Ghana's Provisional Population is 24.2 million

February 04, 2011
Accra, Feb. 3, GNA - Ghana's population in 2010 is 24.23 million, according to provisional census figures released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

The figure is 28 per cent more than 18.9 million recorded in the last census in 2000.

It showed that there are a little over 11.8 million men and 12.42 million women. Thus, men form 48.7 per cent of the population and women constitute 51.3 per cent.

Dr Grace Bediako, Government Statistician, who announced the provisional results, said although the growth rate was on the decline, it was still high.

The intercensal growth rate for the country has declined from 2.7 per cent to 2.4 per cent per annum.

Growth rates in Central, Greater Accra, Ashanti and Northern Regions, were significantly above the national figure of 2.4 per cent.

The Upper East Region recorded the least growth rate of 1.1 per cent.

Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions account for 35.6 per cent of the total population-19.5 per cent for Ashanti and 16.1 per cent for Greater Accra.

All the Regions experienced increases in population with Northern Region recording the highest of 35.6 per cent and Greater Accra 34.6 per cent.

The provisional results also indicated that the sex ratio for the country is low with 100 women to 95 men.

Dr Bediako said the results showed that there was increasing pressure on land by the population.

The number of persons per one square kilometre (Population density) is almost doubled from 52 in 1984 to 102 in 2010.

"Consistently, the population pressure has been much more intense on Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions. Within the same period, less than 50 persons were recorded per square kilometre in the Northern and Upper West Regions," she said.

Dr Bediako said during the census, all persons who were within the borders of Ghana on Census Night, irrespective of their nationality and status were enumerated.

She said the final results, which would include the various characteristics of the population such as age structure, literacy status, educational attainment, occupation, among others would be announced in 2012.

GNA