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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Ghana was 35,064,272 in 2025 vs 21,913,874 people in Zambia in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Ghana's population is 36,032,857 people compared to 22,844,606 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Ghana's population is 1.58 times bigger than Zambia's.
  • Ghana is ranked the 46th most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.71% of the world: 0.43% for Ghana vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Ghana has had an average growth rate of +2.05% per year vs +2.96% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Ghana has increased from 23M people to 36M (56.4% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.8M (88.3% growth).

Ghana vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Ghana Zambia
2100 68,117,614 65,204,593
2099 68,008,028 64,858,778
2098 67,888,410 64,503,193
2097 67,759,128 64,136,110
2096 67,625,262 63,764,760
2095 67,481,344 63,380,692
2094 67,325,992 62,980,254
2093 67,162,890 62,578,008
2092 66,991,846 62,163,693
2091 66,804,098 61,738,437
2090 66,605,276 61,309,330
2089 66,395,029 60,868,166
2088 66,173,453 60,422,781
2087 65,937,323 59,958,303
2086 65,699,827 59,487,524
2085 65,451,666 59,011,423
2084 65,196,037 58,524,337
2083 64,922,457 58,029,088
2082 64,638,242 57,527,347
2081 64,342,209 57,016,267
2080 64,034,249 56,495,299
2079 63,717,528 55,972,223
2078 63,384,648 55,438,864
2077 63,046,955 54,895,964
2076 62,699,375 54,350,375
2075 62,337,964 53,796,265
2074 61,974,725 53,236,297
2073 61,604,458 52,666,980
2072 61,227,111 52,090,884
2071 60,835,024 51,509,551
2070 60,442,399 50,921,590
2069 60,041,679 50,324,793
2068 59,627,097 49,727,689
2067 59,203,373 49,125,817
2066 58,774,846 48,520,891
2065 58,341,378 47,909,160
2064 57,893,305 47,290,430
2063 57,439,982 46,668,252
2062 56,974,922 46,039,755
2061 56,500,340 45,407,718
2060 56,019,906 44,768,534
2059 55,529,609 44,128,619
2058 55,031,460 43,485,891
2057 54,524,491 42,843,489
2056 54,007,205 42,198,591
2055 53,481,428 41,550,105
2054 52,949,003 40,898,440
2053 52,407,089 40,247,706
2052 51,859,418 39,596,094
2051 51,300,839 38,942,292
2050 50,730,296 38,287,070
2049 50,153,221 37,626,787
2048 49,567,895 36,964,032
2047 48,972,414 36,302,603
2046 48,373,367 35,638,852
2045 47,766,811 34,974,927
2044 47,154,486 34,310,227
2043 46,538,892 33,645,797
2042 45,916,531 32,984,164
2041 45,291,657 32,323,084
2040 44,660,573 31,658,029
2039 44,029,228 30,995,204
2038 43,393,321 30,329,691
2037 42,752,045 29,662,721
2036 42,112,269 28,994,556
2035 41,470,624 28,327,922
2034 40,823,789 27,665,749
2033 40,176,026 27,006,658
2032 39,532,216 26,351,393
2031 38,892,407 25,697,754
2030 38,251,174 25,050,285
2029 37,616,078 24,409,600
2028 36,978,847 23,776,128
2027 36,342,429 23,146,922
2026 35,705,894 22,525,308
2025 35,064,272 21,913,874
2024 34,427,414 21,314,956
2023 33,787,914 20,723,965
2022 33,149,152 20,152,938
2021 32,518,665 19,603,607
2020 31,887,809 19,059,395
2019 31,258,945 18,513,839
2018 30,637,585 17,973,569
2017 30,008,354 17,441,320
2016 29,356,742 16,914,423
2015 28,696,068 16,399,089
2014 28,041,592 15,895,315
2013 27,386,193 15,398,997
2012 26,734,268 14,913,629
2011 26,095,088 14,437,796
2010 25,474,995 13,965,594
2009 24,862,664 13,490,389
2008 24,249,946 13,021,324
2007 23,642,279 12,565,085
2006 23,040,702 12,129,553
2005 22,449,438 11,718,819
2004 21,868,298 11,338,198
2003 21,296,705 10,983,595
2002 20,729,388 10,647,949
2001 20,167,069 10,325,185
2000 19,637,087 10,017,631
1999 19,149,864 9,740,005
1998 18,688,036 9,482,408
1997 18,238,958 9,237,063
1996 17,810,181 9,004,053
1995 17,399,017 8,785,763
1994 16,993,190 8,576,269
1993 16,589,519 8,373,921
1992 16,184,855 8,176,680
1991 15,787,496 7,981,650
1990 15,394,648 7,786,169
1989 15,006,813 7,589,216
1988 14,636,568 7,391,440
1987 14,289,108 7,191,282
1986 13,965,217 6,986,471
1985 13,661,229 6,780,953
1984 13,370,590 6,580,490
1983 13,029,836 6,381,038
1982 12,643,819 6,178,637
1981 12,281,712 5,983,289
1980 11,941,448 5,802,833
1979 11,597,255 5,631,728
1978 11,248,450 5,465,374
1977 10,911,871 5,302,480
1976 10,594,913 5,143,842
1975 10,294,308 4,990,086
1974 10,000,523 4,842,746
1973 9,714,617 4,702,693
1972 9,438,187 4,569,309
1971 9,176,264 4,442,525
1970 8,925,813 4,321,718
1969 8,690,383 4,197,116
1968 8,475,729 4,065,593
1967 8,271,913 3,936,343
1966 8,074,521 3,812,003
1965 7,882,606 3,692,086
1964 7,695,739 3,577,017
1963 7,514,714 3,465,907
1962 7,337,375 3,358,099
1961 7,162,667 3,254,086
1960 6,961,215 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Ghana increased by 6,316,040 people (a 27.4% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Ghana gained 6,676,115 people (a 22.7% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,930,183 people (a 35.1% growth).

Ghana was ranked 48th most populous country in 2006 and is 46th in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 67.6% to 38,287,070 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Ghana is projected to reach its peak in 2100 at 68.1M people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Ghana
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Ghana Zambia
2100 0.16% 0.53%
2099 0.18% 0.55%
2098 0.19% 0.57%
2097 0.2% 0.58%
2096 0.21% 0.61%
2095 0.23% 0.64%
2094 0.24% 0.64%
2093 0.26% 0.67%
2092 0.28% 0.69%
2091 0.3% 0.7%
2090 0.32% 0.72%
2089 0.33% 0.74%
2088 0.36% 0.77%
2087 0.36% 0.79%
2086 0.38% 0.81%
2085 0.39% 0.83%
2084 0.42% 0.85%
2083 0.44% 0.87%
2082 0.46% 0.9%
2081 0.48% 0.92%
2080 0.5% 0.93%
2079 0.53% 0.96%
2078 0.54% 0.99%
2077 0.55% 1%
2076 0.58% 1.03%
2075 0.59% 1.05%
2074 0.6% 1.08%
2073 0.62% 1.11%
2072 0.64% 1.13%
2071 0.65% 1.15%
2070 0.67% 1.19%
2069 0.7% 1.2%
2068 0.72% 1.23%
2067 0.73% 1.25%
2066 0.74% 1.28%
2065 0.77% 1.31%
2064 0.79% 1.33%
2063 0.82% 1.37%
2062 0.84% 1.39%
2061 0.86% 1.43%
2060 0.88% 1.45%
2059 0.91% 1.48%
2058 0.93% 1.5%
2057 0.96% 1.53%
2056 0.98% 1.56%
2055 1.01% 1.59%
2054 1.03% 1.62%
2053 1.06% 1.65%
2052 1.09% 1.68%
2051 1.12% 1.71%
2050 1.15% 1.75%
2049 1.18% 1.79%
2048 1.22% 1.82%
2047 1.24% 1.86%
2046 1.27% 1.9%
2045 1.3% 1.94%
2044 1.32% 1.97%
2043 1.36% 2.01%
2042 1.38% 2.05%
2041 1.41% 2.1%
2040 1.43% 2.14%
2039 1.47% 2.19%
2038 1.5% 2.25%
2037 1.52% 2.3%
2036 1.55% 2.35%
2035 1.58% 2.39%
2034 1.61% 2.44%
2033 1.63% 2.49%
2032 1.65% 2.54%
2031 1.68% 2.58%
2030 1.69% 2.62%
2029 1.72% 2.66%
2028 1.75% 2.72%
2027 1.78% 2.76%
2026 1.83% 2.79%
2025 1.85% 2.81%
2024 1.89% 2.85%
2023 1.93% 2.83%
2022 1.94% 2.8%
2021 1.98% 2.86%
2020 2.01% 2.95%
2019 2.03% 3.01%
2018 2.1% 3.05%
2017 2.22% 3.12%
2016 2.3% 3.14%
2015 2.33% 3.17%
2014 2.39% 3.22%
2013 2.44% 3.25%
2012 2.45% 3.3%
2011 2.43% 3.38%
2010 2.46% 3.52%
2009 2.53% 3.6%
2008 2.57% 3.63%
2007 2.61% 3.59%
2006 2.63% 3.5%
2005 2.66% 3.36%
2004 2.68% 3.23%
2003 2.74% 3.15%
2002 2.79% 3.13%
2001 2.7% 3.07%
2000 2.54% 2.85%
1999 2.47% 2.72%
1998 2.46% 2.66%
1997 2.41% 2.59%
1996 2.36% 2.48%
1995 2.39% 2.44%
1994 2.43% 2.42%
1993 2.5% 2.41%
1992 2.52% 2.44%
1991 2.55% 2.51%
1990 2.58% 2.6%
1989 2.53% 2.68%
1988 2.43% 2.78%
1987 2.32% 2.93%
1986 2.23% 3.03%
1985 2.17% 3.05%
1984 2.62% 3.13%
1983 3.05% 3.28%
1982 2.95% 3.26%
1981 2.85% 3.11%
1980 2.97% 3.04%
1979 3.1% 3.04%
1978 3.08% 3.07%
1977 2.99% 3.08%
1976 2.92% 3.08%
1975 2.94% 3.04%
1974 2.94% 2.98%
1973 2.93% 2.92%
1972 2.85% 2.85%
1971 2.81% 2.8%
1970 2.71% 2.97%
1969 2.53% 3.24%
1968 2.46% 3.28%
1967 2.44% 3.26%
1966 2.43% 3.25%
1965 2.43% 3.22%
1964 2.41% 3.21%
1963 2.42% 3.21%
1962 2.44% 3.2%
1961 2.89% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2025, the population of Ghana grew by 1.85%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.81%.

Live population counters

Ghana Zambia
Current population
36032857
22844606
Population rank 46/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.43% 0.27%
One net population change
49.7 seconds
52.8 seconds
One birth every
35.3 seconds
45.2 seconds
One death every
2.18 minutes
4.77 minutes
Daily growth/decline +1,745 +1,641
Annual growth/decline +636,858 +598,918
Annual growth/decline rate +1.85% +2.81%
Population growth rate rank 57/197 19/197
One migration net change every
30.9 minutes
1.34 hours
Annual migration change -17,079 +6,562
Net migration rank 150/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 532,286 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 77/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 1.5% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 145/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Ghana
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Ghana Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -17,079 - 6,562
2024 651,057 -13,114 587,419 7,381
2023 651,094 -10,003 577,660 9,521
2022 646,441 -10,003 563,456 -8,566
2021 635,805 -11,259 535,629 8,143
2020 637,469 -291 536,484 8,156
2019 642,403 -21,857 528,089 18,385
2018 641,551 -19,375 515,644 18,431
2017 641,218 -4,913 504,630 25,789
2016 659,910 7,009 497,521 25,860
2015 667,729 -13,306 491,021 16,261
2014 660,829 -6,312 483,663 16,574
2013 658,638 -2,377 476,846 15,542
2012 646,595 1,005 469,406 8,958
2011 631,501 -720 459,743 13,569
2010 613,133 -3,726 448,337 22,761
2009 592,825 22,416 434,458 44,867
2008 579,695 30,506 419,560 39,249
2007 572,332 32,813 403,729 49,945
2006 569,474 28,536 387,891 29,517
2005 563,234 21,272 368,756 35,316
2004 543,339 34,433 349,352 7,819
2003 536,656 28,768 331,189 20,845
2002 528,620 40,573 316,041 3,206
2001 519,382 36,050 302,682 23,582
2000 508,738 -4,206 293,186 -4,338
1999 487,210 -17,304 283,297 -16,888
1998 471,313 -17,564 275,568 -26,796
1997 459,822 -15,409 268,198 -26,276
1996 450,259 -37,113 262,468 -38,358
1995 451,748 -42,558 257,897 -45,423
1994 449,589 -47,120 252,023 -45,504
1993 454,669 -49,792 245,917 -47,739
1992 452,156 -47,736 239,953 -43,656
1991 448,159 -57,878 237,957 -44,203
1990 442,211 -46,789 235,835 -38,619
1989 432,541 -52,293 233,429 -36,736
1988 425,031 -64,810 230,118 -31,270
1987 419,328 -84,648 227,813 -26,338
1986 411,191 -98,099 224,768 -16,610
1985 401,722 -106,855 221,351 -18,474
1984 392,053 -105,655 216,695 -18,652
1983 379,846 15,276 212,712 -11,849
1982 369,061 7,863 207,621 -3,676
1981 359,572 -12,296 202,822 -16,072
1980 346,816 -13,564 198,817 -24,664
1979 334,848 20,291 197,578 -29,515
1978 324,428 18,041 194,933 -30,284
1977 315,429 15,243 191,557 -30,423
1976 305,769 -2,528 186,762 -30,612
1975 298,267 -292 182,258 -30,886
1974 290,796 -1,197 174,484 -31,178
1973 283,385 -1,168 168,258 -31,472
1972 275,236 -4,589 161,648 -31,672
1971 265,442 -12,238 155,249 -31,651
1970 257,938 -10,233 149,380 -31,370
1969 251,925 -28,752 142,660 -11,469
1968 242,821 -36,683 137,315 -5,447
1967 237,156 -35,666 131,938 -5,298
1966 231,440 -38,143 127,164 -5,129
1965 229,061 -38,519 122,814 -5,023
1964 226,685 -43,480 117,197 -4,851
1963 225,367 -46,516 114,555 -4,676
1962 223,842 -48,017 110,173 -4,428
1961 222,372 -48,777 106,318 -4,043
1960 217,134 12,181 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/ghana/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,337,553 people) and 2.37% is from migration (a gain of 129,361 people).

As of 2024, 532,286 residents or 1.5% of the population were not native-born in Ghana, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

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
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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