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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 14,569,341 people in Rwanda in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 15,062,056 in Rwanda.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 2.39 times bigger than Rwanda's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Rwanda is the 77th.
  • The countries together account for 0.61% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.18% for Rwanda.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +2.28% in Rwanda.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Rwanda has grown from 9.3M to 15.1M (62% growth).

Ghana vs Rwanda: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Rwanda
2100 68,117,614 33,113,283
2099 68,008,028 33,008,545
2098 67,888,410 32,927,982
2097 67,759,128 32,853,307
2096 67,625,262 32,768,037
2095 67,481,344 32,635,508
2094 67,325,992 32,550,001
2093 67,162,890 32,416,870
2092 66,991,846 32,294,333
2091 66,804,098 32,191,262
2090 66,605,276 32,088,747
2089 66,395,029 31,892,591
2088 66,173,453 31,746,789
2087 65,937,323 31,553,150
2086 65,699,827 31,399,004
2085 65,451,666 31,254,597
2084 65,196,037 31,112,448
2083 64,922,457 30,937,106
2082 64,638,242 30,752,861
2081 64,342,209 30,576,992
2080 64,034,249 30,386,351
2079 63,717,528 30,195,560
2078 63,384,648 30,016,688
2077 63,046,955 29,819,259
2076 62,699,375 29,645,610
2075 62,337,964 29,441,964
2074 61,974,725 29,243,980
2073 61,604,458 29,025,977
2072 61,227,111 28,798,822
2071 60,835,024 28,578,302
2070 60,442,399 28,334,300
2069 60,041,679 28,121,174
2068 59,627,097 27,872,383
2067 59,203,373 27,609,059
2066 58,774,846 27,372,823
2065 58,341,378 27,101,698
2064 57,893,305 26,838,144
2063 57,439,982 26,559,838
2062 56,974,922 26,312,631
2061 56,500,340 26,001,660
2060 56,019,906 25,729,037
2059 55,529,609 25,453,407
2058 55,031,460 25,121,995
2057 54,524,491 24,853,512
2056 54,007,205 24,582,198
2055 53,481,428 24,281,895
2054 52,949,003 23,991,958
2053 52,407,089 23,705,290
2052 51,859,418 23,421,032
2051 51,300,839 23,113,700
2050 50,730,296 22,814,556
2049 50,153,221 22,498,806
2048 49,567,895 22,171,841
2047 48,972,414 21,848,486
2046 48,373,367 21,554,082
2045 47,766,811 21,228,573
2044 47,154,486 20,915,810
2043 46,538,892 20,548,490
2042 45,916,531 20,214,283
2041 45,291,657 19,845,021
2040 44,660,573 19,475,227
2039 44,029,228 19,108,842
2038 43,393,321 18,773,398
2037 42,752,045 18,433,422
2036 42,112,269 18,128,058
2035 41,470,624 17,765,049
2034 40,823,789 17,432,165
2033 40,176,026 17,100,072
2032 39,532,216 16,822,053
2031 38,892,407 16,495,903
2030 38,251,174 16,178,061
2029 37,616,078 15,868,812
2028 36,978,847 15,554,713
2027 36,342,429 15,217,275
2026 35,705,894 14,898,118
2025 35,064,272 14,569,341
2024 34,427,414 14,256,567
2023 33,787,914 13,954,471
2022 33,149,152 13,651,030
2021 32,518,665 13,355,260
2020 31,887,809 13,065,837
2019 31,258,945 12,776,103
2018 30,637,585 12,487,996
2017 30,008,354 12,202,060
2016 29,356,742 11,919,183
2015 28,696,068 11,640,022
2014 28,041,592 11,364,757
2013 27,386,193 11,093,340
2012 26,734,268 10,829,901
2011 26,095,088 10,573,733
2010 25,474,995 10,317,553
2009 24,862,664 10,060,432
2008 24,249,946 9,804,269
2007 23,642,279 9,549,933
2006 23,040,702 9,299,246
2005 22,449,438 9,054,528
2004 21,868,298 8,816,844
2003 21,296,705 8,586,875
2002 20,729,388 8,400,180
2001 20,167,069 8,287,094
2000 19,637,087 8,213,931
1999 19,149,864 8,147,912
1998 18,688,036 8,081,681
1997 18,238,958 7,755,238
1996 17,810,181 6,708,764
1995 17,399,017 5,674,118
1994 16,993,190 6,792,352
1993 16,589,519 7,981,132
1992 16,184,855 7,683,266
1991 15,787,496 7,526,966
1990 15,394,648 7,375,307
1989 15,006,813 7,184,706
1988 14,636,568 6,968,071
1987 14,289,108 6,749,493
1986 13,965,217 6,531,881
1985 13,661,229 6,317,228
1984 13,370,590 6,107,627
1983 13,029,836 5,905,311
1982 12,643,819 5,711,549
1981 12,281,712 5,527,230
1980 11,941,448 5,353,259
1979 11,597,255 5,189,541
1978 11,248,450 5,035,171
1977 10,911,871 4,888,240
1976 10,594,913 4,745,954
1975 10,294,308 4,607,728
1974 10,000,523 4,474,228
1973 9,714,617 4,345,047
1972 9,438,187 4,220,335
1971 9,176,264 4,100,044
1970 8,925,813 3,980,669
1969 8,690,383 3,861,271
1968 8,475,729 3,744,010
1967 8,271,913 3,629,577
1966 8,074,521 3,521,626
1965 7,882,606 3,423,210
1964 7,695,739 3,334,834
1963 7,514,714 3,258,890
1962 7,337,375 3,186,025
1961 7,162,667 3,106,779
1960 6,961,215 3,022,294

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/rwanda | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Rwanda gained 2,619,937 people (a 28.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Rwanda's population increased by 3,142,873 people (a 26.4% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Rwanda was ranked 86th in 2006 and ranked 77th 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 Rwanda will increase by 51.5% to 22,814,556 people and rank change from 77th to 72nd.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 33.1M people in 2100 for Rwanda.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Rwanda
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Rwanda
2100 0.16% 0.32%
2099 0.18% 0.24%
2098 0.19% 0.23%
2097 0.2% 0.26%
2096 0.21% 0.41%
2095 0.23% 0.26%
2094 0.24% 0.41%
2093 0.26% 0.38%
2092 0.28% 0.32%
2091 0.3% 0.32%
2090 0.32% 0.62%
2089 0.33% 0.46%
2088 0.36% 0.61%
2087 0.36% 0.49%
2086 0.38% 0.46%
2085 0.39% 0.46%
2084 0.42% 0.57%
2083 0.44% 0.6%
2082 0.46% 0.58%
2081 0.48% 0.63%
2080 0.5% 0.63%
2079 0.53% 0.6%
2078 0.54% 0.66%
2077 0.55% 0.59%
2076 0.58% 0.69%
2075 0.59% 0.68%
2074 0.6% 0.75%
2073 0.62% 0.79%
2072 0.64% 0.77%
2071 0.65% 0.86%
2070 0.67% 0.76%
2069 0.7% 0.89%
2068 0.72% 0.95%
2067 0.73% 0.86%
2066 0.74% 1%
2065 0.77% 0.98%
2064 0.79% 1.05%
2063 0.82% 0.94%
2062 0.84% 1.2%
2061 0.86% 1.06%
2060 0.88% 1.08%
2059 0.91% 1.32%
2058 0.93% 1.08%
2057 0.96% 1.1%
2056 0.98% 1.24%
2055 1.01% 1.21%
2054 1.03% 1.21%
2053 1.06% 1.21%
2052 1.09% 1.33%
2051 1.12% 1.31%
2050 1.15% 1.4%
2049 1.18% 1.47%
2048 1.22% 1.48%
2047 1.24% 1.37%
2046 1.27% 1.53%
2045 1.3% 1.5%
2044 1.32% 1.79%
2043 1.36% 1.65%
2042 1.38% 1.86%
2041 1.41% 1.9%
2040 1.43% 1.92%
2039 1.47% 1.79%
2038 1.5% 1.84%
2037 1.52% 1.68%
2036 1.55% 2.04%
2035 1.58% 1.91%
2034 1.61% 1.94%
2033 1.63% 1.65%
2032 1.65% 1.98%
2031 1.68% 1.96%
2030 1.69% 1.95%
2029 1.72% 2.02%
2028 1.75% 2.22%
2027 1.78% 2.14%
2026 1.83% 2.26%
2025 1.85% 2.19%
2024 1.89% 2.16%
2023 1.93% 2.22%
2022 1.94% 2.21%
2021 1.98% 2.22%
2020 2.01% 2.27%
2019 2.03% 2.31%
2018 2.1% 2.34%
2017 2.22% 2.37%
2016 2.3% 2.4%
2015 2.33% 2.42%
2014 2.39% 2.45%
2013 2.44% 2.43%
2012 2.45% 2.42%
2011 2.43% 2.48%
2010 2.46% 2.56%
2009 2.53% 2.61%
2008 2.57% 2.66%
2007 2.61% 2.7%
2006 2.63% 2.7%
2005 2.66% 2.7%
2004 2.68% 2.68%
2003 2.74% 2.22%
2002 2.79% 1.36%
2001 2.7% 0.89%
2000 2.54% 0.81%
1999 2.47% 0.82%
1998 2.46% 4.21%
1997 2.41% 15.6%
1996 2.36% 18.2%
1995 2.39% -16.5%
1994 2.43% -14.9%
1993 2.5% 3.88%
1992 2.52% 2.08%
1991 2.55% 2.06%
1990 2.58% 2.65%
1989 2.53% 3.11%
1988 2.43% 3.24%
1987 2.32% 3.33%
1986 2.23% 3.4%
1985 2.17% 3.43%
1984 2.62% 3.43%
1983 3.05% 3.39%
1982 2.95% 3.33%
1981 2.85% 3.25%
1980 2.97% 3.15%
1979 3.1% 3.07%
1978 3.08% 3.01%
1977 2.99% 3%
1976 2.92% 3%
1975 2.94% 2.98%
1974 2.94% 2.97%
1973 2.93% 2.96%
1972 2.85% 2.93%
1971 2.81% 3%
1970 2.71% 3.09%
1969 2.53% 3.13%
1968 2.46% 3.15%
1967 2.44% 3.07%
1966 2.43% 2.87%
1965 2.43% 2.65%
1964 2.41% 2.33%
1963 2.42% 2.29%
1962 2.44% 2.55%
1961 2.89% 2.8%

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/rwanda | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Rwanda's population grew by 2.19%.

Live population counters

Ghana Rwanda
Current population
36032857
15062056
Population rank 46/197 77/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.18%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
1.69 minutes
One birth every
35.3 seconds
1.31 minutes
One death every
2.18 minutes
6.25 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +857
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +312,774
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.19%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 40/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
1.4 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 +6,282
Net migration rank 150/196 48/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 513,316
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 80/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 3.6%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 109/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Rwanda
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Rwanda
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 6,282
2024 651,057 -13,114 316,025 -15,582
2023 651,094 -10,003 312,762 -9,001
2022 646,441 -10,003 312,145 -9,001
2021 635,805 -11,259 309,895 -21,492
2020 637,469 -291 312,692 -22,251
2019 642,403 -21,857 313,525 -24,492
2018 641,551 -19,375 312,512 -25,323
2017 641,218 -4,913 310,323 -25,634
2016 659,910 7,009 305,549 -24,474
2015 667,729 -13,306 299,114 -21,862
2014 660,829 -6,312 292,779 -19,505
2013 658,638 -2,377 286,331 -16,779
2012 646,595 1,005 282,584 -25,260
2011 631,501 -720 282,922 -27,915
2010 613,133 -3,726 286,848 -29,501
2009 592,825 22,416 287,034 -30,128
2008 579,695 30,506 287,334 -31,913
2007 572,332 32,813 285,791 -32,537
2006 569,474 28,536 282,149 -34,008
2005 563,234 21,272 275,121 -33,830
2004 543,339 34,433 265,273 -31,214
2003 536,656 28,768 251,243 -25,355
2002 528,620 40,573 239,036 -91,518
2001 519,382 36,050 230,845 -152,197
2000 508,738 -4,206 221,276 -153,588
1999 487,210 -17,304 210,518 -146,162
1998 471,313 -17,564 197,185 -129,089
1997 459,822 -15,409 174,687 410,106
1996 450,259 -37,113 140,455 1,367,700
1995 451,748 -42,558 121,137 439,995
1994 449,589 -47,120 -719,479 -2,078,111
1993 454,669 -49,792 183,926 236,110
1992 452,156 -47,736 188,025 -12,334
1991 448,159 -57,878 196,431 -59,519
1990 442,211 -46,789 207,895 -41,483
1989 432,541 -52,293 217,632 -2,826
1988 425,031 -64,810 223,759 -5,285
1987 419,328 -84,648 225,744 -7,062
1986 411,191 -98,099 225,526 -8,982
1985 401,722 -106,855 223,794 -11,031
1984 392,053 -105,655 219,337 -12,899
1983 379,846 15,276 212,750 -14,560
1982 369,061 7,863 205,147 -15,818
1981 359,572 -12,296 195,769 -16,453
1980 346,816 -13,564 184,988 -16,359
1979 334,848 20,291 174,477 -15,669
1978 324,428 18,041 163,779 -13,838
1977 315,429 15,243 155,011 -11,084
1976 305,769 -2,528 147,665 -7,027
1975 298,267 -292 140,596 -4,791
1974 290,796 -1,197 135,743 -4,535
1973 283,385 -1,168 131,021 -3,862
1972 275,236 -4,589 126,403 -4,156
1971 265,442 -12,238 122,567 -4,230
1970 257,938 -10,233 119,273 1,149
1969 251,925 -28,752 115,394 2,983
1968 242,821 -36,683 111,422 4,728
1967 237,156 -35,666 108,053 4,655
1966 231,440 -38,143 105,128 -1,930
1965 229,061 -38,519 103,422 -9,774
1964 226,685 -43,480 102,562 -19,458
1963 225,367 -46,516 94,296 -25,524
1962 223,842 -48,017 102,548 -25,594
1961 222,372 -48,777 102,051 -20,508
1960 217,134 12,181 100,627 -13,198

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/rwanda | 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 Rwanda 94% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,104,542 people) and 6.03% is from migration (a loss of 199,112 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 513,316 people or 3.6% in Rwanda.

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
Rwanda
City Population
Kigali 1.75M
Ruhengeri 153K
Gisenyi 53.6K
Byumba 36.4K
Cyangugu 27.4K
Nyanza 25.4K
Butare 19.9K
Kibuye 12.3K

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/rwanda | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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