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Population in Ghana compared to South Africa: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 64,747,319 people in South Africa in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 65,829,368 in South Africa.

Population statistics:

  • South Africa's population is 1.83 times bigger than Ghana's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while South Africa is the 24th.
  • The countries together account for 1.23% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.79% for South Africa.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +1.4% in South Africa.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while South Africa has grown from 50M to 65.8M (31.7% growth).

Ghana vs South Africa: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana South Africa
2100 68,117,614 94,734,082
2099 68,008,028 94,523,360
2098 67,888,410 94,316,049
2097 67,759,128 94,125,043
2096 67,625,262 93,927,246
2095 67,481,344 93,719,451
2094 67,325,992 93,494,697
2093 67,162,890 93,267,274
2092 66,991,846 93,041,793
2091 66,804,098 92,793,249
2090 66,605,276 92,561,159
2089 66,395,029 92,322,396
2088 66,173,453 92,080,212
2087 65,937,323 91,833,409
2086 65,699,827 91,581,639
2085 65,451,666 91,352,906
2084 65,196,037 91,106,961
2083 64,922,457 90,845,161
2082 64,638,242 90,583,188
2081 64,342,209 90,313,417
2080 64,034,249 90,039,857
2079 63,717,528 89,770,116
2078 63,384,648 89,494,440
2077 63,046,955 89,217,520
2076 62,699,375 88,954,522
2075 62,337,964 88,681,719
2074 61,974,725 88,397,221
2073 61,604,458 88,118,589
2072 61,227,111 87,835,051
2071 60,835,024 87,509,098
2070 60,442,399 87,178,463
2069 60,041,679 86,870,660
2068 59,627,097 86,558,000
2067 59,203,373 86,237,764
2066 58,774,846 85,904,801
2065 58,341,378 85,573,984
2064 57,893,305 85,214,686
2063 57,439,982 84,845,370
2062 56,974,922 84,473,236
2061 56,500,340 84,103,016
2060 56,019,906 83,719,266
2059 55,529,609 83,325,330
2058 55,031,460 82,918,226
2057 54,524,491 82,508,742
2056 54,007,205 82,098,320
2055 53,481,428 81,669,191
2054 52,949,003 81,227,019
2053 52,407,089 80,789,939
2052 51,859,418 80,338,877
2051 51,300,839 79,858,310
2050 50,730,296 79,383,784
2049 50,153,221 78,897,472
2048 49,567,895 78,409,829
2047 48,972,414 77,894,547
2046 48,373,367 77,369,819
2045 47,766,811 76,852,544
2044 47,154,486 76,330,046
2043 46,538,892 75,800,788
2042 45,916,531 75,264,885
2041 45,291,657 74,721,871
2040 44,660,573 74,179,185
2039 44,029,228 73,636,894
2038 43,393,321 73,079,976
2037 42,752,045 72,506,991
2036 42,112,269 71,930,701
2035 41,470,624 71,337,219
2034 40,823,789 70,737,692
2033 40,176,026 70,128,299
2032 39,532,216 69,502,726
2031 38,892,407 68,865,544
2030 38,251,174 68,221,143
2029 37,616,078 67,549,189
2028 36,978,847 66,860,631
2027 36,342,429 66,166,759
2026 35,705,894 65,473,024
2025 35,064,272 64,747,319
2024 34,427,414 64,007,187
2023 33,787,914 63,212,384
2022 33,149,152 62,378,410
2021 32,518,665 61,502,603
2020 31,887,809 60,562,381
2019 31,258,945 59,587,885
2018 30,637,585 58,613,001
2017 30,008,354 57,635,162
2016 29,356,742 57,259,551
2015 28,696,068 56,723,537
2014 28,041,592 55,594,838
2013 27,386,193 54,678,791
2012 26,734,268 53,782,567
2011 26,095,088 52,995,205
2010 25,474,995 52,344,051
2009 24,862,664 51,728,516
2008 24,249,946 51,114,599
2007 23,642,279 50,528,584
2006 23,040,702 49,998,277
2005 22,449,438 49,490,033
2004 21,868,298 48,991,421
2003 21,296,705 48,500,348
2002 20,729,388 48,019,415
2001 20,167,069 47,566,800
2000 19,637,087 47,159,719
1999 19,149,864 46,730,335
1998 18,688,036 46,223,880
1997 18,238,958 45,666,838
1996 17,810,181 45,123,018
1995 17,399,017 44,541,554
1994 16,993,190 44,004,139
1993 16,589,519 43,297,156
1992 16,184,855 42,443,509
1991 15,787,496 41,687,898
1990 15,394,648 40,746,268
1989 15,006,813 39,628,575
1988 14,636,568 38,480,649
1987 14,289,108 37,326,190
1986 13,965,217 36,180,515
1985 13,661,229 35,042,093
1984 13,370,590 33,892,788
1983 13,029,836 32,739,304
1982 12,643,819 31,615,339
1981 12,281,712 30,541,044
1980 11,941,448 29,518,857
1979 11,597,255 28,634,162
1978 11,248,450 27,869,507
1977 10,911,871 27,118,952
1976 10,594,913 26,395,450
1975 10,294,308 25,690,940
1974 10,000,523 24,989,108
1973 9,714,617 24,294,263
1972 9,438,187 23,609,456
1971 9,176,264 22,942,143
1970 8,925,813 22,279,984
1969 8,690,383 21,614,676
1968 8,475,729 20,957,287
1967 8,271,913 20,314,066
1966 8,074,521 19,690,087
1965 7,882,606 19,089,380
1964 7,695,739 18,511,361
1963 7,514,714 17,954,564
1962 7,337,375 17,418,522
1961 7,162,667 16,908,035
1960 6,961,215 16,440,172

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/south-africa | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while South Africa gained 7,261,274 people (a 14.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while South Africa's population increased by 8,569,817 people (a 15% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. South Africa was ranked 24th in 2006 and still ranked 24th 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 South Africa will increase by 20.6% to 79,383,784 people and rank change from 24th to 23rd.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 94.7M people in 2100 for South Africa.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
South Africa
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana South Africa
2100 0.16% 0.22%
2099 0.18% 0.22%
2098 0.19% 0.2%
2097 0.2% 0.21%
2096 0.21% 0.22%
2095 0.23% 0.24%
2094 0.24% 0.24%
2093 0.26% 0.24%
2092 0.28% 0.27%
2091 0.3% 0.25%
2090 0.32% 0.26%
2089 0.33% 0.26%
2088 0.36% 0.27%
2087 0.36% 0.27%
2086 0.38% 0.25%
2085 0.39% 0.27%
2084 0.42% 0.29%
2083 0.44% 0.29%
2082 0.46% 0.3%
2081 0.48% 0.3%
2080 0.5% 0.3%
2079 0.53% 0.31%
2078 0.54% 0.31%
2077 0.55% 0.3%
2076 0.58% 0.31%
2075 0.59% 0.32%
2074 0.6% 0.32%
2073 0.62% 0.32%
2072 0.64% 0.37%
2071 0.65% 0.38%
2070 0.67% 0.35%
2069 0.7% 0.36%
2068 0.72% 0.37%
2067 0.73% 0.39%
2066 0.74% 0.39%
2065 0.77% 0.42%
2064 0.79% 0.44%
2063 0.82% 0.44%
2062 0.84% 0.44%
2061 0.86% 0.46%
2060 0.88% 0.47%
2059 0.91% 0.49%
2058 0.93% 0.5%
2057 0.96% 0.5%
2056 0.98% 0.53%
2055 1.01% 0.54%
2054 1.03% 0.54%
2053 1.06% 0.56%
2052 1.09% 0.6%
2051 1.12% 0.6%
2050 1.15% 0.62%
2049 1.18% 0.62%
2048 1.22% 0.66%
2047 1.24% 0.68%
2046 1.27% 0.67%
2045 1.3% 0.68%
2044 1.32% 0.7%
2043 1.36% 0.71%
2042 1.38% 0.73%
2041 1.41% 0.73%
2040 1.43% 0.74%
2039 1.47% 0.76%
2038 1.5% 0.79%
2037 1.52% 0.8%
2036 1.55% 0.83%
2035 1.58% 0.85%
2034 1.61% 0.87%
2033 1.63% 0.9%
2032 1.65% 0.93%
2031 1.68% 0.94%
2030 1.69% 0.99%
2029 1.72% 1.03%
2028 1.75% 1.05%
2027 1.78% 1.06%
2026 1.83% 1.12%
2025 1.85% 1.16%
2024 1.89% 1.26%
2023 1.93% 1.34%
2022 1.94% 1.42%
2021 1.98% 1.55%
2020 2.01% 1.64%
2019 2.03% 1.66%
2018 2.1% 1.7%
2017 2.22% 0.66%
2016 2.3% 0.94%
2015 2.33% 2.03%
2014 2.39% 1.68%
2013 2.44% 1.67%
2012 2.45% 1.49%
2011 2.43% 1.24%
2010 2.46% 1.19%
2009 2.53% 1.2%
2008 2.57% 1.16%
2007 2.61% 1.06%
2006 2.63% 1.03%
2005 2.66% 1.02%
2004 2.68% 1.01%
2003 2.74% 1%
2002 2.79% 0.95%
2001 2.7% 0.86%
2000 2.54% 0.92%
1999 2.47% 1.1%
1998 2.46% 1.22%
1997 2.41% 1.21%
1996 2.36% 1.31%
1995 2.39% 1.22%
1994 2.43% 1.63%
1993 2.5% 2.01%
1992 2.52% 1.81%
1991 2.55% 2.31%
1990 2.58% 2.82%
1989 2.53% 2.98%
1988 2.43% 3.09%
1987 2.32% 3.17%
1986 2.23% 3.25%
1985 2.17% 3.39%
1984 2.62% 3.52%
1983 3.05% 3.56%
1982 2.95% 3.52%
1981 2.85% 3.46%
1980 2.97% 3.09%
1979 3.1% 2.74%
1978 3.08% 2.77%
1977 2.99% 2.74%
1976 2.92% 2.74%
1975 2.94% 2.81%
1974 2.94% 2.86%
1973 2.93% 2.9%
1972 2.85% 2.91%
1971 2.81% 2.97%
1970 2.71% 3.08%
1969 2.53% 3.14%
1968 2.46% 3.17%
1967 2.44% 3.17%
1966 2.43% 3.15%
1965 2.43% 3.12%
1964 2.41% 3.1%
1963 2.42% 3.08%
1962 2.44% 3.02%
1961 2.89% 2.85%

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/south-africa | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while South Africa's population grew by 1.16%.

Live population counters

Ghana South Africa
Current population
36032857
65829368
Population rank 46/197 24/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.79%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
42.7 seconds
One birth every
35.3 seconds
26.7 seconds
One death every
2.18 minutes
53.3 seconds
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +2,028
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +740,132
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +1.16%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 91/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
3.6 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 +146,370
Net migration rank 150/196 9/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 2,631,100
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 28/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 4.1%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 105/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
South Africa
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana South Africa
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 146,370
2024 651,057 -13,114 591,618 166,972
2023 651,094 -10,003 602,793 228,222
2022 646,441 -10,003 603,636 233,284
2021 635,805 -11,259 456,411 458,246
2020 637,469 -291 595,873 369,901
2019 642,403 -21,857 652,130 331,124
2018 641,551 -19,375 648,319 318,260
2017 641,218 -4,913 645,975 343,146
2016 659,910 7,009 641,365 -879,235
2015 667,729 -13,306 668,771 641,150
2014 660,829 -6,312 674,754 272,697
2013 658,638 -2,377 652,427 232,230
2012 646,595 1,005 643,723 264,091
2011 631,501 -720 601,708 65,166
2010 613,133 -3,726 566,834 68,563
2009 592,825 22,416 554,115 41,528
2008 579,695 30,506 595,332 36,869
2007 572,332 32,813 503,567 36,339
2006 569,474 28,536 487,584 33,159
2005 563,234 21,272 464,464 31,286
2004 543,339 34,433 442,540 58,924
2003 536,656 28,768 415,018 65,604
2002 528,620 40,573 430,926 50,313
2001 519,382 36,050 484,801 -60,793
2000 508,738 -4,206 526,963 -136,794
1999 487,210 -17,304 594,643 -126,011
1998 471,313 -17,564 627,027 -82,722
1997 459,822 -15,409 667,969 -98,181
1996 450,259 -37,113 710,868 -193,007
1995 451,748 -42,558 743,488 -98,403
1994 449,589 -47,120 698,609 -268,849
1993 454,669 -49,792 789,220 194,977
1992 452,156 -47,736 794,415 -71,342
1991 448,159 -57,878 827,296 -39,131
1990 442,211 -46,789 835,421 259,718
1989 432,541 -52,293 884,629 255,605
1988 425,031 -64,810 909,221 246,382
1987 419,328 -84,648 922,330 231,009
1986 411,191 -98,099 903,644 234,378
1985 401,722 -106,855 893,889 244,940
1984 392,053 -105,655 869,011 290,789
1983 379,846 15,276 837,013 310,172
1982 369,061 7,863 807,550 293,195
1981 359,572 -12,296 767,833 279,985
1980 346,816 -13,564 738,415 258,127
1979 334,848 20,291 716,541 56,323
1978 324,428 18,041 694,341 62,121
1977 315,429 15,243 680,929 63,739
1976 305,769 -2,528 675,011 27,333
1975 298,267 -292 667,862 38,809
1974 290,796 -1,197 658,438 38,518
1973 283,385 -1,168 651,596 41,125
1972 275,236 -4,589 638,754 38,163
1971 265,442 -12,238 624,761 32,961
1970 257,938 -10,233 605,102 61,514
1969 251,925 -28,752 590,794 73,225
1968 242,821 -36,683 571,841 78,932
1967 237,156 -35,666 553,741 81,932
1966 231,440 -38,143 534,862 77,417
1965 229,061 -38,519 506,632 82,514
1964 226,685 -43,480 490,606 76,298
1963 225,367 -46,516 473,821 72,844
1962 223,842 -48,017 455,634 69,771
1961 222,372 -48,777 437,851 57,728
1960 217,134 12,181 421,263 18,891

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/south-africa | 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 South Africa 73.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 6,106,891 people) and 26.6% is from migration (a gain of 2,211,070 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 2,631,100 people or 4.1% in South Africa.

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
South Africa
City Population
Johannesburg 4.8M
Cape Town 3.78M
Soweto 1.27M
Pretoria 742K
Pietermaritzburg 619K
Durban 595K
Rustenburg 550K
Randburg 337K
Port Elizabeth 312K
East London 267K

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/south-africa | 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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