Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (1999)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 18, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios [time series]

4.4 million (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is underway domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed international: satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

200,000 (1998 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

30,000 (yearend 1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

11 (1999)

Televisions [time series]

1.73 million (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.39 billion expenditures: $1.47 billion, including capital expenditures of $370 million (1996 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 new cedi (C) = 100 pesewas

Debt - external [time series]

$6 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$477.3 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 40% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. In 1995-97, Ghana made mixed progress under a three-year structural adjustment program in cooperation with the IMF. On the minus side, public sector wage increases and regional peacekeeping commitments have led to continued inflationary deficit financing, depreciation of the cedi, and rising public discontent with Ghana's austerity measures. A rebound in gold prices is likely to push growth over 5% in 2000-01.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.437 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports [time series]

400 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports [time series]

65 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.206 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates [time series]

new cedis per US$1 - 3,466.60 (December 1999), 2,647.32 (1999), 2,314.15 (1998), 2,050.17 (1997), 1,637.23 (1996), 1,200.43 (1995)

Exports [time series]

$1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Exports - commodities [time series]

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds

Exports - partners [time series]

Togo, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, US, France (1998)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $35.5 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 40% industry: 30% services: 30% (1999 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (1999 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

4.3% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 3.4% highest 10%: 27.3% (1992)

Imports [time series]

$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1999)

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

UK, Nigeria, US, Germany, Italy, Spain (1998)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4.2% (1996 est.)

Industries [time series]

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.8% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

4 million

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

31.4% (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

20% (1997 est.)

Area [time series]

total: 238,540 sq km land: 230,020 sq km water: 8,520 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Oregon

Climate [time series]

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Coastline [time series]

539 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

recent drought in north severely affecting agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake; northeasterly harmattan wind (January to March)

Irrigated land [time series]

60 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,093 km border countries: Burkina Faso 548 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 12% permanent crops: 7% permanent pastures: 22% forests and woodland: 35% other: 24% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: 200 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

dry, dusty, harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Natural resources [time series]

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Administrative divisions [time series]

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Capital [time series]

Accra

Constitution [time series]

new constitution approved 28 April 1992

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana conventional short form: Ghana former: Gold Coast

Data code [time series]

GH

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kathryn Dee ROBINSON embassy: Ring Road East, East of Danquah Circle, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] (21) 775348 FAX: [233] (21) 776008

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Kobena KOOMSON chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520 FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jerry John RAWLINGS (since 7 January 1993); Vice President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: Jerry John RAWLINGS reelected president; percent of vote - RAWLINGS 57.2%, John KUFUOR 39.8%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Government type [time series]

constitutional democracy

Independence [time series]

6 March 1957 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MINURSO, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOP, UNMOT, UNTAET, UNU, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (200 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 7 December 1996 (next to be held NA December 2000) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDC 133, NPP 61, PCP 5, PNC 1

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Peter Ala ADJETY]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and the banning of political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Police Force, Palace Guard, Civil Defense

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$53 million (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

0.7% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 4,739,526 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 2,629,954 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 196,549 (2000 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42% (male 4,120,240; female 4,063,960) 15-64 years: 55% (male 5,290,675; female 5,391,175) 65 years and over: 3% (male 318,890; female 348,620) (2000 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

29.81 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

black African 99.8% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%), European and other 0.2%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

57.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages [time series]

English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 57.42 years male: 56.07 years female: 58.82 years (2000 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 64.5% male: 75.9% female: 53.5% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate [time series]

-0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population [time series]

19,533,560 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.87% (2000 est.)

Religions [time series]

indigenous beliefs 38%, Muslim 30%, Christian 24%, other 8%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.95 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports [time series]

12 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 39,409 km paved: 11,653 km (including 30 km of expressways) unpaved: 27,756 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 13,484 GRT/18,583 DWT ships by type: petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 4 (1999 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

0 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Takoradi, Tema

Railways [time series]

total: 953 km (undergoing major rehabilitation) narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (32 km double track) (1997 est.)

Waterways [time series]

Volta, Ankobra, and Tano Rivers provide 168 km of perennial navigation for launches and lighters; Lake Volta provides 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways