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Population in Ghana compared to Sri Lanka: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 34,427,414 in 2024 vs 21,916,000 people in Sri Lanka in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 35,885,254 people compared to 22,185,425 in Sri Lanka.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.62 times bigger than Sri Lanka's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Sri Lanka is the 63rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.7% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.27% for Sri Lanka.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.1% per year vs +0.57% in Sri Lanka.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 35.9M (55.7% growth), while Sri Lanka has grown from 20.4M to 22.2M (9.01% growth).

Ghana vs Sri Lanka: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Sri Lanka
2100 68,131,252 20,270,496
2099 68,021,644 20,383,669
2098 67,902,002 20,498,567
2097 67,772,694 20,611,123
2096 67,638,801 20,723,560
2095 67,494,855 20,834,629
2094 67,339,471 20,943,809
2093 67,176,337 21,052,131
2092 67,005,259 21,158,833
2091 66,817,473 21,263,961
2090 66,618,611 21,371,263
2089 66,408,323 21,475,426
2088 66,186,701 21,577,177
2087 65,950,524 21,677,510
2086 65,712,980 21,777,420
2085 65,464,770 21,876,464
2084 65,209,090 21,970,336
2083 64,935,455 22,062,801
2082 64,651,183 22,151,745
2081 64,355,091 22,240,834
2080 64,047,069 22,326,555
2079 63,730,285 22,411,438
2078 63,397,338 22,489,772
2077 63,059,578 22,565,028
2076 62,711,928 22,637,463
2075 62,350,445 22,707,112
2074 61,987,133 22,778,489
2073 61,616,792 22,844,703
2072 61,239,369 22,905,707
2071 60,847,204 22,964,866
2070 60,454,501 23,022,515
2069 60,053,700 23,076,310
2068 59,639,035 23,129,541
2067 59,215,226 23,184,596
2066 58,786,613 23,234,419
2065 58,353,059 23,285,901
2064 57,904,896 23,331,390
2063 57,451,482 23,372,184
2062 56,986,329 23,409,522
2061 56,511,652 23,441,893
2060 56,031,122 23,474,032
2059 55,540,726 23,502,132
2058 55,042,478 23,528,076
2057 54,535,407 23,550,580
2056 54,018,018 23,570,923
2055 53,492,136 23,582,432
2054 52,959,604 23,591,414
2053 52,417,582 23,601,371
2052 51,869,801 23,605,361
2051 51,311,110 23,606,194
2050 50,740,453 23,603,330
2049 50,163,262 23,597,604
2048 49,577,819 23,587,307
2047 48,982,219 23,570,881
2046 48,383,052 23,547,409
2045 47,776,375 23,515,133
2044 47,163,926 23,483,546
2043 46,548,210 23,446,242
2042 45,925,724 23,404,983
2041 45,300,725 23,357,358
2040 44,669,515 23,306,148
2039 44,038,043 23,248,341
2038 43,402,009 23,187,512
2037 42,760,604 23,120,775
2036 42,120,700 23,053,427
2035 41,478,927 22,981,808
2034 40,831,962 22,906,587
2033 40,184,070 22,826,414
2032 39,540,131 22,742,267
2031 38,900,194 22,655,907
2030 38,258,832 22,564,038
2029 37,623,609 22,470,759
2028 36,986,250 22,370,999
2027 36,349,705 22,266,017
2026 35,713,042 22,155,543
2025 35,071,292 22,039,908
2024 34,427,414 21,916,000
2023 33,787,914 22,037,000
2022 33,149,152 22,181,000
2021 32,518,665 22,156,000
2020 31,887,809 21,919,000
2019 31,258,945 21,803,000
2018 30,637,585 21,670,000
2017 30,008,354 21,453,000
2016 29,356,742 21,209,000
2015 28,696,068 20,970,000
2014 28,041,592 20,778,000
2013 27,386,193 20,585,000
2012 26,734,268 21,169,458
2011 26,095,088 21,009,048
2010 25,474,995 20,879,089
2009 24,862,664 20,756,435
2008 24,249,946 20,629,378
2007 23,642,279 20,492,545
2006 23,040,702 20,352,411
2005 22,449,438 20,216,524
2004 21,868,298 20,087,605
2003 21,296,705 19,951,521
2002 20,729,388 19,805,752
2001 20,167,069 19,600,362
2000 19,637,087 19,293,054
1999 19,149,864 18,944,731
1998 18,688,036 18,596,003
1997 18,238,958 18,248,200
1996 17,810,181 17,905,018
1995 17,399,017 17,564,068
1994 16,993,190 17,275,773
1993 16,589,519 17,025,918
1992 16,184,855 16,739,284
1991 15,787,496 16,475,354
1990 15,394,648 16,352,458
1989 15,006,813 16,248,557
1988 14,636,568 16,078,621
1987 14,289,108 15,916,576
1986 13,965,217 15,731,256
1985 13,661,229 15,544,154
1984 13,370,590 15,441,860
1983 13,029,836 15,388,794
1982 12,643,819 15,286,567
1981 12,281,712 15,099,414
1980 11,941,448 14,847,974
1979 11,597,255 14,579,614
1978 11,248,450 14,310,128
1977 10,911,871 14,049,371
1976 10,594,913 13,796,770
1975 10,294,308 13,548,984
1974 10,000,523 13,305,693
1973 9,714,617 13,060,916
1972 9,438,187 12,809,205
1971 9,176,264 12,551,910
1970 8,925,813 12,287,110
1969 8,690,383 12,013,858
1968 8,475,729 11,736,088
1967 8,271,913 11,457,328
1966 8,074,521 11,183,928
1965 7,882,606 10,916,965
1964 7,695,739 10,653,397
1963 7,514,714 10,395,040
1962 7,337,375 10,143,754
1961 7,162,667 9,899,372
1960 6,961,215 9,661,389

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Sri Lanka gained 856,589 people (a 4.21% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,528,512 people (a 22.2% growth), while Sri Lanka's population increased by 976,425 people (a 4.6% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Sri Lanka was ranked 55th in 2006 and ranked 63rd 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 Sri Lanka will increase by 6.39% to 23,603,330 people and rank change from 63rd to 70th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 23.6M people in 2051 for Sri Lanka.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Sri Lanka
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Sri Lanka
2100 0.16% -0.56%
2099 0.18% -0.56%
2098 0.19% -0.55%
2097 0.2% -0.54%
2096 0.21% -0.53%
2095 0.23% -0.52%
2094 0.24% -0.51%
2093 0.26% -0.5%
2092 0.28% -0.49%
2091 0.3% -0.5%
2090 0.32% -0.49%
2089 0.33% -0.47%
2088 0.36% -0.46%
2087 0.36% -0.46%
2086 0.38% -0.45%
2085 0.39% -0.43%
2084 0.42% -0.42%
2083 0.44% -0.4%
2082 0.46% -0.4%
2081 0.48% -0.38%
2080 0.5% -0.38%
2079 0.53% -0.35%
2078 0.54% -0.33%
2077 0.55% -0.32%
2076 0.58% -0.31%
2075 0.59% -0.31%
2074 0.6% -0.29%
2073 0.62% -0.27%
2072 0.64% -0.26%
2071 0.65% -0.25%
2070 0.67% -0.23%
2069 0.7% -0.23%
2068 0.72% -0.24%
2067 0.73% -0.21%
2066 0.74% -0.22%
2065 0.77% -0.19%
2064 0.79% -0.17%
2063 0.82% -0.16%
2062 0.84% -0.14%
2061 0.86% -0.14%
2060 0.88% -0.12%
2059 0.91% -0.11%
2058 0.93% -0.1%
2057 0.96% -0.09%
2056 0.98% -0.05%
2055 1.01% -0.04%
2054 1.03% -0.04%
2053 1.06% -0.02%
2052 1.09% -0.004%
2051 1.12% 0.01%
2050 1.15% 0.02%
2049 1.18% 0.04%
2048 1.22% 0.07%
2047 1.24% 0.1%
2046 1.27% 0.14%
2045 1.3% 0.13%
2044 1.32% 0.16%
2043 1.36% 0.18%
2042 1.38% 0.2%
2041 1.41% 0.22%
2040 1.43% 0.25%
2039 1.47% 0.26%
2038 1.5% 0.29%
2037 1.52% 0.29%
2036 1.55% 0.31%
2035 1.58% 0.33%
2034 1.61% 0.35%
2033 1.63% 0.37%
2032 1.65% 0.38%
2031 1.68% 0.41%
2030 1.69% 0.42%
2029 1.72% 0.45%
2028 1.75% 0.47%
2027 1.78% 0.5%
2026 1.83% 0.52%
2025 1.87% 0.57%
2024 1.89% -0.55%
2023 1.93% -0.65%
2022 1.94% 0.11%
2021 1.98% 1.08%
2020 2.01% 0.53%
2019 2.03% 0.61%
2018 2.1% 1.01%
2017 2.22% 1.15%
2016 2.3% 1.14%
2015 2.33% 0.92%
2014 2.39% 0.94%
2013 2.44% -2.76%
2012 2.45% 0.76%
2011 2.43% 0.62%
2010 2.46% 0.59%
2009 2.53% 0.62%
2008 2.57% 0.67%
2007 2.61% 0.69%
2006 2.63% 0.67%
2005 2.66% 0.64%
2004 2.68% 0.68%
2003 2.74% 0.74%
2002 2.79% 1.05%
2001 2.7% 1.59%
2000 2.54% 1.84%
1999 2.47% 1.88%
1998 2.46% 1.91%
1997 2.41% 1.92%
1996 2.36% 1.94%
1995 2.39% 1.67%
1994 2.43% 1.47%
1993 2.5% 1.71%
1992 2.52% 1.6%
1991 2.55% 0.75%
1990 2.58% 0.64%
1989 2.53% 1.06%
1988 2.43% 1.02%
1987 2.32% 1.18%
1986 2.23% 1.2%
1985 2.17% 0.66%
1984 2.62% 0.34%
1983 3.05% 0.67%
1982 2.95% 1.24%
1981 2.85% 1.69%
1980 2.97% 1.84%
1979 3.1% 1.88%
1978 3.08% 1.86%
1977 2.99% 1.83%
1976 2.92% 1.83%
1975 2.94% 1.83%
1974 2.94% 1.87%
1973 2.93% 1.97%
1972 2.85% 2.05%
1971 2.81% 2.16%
1970 2.71% 2.27%
1969 2.53% 2.37%
1968 2.46% 2.43%
1967 2.44% 2.44%
1966 2.43% 2.45%
1965 2.43% 2.47%
1964 2.41% 2.49%
1963 2.42% 2.48%
1962 2.44% 2.47%
1961 2.89% 2.46%

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/sri-lanka | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Ghana grew by 1.89%, while Sri Lanka's population declined by 0.55%.

Live population counters

Ghana Sri Lanka
Current population
35885254
22185425
Population rank 46/197 63/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.27%
One net population change
49.3 seconds
4.34 minutes
One birth every
35.5 seconds
2.13 minutes
One death every
2.21 minutes
2.91 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,752 -332
Annual growth/decline +639,500 -121,000
Annual growth/decline rate +1.89% -0.55%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 188/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
17.2 minutes
Annual migration change -17,079 -30,724
Net migration rank 150/196 165/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 40,698
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 156/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 0.2%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 190/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Sri Lanka
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Sri Lanka
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - -30,724
2024 - -13,114 - -27,245
2023 651,094 -10,003 66,111 -28,011
2022 646,441 -10,003 95,378 -27,435
2021 635,805 -11,259 121,858 -29,586
2020 637,469 -291 170,968 -29,875
2019 642,403 -21,857 172,243 -28,426
2018 641,551 -19,375 183,610 -28,607
2017 641,218 -4,913 187,993 -22,324
2016 659,910 7,009 194,232 -18,388
2015 667,729 -13,306 201,815 -29,797
2014 660,829 -6,312 211,541 -33,672
2013 658,638 -2,377 221,021 -37,754
2012 646,595 1,005 229,138 -41,955
2011 631,501 -720 224,461 -90,839
2010 613,133 -3,726 224,325 -98,060
2009 592,825 22,416 200,175 -81,130
2008 579,695 30,506 232,225 -97,144
2007 572,332 32,813 248,287 -109,695
2006 569,474 28,536 248,706 -107,045
2005 563,234 21,272 248,683 -118,594
2004 543,339 34,433 212,527 -84,795
2003 536,656 28,768 252,008 -107,573
2002 528,620 40,573 252,840 -105,718
2001 519,382 36,050 244,377 19,273
2000 508,738 -4,206 227,060 123,894
1999 487,210 -17,304 206,876 138,799
1998 471,313 -17,564 201,059 150,724
1997 459,822 -15,409 208,193 135,636
1996 450,259 -37,113 215,290 127,236
1995 451,748 -42,558 221,957 117,416
1994 449,589 -47,120 228,904 8,323
1993 454,669 -49,792 226,257 36,232
1992 452,156 -47,736 222,230 88,542
1991 448,159 -57,878 218,117 -1,047
1990 442,211 -46,789 224,454 -195,736
1989 432,541 -52,293 212,401 -33,305
1988 425,031 -64,810 219,184 -58,415
1987 419,328 -84,648 226,414 -63,105
1986 411,191 -98,099 233,782 -26,460
1985 401,722 -106,855 247,836 -80,950
1984 392,053 -105,655 263,175 -225,450
1983 379,846 15,276 277,768 -209,362
1982 369,061 7,863 300,030 -163,987
1981 359,572 -12,296 328,096 -89,824
1980 346,816 -13,564 328,155 -63,541
1979 334,848 20,291 329,791 -57,683
1978 324,428 18,041 317,055 -50,189
1977 315,429 15,243 300,038 -45,383
1976 305,769 -2,528 291,816 -41,258
1975 298,267 -292 282,496 -37,475
1974 290,796 -1,197 275,521 -33,979
1973 283,385 -1,168 278,577 -30,582
1972 275,236 -4,589 282,494 -27,071
1971 265,442 -12,238 281,200 -22,021
1970 257,938 -10,233 286,719 -16,299
1969 251,925 -28,752 286,218 -10,152
1968 242,821 -36,683 286,642 -7,163
1967 237,156 -35,666 284,738 -6,696
1966 231,440 -38,143 275,549 -6,794
1965 229,061 -38,519 272,422 -7,249
1964 226,685 -43,480 269,584 -7,614
1963 225,367 -46,516 262,880 -8,118
1962 223,842 -48,017 256,719 -8,909
1961 222,372 -48,777 251,087 -10,144
1960 217,134 12,181 247,631 -12,610

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/sri-lanka | 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 Sri Lanka 85.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 1,605,749 people) and 14.7% is from migration (a loss of 276,121 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 40,698 people or 0.2% in Sri Lanka.

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
Sri Lanka
City Population
Colombo 648K
Gampaha 191K
Beruwala 165K
Negombo 142K
Kandy 120K
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte 116K
Trincomalee 99.1K
Galle 93.1K
Matara 68.2K
Anuradhapura 63.2K

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

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