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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 1.02 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.87% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Ghana vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Malaysia
2100 68,131,252 44,353,615
2099 68,021,644 44,467,475
2098 67,902,002 44,579,971
2097 67,772,694 44,695,979
2096 67,638,801 44,814,885
2095 67,494,855 44,932,404
2094 67,339,471 45,047,479
2093 67,176,337 45,165,126
2092 67,005,259 45,278,674
2091 66,817,473 45,390,002
2090 66,618,611 45,501,495
2089 66,408,323 45,610,046
2088 66,186,701 45,717,882
2087 65,950,524 45,823,085
2086 65,712,980 45,926,712
2085 65,464,770 46,020,742
2084 65,209,090 46,111,490
2083 64,935,455 46,202,286
2082 64,651,183 46,284,929
2081 64,355,091 46,359,700
2080 64,047,069 46,435,482
2079 63,730,285 46,496,102
2078 63,397,338 46,549,167
2077 63,059,578 46,594,188
2076 62,711,928 46,619,045
2075 62,350,445 46,643,115
2074 61,987,133 46,658,350
2073 61,616,792 46,670,848
2072 61,239,369 46,670,426
2071 60,847,204 46,660,436
2070 60,454,501 46,645,623
2069 60,053,700 46,623,238
2068 59,639,035 46,600,060
2067 59,215,226 46,569,264
2066 58,786,613 46,530,377
2065 58,353,059 46,481,890
2064 57,904,896 46,417,369
2063 57,451,482 46,350,674
2062 56,986,329 46,272,105
2061 56,511,652 46,178,092
2060 56,031,122 46,075,877
2059 55,540,726 45,958,718
2058 55,042,478 45,837,407
2057 54,535,407 45,707,213
2056 54,018,018 45,566,357
2055 53,492,136 45,418,953
2054 52,959,604 45,252,995
2053 52,417,582 45,069,089
2052 51,869,801 44,873,927
2051 51,311,110 44,668,767
2050 50,740,453 44,445,677
2049 50,163,262 44,217,593
2048 49,577,819 43,974,925
2047 48,982,219 43,712,325
2046 48,383,052 43,438,283
2045 47,776,375 43,157,909
2044 47,163,926 42,866,716
2043 46,548,210 42,557,941
2042 45,925,724 42,239,980
2041 45,300,725 41,922,379
2040 44,669,515 41,598,231
2039 44,038,043 41,270,953
2038 43,402,009 40,929,067
2037 42,760,604 40,584,773
2036 42,120,700 40,234,128
2035 41,478,927 39,876,375
2034 40,831,962 39,515,857
2033 40,184,070 39,152,086
2032 39,540,131 38,772,414
2031 38,900,194 38,386,293
2030 38,258,832 37,995,617
2029 37,623,609 37,606,753
2028 36,986,250 37,207,852
2027 36,349,705 36,806,585
2026 35,713,042 36,403,076
2025 35,071,292 35,987,113
2024 34,427,414 35,557,673
2023 33,787,914 35,126,298
2022 33,149,152 34,695,493
2021 32,518,665 34,282,399
2020 31,887,809 33,889,558
2019 31,258,945 33,440,596
2018 30,637,585 32,910,967
2017 30,008,354 32,355,644
2016 29,356,742 31,789,685
2015 28,696,068 31,232,798
2014 28,041,592 30,696,137
2013 27,386,193 30,174,265
2012 26,734,268 29,662,831
2011 26,095,088 29,162,039
2010 25,474,995 28,655,776
2009 24,862,664 28,124,778
2008 24,249,946 27,570,059
2007 23,642,279 26,998,389
2006 23,040,702 26,417,909
2005 22,449,438 25,836,071
2004 21,868,298 25,256,772
2003 21,296,705 24,679,602
2002 20,729,388 24,102,477
2001 20,167,069 23,526,538
2000 19,637,087 22,967,816
1999 19,149,864 22,435,531
1998 18,688,036 21,906,713
1997 18,238,958 21,375,218
1996 17,810,181 20,850,087
1995 17,399,017 20,330,599
1994 16,993,190 19,820,446
1993 16,589,519 19,322,664
1992 16,184,855 18,834,572
1991 15,787,496 18,342,464
1990 15,394,648 17,833,171
1989 15,006,813 17,314,997
1988 14,636,568 16,796,605
1987 14,289,108 16,276,737
1986 13,965,217 15,760,419
1985 13,661,229 15,252,258
1984 13,370,590 14,759,009
1983 13,029,836 14,285,907
1982 12,643,819 13,832,798
1981 12,281,712 13,399,203
1980 11,941,448 12,983,363
1979 11,597,255 12,627,862
1978 11,248,450 12,328,157
1977 10,911,871 12,035,713
1976 10,594,913 11,750,097
1975 10,294,308 11,471,914
1974 10,000,523 11,200,906
1973 9,714,617 10,935,621
1972 9,438,187 10,676,835
1971 9,176,264 10,423,453
1970 8,925,813 10,178,802
1969 8,690,383 9,947,597
1968 8,475,729 9,725,281
1967 8,271,913 9,507,099
1966 8,074,521 9,284,688
1965 7,882,606 9,056,408
1964 7,695,739 8,828,406
1963 7,514,714 8,602,160
1962 7,337,375 8,380,172
1961 7,162,667 8,164,443
1960 6,961,215 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Malaysia
2100 0.16% -0.26%
2099 0.18% -0.25%
2098 0.19% -0.26%
2097 0.2% -0.27%
2096 0.21% -0.26%
2095 0.23% -0.26%
2094 0.24% -0.26%
2093 0.26% -0.25%
2092 0.28% -0.25%
2091 0.3% -0.25%
2090 0.32% -0.24%
2089 0.33% -0.24%
2088 0.36% -0.23%
2087 0.36% -0.23%
2086 0.38% -0.2%
2085 0.39% -0.2%
2084 0.42% -0.2%
2083 0.44% -0.18%
2082 0.46% -0.16%
2081 0.48% -0.16%
2080 0.5% -0.13%
2079 0.53% -0.11%
2078 0.54% -0.1%
2077 0.55% -0.05%
2076 0.58% -0.05%
2075 0.59% -0.03%
2074 0.6% -0.03%
2073 0.62% 0.001%
2072 0.64% 0.02%
2071 0.65% 0.03%
2070 0.67% 0.05%
2069 0.7% 0.05%
2068 0.72% 0.07%
2067 0.73% 0.08%
2066 0.74% 0.1%
2065 0.77% 0.14%
2064 0.79% 0.14%
2063 0.82% 0.17%
2062 0.84% 0.2%
2061 0.86% 0.22%
2060 0.88% 0.25%
2059 0.91% 0.26%
2058 0.93% 0.28%
2057 0.96% 0.31%
2056 0.98% 0.32%
2055 1.01% 0.37%
2054 1.03% 0.41%
2053 1.06% 0.43%
2052 1.09% 0.46%
2051 1.12% 0.5%
2050 1.15% 0.52%
2049 1.18% 0.55%
2048 1.22% 0.6%
2047 1.24% 0.63%
2046 1.27% 0.65%
2045 1.3% 0.68%
2044 1.32% 0.73%
2043 1.36% 0.75%
2042 1.38% 0.76%
2041 1.41% 0.78%
2040 1.43% 0.79%
2039 1.47% 0.84%
2038 1.5% 0.85%
2037 1.52% 0.87%
2036 1.55% 0.9%
2035 1.58% 0.91%
2034 1.61% 0.93%
2033 1.63% 0.98%
2032 1.65% 1.01%
2031 1.68% 1.03%
2030 1.69% 1.03%
2029 1.72% 1.07%
2028 1.75% 1.09%
2027 1.78% 1.11%
2026 1.83% 1.16%
2025 1.87% 1.21%
2024 1.89% 1.23%
2023 1.93% 1.24%
2022 1.94% 1.2%
2021 1.98% 1.16%
2020 2.01% 1.34%
2019 2.03% 1.61%
2018 2.1% 1.72%
2017 2.22% 1.78%
2016 2.3% 1.78%
2015 2.33% 1.75%
2014 2.39% 1.73%
2013 2.44% 1.72%
2012 2.45% 1.72%
2011 2.43% 1.77%
2010 2.46% 1.89%
2009 2.53% 2.01%
2008 2.57% 2.12%
2007 2.61% 2.2%
2006 2.63% 2.25%
2005 2.66% 2.29%
2004 2.68% 2.34%
2003 2.74% 2.39%
2002 2.79% 2.45%
2001 2.7% 2.43%
2000 2.54% 2.37%
1999 2.47% 2.41%
1998 2.46% 2.49%
1997 2.41% 2.52%
1996 2.36% 2.56%
1995 2.39% 2.57%
1994 2.43% 2.58%
1993 2.5% 2.59%
1992 2.52% 2.68%
1991 2.55% 2.86%
1990 2.58% 2.99%
1989 2.53% 3.09%
1988 2.43% 3.19%
1987 2.32% 3.28%
1986 2.23% 3.33%
1985 2.17% 3.34%
1984 2.62% 3.31%
1983 3.05% 3.28%
1982 2.95% 3.24%
1981 2.85% 3.2%
1980 2.97% 2.82%
1979 3.1% 2.43%
1978 3.08% 2.43%
1977 2.99% 2.43%
1976 2.92% 2.42%
1975 2.94% 2.42%
1974 2.94% 2.43%
1973 2.93% 2.42%
1972 2.85% 2.43%
1971 2.81% 2.4%
1970 2.71% 2.32%
1969 2.53% 2.29%
1968 2.46% 2.29%
1967 2.44% 2.4%
1966 2.43% 2.52%
1965 2.43% 2.58%
1964 2.41% 2.63%
1963 2.42% 2.65%
1962 2.44% 2.64%
1961 2.89% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Ghana Malaysia
Current population
35885254
36512221
Population rank 46/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.44%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
1.22 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
1.21 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 89/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 +166,615
Net migration rank 150/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 166,615
2024 - -13,114 - 174,770
2023 651,094 -10,003 254,806 181,071
2022 646,441 -10,003 237,560 188,154
2021 635,805 -11,259 212,002 188,506
2020 637,469 -291 283,282 101,907
2019 642,403 -21,857 309,426 203,284
2018 641,551 -19,375 324,568 221,965
2017 641,218 -4,913 336,434 227,677
2016 659,910 7,009 345,681 222,141
2015 667,729 -13,306 358,302 187,663
2014 660,829 -6,312 367,587 159,791
2013 658,638 -2,377 366,738 149,637
2012 646,595 1,005 371,497 134,975
2011 631,501 -720 372,836 122,269
2010 613,133 -3,726 360,260 157,164
2009 592,825 22,416 366,157 178,410
2008 579,695 30,506 362,380 202,481
2007 572,332 32,813 348,711 229,784
2006 569,474 28,536 349,509 232,971
2005 563,234 21,272 355,324 225,864
2004 543,339 34,433 365,138 212,278
2003 536,656 28,768 377,425 199,510
2002 528,620 40,573 381,084 196,227
2001 519,382 36,050 400,939 173,613
2000 508,738 -4,206 417,371 125,499
1999 487,210 -17,304 432,355 89,335
1998 471,313 -17,564 436,316 99,639
1997 459,822 -15,409 447,768 79,266
1996 450,259 -37,113 450,174 73,040
1995 451,748 -42,558 443,349 72,393
1994 449,589 -47,120 437,873 66,685
1993 454,669 -49,792 429,910 61,079
1992 452,156 -47,736 418,900 66,286
1991 448,159 -57,878 401,938 97,111
1990 442,211 -46,789 384,518 135,020
1989 432,541 -52,293 373,277 143,544
1988 425,031 -64,810 386,507 133,478
1987 419,328 -84,648 381,999 137,759
1986 411,191 -98,099 385,799 127,081
1985 401,722 -106,855 383,243 120,215
1984 392,053 -105,655 376,797 106,248
1983 379,846 15,276 365,290 97,862
1982 369,061 7,863 353,138 89,942
1981 359,572 -12,296 339,991 84,142
1980 346,816 -13,564 326,947 80,617
1979 334,848 20,291 317,439 -13,980
1978 324,428 18,041 311,027 -15,059
1977 315,429 15,243 305,515 -16,601
1976 305,769 -2,528 300,615 -18,316
1975 298,267 -292 294,541 -20,480
1974 290,796 -1,197 289,880 -21,919
1973 283,385 -1,168 284,611 -21,995
1972 275,236 -4,589 276,263 -21,305
1971 265,442 -12,238 272,323 -20,535
1970 257,938 -10,233 269,341 -31,839
1969 251,925 -28,752 264,327 -39,420
1968 242,821 -36,683 260,705 -40,996
1967 237,156 -35,666 258,764 -42,108
1966 231,440 -38,143 262,162 -33,993
1965 229,061 -38,519 264,836 -36,456
1964 226,685 -43,480 266,406 -38,785
1963 225,367 -46,516 265,815 -40,952
1962 223,842 -48,017 262,140 -43,033
1961 222,372 -48,777 257,270 -44,916
1960 217,134 12,181 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

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
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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