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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 123,366,734 people in Japan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 122,704,252 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 3.41 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.91% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs -0.28% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.03% decline).

Ghana vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Japan
2100 68,117,614 76,995,942
2099 68,008,028 77,380,486
2098 67,888,410 77,759,557
2097 67,759,128 78,135,569
2096 67,625,262 78,515,892
2095 67,481,344 78,892,606
2094 67,325,992 79,267,768
2093 67,162,890 79,645,584
2092 66,991,846 80,025,578
2091 66,804,098 80,401,222
2090 66,605,276 80,778,500
2089 66,395,029 81,158,413
2088 66,173,453 81,539,639
2087 65,937,323 81,926,401
2086 65,699,827 82,322,612
2085 65,451,666 82,727,738
2084 65,196,037 83,141,354
2083 64,922,457 83,562,394
2082 64,638,242 83,998,809
2081 64,342,209 84,447,888
2080 64,034,249 84,918,455
2079 63,717,528 85,406,042
2078 63,384,648 85,916,840
2077 63,046,955 86,453,316
2076 62,699,375 87,012,155
2075 62,337,964 87,597,053
2074 61,974,725 88,209,803
2073 61,604,458 88,854,316
2072 61,227,111 89,519,055
2071 60,835,024 90,204,314
2070 60,442,399 90,919,143
2069 60,041,679 91,645,589
2068 59,627,097 92,388,299
2067 59,203,373 93,133,993
2066 58,774,846 93,889,902
2065 58,341,378 94,654,259
2064 57,893,305 95,412,429
2063 57,439,982 96,169,244
2062 56,974,922 96,924,236
2061 56,500,340 97,675,525
2060 56,019,906 98,422,553
2059 55,529,609 99,166,038
2058 55,031,460 99,890,950
2057 54,524,491 100,607,740
2056 54,007,205 101,318,164
2055 53,481,428 102,012,184
2054 52,949,003 102,706,063
2053 52,407,089 103,381,833
2052 51,859,418 104,059,800
2051 51,300,839 104,729,745
2050 50,730,296 105,400,477
2049 50,153,221 106,076,354
2048 49,567,895 106,754,699
2047 48,972,414 107,442,881
2046 48,373,367 108,139,155
2045 47,766,811 108,844,934
2044 47,154,486 109,553,441
2043 46,538,892 110,269,851
2042 45,916,531 110,992,599
2041 45,291,657 111,729,216
2040 44,660,573 112,463,507
2039 44,029,228 113,200,859
2038 43,393,321 113,940,856
2037 42,752,045 114,687,611
2036 42,112,269 115,436,359
2035 41,470,624 116,187,949
2034 40,823,789 116,936,734
2033 40,176,026 117,678,572
2032 39,532,216 118,419,247
2031 38,892,407 119,153,646
2030 38,251,174 119,882,512
2029 37,616,078 120,600,781
2028 36,978,847 121,314,239
2027 36,342,429 122,015,984
2026 35,705,894 122,704,252
2025 35,064,272 123,366,734
2024 34,427,414 123,975,371
2023 33,787,914 124,516,650
2022 33,149,152 125,124,989
2021 32,518,665 125,681,593
2020 31,887,809 126,261,000
2019 31,258,945 126,633,000
2018 30,637,585 126,811,000
2017 30,008,354 126,972,000
2016 29,356,742 127,076,000
2015 28,696,068 127,141,000
2014 28,041,592 127,276,000
2013 27,386,193 127,445,000
2012 26,734,268 127,629,000
2011 26,095,088 127,833,000
2010 25,474,995 128,070,000
2009 24,862,664 128,047,000
2008 24,249,946 128,063,000
2007 23,642,279 128,001,000
2006 23,040,702 127,854,000
2005 22,449,438 127,773,000
2004 21,868,298 127,761,000
2003 21,296,705 127,718,000
2002 20,729,388 127,445,000
2001 20,167,069 127,149,000
2000 19,637,087 126,843,000
1999 19,149,864 126,631,000
1998 18,688,036 126,400,000
1997 18,238,958 126,057,000
1996 17,810,181 125,757,000
1995 17,399,017 125,472,000
1994 16,993,190 125,178,000
1993 16,589,519 124,829,000
1992 16,184,855 124,425,000
1991 15,787,496 123,964,000
1990 15,394,648 123,478,000
1989 15,006,813 123,069,000
1988 14,636,568 122,578,000
1987 14,289,108 122,069,000
1986 13,965,217 121,482,000
1985 13,661,229 120,837,000
1984 13,370,590 120,083,000
1983 13,029,836 119,307,000
1982 12,643,819 118,480,000
1981 12,281,712 117,661,000
1980 11,941,448 116,807,000
1979 11,597,255 115,890,000
1978 11,248,450 114,913,000
1977 10,911,871 113,872,000
1976 10,594,913 112,775,000
1975 10,294,308 111,573,000
1974 10,000,523 110,162,000
1973 9,714,617 108,707,000
1972 9,438,187 107,188,000
1971 9,176,264 105,697,000
1970 8,925,813 103,403,000
1969 8,690,383 102,219,000
1968 8,475,729 101,011,000
1967 8,271,913 99,879,000
1966 8,074,521 98,851,000
1965 7,882,606 97,952,000
1964 7,695,739 96,903,000
1963 7,514,714 95,900,000
1962 7,337,375 94,933,000
1961 7,162,667 94,055,000
1960 6,961,215 93,216,000

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,371,748 people (a 3.44% decline).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Ghana's population will grow by 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,400,477 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Japan
2100 0.16% -0.5%
2099 0.18% -0.49%
2098 0.19% -0.48%
2097 0.2% -0.48%
2096 0.21% -0.48%
2095 0.23% -0.47%
2094 0.24% -0.47%
2093 0.26% -0.47%
2092 0.28% -0.47%
2091 0.3% -0.47%
2090 0.32% -0.47%
2089 0.33% -0.47%
2088 0.36% -0.47%
2087 0.36% -0.48%
2086 0.38% -0.49%
2085 0.39% -0.5%
2084 0.42% -0.5%
2083 0.44% -0.52%
2082 0.46% -0.53%
2081 0.48% -0.55%
2080 0.5% -0.57%
2079 0.53% -0.59%
2078 0.54% -0.62%
2077 0.55% -0.64%
2076 0.58% -0.67%
2075 0.59% -0.69%
2074 0.6% -0.73%
2073 0.62% -0.74%
2072 0.64% -0.76%
2071 0.65% -0.79%
2070 0.67% -0.79%
2069 0.7% -0.8%
2068 0.72% -0.8%
2067 0.73% -0.81%
2066 0.74% -0.81%
2065 0.77% -0.79%
2064 0.79% -0.79%
2063 0.82% -0.78%
2062 0.84% -0.77%
2061 0.86% -0.76%
2060 0.88% -0.75%
2059 0.91% -0.73%
2058 0.93% -0.71%
2057 0.96% -0.7%
2056 0.98% -0.68%
2055 1.01% -0.68%
2054 1.03% -0.65%
2053 1.06% -0.65%
2052 1.09% -0.64%
2051 1.12% -0.64%
2050 1.15% -0.64%
2049 1.18% -0.64%
2048 1.22% -0.64%
2047 1.24% -0.64%
2046 1.27% -0.65%
2045 1.3% -0.65%
2044 1.32% -0.65%
2043 1.36% -0.65%
2042 1.38% -0.66%
2041 1.41% -0.65%
2040 1.43% -0.65%
2039 1.47% -0.65%
2038 1.5% -0.65%
2037 1.52% -0.65%
2036 1.55% -0.65%
2035 1.58% -0.64%
2034 1.61% -0.63%
2033 1.63% -0.63%
2032 1.65% -0.62%
2031 1.68% -0.61%
2030 1.69% -0.6%
2029 1.72% -0.59%
2028 1.75% -0.58%
2027 1.78% -0.56%
2026 1.83% -0.54%
2025 1.85% -0.49%
2024 1.89% -0.43%
2023 1.93% -0.49%
2022 1.94% -0.44%
2021 1.98% -0.46%
2020 2.01% -0.29%
2019 2.03% -0.14%
2018 2.1% -0.13%
2017 2.22% -0.08%
2016 2.3% -0.05%
2015 2.33% -0.11%
2014 2.39% -0.13%
2013 2.44% -0.14%
2012 2.45% -0.16%
2011 2.43% -0.19%
2010 2.46% 0.02%
2009 2.53% -0.01%
2008 2.57% 0.05%
2007 2.61% 0.11%
2006 2.63% 0.06%
2005 2.66% 0.009%
2004 2.68% 0.03%
2003 2.74% 0.21%
2002 2.79% 0.23%
2001 2.7% 0.24%
2000 2.54% 0.17%
1999 2.47% 0.18%
1998 2.46% 0.27%
1997 2.41% 0.24%
1996 2.36% 0.23%
1995 2.39% 0.23%
1994 2.43% 0.28%
1993 2.5% 0.32%
1992 2.52% 0.37%
1991 2.55% 0.39%
1990 2.58% 0.33%
1989 2.53% 0.4%
1988 2.43% 0.42%
1987 2.32% 0.48%
1986 2.23% 0.53%
1985 2.17% 0.63%
1984 2.62% 0.65%
1983 3.05% 0.7%
1982 2.95% 0.7%
1981 2.85% 0.73%
1980 2.97% 0.79%
1979 3.1% 0.85%
1978 3.08% 0.91%
1977 2.99% 0.97%
1976 2.92% 1.08%
1975 2.94% 1.28%
1974 2.94% 1.34%
1973 2.93% 1.42%
1972 2.85% 1.41%
1971 2.81% 2.22%
1970 2.71% 1.16%
1969 2.53% 1.2%
1968 2.46% 1.13%
1967 2.44% 1.04%
1966 2.43% 0.92%
1965 2.43% 1.08%
1964 2.41% 1.05%
1963 2.42% 1.02%
1962 2.44% 0.93%
1961 2.89% 0.9%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Japan's population declined by 0.49%.

Live population counters

Ghana Japan
Current population
36032857
122704252
Population rank 46/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 1.48%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
52 seconds
One birth every
35.3 seconds
44.6 seconds
One death every
2.18 minutes
19.1 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,745 -1,667
Annual growth/decline +636,858 -608,637
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% -0.49%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 183/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 +140,579
Net migration rank 150/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 140,579
2024 651,057 -13,114 -942,213 153,357
2023 651,094 -10,003 -871,617 175,003
2022 646,441 -10,003 -825,825 175,003
2021 635,805 -11,259 -640,976 -34,996
2020 637,469 -291 -542,923 42,001
2019 642,403 -21,857 -531,858 318,190
2018 641,551 -19,375 -456,520 320,601
2017 641,218 -4,913 -406,310 322,564
2016 659,910 7,009 -343,106 314,732
2015 667,729 -13,306 -292,424 168,896
2014 660,829 -6,312 -267,279 58,109
2013 658,638 -2,377 -242,146 66,449
2012 646,595 1,005 -229,733 67,904
2011 631,501 -720 -204,533 97,720
2010 613,133 -3,726 -128,070 131,860
2009 592,825 22,416 -76,828 125,450
2008 579,695 30,506 -51,225 142,605
2007 572,332 32,813 -25,600 138,024
2006 569,474 28,536 12,785 130,065
2005 563,234 21,272 -25,554 113,017
2004 543,339 34,433 76,656 69,014
2003 536,656 28,768 114,946 74,875
2002 528,620 40,573 178,423 60,864
2001 519,382 36,050 203,438 59,563
2000 508,738 -4,206 228,317 23,468
1999 487,210 -17,304 202,610 56,901
1998 471,313 -17,564 265,440 45,912
1997 459,822 -15,409 277,325 43,366
1996 450,259 -37,113 314,392 25,030
1995 451,748 -42,558 276,039 87,714
1994 449,589 -47,120 363,017 154,214
1993 454,669 -49,792 312,073 168,836
1992 452,156 -47,736 360,833 170,878
1991 448,159 -57,878 396,685 161,331
1990 442,211 -46,789 407,478 124,582
1989 432,541 -52,293 467,662 31,202
1988 425,031 -64,810 527,085 51,154
1987 419,328 -84,648 598,138 28,001
1986 411,191 -98,099 631,706 27,987
1985 401,722 -106,855 676,687 -141,323
1984 392,053 -105,655 756,523 -273,686
1983 379,846 15,276 775,495 -269,755
1982 369,061 7,863 805,664 -288,550
1981 359,572 -12,296 811,861 -278,525
1980 346,816 -13,564 864,372 -92,314
1979 334,848 20,291 950,298 -57,692
1978 324,428 18,041 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 315,429 15,243 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 305,769 -2,528 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 298,267 -292 1,204,989 107
1974 290,796 -1,197 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 283,385 -1,168 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 275,236 -4,589 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 265,442 -12,238 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 257,938 -10,233 1,230,496 33,731
1969 251,925 -28,752 1,195,962 49,447
1968 242,821 -36,683 1,191,930 43,593
1967 237,156 -35,666 1,258,475 29,632
1966 231,440 -38,143 682,072 68,934
1965 229,061 -38,519 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 226,685 -43,480 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 225,367 -46,516 987,770 -100,742
1962 223,842 -48,017 901,864 -57,075
1961 222,372 -48,777 893,522 -58,882
1960 217,134 12,181 894,874 -150,371

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 98.5% of the population change in Ghana is from natural causes (a gain of 6,474,677 people) and 1.48% is from migration (a loss of 97,112 people). In Japan 75% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,853,772 people) and 25% is from migration (a gain of 1,955,351 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

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
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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