Ghana vs United States: Compare Statistics

Side-by-side comparison of 111 key metrics across economy, population, geography, and more — latest data through 2026.

Summary

In the comparison of Ghana and the United States, the United States leads in several key metrics including GDP and life expectancy. The United States boasts a GDP of $32.95 trillion compared to Ghana's $87.51 billion, and a life expectancy of 83.22 years versus Ghana's 68.98 years. However, Ghana excels in areas such as urbanization, with 3.89% of its land urbanized compared to 2.11% in the United States.

Economy

The United States dominates economically with a GDP of $32.95 trillion, far surpassing Ghana's $87.51 billion. In agriculture, the United States also leads with $350.60 billion in value added, compared to Ghana's $18.41 billion.

People and Society

The United States has a total population of 349.13 million, significantly larger than Ghana's 35.70 million. The median age in the United States is 38.79 years, while Ghana's is much younger at 21.53 years.

Environment

Ghana has a higher percentage of urbanized land at 3.89%, compared to 2.11% in the United States. Additionally, Ghana leads in above-ground biomass in forests with 96.64 tonnes/ha, slightly more than the United States at 94.67 tonnes/ha.

Communications

6 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Internet Usage Rate by Country (% of Population)69.94 %93.14 %
Internet Userspercent of population: 70% (2023 est.)percent of population: 93% (2023 est.)
Press Freedom Index Score67.13 points65.49 points
Radios12.5575
Televisions1.9219
Waterways1,29341,009

Economy

45 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Agriculture Value Added as a Share of GDP by Country18.41B $350.60B $
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by Country in Current US Dollars87.51B $32.95T $
Central Bank Discount Rate (%)20 %0.5 %
Coal Revenue00.2
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate (%)30.35 %4.1 %
Current Health Expenditure (% of GDP)3.5 % of GDP16.9 % of GDP
Ease of Doing Business Index6092
Electricity Consumption9.363.9
Electricity Exports1879.7
Electricity from Fossil Fuels5870
Electricity from Hydroelectric Plants427
Electricity from Nuclear Fuels09
Electricity from Other Renewables114
Electricity Imports51172.72
Electricity Installed Capacity3.81.09
Electricity Production12.524.1
Energy Consumption per Capita (USD)10.49 USD per capita278.47 USD per capita
Gini Index Coefficient43.541.8
Gross Fixed Investment25.112.9
Gross National Saving918.9
Industrial Production Growth Rate (%)7.1 %3.25 %
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)22.8 %2.9 %
Military Expenditures (% of GDP)0.4 % of GDP3.2 % of GDP
Natural Gas Consumption1.23767.6
Natural Gas Exports089.7
Natural Gas Imports317.486.15
Natural Gas Production914.4772.8
Natural Gas Proved Reserves22.650
Oil Consumption60,00019.15
Oil Exports5,7521.92
Oil Imports68,83010.27
Oil Production8,8809.69
Oil Proved Reserves66020.68
Population Below Poverty Line23.4 people15.1 people
Public Debt73.4114.8
Real GDP Growth Rate (USD)5.7 USD2.8 USD
Refined Petroleum Products Consumption90,00019.96
Refined Petroleum Products Exports2,6545.22
Refined Petroleum Products Imports85,1102.18
Refined Petroleum Products Production2,07320.3
Remittances30
Revenue from Forest Resources3.510.04
Share of population in poverty ($3 a day)39.031.25
Taxes and Other Revenues12.310.6
Unemployment Rate3.1 %4.2 %

Environment

7 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Annual CO₂ Emissions Growth (abs)886,226-14.29M
Carbon Dioxide Emissions20.824.8
Contiguous Zone2412
Continental Shelf200not specified;
Population Distributionpopulation is concentrated in the southern half of the country, with the highest concentrations on or near the Atlantic coast, as shown in this population distribution maplarge urban clusters are spread throughout the eastern half of the US (particularly the Great Lakes area, northeast, east, and southeast) and the western-tier states; mountainous areas such as the Rocky Mountains and Appalachians, deserts in the southwest
Total Renewable Groundwater Resources by Country26.3 Cubic meters per year1,383 Cubic meters per year
Total Renewable Water Resources56.23.07

Geography

6 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Percentage of land area by degree of urbanization3.89 %2.11 %
Above-Ground Biomass in Forest (tonnes/ha)96.6494.67
Agricultural land130,393.8 sq. km4.17M sq. km
Coastline Length (km)539 km19,924 km
Dam capacity per capita4,109.2 cubic meters per inhabitant2,113 cubic meters per inhabitant
Irrigated Land360234,782

Government

4 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Rule of Law Index by Country47.28 %88.3 %
Administrative Divisions1650
Independence64
Suffrage Participation Rate1818

Health

9 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Diabetes Prevalence (% of Population)2.713.7
Health Expenditure (% of GDP)4.2 % of GDP16.6 % of GDP
HIV/AIDS Adult Prevalence Rate1.7 %NA
Hospital Bed Density0.7 people/sq km2.7 people/sq km
Maternal Mortality Ratio (%)234 %17 %
Mean Age at First Birth22.127.5
Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate (%)10.9 %36.2 %
People Living With HIV/AIDS350,000NA
Underweight Children Under 5120.4

Military and Security

1 metric
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Total Armed Forces Personnel (PPP)16,0001.40M

People and Society

29 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Currently married (Percent)51.09 %51.38 %
Human Capital Index0.470.72
Life expectancy at birth68.98 years83.22 years
Median age of population21.53 years38.79 years
Population Change642,359.5 persons2.26M persons
Population density156.9 per sq. km38.15 per sq. km
Total population35.70M persons349.13M persons
Academic Freedom Index0.670.4
Birth Rate (%)27.09 %10.75 %
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate27.2 %73.9 %
Death Rate (%)5.73 %8.76 %
Education Expenditure (% of GDP)2.9 % of GDP5.4 % of GDP
Female population of reproductive age9.17M persons78.56M persons
Labor Force Participation Rate13.93174.17
Learning-adjusted years of school6.47 years11.07 years
Length of paid parental leave for mother0 days183.4 days
Major Urban Areas Population3.77 people18.94 people
Mean Male Height (cm)168.85177.13
Military Manpower at Military Age1818
Military Service Age and Obligation1817
Percentage of population by degree of urbanization78.01 %74.52 %
Physician Density0.27 people/sq km3.68 people/sq km
Population Growth Rate2.12 %0.45 %
Population living in slums31.27 %0.05 %
Total deaths243,382.4 persons2.87M persons
Total demand for family planning (Percent)45.1 %65.73 %
Total fertility rate3.25 per woman1.61 per woman
Total net-migration-16,716.9 persons1.49M persons
Under-five mortality rate37.98 per live births5.52 per live births

Transportation

4 metrics
Metric🇬🇭 Ghana🇺🇸 United StatesShare
Air Travel Trips Per Capita (PPP)0.052.06
Airports1116,116
Civil Air Travel88,252
Heliports78,130

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