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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 12,188,788 people in South Sudan in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 12,565,048 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 +2.05% per year vs +0.78% in South Sudan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while South Sudan has grown from 7.98M to 12.6M (57.5% growth).

Ghana vs South Sudan: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
South Sudan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana South Sudan
2100 68,117,614 24,078,379
2099 68,008,028 24,072,957
2098 67,888,410 24,054,947
2097 67,759,128 24,056,753
2096 67,625,262 24,045,972
2095 67,481,344 24,037,837
2094 67,325,992 24,039,267
2093 67,162,890 24,030,512
2092 66,991,846 24,010,555
2091 66,804,098 23,991,816
2090 66,605,276 23,970,012
2089 66,395,029 23,929,017
2088 66,173,453 23,883,712
2087 65,937,323 23,848,809
2086 65,699,827 23,794,890
2085 65,451,666 23,750,772
2084 65,196,037 23,678,728
2083 64,922,457 23,609,290
2082 64,638,242 23,532,790
2081 64,342,209 23,458,146
2080 64,034,249 23,383,482
2079 63,717,528 23,286,011
2078 63,384,648 23,188,860
2077 63,046,955 23,078,416
2076 62,699,375 22,979,198
2075 62,337,964 22,860,496
2074 61,974,725 22,718,148
2073 61,604,458 22,575,682
2072 61,227,111 22,431,004
2071 60,835,024 22,280,140
2070 60,442,399 22,143,813
2069 60,041,679 21,995,874
2068 59,627,097 21,822,076
2067 59,203,373 21,654,546
2066 58,774,846 21,489,275
2065 58,341,378 21,309,913
2064 57,893,305 21,134,522
2063 57,439,982 20,957,705
2062 56,974,922 20,777,701
2061 56,500,340 20,601,672
2060 56,019,906 20,423,629
2059 55,529,609 20,227,862
2058 55,031,460 20,041,880
2057 54,524,491 19,846,671
2056 54,007,205 19,652,407
2055 53,481,428 19,457,411
2054 52,949,003 19,250,667
2053 52,407,089 19,053,773
2052 51,859,418 18,833,795
2051 51,300,839 18,626,605
2050 50,730,296 18,427,690
2049 50,153,221 18,224,430
2048 49,567,895 18,014,650
2047 48,972,414 17,799,982
2046 48,373,367 17,572,953
2045 47,766,811 17,348,901
2044 47,154,486 17,115,914
2043 46,538,892 16,882,303
2042 45,916,531 16,639,465
2041 45,291,657 16,390,966
2040 44,660,573 16,137,104
2039 44,029,228 15,884,330
2038 43,393,321 15,622,514
2037 42,752,045 15,358,539
2036 42,112,269 15,085,936
2035 41,470,624 14,810,066
2034 40,823,789 14,538,365
2033 40,176,026 14,273,128
2032 39,532,216 14,002,178
2031 38,892,407 13,725,779
2030 38,251,174 13,460,850
2029 37,616,078 13,201,804
2028 36,978,847 12,942,501
2027 36,342,429 12,688,278
2026 35,705,894 12,434,895
2025 35,064,272 12,188,788
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while South Sudan's population increased by 1,734,946 people (a 16% 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 40.8% to 50,730,296 people with a rank change from 46th to 43rd. The population of South Sudan will increase by 46.7% to 18,427,690 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 1.85% 2.05%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/south-sudan | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while South Sudan's population grew by 2.05%.

Live population counters

Ghana South Sudan
Current population
36032857
12565048
Population rank 46/197 80/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.15%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
2.15 minutes
One birth every
35.3 seconds
1.51 minutes
One death every
2.18 minutes
4.48 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +672
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +245,380
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.05%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 48/197
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 651,057 -13,114 231,714 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 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/south-sudan | 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 Sudan 68.1% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,796,238 people) and 31.9% is from migration (a loss of 842,709 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 (1960–2025, 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-sudan | 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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