The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has announced that Ghana’s population is projected to exceed 50 million by 2050, marking a notable rise from 30.8 million in 2021.
As per the 2021 Population and Housing Census Thematic Report on Population Projections, the population is anticipated to grow by 1.7 times the size recorded in the 2021 census.
The report indicated that Greater Accra and Ashanti regions are projected to retain their status as the most populous, each reaching around 7.5 million people by 2050.
The Northern, Northeast, and Savannah regions are forecasted to have the highest growth rates, with their populations expected to double by 2050.
The report also emphasized notable demographic shifts, including a decrease in the youth population and a rise in the elderly population.
Urban areas are anticipated to undergo significant growth, with over half of the regions expected to be urbanized by 2030.
“By the end of the decade (2030), the population is expected to grow to 37.2 million persons, meaning that an estimated 711,706 additional persons, on average will be added to the population annually. The population residing in urban areas is projected to increase by 4.0 percentage points between 2021 and 2030: from 56.7 to 60.7 percent.”
“By 2030, more than half of the 16 regions are expected to be urban. Seven regions (Volta, Oti, Western North, North East, Upper West, Savannah and Upper East) will remain predominantly rural in 2030.”