Ghana is located in western Africa, bordering the Gulf of
Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. The climate varies between:
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and
humid in southwest; hot and dry in the north. Natural resources
include gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese,
fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone.
Natural hazards consist of dry and dusty northeastern winds which
occur from January to March and droughts. The government is a
constitutional democracy. Ghana gained their independence from the
United Kingdom on March 6, 1957. Ghana’s population is 23,832,495
which is ranked 47th worldwide. The official language is English
however many languages are spoken in Ghana: Asante 14.8%, Ewe
12.7%, Fante 9.9%, Boron (Brong) 4.6%, Dagomba 4.3%, Dangme 4.3%,
Dagarte (Dagaba) 3.7%, Akyem 3.4%, Ga 3.4%, and Akuapem 2.9%.
Primary Industries include cocoa, mining, lumbering, light
manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, and
small commercial ship building. As of 2007, 28.5% of Ghana’s
population is below the poverty line.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$34.2 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,500 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
Currency: 1 United States Dollar
= 1.43 Ghanaian Cedi (GHS)
Environment - current issues: The recurrent drought in north
severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction
threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate
supplies of potable water
Infant Mortality Rate
total: 51.09 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 50
male: 55.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth
total population: 59.85 years
country comparison to the world: 184
male: 58.98 years
female: 60.75 years (2009 est.)
Total Fertility Rate
3.68 children born/woman (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.9%
male: 66.4%
female: 49.8% (2000 census)
Unemployment Rate
11% (2000 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131