1.65%
2031 2.03% 1.68%
2030 2.06% 1.69%
2029 2.09% 1.72%
2028 2.13% 1.75%
2027 2.17% 1.78%
2026 2.21% 1.83%
2025 2.26% 1.87%
2024 2.27% 1.89%
2023 2.3% 1.93%
2022 2.34% 1.94%
2021 2.4% 1.98%
2020 2.47% 2.01%
2019 2.56% 2.03%
2018 2.73% 2.1%
2017 2.89% 2.22%
2016 2.97% 2.3%
2015 3.01% 2.33%
2014 3.02% 2.39%
2013 3.05% 2.44%
2012 3.06% 2.45%
2011 3% 2.43%
2010 2.97% 2.46%
2009 2.96% 2.53%
2008 2.98% 2.57%
2007 3.08% 2.61%
2006 3.17% 2.63%
2005 3.2% 2.66%
2004 3.2% 2.68%
2003 3.17% 2.74%
2002 3.14% 2.79%
2001 3.1% 2.7%
2000 3.03% 2.54%
1999 2.97% 2.47%
1998 2.8% 2.46%
1997 2.61% 2.41%
1996 2.59% 2.36%
1995 2.6% 2.39%
1994 2.55% 2.43%
1993 2.52% 2.5%
1992 2.5% 2.52%
1991 2.57% 2.55%
1990 2.67% 2.58%
1989 2.69% 2.53%
1988 2.72% 2.43%
1987 2.77% 2.32%
1986 2.86% 2.23%
1985 2.93% 2.17%
1984 2.93% 2.62%
1983 2.87% 3.05%
1982 2.8% 2.95%
1981 2.77% 2.85%
1980 2.72% 2.97%
1979 2.62% 3.1%
1978 2.52% 3.08%
1977 2.36% 2.99%
1976 2.16% 2.92%
1975 2.04% 2.94%
1974 1.91% 2.94%
1973 1.8% 2.93%
1972 1.74% 2.85%
1971 1.74% 2.81%
1970 1.76% 2.71%
1969 1.74% 2.53%
1968 1.73% 2.46%
1967 1.69% 2.44%
1966 1.65% 2.43%
1965 1.61% 2.43%
1964 1.55% 2.41%
1963 1.5% 2.42%
1962 1.47% 2.44%
1961 1.46% 2.89%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/ghana | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Burkina Faso grew by 2.27%, while Ghana's population grew by 1.89%.

Live population counters

Burkina Faso Ghana
Current population
24756783
35885254
Population rank 59/197 46/197
Percent of world population 0.3% 0.43%
One net population change
1 minute
49.3 seconds
One birth every
43.3 seconds
35.5 seconds
One death every
2.87 minutes
2.21 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,433 +1,752
Annual growth/decline +523,005 +639,500
Annual growth/decline rate +2.27% +1.89%
Population growth rate rank 39/197 57/197
One migration net change every
19.4 minutes
30.9 minutes
Annual migration change -27,130 -17,079
Net migration rank 158/196 150/196
Foreign-born residents 739,820 532,286
Foreign-born residents rank 68/195 77/195
Foreign-born share of population 3.1% 1.5%
Foreign-born share rank 115/195 145/195

Natural population change vs migration

Burkina Faso
Natural

Migration
Ghana
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Burkina Faso Ghana
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -27,130 - -17,079
2024 - -25,807 - -13,114
2023 545,227 -24,957 651,094 -10,003
2022 538,146 -24,960 646,441 -10,003
2021 527,468 -13,079 635,805 -11,259
2020 524,359 -5,661 637,469 -291
2019 540,001 -25,240 642,403 -21,857
2018 556,493 -23,938 641,551 -19,375
2017 569,975 -14,780 641,218 -4,913
2016 571,519 -7,598 659,910 7,009
2015 570,554 -19,726 667,729 -13,306
2014 563,218 -17,984 660,829 -6,312
2013 556,096 -33,212 658,638 -2,377
2012 544,293 -20,930 646,595 1,005
2011 530,765 -33,391 631,501 -720
2010 515,480 -42,055 613,133 -3,726
2009 499,596 -40,148 592,825 22,416
2008 485,223 -40,725 579,695 30,506
2007 467,277 -28,202 572,332 32,813
2006 450,357 -4,218 569,474 28,536
2005 427,243 9,795 563,234 21,272
2004 408,567 17,570 543,339 34,433
2003 394,516 15,359 536,656 28,768
2002 377,333 16,076 528,620 40,573
2001 367,731 10,654 519,382 36,050
2000 356,657 3,877 508,738 -4,206
1999 342,630 -1,922 487,210 -17,304
1998 333,196 -5,367 471,313 -17,564
1997 322,253 -37,200 459,822 -15,409
1996 315,820 -44,314 450,259 -37,113
1995 305,878 -38,943 451,748 -42,558
1994 296,465 -37,554 449,589 -47,120
1993 289,044 -43,784 454,669 -49,792
1992 284,622 -45,003 452,156 -47,736
1991 280,111 -50,451 448,159 -57,878
1990 273,846 -32,970 442,211 -46,789
1989 267,314 -31,843 432,541 -52,293
1988 262,065 -30,068 425,031 -64,810
1987 257,730 -29,081 419,328 -84,648
1986 252,922 -25,051 411,191 -98,099
1985 246,574 -16,623 401,722 -106,855
1984 237,838 -12,445 392,053 -105,655
1983 228,467 -11,618 379,846 15,276
1982 220,896 -15,879 369,061 7,863
1981 212,623 -17,797 359,572 -12,296
1980 205,248 -15,345 346,816 -13,564
1979 196,647 -18,559 334,848 20,291
1978 187,019 -19,274 324,428 18,041
1977 175,672 -18,914 315,429 15,243
1976 165,224 -25,786 305,769 -2,528
1975 157,174 -30,484 298,267 -292
1974 149,231 -30,599 290,796 -1,197
1973 141,751 -34,452 283,385 -1,168
1972 135,756 -33,679 275,236 -4,589
1971 130,924 -34,524 265,442 -12,238
1970 127,814 -28,832 257,938 -10,233
1969 123,666 -28,406 251,925 -28,752
1968 121,264 -27,461 242,821 -36,683
1967 117,223 -26,444 237,156 -35,666
1966 113,344 -27,301 231,440 -38,143
1965 109,544 -25,398 229,061 -38,519
1964 105,741 -26,307 226,685 -43,480
1963 101,760 -26,382 225,367 -46,516
1962 98,561 -26,040 223,842 -48,017
1961 95,059 -24,687 222,372 -48,777
1960 92,055 -23,220 217,134 12,181

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/ghana | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 96.9% of the population change in Burkina Faso is from natural causes (a gain of 5,506,960 people) and 3.13% is from migration (a loss of 177,923 people). In Ghana 98.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 people).

As of 2024, 739,820 residents or 3.1% of the population were not native-born in Burkina Faso, compared to 532,286 people or 1.5% in Ghana.

Biggest cities by population

Burkina Faso
City Population
Ouagadougou 2.45M
Bobo-Dioulasso 904K
Koudougou 160K
Ouahigouya 125K
Fada N'gourma 73.2K
Dedougou 63.6K
Leo 51.7K
Dori 46.5K
Nouna 32.4K
Manga 28.6K
Ghana
City Population
Kumasi 3.9M
Accra 1.78M
Tamale 730K
Sekondi-Takoradi 540K
Ashaiman 208K
Obuasi 180K
Tema 162K
Koforidua 127K
Ho 126K
Hohoe 56.2K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/burkina-faso/ghana | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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