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Population in Ghana compared to Iraq: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 46,042,015 people in Iraq in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 48,289,334 in Iraq.

Population statistics:

  • Iraq's population is 1.35 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Iraq is the 33rd.
  • The countries together account for 1.02% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.58% for Iraq.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +2.45% in Iraq.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Iraq has grown from 28.6M to 48.3M (68.7% growth).

Ghana vs Iraq: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Iraq
2100 68,131,252 101,632,594
2099 68,021,644 101,421,266
2098 67,902,002 101,212,536
2097 67,772,694 100,980,835
2096 67,638,801 100,724,441
2095 67,494,855 100,464,590
2094 67,339,471 100,194,041
2093 67,176,337 99,876,174
2092 67,005,259 99,532,041
2091 66,817,473 99,203,830
2090 66,618,611 98,886,956
2089 66,408,323 98,513,025
2088 66,186,701 98,144,039
2087 65,950,524 97,767,537
2086 65,712,980 97,325,026
2085 65,464,770 96,873,007
2084 65,209,090 96,448,602
2083 64,935,455 95,991,166
2082 64,651,183 95,509,663
2081 64,355,091 95,009,326
2080 64,047,069 94,507,216
2079 63,730,285 93,960,228
2078 63,397,338 93,417,384
2077 63,059,578 92,903,983
2076 62,711,928 92,359,592
2075 62,350,445 91,825,254
2074 61,987,133 91,229,266
2073 61,616,792 90,571,021
2072 61,239,369 89,918,374
2071 60,847,204 89,265,548
2070 60,454,501 88,596,492
2069 60,053,700 87,909,474
2068 59,639,035 87,220,494
2067 59,215,226 86,513,996
2066 58,786,613 85,734,530
2065 58,353,059 84,971,898
2064 57,904,896 84,191,350
2063 57,451,482 83,387,951
2062 56,986,329 82,604,577
2061 56,511,652 81,800,637
2060 56,031,122 80,951,008
2059 55,540,726 80,141,868
2058 55,042,478 79,319,543
2057 54,535,407 78,477,339
2056 54,018,018 77,609,202
2055 53,492,136 76,739,924
2054 52,959,604 75,857,125
2053 52,417,582 74,952,948
2052 51,869,801 74,072,580
2051 51,311,110 73,150,234
2050 50,740,453 72,235,938
2049 50,163,262 71,272,122
2048 49,577,819 70,316,860
2047 48,982,219 69,347,823
2046 48,383,052 68,400,664
2045 47,776,375 67,435,953
2044 47,163,926 66,447,309
2043 46,548,210 65,453,565
2042 45,925,724 64,433,831
2041 45,300,725 63,408,709
2040 44,669,515 62,360,117
2039 44,038,043 61,289,355
2038 43,402,009 60,253,073
2037 42,760,604 59,221,658
2036 42,120,700 58,155,990
2035 41,478,927 57,127,999
2034 40,831,962 56,087,695
2033 40,184,070 55,051,140
2032 39,540,131 54,002,289
2031 38,900,194 52,991,443
2030 38,258,832 51,986,773
2029 37,623,609 50,982,563
2028 36,986,250 50,001,133
2027 36,349,705 49,014,822
2026 35,713,042 48,020,334
2025 35,071,292 47,020,527
2024 34,427,414 46,042,015
2023 33,787,914 45,074,049
2022 33,149,152 44,070,551
2021 32,518,665 43,071,211
2020 31,887,809 42,116,605
2019 31,258,945 41,192,171
2018 30,637,585 40,265,624
2017 30,008,354 39,337,353
2016 29,356,742 38,469,627
2015 28,696,068 37,560,535
2014 28,041,592 36,550,059
2013 27,386,193 35,281,989
2012 26,734,268 33,654,842
2011 26,095,088 32,161,424
2010 25,474,995 31,045,366
2009 24,862,664 30,058,206
2008 24,249,946 28,971,036
2007 23,642,279 28,391,607
2006 23,040,702 28,616,515
2005 22,449,438 28,407,448
2004 21,868,298 27,577,878
2003 21,296,705 26,802,659
2002 20,729,388 26,006,559
2001 20,167,069 25,197,840
2000 19,637,087 24,424,056
1999 19,149,864 23,636,527
1998 18,688,036 22,884,399
1997 18,238,958 22,176,593
1996 17,810,181 21,501,321
1995 17,399,017 20,825,860
1994 16,993,190 20,139,807
1993 16,589,519 19,201,195
1992 16,184,855 18,300,845
1991 15,787,496 17,767,253
1990 15,394,648 17,581,206
1989 15,006,813 17,364,542
1988 14,636,568 16,908,819
1987 14,289,108 16,521,049
1986 13,965,217 16,074,145
1985 13,661,229 15,683,430
1984 13,370,590 15,310,733
1983 13,029,836 14,840,555
1982 12,643,819 14,406,083
1981 12,281,712 14,006,381
1980 11,941,448 13,591,992
1979 11,597,255 13,170,365
1978 11,248,450 12,753,355
1977 10,911,871 12,331,046
1976 10,594,913 11,927,651
1975 10,294,308 11,543,639
1974 10,000,523 11,167,761
1973 9,714,617 10,795,869
1972 9,438,187 10,430,164
1971 9,176,264 10,077,809
1970 8,925,813 9,735,611
1969 8,690,383 9,403,356
1968 8,475,729 9,085,016
1967 8,271,913 8,778,869
1966 8,074,521 8,485,104
1965 7,882,606 8,202,140
1964 7,695,739 7,929,566
1963 7,514,714 7,667,928
1962 7,337,375 7,413,875
1961 7,162,667 7,194,553
1960 6,961,215 7,022,052

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/ghana/iraq | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Iraq gained 9,853,112 people (a 34.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Iraq's population increased by 9,819,707 people (a 25.5% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Iraq was ranked 39th in 2006 and ranked 33rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ghana's population will grow by 41.4% to 50,740,453 people with a rank change from 46th to 42nd. The population of Iraq will increase by 49.6% to 72,235,938 people and rank change from 33rd to 28th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 102M people in 2100 for Iraq.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Iraq
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Iraq
2100 0.16% 0.21%
2099 0.18% 0.21%
2098 0.19% 0.23%
2097 0.2% 0.25%
2096 0.21% 0.26%
2095 0.23% 0.27%
2094 0.24% 0.32%
2093 0.26% 0.35%
2092 0.28% 0.33%
2091 0.3% 0.32%
2090 0.32% 0.38%
2089 0.33% 0.38%
2088 0.36% 0.39%
2087 0.36% 0.45%
2086 0.38% 0.47%
2085 0.39% 0.44%
2084 0.42% 0.48%
2083 0.44% 0.5%
2082 0.46% 0.53%
2081 0.48% 0.53%
2080 0.5% 0.58%
2079 0.53% 0.58%
2078 0.54% 0.55%
2077 0.55% 0.59%
2076 0.58% 0.58%
2075 0.59% 0.65%
2074 0.6% 0.73%
2073 0.62% 0.73%
2072 0.64% 0.73%
2071 0.65% 0.76%
2070 0.67% 0.78%
2069 0.7% 0.79%
2068 0.72% 0.82%
2067 0.73% 0.91%
2066 0.74% 0.9%
2065 0.77% 0.93%
2064 0.79% 0.96%
2063 0.82% 0.95%
2062 0.84% 0.98%
2061 0.86% 1.05%
2060 0.88% 1.01%
2059 0.91% 1.04%
2058 0.93% 1.07%
2057 0.96% 1.12%
2056 0.98% 1.13%
2055 1.01% 1.16%
2054 1.03% 1.21%
2053 1.06% 1.19%
2052 1.09% 1.26%
2051 1.12% 1.27%
2050 1.15% 1.35%
2049 1.18% 1.36%
2048 1.22% 1.4%
2047 1.24% 1.38%
2046 1.27% 1.43%
2045 1.3% 1.49%
2044 1.32% 1.52%
2043 1.36% 1.58%
2042 1.38% 1.62%
2041 1.41% 1.68%
2040 1.43% 1.75%
2039 1.47% 1.72%
2038 1.5% 1.74%
2037 1.52% 1.83%
2036 1.55% 1.8%
2035 1.58% 1.85%
2034 1.61% 1.88%
2033 1.63% 1.94%
2032 1.65% 1.91%
2031 1.68% 1.93%
2030 1.69% 1.97%
2029 1.72% 1.96%
2028 1.75% 2.01%
2027 1.78% 2.07%
2026 1.83% 2.13%
2025 1.87% 2.13%
2024 1.89% 2.15%
2023 1.93% 2.28%
2022 1.94% 2.32%
2021 1.98% 2.27%
2020 2.01% 2.24%
2019 2.03% 2.3%
2018 2.1% 2.36%
2017 2.22% 2.26%
2016 2.3% 2.42%
2015 2.33% 2.76%
2014 2.39% 3.59%
2013 2.44% 4.83%
2012 2.45% 4.64%
2011 2.43% 3.59%
2010 2.46% 3.28%
2009 2.53% 3.75%
2008 2.57% 2.04%
2007 2.61% -0.79%
2006 2.63% 0.74%
2005 2.66% 3.01%
2004 2.68% 2.89%
2003 2.74% 3.06%
2002 2.79% 3.21%
2001 2.7% 3.17%
2000 2.54% 3.33%
1999 2.47% 3.29%
1998 2.46% 3.19%
1997 2.41% 3.14%
1996 2.36% 3.24%
1995 2.39% 3.41%
1994 2.43% 4.89%
1993 2.5% 4.92%
1992 2.52% 3%
1991 2.55% 1.06%
1990 2.58% 1.25%
1989 2.53% 2.7%
1988 2.43% 2.35%
1987 2.32% 2.78%
1986 2.23% 2.49%
1985 2.17% 2.43%
1984 2.62% 3.17%
1983 3.05% 3.02%
1982 2.95% 2.85%
1981 2.85% 3.05%
1980 2.97% 3.2%
1979 3.1% 3.27%
1978 3.08% 3.42%
1977 2.99% 3.38%
1976 2.92% 3.33%
1975 2.94% 3.37%
1974 2.94% 3.44%
1973 2.93% 3.51%
1972 2.85% 3.5%
1971 2.81% 3.51%
1970 2.71% 3.53%
1969 2.53% 3.5%
1968 2.46% 3.49%
1967 2.44% 3.46%
1966 2.43% 3.45%
1965 2.43% 3.44%
1964 2.41% 3.41%
1963 2.42% 3.43%
1962 2.44% 3.05%
1961 2.89% 2.46%

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/ghana/iraq | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Iraq's population grew by 2.15%.

Live population counters

Ghana Iraq
Current population
35885254
48289334
Population rank 46/197 33/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.58%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
32.6 seconds
One birth every
35.5 seconds
27.2 seconds
One death every
2.21 minutes
2.82 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +2,652
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +967,966
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +2.15%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 46/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
8.26 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 -1,064
Net migration rank 150/196 93/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 370,980
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 92/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.8%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 160/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Iraq
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Iraq
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -1,064
2024 - -13,114 - -17,735
2023 651,094 -10,003 973,420 -5,710
2022 646,441 -10,003 962,501 76,821
2021 635,805 -11,259 941,924 17,474
2020 637,469 -291 919,953 29,858
2019 642,403 -21,857 942,972 -43,919
2018 641,551 -19,375 938,310 15,775
2017 641,218 -4,913 924,507 -21,998
2016 659,910 7,009 946,968 -113,980
2015 667,729 -13,306 1,007,561 -22,338
2014 660,829 -6,312 1,040,726 -5,033
2013 658,638 -2,377 1,026,036 474,379
2012 646,595 1,005 999,987 753,907
2011 631,501 -720 971,082 261,880
2010 613,133 -3,726 906,369 92,779
2009 592,825 22,416 855,096 120,092
2008 579,695 30,506 802,382 396,792
2007 572,332 32,813 784,119 -824,428
2006 569,474 28,536 797,342 -1,206,850
2005 563,234 21,272 776,603 51,019
2004 543,339 34,433 761,563 69,948
2003 536,656 28,768 746,159 -27,236
2002 528,620 40,573 739,419 133,839
2001 519,382 36,050 729,704 14,451
2000 508,738 -4,206 715,771 87,624
1999 487,210 -17,304 702,170 69,491
1998 471,313 -17,564 684,152 48,446
1997 459,822 -15,409 667,582 15,429
1996 450,259 -37,113 652,866 14,652
1995 451,748 -42,558 642,977 40,424
1994 449,589 -47,120 634,344 54,355
1993 454,669 -49,792 606,700 581,818
1992 452,156 -47,736 591,886 20,292
1991 448,159 -57,878 550,146 -95,155
1990 442,211 -46,789 518,575 -601,469
1989 432,541 -52,293 496,852 19,392
1988 425,031 -64,810 476,778 -81,562
1987 419,328 -84,648 488,742 -108,426
1986 411,191 -98,099 474,348 39,136
1985 401,722 -106,855 467,445 -199,505
1984 392,053 -105,655 455,740 21,709
1983 379,846 15,276 439,800 23,115
1982 369,061 7,863 428,336 -22,302
1981 359,572 -12,296 416,998 -23,640
1980 346,816 -13,564 419,653 15,757
1979 334,848 20,291 428,458 -20,617
1978 324,428 18,041 418,756 7,434
1977 315,429 15,243 410,229 8,204
1976 305,769 -2,528 402,260 -13,915
1975 298,267 -292 385,916 -6,237
1974 290,796 -1,197 376,197 -4,090
1973 283,385 -1,168 373,191 -1,507
1972 275,236 -4,589 362,334 -2,600
1971 265,442 -12,238 351,464 -6,479
1970 257,938 -10,233 338,030 1,377
1969 251,925 -28,752 324,792 312
1968 242,821 -36,683 310,644 928
1967 237,156 -35,666 298,192 2,531
1966 231,440 -38,143 285,507 1,298
1965 229,061 -38,519 274,551 4,555
1964 226,685 -43,480 262,825 3,224
1963 225,367 -46,516 254,046 3,197
1962 223,842 -48,017 247,520 3,343
1961 222,372 -48,777 184,792 2,981
1960 217,134 12,181 155,651 1,573

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/iraq | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 98.6% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,484,449 people) and 1.37% is from migration (a loss of 90,310 people). In Iraq 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,598,842 people) and 0.76% is from migration (a loss of 73,050 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 370,980 people or 0.8% in Iraq.

Biggest cities by population

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
Iraq
City Population
Baghdad 8.13M
Mosul 1.79M
Basra 1.33M
Kirkuk 975K
Sulaymaniyah 878K
Ramadi 875K
Erbil 846K
Najaf 725K
Karbala 690K
Nasiriyah 542K

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/ghana/iraq | 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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