GeoRealityMatch

The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to parts of the country. FCDO travel advice, read 29 October 2026.

Stunning view of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and fountain statues in Accra.Vibrant aerial view of beach umbrellas and seating in Accra, Ghana.

Ghana

Africa · Western Africa

High safetyVery affordable cost of livingMedium development

The air is polluted.

BackpackerCombines very affordable cost of living and high safety.
vs Nigeria
Safety

75th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
1.943lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#75 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Homicides
1.8per 100,000 people a yearModerateUNODC / World Bank · 2022
Safety index
59.8Numbeo's safety index, higher is saferModerateNumbeo · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$2,630national income per person, US dollarsLow
World Bank · 2025
Rent index
10.9New York = 100AffordableNumbeo · 2026
Property price to income
54.6years of median income to buy a median flatVery expensiveNumbeo · 2026

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 259% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 91% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$5.0K$10K$8,610 PPP$3,257Inflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $906 a person, $3,103 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2007, $1,050 a person, $3,241 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2008, $1,183 a person, $3,516 at PPP, inflation 16.5%2009, $1,048 a person, $3,617 at PPP, inflation 19.2%2010, $1,264 a person, $3,855 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2011, $1,507 a person, $4,381 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2012, $1,544 a person, $4,934 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2013, $2,295 a person, $5,215 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2014, $1,950 a person, $5,517 at PPP, inflation 15.5%2015, $1,723 a person, $5,191 at PPP, inflation 17.1%2016, $1,912 a person, $5,011 at PPP, inflation 17.5%2017, $2,012 a person, $5,171 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2018, $2,195 a person, $5,536 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2019, $2,187 a person, $6,003 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2020, $2,195 a person, $6,047 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2021, $2,445 a person, $6,608 at PPP, inflation 10%2022, $2,230 a person, $7,207 at PPP, inflation 31.3%2023, $2,384 a person, $7,563 at PPP, inflation 38.1%2024, $2,419 a person, $8,051 at PPP, inflation 22.8%2025, $3,257 a person, $8,610 at PPP, inflation 14.2%$0$5.0K$10KInflation, % a year40%0200620102015202020252006, $906 a person, $3,103 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2007, $1,050 a person, $3,241 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2008, $1,183 a person, $3,516 at PPP, inflation 16.5%2009, $1,048 a person, $3,617 at PPP, inflation 19.2%2010, $1,264 a person, $3,855 at PPP, inflation 10.7%2011, $1,507 a person, $4,381 at PPP, inflation 8.7%2012, $1,544 a person, $4,934 at PPP, inflation 11.2%2013, $2,295 a person, $5,215 at PPP, inflation 11.7%2014, $1,950 a person, $5,517 at PPP, inflation 15.5%2015, $1,723 a person, $5,191 at PPP, inflation 17.1%2016, $1,912 a person, $5,011 at PPP, inflation 17.5%2017, $2,012 a person, $5,171 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2018, $2,195 a person, $5,536 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2019, $2,187 a person, $6,003 at PPP, inflation 7.1%2020, $2,195 a person, $6,047 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2021, $2,445 a person, $6,608 at PPP, inflation 10%2022, $2,230 a person, $7,207 at PPP, inflation 31.3%2023, $2,384 a person, $7,563 at PPP, inflation 38.1%2024, $2,419 a person, $8,051 at PPP, inflation 22.8%2025, $3,257 a person, $8,610 at PPP, inflation 14.2%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
65.7years, at birthLow
#167 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
56WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100LowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
41.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet

Fast home internet

Unemployment rate
3%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Home internet
51 Mbpsmedian download speedFastOokla Speedtest · 2025
English proficiency
540EF English Proficiency Index scoreModerateEF EPI · 2025

Internet speeds

Home internet51 MbpsFast

Ookla Speedtest Global Index, median download speed, ranked among the countries Ookla lists.

Vibrant aerial view of beach umbrellas and seating in Accra, Ghana.
How it changed

Ghana's Human Development Index

0.628Medium human development

143rd of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 17th of 54 in Africa.

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. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #141São Tomé and Príncipe0.637
  2. #142Timor-Leste0.634
  3. #143Ghana0.628
  4. #143Kenya0.628
  5. #145Nepal0.622
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1990

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.432 in 1990 to 0.628 in 2023.

0.400.530.650.62819902000201020231990: 0.4321991: 0.4381992: 0.4441993: 0.4501994: 0.4531995: 0.4591996: 0.4651997: 0.4691998: 0.4751999: 0.4802000: 0.4872001: 0.4862002: 0.4932003: 0.4952004: 0.5032005: 0.5152006: 0.5242007: 0.5342008: 0.5462009: 0.5512010: 0.5582011: 0.5682012: 0.5752013: 0.5822014: 0.5802015: 0.5882016: 0.5902017: 0.5942018: 0.6002019: 0.6092020: 0.6142021: 0.6182022: 0.6252023: 0.6280.400.530.6519902000201020231990: 0.4321991: 0.4381992: 0.4441993: 0.4501994: 0.4531995: 0.4591996: 0.4651997: 0.4691998: 0.4751999: 0.4802000: 0.4872001: 0.4862002: 0.4932003: 0.4952004: 0.5032005: 0.5152006: 0.5242007: 0.5342008: 0.5462009: 0.5512010: 0.5582011: 0.5682012: 0.5752013: 0.5822014: 0.5802015: 0.5882016: 0.5902017: 0.5942018: 0.6002019: 0.6092020: 0.6142021: 0.6182022: 0.6252023: 0.628

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 34 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
65.7 years2024at birthUp 6 years from 59.6 years in 2005
Internet users
72%2024of people onlineUp 69 points from 3% in 2006
Urban population
59%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 11 points from 48% in 2006
Births per woman
3.342024births per womanDown 1.16 from 4.50 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
39%2021of energy usedDown 23 points from 62% in 2004
Access to electricity
92%2024of people with electricityUp 51 points from 41% in 2005
Infant mortality
282024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 26 from 53 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.7 t2024of CO2 per person a yearUp 0.4 t from 0.3 t in 2005
Forest area
35%2023of land under forestDown 2 points from 37% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

West Africa's most stable democracy, with a growing tech scene and a welcoming culture. The case against is polluted air, low incomes and short lives.

About 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.

Practical facts

  • CapitalAccra
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyGhanaian cedi (GHS)
  • Area227,533 km²
  • Plug typeType G
  • Drives on theright
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Everything we hold on Ghana

Compare Ghana

Borders

Burkina FasoIvory CoastTogo

Side by side

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Quick answers

What is Ghana's Human Development Index?

Ghana's Human Development Index is 0.628 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #143 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Ghana safe?

Ghana scores 1.94 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #75 of 161 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.