Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor Prime minister: Ralph Gonsalves
Population
24,652,402
103,537
Life Expectancy
61.450 years
74.390 years
Capital City
Accra
Largest city
Accra (population: 1,963,260)
Kingstown (population: 24,518)
Human Development Index
0.533
0.766
GDP per capita
$3,100 US
Literacy Rate
57.9%
96%
Corruption Perception Index
3.9
6.5
Percentage of Women in Parliament
10.9%
18.2%
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)
Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
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, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Area
238,533 km sq
389 km sq
Coastline
539 km
84 km
Climate
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
