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Population in Ghana compared to North Korea: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 26,571,036 people in North Korea in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 26,668,308 in North Korea.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.35 times bigger than North Korea's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while North Korea is the 57th.
  • The countries together account for 0.75% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.32% for North Korea.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +0.39% in North Korea.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while North Korea has grown from 24.5M to 26.7M (8.74% growth).

Ghana vs North Korea: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana North Korea
2100 68,117,614 19,601,003
2099 68,008,028 19,729,897
2098 67,888,410 19,859,274
2097 67,759,128 19,989,589
2096 67,625,262 20,120,795
2095 67,481,344 20,252,653
2094 67,325,992 20,384,384
2093 67,162,890 20,516,457
2092 66,991,846 20,649,140
2091 66,804,098 20,781,939
2090 66,605,276 20,914,434
2089 66,395,029 21,046,685
2088 66,173,453 21,178,406
2087 65,937,323 21,310,103
2086 65,699,827 21,441,361
2085 65,451,666 21,571,843
2084 65,196,037 21,701,761
2083 64,922,457 21,830,989
2082 64,638,242 21,960,135
2081 64,342,209 22,088,774
2080 64,034,249 22,216,836
2079 63,717,528 22,344,442
2078 63,384,648 22,471,597
2077 63,046,955 22,598,635
2076 62,699,375 22,725,293
2075 62,337,964 22,852,140
2074 61,974,725 22,979,532
2073 61,604,458 23,107,165
2072 61,227,111 23,234,961
2071 60,835,024 23,363,260
2070 60,442,399 23,491,789
2069 60,041,679 23,621,167
2068 59,627,097 23,750,741
2067 59,203,373 23,880,460
2066 58,774,846 24,010,584
2065 58,341,378 24,140,518
2064 57,893,305 24,269,765
2063 57,439,982 24,397,924
2062 56,974,922 24,525,403
2061 56,500,340 24,651,788
2060 56,019,906 24,776,326
2059 55,529,609 24,898,430
2058 55,031,460 25,018,630
2057 54,524,491 25,135,871
2056 54,007,205 25,250,670
2055 53,481,428 25,361,704
2054 52,949,003 25,469,578
2053 52,407,089 25,574,137
2052 51,859,418 25,675,211
2051 51,300,839 25,772,870
2050 50,730,296 25,866,886
2049 50,153,221 25,957,363
2048 49,567,895 26,043,774
2047 48,972,414 26,126,594
2046 48,373,367 26,205,638
2045 47,766,811 26,281,344
2044 47,154,486 26,353,455
2043 46,538,892 26,422,173
2042 45,916,531 26,486,580
2041 45,291,657 26,547,651
2040 44,660,573 26,604,634
2039 44,029,228 26,656,882
2038 43,393,321 26,703,458
2037 42,752,045 26,744,185
2036 42,112,269 26,778,348
2035 41,470,624 26,805,065
2034 40,823,789 26,823,948
2033 40,176,026 26,834,263
2032 39,532,216 26,835,978
2031 38,892,407 26,827,992
2030 38,251,174 26,809,850
2029 37,616,078 26,782,161
2028 36,978,847 26,744,278
2027 36,342,429 26,696,504
2026 35,705,894 26,638,530
2025 35,064,272 26,571,036
2024 34,427,414 26,498,823
2023 33,787,914 26,418,204
2022 33,149,152 26,328,845
2021 32,518,665 26,232,534
2020 31,887,809 26,136,312
2019 31,258,945 26,037,632
2018 30,637,585 25,931,147
2017 30,008,354 25,817,709
2016 29,356,742 25,698,326
2015 28,696,068 25,575,350
2014 28,041,592 25,451,262
2013 27,386,193 25,329,451
2012 26,734,268 25,211,728
2011 26,095,088 25,097,874
2010 25,474,995 24,987,258
2009 24,862,664 24,878,332
2008 24,249,946 24,764,618
2007 23,642,279 24,646,383
2006 23,040,702 24,524,507
2005 22,449,438 24,396,433
2004 21,868,298 24,254,943
2003 21,296,705 24,090,380
2002 20,729,388 23,943,973
2001 20,167,069 23,815,358
2000 19,637,087 23,665,910
1999 19,149,864 23,497,599
1998 18,688,036 23,311,564
1997 18,238,958 23,110,830
1996 17,810,181 22,895,746
1995 17,399,017 22,669,304
1994 16,993,190 22,393,975
1993 16,589,519 22,073,352
1992 16,184,855 21,750,911
1991 15,787,496 21,428,638
1990 15,394,648 21,112,137
1989 15,006,813 20,804,367
1988 14,636,568 20,503,161
1987 14,289,108 20,205,483
1986 13,965,217 19,910,855
1985 13,661,229 19,620,388
1984 13,370,590 19,335,043
1983 13,029,836 19,054,034
1982 12,643,819 18,776,357
1981 12,281,712 18,501,295
1980 11,941,448 18,236,786
1979 11,597,255 17,983,470
1978 11,248,450 17,735,995
1977 10,911,871 17,492,798
1976 10,594,913 17,243,450
1975 10,294,308 16,971,055
1974 10,000,523 16,673,121
1973 9,714,617 16,350,367
1972 9,438,187 15,975,069
1971 9,176,264 15,572,457
1970 8,925,813 15,172,775
1969 8,690,383 14,767,615
1968 8,475,729 14,365,596
1967 8,271,913 13,958,350
1966 8,074,521 13,569,094
1965 7,882,606 13,219,369
1964 7,695,739 12,889,770
1963 7,514,714 12,567,057
1962 7,337,375 12,262,882
1961 7,162,667 11,990,713
1960 6,961,215 11,722,953

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/north-korea | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while North Korea gained 1,173,819 people (a 4.79% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while North Korea's population increased by 969,982 people (a 3.77% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. North Korea was ranked 46th in 2006 and ranked 57th 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 North Korea will decrease by 3.01% to 25,866,886 people and rank change from 57th to 66th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 26.8M people in 2032 for North Korea.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
North Korea
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana North Korea
2100 0.16% -0.65%
2099 0.18% -0.65%
2098 0.19% -0.65%
2097 0.2% -0.65%
2096 0.21% -0.65%
2095 0.23% -0.65%
2094 0.24% -0.64%
2093 0.26% -0.64%
2092 0.28% -0.64%
2091 0.3% -0.63%
2090 0.32% -0.63%
2089 0.33% -0.62%
2088 0.36% -0.62%
2087 0.36% -0.61%
2086 0.38% -0.6%
2085 0.39% -0.6%
2084 0.42% -0.59%
2083 0.44% -0.59%
2082 0.46% -0.58%
2081 0.48% -0.58%
2080 0.5% -0.57%
2079 0.53% -0.57%
2078 0.54% -0.56%
2077 0.55% -0.56%
2076 0.58% -0.56%
2075 0.59% -0.55%
2074 0.6% -0.55%
2073 0.62% -0.55%
2072 0.64% -0.55%
2071 0.65% -0.55%
2070 0.67% -0.55%
2069 0.7% -0.55%
2068 0.72% -0.54%
2067 0.73% -0.54%
2066 0.74% -0.54%
2065 0.77% -0.53%
2064 0.79% -0.53%
2063 0.82% -0.52%
2062 0.84% -0.51%
2061 0.86% -0.5%
2060 0.88% -0.49%
2059 0.91% -0.48%
2058 0.93% -0.47%
2057 0.96% -0.45%
2056 0.98% -0.44%
2055 1.01% -0.42%
2054 1.03% -0.41%
2053 1.06% -0.39%
2052 1.09% -0.38%
2051 1.12% -0.36%
2050 1.15% -0.35%
2049 1.18% -0.33%
2048 1.22% -0.32%
2047 1.24% -0.3%
2046 1.27% -0.29%
2045 1.3% -0.27%
2044 1.32% -0.26%
2043 1.36% -0.24%
2042 1.38% -0.23%
2041 1.41% -0.21%
2040 1.43% -0.2%
2039 1.47% -0.17%
2038 1.5% -0.15%
2037 1.52% -0.13%
2036 1.55% -0.1%
2035 1.58% -0.07%
2034 1.61% -0.04%
2033 1.63% -0.006%
2032 1.65% 0.03%
2031 1.68% 0.07%
2030 1.69% 0.1%
2029 1.72% 0.14%
2028 1.75% 0.18%
2027 1.78% 0.22%
2026 1.83% 0.25%
2025 1.85% 0.27%
2024 1.89% 0.31%
2023 1.93% 0.34%
2022 1.94% 0.37%
2021 1.98% 0.37%
2020 2.01% 0.38%
2019 2.03% 0.41%
2018 2.1% 0.44%
2017 2.22% 0.46%
2016 2.3% 0.48%
2015 2.33% 0.49%
2014 2.39% 0.48%
2013 2.44% 0.47%
2012 2.45% 0.45%
2011 2.43% 0.44%
2010 2.46% 0.44%
2009 2.53% 0.46%
2008 2.57% 0.48%
2007 2.61% 0.5%
2006 2.63% 0.52%
2005 2.66% 0.58%
2004 2.68% 0.68%
2003 2.74% 0.61%
2002 2.79% 0.54%
2001 2.7% 0.63%
2000 2.54% 0.72%
1999 2.47% 0.8%
1998 2.46% 0.87%
1997 2.41% 0.94%
1996 2.36% 1%
1995 2.39% 1.23%
1994 2.43% 1.45%
1993 2.5% 1.48%
1992 2.52% 1.5%
1991 2.55% 1.5%
1990 2.58% 1.48%
1989 2.53% 1.47%
1988 2.43% 1.47%
1987 2.32% 1.48%
1986 2.23% 1.48%
1985 2.17% 1.48%
1984 2.62% 1.47%
1983 3.05% 1.48%
1982 2.95% 1.49%
1981 2.85% 1.45%
1980 2.97% 1.41%
1979 3.1% 1.4%
1978 3.08% 1.39%
1977 2.99% 1.45%
1976 2.92% 1.61%
1975 2.94% 1.79%
1974 2.94% 1.97%
1973 2.93% 2.35%
1972 2.85% 2.59%
1971 2.81% 2.63%
1970 2.71% 2.74%
1969 2.53% 2.8%
1968 2.46% 2.92%
1967 2.44% 2.87%
1966 2.43% 2.65%
1965 2.43% 2.56%
1964 2.41% 2.57%
1963 2.42% 2.48%
1962 2.44% 2.27%
1961 2.89% 2.28%

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/north-korea | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while North Korea's population grew by 0.27%.

Live population counters

Ghana North Korea
Current population
36032857
26668308
Population rank 46/197 57/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.32%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
7.3 minutes
One birth every
35.3 seconds
1.54 minutes
One death every
2.18 minutes
2.01 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +198
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +72,213
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +0.27%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 146/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
3.15 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 -2,787
Net migration rank 150/196 104/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 50,439
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 150/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 189/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
North Korea
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana North Korea
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -2,787
2024 651,057 -13,114 79,496 -2,473
2023 651,094 -10,003 86,203 -1,997
2022 646,441 -10,003 96,495 -1,997
2021 635,805 -11,259 99,710 -1,585
2020 637,469 -291 95,920 -1,585
2019 642,403 -21,857 106,208 -3,142
2018 641,551 -19,375 113,164 -3,225
2017 641,218 -4,913 120,181 -3,224
2016 659,910 7,009 125,048 -3,222
2015 667,729 -13,306 127,365 -3,208
2014 660,829 -6,312 127,078 -3,042
2013 658,638 -2,377 122,519 -2,933
2012 646,595 1,005 118,773 -2,919
2011 631,501 -720 114,798 -2,957
2010 613,133 -3,726 112,443 -3,053
2009 592,825 22,416 111,530 -3,058
2008 579,695 30,506 122,015 -3,051
2007 572,332 32,813 120,521 -3,021
2006 569,474 28,536 129,171 -2,948
2005 563,234 21,272 132,765 -2,861
2004 543,339 34,433 155,838 -2,758
2003 536,656 28,768 178,775 -2,717
2002 528,620 40,573 119,504 -2,763
2001 519,382 36,050 143,321 -2,884
2000 508,738 -4,206 161,591 -3,142
1999 487,210 -17,304 181,613 -3,443
1998 471,313 -17,564 197,589 -3,706
1997 459,822 -15,409 211,325 -3,745
1996 450,259 -37,113 226,095 -3,512
1995 451,748 -42,558 233,381 -3,094
1994 449,589 -47,120 320,861 -517
1993 454,669 -49,792 320,880 0
1992 452,156 -47,736 324,002 0
1991 448,159 -57,878 320,551 0
1990 442,211 -46,789 312,460 0
1989 432,541 -52,293 303,078 0
1988 425,031 -64,810 299,305 0
1987 419,328 -84,648 296,030 0
1986 411,191 -98,099 293,227 0
1985 401,722 -106,855 287,714 0
1984 392,053 -105,655 282,987 0
1983 379,846 15,276 279,046 0
1982 369,061 7,863 276,332 0
1981 359,572 -12,296 273,800 0
1980 346,816 -13,564 255,206 0
1979 334,848 20,291 251,409 0
1978 324,428 18,041 243,533 0
1977 315,429 15,243 242,870 0
1976 305,769 -2,528 255,841 0
1975 298,267 -292 288,966 0
1974 290,796 -1,197 306,902 0
1973 283,385 -1,168 338,600 0
1972 275,236 -4,589 411,997 0
1971 265,442 -12,238 393,220 0
1970 257,938 -10,233 406,129 0
1969 251,925 -28,752 404,189 0
1968 242,821 -36,683 399,837 0
1967 237,156 -35,666 414,632 0
1966 231,440 -38,143 363,882 0
1965 229,061 -38,519 335,587 0
1964 226,685 -43,480 323,623 0
1963 225,367 -46,516 321,805 0
1962 223,842 -48,017 286,534 0
1961 222,372 -48,777 257,788 0
1960 217,134 12,181 277,717 0

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/north-korea | 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 North Korea 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,049,790 people) and 2.39% is from migration (a loss of 25,658 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 50,439 people or 0.2% in North Korea.

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
North Korea
City Population
Pyongyang 2.86M
Hamhung 769K
Chongjin 668K
Sunchon 437K
Nampo 367K
Wonsan 363K
Sinuiju 359K
Tanchon 346K
Kaechon 320K
Kaesong 308K

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/north-korea | 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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