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Population in Ghana compared to the Netherlands: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 17,993,485 people in the Netherlands in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 18,252,623 in the Netherlands.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.97 times bigger than the Netherlands'.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while the Netherlands is the 72nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.65% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.22% for the Netherlands.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +0.62% in the Netherlands.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while the Netherlands has grown from 16.3M to 18.3M (11.7% growth).

Ghana vs Netherlands: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Netherlands
2100 68,131,252 17,359,081
2099 68,021,644 17,392,412
2098 67,902,002 17,425,508
2097 67,772,694 17,459,827
2096 67,638,801 17,495,124
2095 67,494,855 17,532,593
2094 67,339,471 17,571,051
2093 67,176,337 17,610,792
2092 67,005,259 17,649,611
2091 66,817,473 17,688,532
2090 66,618,611 17,730,570
2089 66,408,323 17,770,380
2088 66,186,701 17,809,825
2087 65,950,524 17,845,820
2086 65,712,980 17,885,001
2085 65,464,770 17,921,302
2084 65,209,090 17,957,639
2083 64,935,455 17,994,232
2082 64,651,183 18,029,404
2081 64,355,091 18,063,233
2080 64,047,069 18,093,703
2079 63,730,285 18,124,294
2078 63,397,338 18,152,738
2077 63,059,578 18,181,372
2076 62,711,928 18,206,864
2075 62,350,445 18,227,791
2074 61,987,133 18,245,652
2073 61,616,792 18,263,765
2072 61,239,369 18,280,443
2071 60,847,204 18,295,700
2070 60,454,501 18,311,141
2069 60,053,700 18,326,509
2068 59,639,035 18,341,711
2067 59,215,226 18,356,770
2066 58,786,613 18,374,904
2065 58,353,059 18,396,018
2064 57,904,896 18,417,894
2063 57,451,482 18,441,434
2062 56,986,329 18,464,922
2061 56,511,652 18,492,436
2060 56,031,122 18,520,315
2059 55,540,726 18,548,786
2058 55,042,478 18,577,700
2057 54,535,407 18,608,370
2056 54,018,018 18,638,918
2055 53,492,136 18,666,514
2054 52,959,604 18,692,598
2053 52,417,582 18,718,268
2052 51,869,801 18,741,740
2051 51,311,110 18,768,309
2050 50,740,453 18,789,481
2049 50,163,262 18,809,886
2048 49,577,819 18,827,655
2047 48,982,219 18,844,635
2046 48,383,052 18,855,920
2045 47,776,375 18,867,286
2044 47,163,926 18,877,101
2043 46,548,210 18,882,735
2042 45,925,724 18,885,839
2041 45,300,725 18,885,255
2040 44,669,515 18,879,571
2039 44,038,043 18,870,248
2038 43,402,009 18,855,512
2037 42,760,604 18,837,172
2036 42,120,700 18,811,873
2035 41,478,927 18,783,312
2034 40,831,962 18,750,125
2033 40,184,070 18,708,101
2032 39,540,131 18,662,054
2031 38,900,194 18,609,452
2030 38,258,832 18,549,634
2029 37,623,609 18,481,269
2028 36,986,250 18,404,195
2027 36,349,705 18,320,644
2026 35,713,042 18,227,403
2025 35,071,292 18,118,662
2024 34,427,414 17,993,485
2023 33,787,914 17,877,117
2022 33,149,152 17,700,982
2021 32,518,665 17,533,044
2020 31,887,809 17,441,500
2019 31,258,945 17,344,874
2018 30,637,585 17,231,624
2017 30,008,354 17,131,296
2016 29,356,742 17,030,314
2015 28,696,068 16,939,923
2014 28,041,592 16,865,008
2013 27,386,193 16,804,432
2012 26,734,268 16,754,962
2011 26,095,088 16,693,074
2010 25,474,995 16,615,394
2009 24,862,664 16,530,388
2008 24,249,946 16,445,593
2007 23,642,279 16,381,696
2006 23,040,702 16,346,101
2005 22,449,438 16,319,868
2004 21,868,298 16,281,779
2003 21,296,705 16,225,302
2002 20,729,388 16,148,929
2001 20,167,069 16,046,180
2000 19,637,087 15,925,513
1999 19,149,864 15,812,088
1998 18,688,036 15,707,209
1997 18,238,958 15,610,650
1996 17,810,181 15,530,498
1995 17,399,017 15,459,006
1994 16,993,190 15,382,838
1993 16,589,519 15,290,368
1992 16,184,855 15,184,166
1991 15,787,496 15,069,798
1990 15,394,648 14,951,510
1989 15,006,813 14,848,907
1988 14,636,568 14,760,094
1987 14,289,108 14,665,037
1986 13,965,217 14,572,278
1985 13,661,229 14,491,632
1984 13,370,590 14,424,211
1983 13,029,836 14,367,070
1982 12,643,819 14,312,690
1981 12,281,712 14,247,208
1980 11,941,448 14,149,800
1979 11,597,255 14,038,270
1978 11,248,450 13,941,700
1977 10,911,871 13,856,185
1976 10,594,913 13,774,037
1975 10,294,308 13,666,335
1974 10,000,523 13,545,056
1973 9,714,617 13,439,322
1972 9,438,187 13,328,593
1971 9,176,264 13,194,497
1970 8,925,813 13,038,526
1969 8,690,383 12,877,984
1968 8,475,729 12,729,721
1967 8,271,913 12,598,201
1966 8,074,521 12,456,251
1965 7,882,606 12,294,732
1964 7,695,739 12,127,120
1963 7,514,714 11,965,966
1962 7,337,375 11,805,689
1961 7,162,667 11,638,712
1960 6,961,215 11,486,631

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/netherlands | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while the Netherlands gained 684,213 people (a 4.19% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while the Netherlands' population increased by 1,222,309 people (a 7.18% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. The Netherlands was ranked 61st in 2006 and ranked 72nd 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 the Netherlands will increase by 2.94% to 18,789,481 people and rank change from 72nd to 77th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 18.9M people in 2042 for the Netherlands.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Netherlands
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Netherlands
2100 0.16% -0.19%
2099 0.18% -0.19%
2098 0.19% -0.2%
2097 0.2% -0.2%
2096 0.21% -0.21%
2095 0.23% -0.22%
2094 0.24% -0.23%
2093 0.26% -0.22%
2092 0.28% -0.22%
2091 0.3% -0.24%
2090 0.32% -0.22%
2089 0.33% -0.22%
2088 0.36% -0.2%
2087 0.36% -0.22%
2086 0.38% -0.2%
2085 0.39% -0.2%
2084 0.42% -0.2%
2083 0.44% -0.2%
2082 0.46% -0.19%
2081 0.48% -0.17%
2080 0.5% -0.17%
2079 0.53% -0.16%
2078 0.54% -0.16%
2077 0.55% -0.14%
2076 0.58% -0.11%
2075 0.59% -0.1%
2074 0.6% -0.1%
2073 0.62% -0.09%
2072 0.64% -0.08%
2071 0.65% -0.08%
2070 0.67% -0.08%
2069 0.7% -0.08%
2068 0.72% -0.08%
2067 0.73% -0.1%
2066 0.74% -0.11%
2065 0.77% -0.12%
2064 0.79% -0.13%
2063 0.82% -0.13%
2062 0.84% -0.15%
2061 0.86% -0.15%
2060 0.88% -0.15%
2059 0.91% -0.16%
2058 0.93% -0.16%
2057 0.96% -0.16%
2056 0.98% -0.15%
2055 1.01% -0.14%
2054 1.03% -0.14%
2053 1.06% -0.13%
2052 1.09% -0.14%
2051 1.12% -0.11%
2050 1.15% -0.11%
2049 1.18% -0.09%
2048 1.22% -0.09%
2047 1.24% -0.06%
2046 1.27% -0.06%
2045 1.3% -0.05%
2044 1.32% -0.03%
2043 1.36% -0.02%
2042 1.38% 0.003%
2041 1.41% 0.03%
2040 1.43% 0.05%
2039 1.47% 0.08%
2038 1.5% 0.1%
2037 1.52% 0.13%
2036 1.55% 0.15%
2035 1.58% 0.18%
2034 1.61% 0.22%
2033 1.63% 0.25%
2032 1.65% 0.28%
2031 1.68% 0.32%
2030 1.69% 0.37%
2029 1.72% 0.42%
2028 1.75% 0.46%
2027 1.78% 0.51%
2026 1.83% 0.6%
2025 1.87% 0.7%
2024 1.89% 0.65%
2023 1.93% 1%
2022 1.94% 0.96%
2021 1.98% 0.52%
2020 2.01% 0.56%
2019 2.03% 0.66%
2018 2.1% 0.59%
2017 2.22% 0.59%
2016 2.3% 0.53%
2015 2.33% 0.44%
2014 2.39% 0.36%
2013 2.44% 0.3%
2012 2.45% 0.37%
2011 2.43% 0.47%
2010 2.46% 0.51%
2009 2.53% 0.52%
2008 2.57% 0.39%
2007 2.61% 0.22%
2006 2.63% 0.16%
2005 2.66% 0.23%
2004 2.68% 0.35%
2003 2.74% 0.47%
2002 2.79% 0.64%
2001 2.7% 0.76%
2000 2.54% 0.72%
1999 2.47% 0.67%
1998 2.46% 0.62%
1997 2.41% 0.52%
1996 2.36% 0.46%
1995 2.39% 0.5%
1994 2.43% 0.6%
1993 2.5% 0.7%
1992 2.52% 0.76%
1991 2.55% 0.79%
1990 2.58% 0.69%
1989 2.53% 0.6%
1988 2.43% 0.65%
1987 2.32% 0.64%
1986 2.23% 0.56%
1985 2.17% 0.47%
1984 2.62% 0.4%
1983 3.05% 0.38%
1982 2.95% 0.46%
1981 2.85% 0.69%
1980 2.97% 0.79%
1979 3.1% 0.69%
1978 3.08% 0.62%
1977 2.99% 0.6%
1976 2.92% 0.79%
1975 2.94% 0.9%
1974 2.94% 0.79%
1973 2.93% 0.83%
1972 2.85% 1.02%
1971 2.81% 1.2%
1970 2.71% 1.25%
1969 2.53% 1.16%
1968 2.46% 1.04%
1967 2.44% 1.14%
1966 2.43% 1.31%
1965 2.43% 1.38%
1964 2.41% 1.35%
1963 2.42% 1.36%
1962 2.44% 1.43%
1961 2.89% 1.32%

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/netherlands | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while the Netherlands' population grew by 0.65%.

Live population counters

Ghana Netherlands
Current population
35885254
18252623
Population rank 46/197 72/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.22%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
4.52 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
3.2 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
3.09 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +319
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +116,368
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +0.65%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 121/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
5.03 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 +104,681
Net migration rank 150/196 16/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 2,956,518
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 23/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 16.2%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 40/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Netherlands
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Netherlands
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 104,681
2024 - -13,114 - 121,628
2023 651,094 -10,003 -5,363 144,558
2022 646,441 -10,003 -1,770 224,472
2021 635,805 -11,259 7,014 106,416
2020 637,469 -291 0 67,598
2019 642,403 -21,857 17,345 109,003
2018 641,551 -19,375 15,508 87,197
2017 641,218 -4,913 18,844 86,332
2016 659,910 7,009 23,843 88,743
2015 667,729 -13,306 23,716 55,585
2014 660,829 -6,312 35,417 36,591
2013 658,638 -2,377 30,248 19,973
2012 646,595 1,005 35,186 14,861
2011 631,501 -720 45,072 31,224
2010 613,133 -3,726 48,184 33,703
2009 592,825 22,416 51,244 39,832
2008 579,695 30,506 49,337 32,406
2007 572,332 32,813 49,145 -304
2006 569,474 28,536 49,038 -25,401
2005 563,234 21,272 50,592 -22,496
2004 543,339 34,433 56,987 -9,230
2003 536,656 28,768 58,411 7,937
2002 528,620 40,573 59,751 28,824
2001 519,382 36,050 62,580 56,096
2000 508,738 -4,206 66,887 59,308
1999 487,210 -17,304 60,086 47,179
1998 471,313 -17,564 61,258 52,058
1997 459,822 -15,409 56,198 31,302
1996 450,259 -37,113 51,251 21,792
1995 451,748 -42,558 54,106 15,056
1994 449,589 -47,120 61,532 20,193
1993 454,669 -49,792 58,103 44,514
1992 452,156 -47,736 66,811 50,148
1991 448,159 -57,878 69,321 51,670
1990 442,211 -46,789 68,777 53,564
1989 432,541 -52,293 59,396 31,165
1988 425,031 -64,810 61,993 31,026
1987 419,328 -84,648 64,526 39,559
1986 411,191 -98,099 59,746 30,380
1985 401,722 -106,855 55,069 27,356
1984 392,053 -105,655 54,812 12,902
1983 379,846 15,276 51,722 11,007
1982 369,061 7,863 54,388 7,644
1981 359,572 -12,296 62,688 17,643
1980 346,816 -13,564 66,504 54,010
1979 334,848 20,291 63,172 42,772
1978 324,428 18,041 61,344 26,639
1977 315,429 15,243 63,739 19,809
1976 305,769 -2,528 63,361 18,774
1975 298,267 -292 64,232 68,569
1974 290,796 -1,197 75,853 31,645
1973 283,385 -1,168 84,668 18,705
1972 275,236 -4,589 101,297 17,470
1971 265,442 -12,238 116,112 32,756
1970 257,938 -10,233 129,082 32,438
1969 251,925 -28,752 139,082 21,850
1968 242,821 -36,683 132,389 7,243
1967 237,156 -35,666 138,580 -10,673
1966 231,440 -38,143 138,265 20,740
1965 229,061 -38,519 146,308 19,444
1964 226,685 -43,480 157,653 15,014
1963 225,367 -46,516 154,361 -21
1962 223,842 -48,017 153,474 18,024
1961 222,372 -48,777 159,450 8,258
1960 217,134 12,181 151,623 -13,235

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/netherlands | 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 the Netherlands 11.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 134,554 people) and 88.2% is from migration (a gain of 1,006,495 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 2,956,518 people or 16.2% in the Netherlands.

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
Netherlands
City Population
Amsterdam 921K
Rotterdam 664K
The Hague 548K
Utrecht 359K
Eindhoven 244K
Groningen 238K
Tilburg 228K
Almere 215K
Breda 188K
Nijmegen 177K

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/netherlands | 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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