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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 3.42 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 +2.1% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Ghana vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Japan
2100 68,131,252 76,978,998
2099 68,021,644 77,363,458
2098 67,902,002 77,742,445
2097 67,772,694 78,118,375
2096 67,638,801 78,498,614
2095 67,494,855 78,875,245
2094 67,339,471 79,250,325
2093 67,176,337 79,628,057
2092 67,005,259 80,007,967
2091 66,817,473 80,383,529
2090 66,618,611 80,760,724
2089 66,408,323 81,140,553
2088 66,186,701 81,521,696
2087 65,950,524 81,908,373
2086 65,712,980 82,304,497
2085 65,464,770 82,709,534
2084 65,209,090 83,123,058
2083 64,935,455 83,544,006
2082 64,651,183 83,980,325
2081 64,355,091 84,429,305
2080 64,047,069 84,899,768
2079 63,730,285 85,387,247
2078 63,397,338 85,897,934
2077 63,059,578 86,434,291
2076 62,711,928 86,993,007
2075 62,350,445 87,577,777
2074 61,987,133 88,190,392
2073 61,616,792 88,834,763
2072 61,239,369 89,499,356
2071 60,847,204 90,184,464
2070 60,454,501 90,899,136
2069 60,053,700 91,625,421
2068 59,639,035 92,367,969
2067 59,215,226 93,113,499
2066 58,786,613 93,869,240
2065 58,353,059 94,633,430
2064 57,904,896 95,391,433
2063 57,451,482 96,148,081
2062 56,986,329 96,902,907
2061 56,511,652 97,654,031
2060 56,031,122 98,400,894
2059 55,540,726 99,144,216
2058 55,042,478 99,868,968
2057 54,535,407 100,585,601
2056 54,018,018 101,295,868
2055 53,492,136 101,989,736
2054 52,959,604 102,683,462
2053 52,417,582 103,359,083
2052 51,869,801 104,036,901
2051 51,311,110 104,706,698
2050 50,740,453 105,377,283
2049 50,163,262 106,053,011
2048 49,577,819 106,731,207
2047 48,982,219 107,419,237
2046 48,383,052 108,115,358
2045 47,776,375 108,820,982
2044 47,163,926 109,529,333
2043 46,548,210 110,245,586
2042 45,925,724 110,968,174
2041 45,300,725 111,704,629
2040 44,669,515 112,438,759
2039 44,038,043 113,175,948
2038 43,402,009 113,915,783
2037 42,760,604 114,662,374
2036 42,120,700 115,410,956
2035 41,478,927 116,162,381
2034 40,831,962 116,911,001
2033 40,184,070 117,652,676
2032 39,540,131 118,393,188
2031 38,900,194 119,127,425
2030 38,258,832 119,856,131
2029 37,623,609 120,574,242
2028 36,986,250 121,287,543
2027 36,349,705 121,989,133
2026 35,713,042 122,677,250
2025 35,071,292 123,339,586
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% 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 41.4% to 50,740,453 people with a rank change from 46th to 42nd. The population of Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 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 1.87% -0.51%
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 (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

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

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Ghana Japan
Current population
35885254
122677250
Population rank 46/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 1.48%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
58.3 seconds
One birth every
35.5 seconds
42.2 seconds
One death every
2.21 minutes
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,752 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +639,500 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 185/197
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 - -13,114 - 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 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 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 (1960–2024, 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/japan | 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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