Ghana
Africa · Western Africa
West Africa's most stable democracy, with a growing tech scene and a welcoming culture.
Backpacker
Ideal destination
At a Glance
📈Ghana's Human Development Index
0.602
Medium human development#143 of 191 countries worldwide, #16 of 54 in Africa.
Higher than 25% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Ghana
Ghana is West Africa's most stable and welcoming democracy, with a vibrant urban culture centred on Accra, a powerful tradition of kente weaving and Ashanti craftsmanship, and a coastline lined with old Portuguese, Dutch, and British slave forts that speak to the country's complex history. The food is bold, the music is world-renowned, and Ghanaians are among the most openly hospitable people on the continent. It is an excellent starting point for those new to West Africa.
- First sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule — in 1957.
- W.E.B. Du Bois — American civil rights pioneer — is buried in Accra, having renounced US citizenship.
- Africa's Silicon Valley ambitions are most advanced here: the continent's strongest startup ecosystem outside South Africa.
Quick Facts
Capital
Accra
Language
English
Currency
₵ GHS
Area
227,533 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
51Mbps
GDP / Capita
$3K
PPP / Capita
$9K
Inflation
14.2%
Unemployment
3.0%
Innovation (GII)
21.9
GNI / Capita
$3K
Tax Revenue
12.4%
FDI Inflows
1.7%
Education Spend
2.9%
Cost of Living
33.9
Price Level Index
63rd pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.445 → 0.602 (+0.157)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Ghana for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Neighbouring Countries
Ghana head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Ghana's Human Development Index?
Ghana's Human Development Index is 0.602 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #143 of 191 countries.
Is Ghana safe?
Ghana scores 1.94 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #75 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Ghana?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Ghana at 33.9 (New York = 100); that is #41 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Ghana?
Life expectancy at birth in Ghana is 65.7 yrs (World Bank), ranked #167 of 195 countries.