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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 11,943,408 people in South Sudan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 12,507,858 in South Sudan.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 2.87 times bigger than South Sudan's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while South Sudan is the 80th.
  • The countries together account for 0.58% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.15% for South Sudan.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +0.65% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.5M (56.8% growth).

Ghana vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana South Sudan
2100 68,131,252 24,086,901
2099 68,021,644 24,081,477
2098 67,902,002 24,063,461
2097 67,772,694 24,065,268
2096 67,638,801 24,054,483
2095 67,494,855 24,046,345
2094 67,339,471 24,047,776
2093 67,176,337 24,039,017
2092 67,005,259 24,019,054
2091 66,817,473 24,000,308
2090 66,618,611 23,978,496
2089 66,408,323 23,937,487
2088 66,186,701 23,892,166
2087 65,950,524 23,857,250
2086 65,712,980 23,803,312
2085 65,464,770 23,759,178
2084 65,209,090 23,687,109
2083 64,935,455 23,617,646
2082 64,651,183 23,541,119
2081 64,355,091 23,466,449
2080 64,047,069 23,391,758
2079 63,730,285 23,294,252
2078 63,397,338 23,197,067
2077 63,059,578 23,086,584
2076 62,711,928 22,987,331
2075 62,350,445 22,868,587
2074 61,987,133 22,726,189
2073 61,616,792 22,583,672
2072 61,239,369 22,438,943
2071 60,847,204 22,288,026
2070 60,454,501 22,151,650
2069 60,053,700 22,003,659
2068 59,639,035 21,829,800
2067 59,215,226 21,662,211
2066 58,786,613 21,496,881
2065 58,353,059 21,317,455
2064 57,904,896 21,142,002
2063 57,451,482 20,965,122
2062 56,986,329 20,785,055
2061 56,511,652 20,608,964
2060 56,031,122 20,430,857
2059 55,540,726 20,235,022
2058 55,042,478 20,048,974
2057 54,535,407 19,853,696
2056 54,018,018 19,659,362
2055 53,492,136 19,464,297
2054 52,959,604 19,257,481
2053 52,417,582 19,060,517
2052 51,869,801 18,840,461
2051 51,311,110 18,633,198
2050 50,740,453 18,434,212
2049 50,163,262 18,230,881
2048 49,577,819 18,021,026
2047 48,982,219 17,806,282
2046 48,383,052 17,579,173
2045 47,776,375 17,355,041
2044 47,163,926 17,121,972
2043 46,548,210 16,888,278
2042 45,925,724 16,645,354
2041 45,300,725 16,396,768
2040 44,669,515 16,142,816
2039 44,038,043 15,889,952
2038 43,402,009 15,628,043
2037 42,760,604 15,363,975
2036 42,120,700 15,091,275
2035 41,478,927 14,815,307
2034 40,831,962 14,543,511
2033 40,184,070 14,278,180
2032 39,540,131 14,007,134
2031 38,900,194 13,730,637
2030 38,258,832 13,465,615
2029 37,623,609 13,206,477
2028 36,986,250 12,947,082
2027 36,349,705 12,692,769
2026 35,713,042 12,439,296
2025 35,071,292 12,193,102
2024 34,427,414 11,943,408
2023 33,787,914 11,483,374
2022 33,149,152 11,021,177
2021 32,518,665 10,865,780
2020 31,887,809 10,698,467
2019 31,258,945 10,423,384
2018 30,637,585 10,122,977
2017 30,008,354 10,259,154
2016 29,356,742 10,830,102
2015 28,696,068 11,107,561
2014 28,041,592 11,235,073
2013 27,386,193 11,166,275
2012 26,734,268 10,756,240
2011 26,095,088 10,288,109
2010 25,474,995 9,745,953
2009 24,862,664 9,243,556
2008 24,249,946 8,817,647
2007 23,642,279 8,388,788
2006 23,040,702 7,976,526
2005 22,449,438 7,590,143
2004 21,868,298 7,233,041
2003 21,296,705 6,903,127
2002 20,729,388 6,596,806
2001 20,167,069 6,308,391
2000 19,637,087 6,032,267
1999 19,149,864 5,771,628
1998 18,688,036 5,620,068
1997 18,238,958 5,509,136
1996 17,810,181 5,356,925
1995 17,399,017 5,225,836
1994 16,993,190 5,071,184
1993 16,589,519 4,956,002
1992 16,184,855 4,909,749
1991 15,787,496 4,836,677
1990 15,394,648 4,737,633
1989 15,006,813 4,713,229
1988 14,636,568 4,848,029
1987 14,289,108 4,962,395
1986 13,965,217 4,921,240
1985 13,661,229 4,834,296
1984 13,370,590 4,750,627
1983 13,029,836 4,661,574
1982 12,643,819 4,557,686
1981 12,281,712 4,447,272
1980 11,941,448 4,339,030
1979 11,597,255 4,232,605
1978 11,248,450 4,127,657
1977 10,911,871 4,024,032
1976 10,594,913 3,921,910
1975 10,294,308 3,821,494
1974 10,000,523 3,723,259
1973 9,714,617 3,627,383
1972 9,438,187 3,542,497
1971 9,176,264 3,468,646
1970 8,925,813 3,409,614
1969 8,690,383 3,365,533
1968 8,475,729 3,321,528
1967 8,271,913 3,277,648
1966 8,074,521 3,236,423
1965 7,882,606 3,189,835
1964 7,695,739 3,129,918
1963 7,514,714 3,072,669
1962 7,337,375 3,024,308
1961 7,162,667 2,976,724
1960 6,961,215 2,931,559

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/south-sudan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while South Sudan gained 2,853,576 people (a 35.8% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,677,756 people (a 15.5% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. South Sudan was ranked 92nd in 2006 and ranked 80th 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 South Sudan will increase by 47.4% to 18,434,212 people and rank change from 80th to 78th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 24.1M people in 2100 for South Sudan.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana South Sudan
2100 0.16% 0.02%
2099 0.18% 0.07%
2098 0.19% -0.008%
2097 0.2% 0.04%
2096 0.21% 0.03%
2095 0.23% -0.006%
2094 0.24% 0.04%
2093 0.26% 0.08%
2092 0.28% 0.08%
2091 0.3% 0.09%
2090 0.32% 0.17%
2089 0.33% 0.19%
2088 0.36% 0.15%
2087 0.36% 0.23%
2086 0.38% 0.19%
2085 0.39% 0.3%
2084 0.42% 0.29%
2083 0.44% 0.33%
2082 0.46% 0.32%
2081 0.48% 0.32%
2080 0.5% 0.42%
2079 0.53% 0.42%
2078 0.54% 0.48%
2077 0.55% 0.43%
2076 0.58% 0.52%
2075 0.59% 0.63%
2074 0.6% 0.63%
2073 0.62% 0.64%
2072 0.64% 0.68%
2071 0.65% 0.62%
2070 0.67% 0.67%
2069 0.7% 0.8%
2068 0.72% 0.77%
2067 0.73% 0.77%
2066 0.74% 0.84%
2065 0.77% 0.83%
2064 0.79% 0.84%
2063 0.82% 0.87%
2062 0.84% 0.85%
2061 0.86% 0.87%
2060 0.88% 0.97%
2059 0.91% 0.93%
2058 0.93% 0.98%
2057 0.96% 0.99%
2056 0.98% 1%
2055 1.01% 1.07%
2054 1.03% 1.03%
2053 1.06% 1.17%
2052 1.09% 1.11%
2051 1.12% 1.08%
2050 1.15% 1.12%
2049 1.18% 1.16%
2048 1.22% 1.21%
2047 1.24% 1.29%
2046 1.27% 1.29%
2045 1.3% 1.36%
2044 1.32% 1.38%
2043 1.36% 1.46%
2042 1.38% 1.52%
2041 1.41% 1.57%
2040 1.43% 1.59%
2039 1.47% 1.68%
2038 1.5% 1.72%
2037 1.52% 1.81%
2036 1.55% 1.86%
2035 1.58% 1.87%
2034 1.61% 1.86%
2033 1.63% 1.94%
2032 1.65% 2.01%
2031 1.68% 1.97%
2030 1.69% 1.96%
2029 1.72% 2%
2028 1.75% 2%
2027 1.78% 2.04%
2026 1.83% 2.02%
2025 1.87% 2.09%
2024 1.89% 4.01%
2023 1.93% 4.19%
2022 1.94% 1.43%
2021 1.98% 1.56%
2020 2.01% 2.64%
2019 2.03% 2.97%
2018 2.1% -1.33%
2017 2.22% -5.27%
2016 2.3% -2.5%
2015 2.33% -1.13%
2014 2.39% 0.62%
2013 2.44% 3.81%
2012 2.45% 4.55%
2011 2.43% 5.56%
2010 2.46% 5.44%
2009 2.53% 4.83%
2008 2.57% 5.11%
2007 2.61% 5.17%
2006 2.63% 5.09%
2005 2.66% 4.94%
2004 2.68% 4.78%
2003 2.74% 4.64%
2002 2.79% 4.57%
2001 2.7% 4.58%
2000 2.54% 4.52%
1999 2.47% 2.7%
1998 2.46% 2.01%
1997 2.41% 2.84%
1996 2.36% 2.51%
1995 2.39% 3.05%
1994 2.43% 2.32%
1993 2.5% 0.94%
1992 2.52% 1.51%
1991 2.55% 2.09%
1990 2.58% 0.52%
1989 2.53% -2.78%
1988 2.43% -2.3%
1987 2.32% 0.84%
1986 2.23% 1.8%
1985 2.17% 1.76%
1984 2.62% 1.91%
1983 3.05% 2.28%
1982 2.95% 2.48%
1981 2.85% 2.49%
1980 2.97% 2.51%
1979 3.1% 2.54%
1978 3.08% 2.58%
1977 2.99% 2.6%
1976 2.92% 2.63%
1975 2.94% 2.64%
1974 2.94% 2.64%
1973 2.93% 2.4%
1972 2.85% 2.13%
1971 2.81% 1.73%
1970 2.71% 1.31%
1969 2.53% 1.32%
1968 2.46% 1.34%
1967 2.44% 1.27%
1966 2.43% 1.46%
1965 2.43% 1.91%
1964 2.41% 1.86%
1963 2.42% 1.6%
1962 2.44% 1.6%
1961 2.89% 1.54%

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/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while South Sudan's population grew by 4.01%.

Live population counters

Ghana South Sudan
Current population
35885254
12507858
Population rank 46/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.15%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
1.14 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
1.6 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
4.76 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 +1,260
Annual growth/decline +639,500 +460,034
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% +4.01%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 7/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
1.43 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 +6,145
Net migration rank 150/196 50/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 914,001
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 62/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 7.7%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 77/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
South Sudan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana South Sudan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 6,145
2024 - -13,114 - 15,374
2023 651,094 -10,003 217,966 455,000
2022 646,441 -10,003 211,166 40,259
2021 635,805 -11,259 213,567 -154,359
2020 637,469 -291 212,332 62,935
2019 642,403 -21,857 209,708 65,198
2018 641,551 -19,375 168,497 157,408
2017 641,218 -4,913 72,193 -670,477
2016 659,910 7,009 110,553 -654,225
2015 667,729 -13,306 148,542 -159,822
2014 660,829 -6,312 227,611 -471,523
2013 658,638 -2,377 315,983 65,337
2012 646,595 1,005 312,974 125,771
2011 631,501 -720 303,181 194,325
2010 613,133 -3,726 287,409 299,402
2009 592,825 22,416 278,859 139,129
2008 579,695 30,506 268,268 165,557
2007 572,332 32,813 256,546 167,350
2006 569,474 28,536 246,706 153,926
2005 563,234 21,272 239,272 132,869
2004 543,339 34,433 231,877 110,182
2003 536,656 28,768 225,822 91,951
2002 528,620 40,573 212,014 82,847
2001 519,382 36,050 204,108 77,856
2000 508,738 -4,206 196,055 74,227
1999 487,210 -17,304 180,721 70,271
1998 471,313 -17,564 -12,157 64,285
1997 459,822 -15,409 121,454 48,280
1996 450,259 -37,113 116,728 17,953
1995 451,748 -42,558 110,417 17,077
1994 449,589 -47,120 165,407 16,407
1993 454,669 -49,792 32,779 15,772
1992 452,156 -47,736 28,874 15,077
1991 448,159 -57,878 87,873 14,327
1990 442,211 -46,789 82,900 12,988
1989 432,541 -52,293 83,735 -130,821
1988 425,031 -64,810 -125,447 -97,065
1987 419,328 -84,648 5,756 -11,976
1986 411,191 -98,099 99,502 -10,973
1985 401,722 -106,855 95,342 -9,986
1984 392,053 -105,655 90,970 -8,984
1983 379,846 15,276 104,107 -7,986
1982 369,061 7,863 118,641 -6,983
1981 359,572 -12,296 115,163 -5,994
1980 346,816 -13,564 112,307 -4,997
1979 334,848 20,291 109,540 -3,997
1978 324,428 18,041 107,352 -2,998
1977 315,429 15,243 104,886 -1,997
1976 305,769 -2,528 102,346 -995
1975 298,267 -292 99,882 -395
1974 290,796 -1,197 97,181 -192
1973 283,385 -1,168 94,765 0
1972 275,236 -4,589 74,803 193
1971 265,442 -12,238 72,308 394
1970 257,938 -10,233 44,776 587
1969 251,925 -28,752 42,015 786
1968 242,821 -36,683 44,213 995
1967 237,156 -35,666 41,357 1,194
1966 231,440 -38,143 38,523 1,386
1965 229,061 -38,519 51,682 1,591
1964 226,685 -43,480 64,786 1,785
1963 225,367 -46,516 46,333 1,591
1962 223,842 -48,017 47,406 1,386
1961 222,372 -48,777 45,186 1,194
1960 217,134 12,181 42,945 995

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/south-sudan | 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 South Sudan 57.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,792,135 people) and 42.6% is from migration (a loss of 1,329,606 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 914,001 people or 7.7% in South Sudan.

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 Sudan
City Population
Juba 500K
Wau 321K
Bor 315K
Malakal 147K
Yambio 130K

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/south-sudan | 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. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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