President: Tony Tan Prime minister: Lee Hsien Loong
Interim President: John Dramani Mahama
Population
5,353,494
24,652,402
Life Expectancy
83.750 years
61.450 years
Capital City
Singapore
Accra
Largest city
Singapore (population: 3,547,810)
Accra (population: 1,963,260)
Human Development Index
0.918
0.533
GDP per capita
$60,500 US
$3,100 US
Literacy Rate
92.5%
57.9%
Corruption Perception Index
9.2
3.9
Percentage of Women in Parliament
24.5%
10.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Ng Teng Fong & family ($5.5bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
2.000%
11.000%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary republic
constitutional democracy
Independence date
9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)
6 March 1957 (from UK)
Religions
Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)
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)
Languages
Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)
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)
Exports
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, mineral fuels
Singapore dollars (SGD) per US dollar - 1.415 (2008 est.), 1.507 (2007), 1.5889 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004)
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
4.900%
1.700%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia
Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo
Area
697 km sq
238,533 km sq
Coastline
193 km
539 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon (June to September); inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms
tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north
