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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 5,395,790 people in Ireland in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 5,518,360 in Ireland.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 6.5 times bigger than Ireland's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Ireland is the 121st.
  • The countries together account for 0.5% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.07% for Ireland.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +1.41% in Ireland.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Ireland has grown from 4.27M to 5.52M (29.1% growth).

Ghana vs Ireland: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Ireland
2100 68,131,252 5,468,791
2099 68,021,644 5,493,162
2098 67,902,002 5,516,999
2097 67,772,694 5,540,157
2096 67,638,801 5,562,811
2095 67,494,855 5,583,505
2094 67,339,471 5,603,538
2093 67,176,337 5,623,266
2092 67,005,259 5,642,437
2091 66,817,473 5,661,268
2090 66,618,611 5,680,076
2089 66,408,323 5,697,512
2088 66,186,701 5,714,108
2087 65,950,524 5,729,431
2086 65,712,980 5,743,405
2085 65,464,770 5,757,666
2084 65,209,090 5,771,610
2083 64,935,455 5,785,324
2082 64,651,183 5,798,037
2081 64,355,091 5,809,262
2080 64,047,069 5,821,598
2079 63,730,285 5,836,731
2078 63,397,338 5,851,937
2077 63,059,578 5,867,627
2076 62,711,928 5,883,876
2075 62,350,445 5,900,200
2074 61,987,133 5,917,659
2073 61,616,792 5,934,975
2072 61,239,369 5,952,211
2071 60,847,204 5,969,279
2070 60,454,501 5,986,770
2069 60,053,700 6,003,570
2068 59,639,035 6,019,937
2067 59,215,226 6,035,810
2066 58,786,613 6,051,604
2065 58,353,059 6,066,791
2064 57,904,896 6,081,606
2063 57,451,482 6,094,455
2062 56,986,329 6,106,325
2061 56,511,652 6,118,587
2060 56,031,122 6,131,482
2059 55,540,726 6,143,979
2058 55,042,478 6,153,447
2057 54,535,407 6,161,059
2056 54,018,018 6,164,047
2055 53,492,136 6,168,611
2054 52,959,604 6,169,455
2053 52,417,582 6,169,673
2052 51,869,801 6,167,591
2051 51,311,110 6,164,894
2050 50,740,453 6,159,756
2049 50,163,262 6,151,623
2048 49,577,819 6,140,272
2047 48,982,219 6,128,245
2046 48,383,052 6,115,454
2045 47,776,375 6,099,562
2044 47,163,926 6,081,384
2043 46,548,210 6,062,477
2042 45,925,724 6,041,683
2041 45,300,725 6,017,573
2040 44,669,515 5,992,311
2039 44,038,043 5,967,604
2038 43,402,009 5,940,474
2037 42,760,604 5,912,327
2036 42,120,700 5,884,159
2035 41,478,927 5,855,902
2034 40,831,962 5,825,178
2033 40,184,070 5,792,751
2032 39,540,131 5,757,842
2031 38,900,194 5,721,671
2030 38,258,832 5,684,420
2029 37,623,609 5,644,008
2028 36,986,250 5,600,083
2027 36,349,705 5,553,725
2026 35,713,042 5,505,248
2025 35,071,292 5,452,752
2024 34,427,414 5,395,790
2023 33,787,914 5,311,538
2022 33,149,152 5,212,836
2021 32,518,665 5,110,585
2020 31,887,809 5,039,747
2019 31,258,945 4,976,456
2018 30,637,585 4,898,022
2017 30,008,354 4,827,445
2016 29,356,742 4,762,722
2015 28,696,068 4,701,957
2014 28,041,592 4,657,740
2013 27,386,193 4,623,816
2012 26,734,268 4,599,533
2011 26,095,088 4,580,084
2010 25,474,995 4,560,155
2009 24,862,664 4,535,375
2008 24,249,946 4,489,544
2007 23,642,279 4,398,942
2006 23,040,702 4,273,591
2005 22,449,438 4,159,914
2004 21,868,298 4,070,262
2003 21,296,705 3,996,521
2002 20,729,388 3,931,947
2001 20,167,069 3,866,243
2000 19,637,087 3,805,174
1999 19,149,864 3,754,786
1998 18,688,036 3,712,696
1997 18,238,958 3,674,171
1996 17,810,181 3,637,510
1995 17,399,017 3,608,841
1994 16,993,190 3,590,386
1993 16,589,519 3,576,261
1992 16,184,855 3,558,430
1991 15,787,496 3,534,235
1990 15,394,648 3,513,974
1989 15,006,813 3,511,009
1988 14,636,568 3,524,949
1987 14,289,108 3,540,057
1986 13,965,217 3,539,690
1985 13,661,229 3,538,082
1984 13,370,590 3,532,423
1983 13,029,836 3,510,600
1982 12,643,819 3,485,800
1981 12,281,712 3,453,000
1980 11,941,448 3,412,800
1979 11,597,255 3,373,750
1978 11,248,450 3,329,100
1977 10,911,871 3,282,200
1976 10,594,913 3,238,050
1975 10,294,308 3,189,550
1974 10,000,523 3,137,500
1973 9,714,617 3,085,950
1972 9,438,187 3,036,850
1971 9,176,264 2,992,050
1970 8,925,813 2,957,250
1969 8,690,383 2,932,650
1968 8,475,729 2,915,550
1967 8,271,913 2,902,450
1966 8,074,521 2,888,800
1965 7,882,606 2,877,300
1964 7,695,739 2,866,550
1963 7,514,714 2,852,650
1962 7,337,375 2,836,050
1961 7,162,667 2,824,400
1960 6,961,215 2,828,600

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/ireland | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Ireland gained 489,131 people (a 11.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Ireland's population increased by 755,638 people (a 15.9% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Ireland was ranked 121st in 2006 and still ranked 121st 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 Ireland will increase by 11.6% to 6,159,756 people and rank change from 121st to 119th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 6.17M people in 2053 for Ireland.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Ireland
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Ireland
2100 0.16% -0.44%
2099 0.18% -0.43%
2098 0.19% -0.42%
2097 0.2% -0.41%
2096 0.21% -0.37%
2095 0.23% -0.36%
2094 0.24% -0.35%
2093 0.26% -0.34%
2092 0.28% -0.33%
2091 0.3% -0.33%
2090 0.32% -0.31%
2089 0.33% -0.29%
2088 0.36% -0.27%
2087 0.36% -0.24%
2086 0.38% -0.25%
2085 0.39% -0.24%
2084 0.42% -0.24%
2083 0.44% -0.22%
2082 0.46% -0.19%
2081 0.48% -0.21%
2080 0.5% -0.26%
2079 0.53% -0.26%
2078 0.54% -0.27%
2077 0.55% -0.28%
2076 0.58% -0.28%
2075 0.59% -0.3%
2074 0.6% -0.29%
2073 0.62% -0.29%
2072 0.64% -0.29%
2071 0.65% -0.29%
2070 0.67% -0.28%
2069 0.7% -0.27%
2068 0.72% -0.26%
2067 0.73% -0.26%
2066 0.74% -0.25%
2065 0.77% -0.24%
2064 0.79% -0.21%
2063 0.82% -0.19%
2062 0.84% -0.2%
2061 0.86% -0.21%
2060 0.88% -0.2%
2059 0.91% -0.15%
2058 0.93% -0.12%
2057 0.96% -0.05%
2056 0.98% -0.07%
2055 1.01% -0.01%
2054 1.03% -0.004%
2053 1.06% 0.03%
2052 1.09% 0.04%
2051 1.12% 0.08%
2050 1.15% 0.13%
2049 1.18% 0.18%
2048 1.22% 0.2%
2047 1.24% 0.21%
2046 1.27% 0.26%
2045 1.3% 0.3%
2044 1.32% 0.31%
2043 1.36% 0.34%
2042 1.38% 0.4%
2041 1.41% 0.42%
2040 1.43% 0.41%
2039 1.47% 0.46%
2038 1.5% 0.48%
2037 1.52% 0.48%
2036 1.55% 0.48%
2035 1.58% 0.53%
2034 1.61% 0.56%
2033 1.63% 0.61%
2032 1.65% 0.63%
2031 1.68% 0.66%
2030 1.69% 0.72%
2029 1.72% 0.78%
2028 1.75% 0.83%
2027 1.78% 0.88%
2026 1.83% 0.96%
2025 1.87% 1.06%
2024 1.89% 1.59%
2023 1.93% 1.89%
2022 1.94% 2%
2021 1.98% 1.41%
2020 2.01% 1.27%
2019 2.03% 1.6%
2018 2.1% 1.46%
2017 2.22% 1.36%
2016 2.3% 1.29%
2015 2.33% 0.95%
2014 2.39% 0.73%
2013 2.44% 0.53%
2012 2.45% 0.42%
2011 2.43% 0.44%
2010 2.46% 0.55%
2009 2.53% 1.02%
2008 2.57% 2.06%
2007 2.61% 2.93%
2006 2.63% 2.73%
2005 2.66% 2.2%
2004 2.68% 1.85%
2003 2.74% 1.64%
2002 2.79% 1.7%
2001 2.7% 1.6%
2000 2.54% 1.34%
1999 2.47% 1.13%
1998 2.46% 1.05%
1997 2.41% 1.01%
1996 2.36% 0.79%
1995 2.39% 0.51%
1994 2.43% 0.39%
1993 2.5% 0.5%
1992 2.52% 0.68%
1991 2.55% 0.58%
1990 2.58% 0.08%
1989 2.53% -0.4%
1988 2.43% -0.43%
1987 2.32% 0.01%
1986 2.23% 0.05%
1985 2.17% 0.16%
1984 2.62% 0.62%
1983 3.05% 0.71%
1982 2.95% 0.95%
1981 2.85% 1.18%
1980 2.97% 1.16%
1979 3.1% 1.34%
1978 3.08% 1.43%
1977 2.99% 1.36%
1976 2.92% 1.52%
1975 2.94% 1.66%
1974 2.94% 1.67%
1973 2.93% 1.62%
1972 2.85% 1.5%
1971 2.81% 1.18%
1970 2.71% 0.84%
1969 2.53% 0.59%
1968 2.46% 0.45%
1967 2.44% 0.47%
1966 2.43% 0.4%
1965 2.43% 0.38%
1964 2.41% 0.49%
1963 2.42% 0.59%
1962 2.44% 0.41%
1961 2.89% -0.15%

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/ireland | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Ireland's population grew by 1.59%.

Live population counters

Ghana Ireland
Current population
35885254
5518360
Population rank 46/197 121/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.07%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
6.24 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
9.61 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
15 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +231
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +84,252
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +1.59%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 68/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
14.9 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 +35,417
Net migration rank 150/196 27/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 1,216,237
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 52/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 23.1%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 25/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Ireland
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Ireland
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 35,417
2024 - -13,114 - 39,059
2023 651,094 -10,003 19,652 43,873
2022 646,441 -10,003 19,287 93,535
2021 635,805 -11,259 26,064 27,419
2020 637,469 -291 23,687 15,746
2019 642,403 -21,857 28,365 29,663
2018 641,551 -19,375 29,878 33,387
2017 641,218 -4,913 31,379 28,883
2016 659,910 7,009 33,339 18,967
2015 667,729 -13,306 35,265 13,376
2014 660,829 -6,312 37,728 448
2013 658,638 -2,377 39,302 -12,309
2012 646,595 1,005 42,775 -22,411
2011 631,501 -720 45,801 -26,529
2010 613,133 -3,726 47,426 -26,974
2009 592,825 22,416 47,168 -18,524
2008 579,695 30,506 46,691 18,979
2007 572,332 32,813 43,109 76,465
2006 569,474 28,536 36,752 94,513
2005 563,234 21,272 33,279 63,983
2004 543,339 34,433 33,376 49,102
2003 536,656 28,768 32,372 32,220
2002 528,620 40,573 31,062 34,286
2001 519,382 36,050 27,837 39,220
2000 508,738 -4,206 23,592 31,298
1999 487,210 -17,304 21,402 23,592
1998 471,313 -17,564 22,277 16,615
1997 459,822 -15,409 21,311 17,425
1996 450,259 -37,113 18,915 9,959
1995 451,748 -42,558 16,601 10,019
1994 449,589 -47,120 17,234 -3,118
1993 454,669 -49,792 17,166 -3,762
1992 452,156 -47,736 20,283 1,335
1991 448,159 -57,878 21,206 4,944
1990 442,211 -46,789 21,787 -8,203
1989 432,541 -52,293 20,012 -28,752
1988 425,031 -64,810 22,912 -44,020
1987 419,328 -84,648 26,904 -38,426
1986 411,191 -98,099 27,963 -21,139
1985 401,722 -106,855 29,013 -16,178
1984 392,053 -105,655 31,791 -15,549
1983 379,846 15,276 34,053 -15,043
1982 369,061 7,863 38,344 -14,464
1981 359,572 -12,296 39,364 -10,834
1980 346,816 -13,564 40,612 -2,876
1979 334,848 20,291 38,798 1,486
1978 324,428 18,041 36,288 15,543
1977 315,429 15,243 35,448 14,505
1976 305,769 -2,528 33,676 14,200
1975 298,267 -292 34,128 13,828
1974 290,796 -1,197 34,199 13,482
1973 283,385 -1,168 34,562 13,164
1972 275,236 -4,589 34,316 12,858
1971 265,442 -12,238 35,606 5,851
1970 257,938 -10,233 30,756 -8,892
1969 251,925 -28,752 29,326 -10,250
1968 242,821 -36,683 27,697 -11,132
1967 237,156 -35,666 29,895 -11,708
1966 231,440 -38,143 26,866 -11,858
1965 229,061 -38,519 30,500 -14,016
1964 226,685 -43,480 31,532 -15,640
1963 225,367 -46,516 29,667 -16,615
1962 223,842 -48,017 28,077 -17,438
1961 222,372 -48,777 25,137 -22,237
1960 217,134 12,181 28,286 -38,492

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/ireland | 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 Ireland 48.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 284,644 people) and 51.8% is from migration (a gain of 305,297 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 1,216,237 people or 23.1% in Ireland.

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
Ireland
City Population
Dublin 593K
Cork 222K
Galway 83.5K
Limerick 62.7K
Waterford 48.4K
Drogheda 41K
Swords 40.8K
Dundalk 39K
Tralee 26.1K
Kilkenny 22.2K

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/ghana/ireland | 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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