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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 237,527,782 people in Nigeria in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 245,016,045 in Nigeria.

Population statistics:

  • Nigeria's population is 6.8 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Nigeria is the 6th.
  • The countries together account for 3.38% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 2.95% for Nigeria.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +2.25% in Nigeria.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Nigeria has grown from 149M to 245M (64.4% growth).

Ghana vs Nigeria: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Nigeria
2100 68,117,614 481,640,156
2099 68,008,028 481,456,918
2098 67,888,410 481,181,892
2097 67,759,128 480,838,161
2096 67,625,262 480,422,467
2095 67,481,344 479,938,579
2094 67,325,992 479,395,022
2093 67,162,890 478,769,369
2092 66,991,846 478,059,864
2091 66,804,098 477,236,907
2090 66,605,276 476,329,495
2089 66,395,029 475,326,347
2088 66,173,453 474,231,442
2087 65,937,323 473,035,563
2086 65,699,827 471,732,001
2085 65,451,666 470,328,175
2084 65,196,037 468,806,172
2083 64,922,457 467,187,453
2082 64,638,242 465,472,417
2081 64,342,209 463,643,190
2080 64,034,249 461,705,493
2079 63,717,528 459,644,523
2078 63,384,648 457,477,264
2077 63,046,955 455,218,871
2076 62,699,375 452,849,991
2075 62,337,964 450,367,356
2074 61,974,725 447,789,885
2073 61,604,458 445,117,028
2072 61,227,111 442,340,440
2071 60,835,024 439,464,323
2070 60,442,399 436,505,329
2069 60,041,679 433,437,998
2068 59,627,097 430,286,232
2067 59,203,373 427,032,499
2066 58,774,846 423,702,640
2065 58,341,378 420,285,359
2064 57,893,305 416,778,394
2063 57,439,982 413,198,800
2062 56,974,922 409,551,159
2061 56,500,340 405,827,482
2060 56,019,906 402,041,765
2059 55,529,609 398,197,311
2058 55,031,460 394,284,767
2057 54,524,491 390,311,065
2056 54,007,205 386,267,580
2055 53,481,428 382,162,992
2054 52,949,003 378,000,511
2053 52,407,089 373,769,779
2052 51,859,418 369,472,476
2051 51,300,839 365,120,741
2050 50,730,296 360,706,317
2049 50,153,221 356,243,287
2048 49,567,895 351,724,743
2047 48,972,414 347,142,279
2046 48,373,367 342,505,549
2045 47,766,811 337,807,869
2044 47,154,486 333,050,132
2043 46,538,892 328,230,652
2042 45,916,531 323,363,366
2041 45,291,657 318,443,989
2040 44,660,573 313,468,061
2039 44,029,228 308,450,008
2038 43,393,321 303,399,842
2037 42,752,045 298,327,800
2036 42,112,269 293,227,654
2035 41,470,624 288,115,630
2034 40,823,789 282,995,818
2033 40,176,026 277,875,880
2032 39,532,216 272,747,599
2031 38,892,407 267,645,657
2030 38,251,174 262,562,767
2029 37,616,078 257,484,616
2028 36,978,847 252,445,821
2027 36,342,429 247,437,680
2026 35,705,894 242,458,365
2025 35,064,272 237,527,782
2024 34,427,414 232,679,478
2023 33,787,914 227,882,945
2022 33,149,152 223,150,896
2021 32,518,665 218,529,286
2020 31,887,809 213,996,181
2019 31,258,945 209,485,641
2018 30,637,585 204,938,755
2017 30,008,354 200,254,579
2016 29,356,742 195,443,700
2015 28,696,068 190,671,878
2014 28,041,592 185,896,915
2013 27,386,193 181,049,443
2012 26,734,268 176,200,625
2011 26,095,088 171,379,598
2010 25,474,995 166,642,886
2009 24,862,664 162,049,464
2008 24,249,946 157,595,014
2007 23,642,279 153,267,261
2006 23,040,702 149,077,334
2005 22,449,438 145,017,253
2004 21,868,298 141,057,045
2003 21,296,705 137,202,644
2002 20,729,388 133,471,989
2001 20,167,069 129,862,595
2000 19,637,087 126,382,494
1999 19,149,864 123,047,320
1998 18,688,036 119,846,254
1997 18,238,958 116,754,792
1996 17,810,181 113,754,779
1995 17,399,017 110,819,428
1994 16,993,190 107,935,714
1993 16,589,519 105,122,069
1992 16,184,855 102,372,770
1991 15,787,496 99,720,162
1990 15,394,648 97,120,925
1989 15,006,813 94,531,014
1988 14,636,568 92,020,090
1987 14,289,108 89,591,716
1986 13,965,217 87,235,953
1985 13,661,229 84,897,973
1984 13,370,590 82,526,443
1983 13,029,836 80,438,260
1982 12,643,819 78,378,701
1981 12,281,712 76,068,103
1980 11,941,448 73,764,641
1979 11,597,255 71,498,242
1978 11,248,450 69,326,532
1977 10,911,871 67,234,590
1976 10,594,913 65,258,009
1975 10,294,308 63,410,815
1974 10,000,523 61,679,144
1973 9,714,617 60,082,139
1972 9,438,187 58,601,748
1971 9,176,264 57,214,684
1970 8,925,813 55,893,838
1969 8,690,383 54,631,914
1968 8,475,729 53,432,783
1967 8,271,913 52,293,065
1966 8,074,521 51,188,234
1965 7,882,606 50,086,764
1964 7,695,739 49,012,016
1963 7,514,714 47,973,575
1962 7,337,375 46,965,292
1961 7,162,667 45,989,310
1960 6,961,215 45,053,782

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/nigeria | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Nigeria gained 46,366,366 people (a 31.1% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Nigeria's population increased by 49,572,345 people (a 25.4% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Nigeria was ranked 7th in 2006 and ranked 6th 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 Nigeria will increase by 47.2% to 360,706,317 people and rank change from 6th to 5th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 482M people in 2100 for Nigeria.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Nigeria
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Nigeria
2100 0.16% 0.04%
2099 0.18% 0.06%
2098 0.19% 0.07%
2097 0.2% 0.09%
2096 0.21% 0.1%
2095 0.23% 0.11%
2094 0.24% 0.13%
2093 0.26% 0.15%
2092 0.28% 0.17%
2091 0.3% 0.19%
2090 0.32% 0.21%
2089 0.33% 0.23%
2088 0.36% 0.25%
2087 0.36% 0.28%
2086 0.38% 0.3%
2085 0.39% 0.32%
2084 0.42% 0.35%
2083 0.44% 0.37%
2082 0.46% 0.39%
2081 0.48% 0.42%
2080 0.5% 0.45%
2079 0.53% 0.47%
2078 0.54% 0.5%
2077 0.55% 0.52%
2076 0.58% 0.55%
2075 0.59% 0.58%
2074 0.6% 0.6%
2073 0.62% 0.63%
2072 0.64% 0.65%
2071 0.65% 0.68%
2070 0.67% 0.71%
2069 0.7% 0.73%
2068 0.72% 0.76%
2067 0.73% 0.79%
2066 0.74% 0.81%
2065 0.77% 0.84%
2064 0.79% 0.87%
2063 0.82% 0.89%
2062 0.84% 0.92%
2061 0.86% 0.94%
2060 0.88% 0.97%
2059 0.91% 0.99%
2058 0.93% 1.02%
2057 0.96% 1.05%
2056 0.98% 1.07%
2055 1.01% 1.1%
2054 1.03% 1.13%
2053 1.06% 1.16%
2052 1.09% 1.19%
2051 1.12% 1.22%
2050 1.15% 1.25%
2049 1.18% 1.28%
2048 1.22% 1.32%
2047 1.24% 1.35%
2046 1.27% 1.39%
2045 1.3% 1.43%
2044 1.32% 1.47%
2043 1.36% 1.51%
2042 1.38% 1.54%
2041 1.41% 1.59%
2040 1.43% 1.63%
2039 1.47% 1.66%
2038 1.5% 1.7%
2037 1.52% 1.74%
2036 1.55% 1.77%
2035 1.58% 1.81%
2034 1.61% 1.84%
2033 1.63% 1.88%
2032 1.65% 1.91%
2031 1.68% 1.94%
2030 1.69% 1.97%
2029 1.72% 2%
2028 1.75% 2.02%
2027 1.78% 2.05%
2026 1.83% 2.08%
2025 1.85% 2.08%
2024 1.89% 2.1%
2023 1.93% 2.12%
2022 1.94% 2.11%
2021 1.98% 2.12%
2020 2.01% 2.15%
2019 2.03% 2.22%
2018 2.1% 2.34%
2017 2.22% 2.46%
2016 2.3% 2.5%
2015 2.33% 2.57%
2014 2.39% 2.68%
2013 2.44% 2.75%
2012 2.45% 2.81%
2011 2.43% 2.84%
2010 2.46% 2.83%
2009 2.53% 2.83%
2008 2.57% 2.82%
2007 2.61% 2.81%
2006 2.63% 2.8%
2005 2.66% 2.81%
2004 2.68% 2.81%
2003 2.74% 2.8%
2002 2.79% 2.78%
2001 2.7% 2.75%
2000 2.54% 2.71%
1999 2.47% 2.67%
1998 2.46% 2.65%
1997 2.41% 2.64%
1996 2.36% 2.65%
1995 2.39% 2.67%
1994 2.43% 2.68%
1993 2.5% 2.69%
1992 2.52% 2.66%
1991 2.55% 2.68%
1990 2.58% 2.74%
1989 2.53% 2.73%
1988 2.43% 2.71%
1987 2.32% 2.7%
1986 2.23% 2.75%
1985 2.17% 2.87%
1984 2.62% 2.6%
1983 3.05% 2.63%
1982 2.95% 3.04%
1981 2.85% 3.12%
1980 2.97% 3.17%
1979 3.1% 3.13%
1978 3.08% 3.11%
1977 2.99% 3.03%
1976 2.92% 2.91%
1975 2.94% 2.81%
1974 2.94% 2.66%
1973 2.93% 2.53%
1972 2.85% 2.42%
1971 2.81% 2.36%
1970 2.71% 2.31%
1969 2.53% 2.24%
1968 2.46% 2.18%
1967 2.44% 2.16%
1966 2.43% 2.2%
1965 2.43% 2.19%
1964 2.41% 2.16%
1963 2.42% 2.15%
1962 2.44% 2.12%
1961 2.89% 2.08%

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/nigeria | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Nigeria's population grew by 2.08%.

Live population counters

Ghana Nigeria
Current population
36032857
245016045
Population rank 46/197 6/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 2.95%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
6.52 seconds
One birth every
35.3 seconds
4.17 seconds
One death every
2.18 minutes
11.6 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +13,283
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +4,848,304
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.08%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 45/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
34.5 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 -15,258
Net migration rank 150/196 145/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 1,403,281
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 49/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.6%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 173/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Nigeria
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Nigeria
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -15,258
2024 651,057 -13,114 4,851,833 -35,202
2023 651,094 -10,003 4,834,309 -57,936
2022 646,441 -10,003 4,739,502 -51,680
2021 635,805 -11,259 4,641,562 -86,115
2020 637,469 -291 4,525,164 -14,497
2019 642,403 -21,857 4,609,941 -99,722
2018 641,551 -19,375 4,659,898 -76,565
2017 641,218 -4,913 4,706,183 78,685
2016 659,910 7,009 4,761,594 75,265
2015 667,729 -13,306 4,823,045 -116,162
2014 660,829 -6,312 4,862,319 -19,376
2013 658,638 -2,377 4,811,751 40,201
2012 646,595 1,005 4,774,508 71,138
2011 631,501 -720 4,728,363 67,808
2010 613,133 -3,726 4,629,173 47,966
2009 592,825 22,416 4,528,149 -18,422
2008 579,695 30,506 4,412,976 -13,646
2007 572,332 32,813 4,265,428 -9,162
2006 569,474 28,536 4,135,703 -12,093
2005 563,234 21,272 4,013,788 -17,146
2004 543,339 34,433 3,877,376 46,370
2003 536,656 28,768 3,751,120 33,857
2002 528,620 40,573 3,606,814 69,594
2001 519,382 36,050 3,478,370 64,163
2000 508,738 -4,206 3,343,196 74,535
1999 487,210 -17,304 3,155,425 97,195
1998 471,313 -17,564 3,003,946 145,575
1997 459,822 -15,409 2,936,500 96,885
1996 450,259 -37,113 2,882,205 84,448
1995 451,748 -42,558 2,830,771 73,243
1994 449,589 -47,120 2,735,198 128,134
1993 454,669 -49,792 2,673,675 90,200
1992 452,156 -47,736 2,596,173 138,412
1991 448,159 -57,878 2,527,807 42,760
1990 442,211 -46,789 2,491,928 135,959
1989 432,541 -52,293 2,452,324 99,588
1988 425,031 -64,810 2,376,419 93,510
1987 419,328 -84,648 2,322,397 64,418
1986 411,191 -98,099 2,295,003 29,682
1985 401,722 -106,855 2,289,784 61,514
1984 392,053 -105,655 2,278,060 113,758
1983 379,846 15,276 2,292,089 -507,539
1982 369,061 7,863 2,233,401 101,116
1981 359,572 -12,296 2,179,884 106,723
1980 346,816 -13,564 2,121,618 198,672
1979 334,848 20,291 2,074,807 137,721
1978 324,428 18,041 2,019,621 111,258
1977 315,429 15,243 1,923,917 129,075
1976 305,769 -2,528 1,827,289 72,889
1975 298,267 -292 1,718,623 75,603
1974 290,796 -1,197 1,624,813 44,281
1973 283,385 -1,168 1,525,485 -618
1972 275,236 -4,589 1,448,928 -12,962
1971 265,442 -12,238 1,373,896 -35,639
1970 257,938 -10,233 1,295,507 7,953
1969 251,925 -28,752 1,213,484 6,912
1968 242,821 -36,683 1,168,254 9,615
1967 237,156 -35,666 1,082,884 18,683
1966 231,440 -38,143 1,095,582 12,513
1965 229,061 -38,519 1,061,840 32,988
1964 226,685 -43,480 1,028,272 26,411
1963 225,367 -46,516 995,116 27,115
1962 223,842 -48,017 966,452 27,906
1961 222,372 -48,777 932,111 25,515
1960 217,134 12,181 901,301 12,131

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/nigeria | 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 Nigeria 99.2% is from natural causes (a gain of 47,153,031 people) and 0.81% is from migration (a loss of 383,929 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 1,403,281 people or 0.6% in Nigeria.

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
Nigeria
City Population
Lagos 15.1M
Kano 4.35M
Port Harcourt 3.32M
Ibadan 2.56M
Benin 1.78M
Abuja 1.69M
Onitsha 1.48M
Aba 1.16M
Enugu 1.03M
Owerri 908K

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/nigeria | 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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