Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy Prime minister: Kenny Anthony
Population
24,652,402
162,178
Life Expectancy
61.450 years
77.040 years
Capital City
Accra
Largest city
Accra (population: 1,963,260)
Bisee (population: 12,980)
Human Development Index
0.533
0.821
GDP per capita
$3,100 US
Literacy Rate
57.9%
90.1%
Corruption Perception Index
3.9
7.1
Percentage of Women in Parliament
10.9%
17.2%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
11.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Legal
Political System
constitutional democracy
parliamentary democracy
Independence date
6 March 1957 (from UK)
Religions
Christian 68.8% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 24.1%, Protestant 18.6%, Catholic 15.1%, other 11%), Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1% (2000 census)
Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages
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%, Akuapem 2.9%, other 36.1% (includes English (official)) (2000 census)
cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.1 (2008 est.), 0.95 (2007), 9,174.8 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6 (2004) note: in 2007 Ghana revalued its currency with 10,000 old cedis equal to 1 new cedis
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
238,533 km sq
616 km sq
Coastline
539 km
158 km
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
