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Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state-owned TV station, 2 state-owned radio networks; several privately owned TV stations and a large number of privately owned radio stations; transmissions of multiple international broadcasters are accessible; several cable and satellite TV subscription services are obtainable (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.gh

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

59,086 (2012) country comparison to the world: 93

Internet users [time series]

1.297 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 93

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed; outdated and unreliable fixed-line infrastructure heavily concentrated in Accra domestic: competition among multiple mobile-cellular providers has spurred growth with a subscribership of more than 80 per 100 persons and rising international: country code - 233; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC, Main One, and GLO-1 fiber-optic submarine cables that provide connectivity to South Africa, Europe, and Asia; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors (2009)

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

285,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 120

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

25.618 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 42

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $9.282 billion expenditures: $14.13 billion (2012 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-12.2% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Central bank discount rate [time series]

18% (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 8 17% (31 December 2008)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

22.8% (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 25 18.2% (31 December 2011 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

$-4.778 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 163 $-3.504 billion (2011 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$12.64 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 $11.29 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

39.4 (2005-06) country comparison to the world: 65 40.7 (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Ghana's economy has been strengthened by a quarter century of relatively sound management, a competitive business environment, and sustained reductions in poverty levels. Ghana is well-endowed with natural resources and agriculture accounts for roughly one-quarter of GDP and employs more than half of the workforce, mainly small landholders. The services sector accounts for 50% of GDP. Gold and cocoa production and individual remittances are major sources of foreign exchange. Oil production at Ghana's offshore Jubilee field began in mid-December, 2010, and is expected to boost economic growth. President MAHAMA faces challenges in managing new oil revenue while maintaining fiscal discipline and resisting debt accumulation. Estimated oil reserves have jumped to almost 700 million barrels. Ghana signed a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural sector. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002, and is also benefiting from the Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative that took effect in 2006. In 2009, Ghana signed a three-year Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF to improve macroeconomic stability, private sector competitiveness, human resource development, and good governance and civic responsibility. Sound macro-economic management along with higher prices for oil, gold and, cocoa helped sustain high GDP growth in 2008-12, despite the general slowdown in the global economy during that same time period.

Exchange rates [time series]

cedis (GHC) per US dollar - 1.8 (2012 est.) 1.51 (2011 est.) 1.43 (2010 est.) 1.41 (2009) 1.1 (2008)

Exports [time series]

$13.54 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 82 $12.79 billion (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

oil, gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, horticultural products

Exports - partners [time series]

France 13.6%, Italy 12.4%, Netherlands 8.9%, China 7.4%, Germany 4.3% (2012)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$39.89 billion (2012 est.)

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

$82.65 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $76.59 billion (2011 est.) $66.6 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

household consumption: 60.9% government consumption: 13.6% investment in fixed capital: 29% investment in inventories: 6.9% exports of goods and services: 45.9% imports of goods and services: -56.2% (2011)

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

agriculture: 22.7% industry: 27.3% services: 50% (2012 est.)

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

$3,300 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 173 $3,200 (2011 est.) $2,800 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars

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

7.9% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 21 15% (2011 est.) 8% (2010 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

17.9% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 17.5% of GDP (2011 est.) 17.2% of GDP (2010 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2% highest 10%: 32.8% (2006)

Imports [time series]

$17.76 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $15.84 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners [time series]

China 25.6%, Nigeria 11%, US 7%, Netherlands 6.2%, Singapore 4.5%, UK 4.1%, India 4% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 34

Industries [time series]

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 194 8.7% (2011 est.)

Labor force [time series]

11.79 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 45

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 56% industry: 15% services: 29% (2005 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$3.097 billion (31 December 2011) country comparison to the world: 91 $3.531 billion (31 December 2010) $2.508 billion (31 December 2009)

Population below poverty line [time series]

28.5% (2007 est.)

Public debt [time series]

50% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 66 41.8% of GDP (2011 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$5.705 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $5.805 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$11.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $11.79 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$12.56 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $10.6 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$6.153 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 92 $5.925 billion (31 December 2011 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

23.3% of GDP (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Unemployment rate [time series]

11% (2000 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

9.005 million Mt (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Crude oil - imports [time series]

32,060 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Crude oil - production [time series]

79,630 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 53

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

660 million bbl (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 45

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.311 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - exports [time series]

1.036 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

40.6% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

59.4% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 177

Electricity - imports [time series]

106 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

1.985 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 103

Electricity - production [time series]

8.213 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

120 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Natural gas - imports [time series]

830 million cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - production [time series]

50 million cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es) country comparison to the world: 75

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

61,590 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 92

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

9,977 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

37,240 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

22,130 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 93

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 238,533 sq km country comparison to the world: 82 land: 227,533 sq km water: 11,000 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 885 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

recurrent drought in north severely affects 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.98 cu km/yr (24%/10%/66%) per capita: 48.82 cu m/yr (2000)

Geographic coordinates [time series]

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Geography - note [time series]

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake by surface area (8,482 sq km; 3,275 sq mi)

Irrigated land [time series]

309 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,094 km border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 20.12% permanent crops: 11.74% other: 68.14% (2011)

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]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Terrain [time series]

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Total renewable water resources [time series]

53.2 cu km (2011)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

name: Accra geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

several previous; latest drafted 31 March 1992, approved and promulgated 28 April 1992, entered into force 7 January 1993; amended 1996 (2012)

Country name [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gene A. CRETZ (since 11 September 2012) embassy: 24 Fourth Circular Rd., Cantonments, Accra mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra telephone: [233] 30-2741-000 FAX: [233] 30-2741-389

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel Ohene AGYEKUM (since 7 December 2009) 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 John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012); note - President MAHAMA assumed office due to the death of former president John Atta MILLS and subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election; the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 24 July 2012); Vice President Kwesi Bekoe AMISSAH-ARTHUR (since 6 August 2012); note - President MAHAMA assumed office due to the death of former president John Atta MILLS and subsequently won the December 2012 presidential election cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term); election last held on 7 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016) election results: John Dramani MAHAMA elected president; percent of vote - John Dramani MAHAMA 50.7%, Nana Addo Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 47.7%, other 1.6%

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; red symbolizes the blood shed for independence, yellow represents the country's mineral wealth, while green stands for its forests and natural wealth; the black star is said to be the lodestar of African freedom note: 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 the UK)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 12 justices) judge selection and term of office: chief justice appointed by the president in consultation with the Council of State (a small advisory body of prominent citizens) and with the approval of Parliament; other justices appointed by the president upon the advice of the Judicial Council (an 18-member independent body of judicial, military and police officials, and presidential nominees) and on the advice of the Council of State; justices can retire at age 60, with compulsory retirement at age 70 subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Circuit Court; District Court; regional tribunals

Legal system [time series]

mixed system of English common law and customary law

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Parliament (275 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote in single-seat constituencies to serve four-year terms) elections: last held on 7 and 8 December 2012 (next to be held in December 2016) election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 47.5%, NDC 46.4%, PNC 0.6%, independent 2.5%, other 3.0%; seats by party - NDC 151, NPP 120, PNC 1, independent 3

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

name: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana"

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

National symbol(s) [time series]

black star; golden eagle

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

Convention People's Party or CPP [Samia NKRUMAH] Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Obed Yao ASAMOAH] Democratic People’s Party or DPP [T.N. WARD BREW] Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Henry GIDI] Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [vacant] National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Kwabena ADJEI] National Democratic Party or NDP [Nii Armah JOSIAH-AYEH] New Patriotic Party or NPP [Jake OBETSEBI-LAMPEY] People's National Convention or PNC [Alhaji Amed RAMADAN] National Reform Party [Peter KPORDUGBE] United Renaissance Party or URP [Kofi WAYO]

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

Christian Aid (water rights) Committee for Joint Action or CJA (education reform) National Coalition Against the Privatization of Water or CAP (water rights) Oxfam (water rights) Public Citizen (water rights) Students Coalition Against EPA [Kwabena Ososukene OKAI] (education reform) Third World Network (education reform)

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

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 sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996 but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS took over as head of state in early 2009, but he died in July 2012 and was succeeded by his vice president John Dramani MAHAMA, who subsequently won a December 2012 special presidential election.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 6,268,191 females age 16-49: 6,194,339 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 4,136,406 females age 16-49: 4,220,761 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 267,896 female: 260,992 (2010 est.)

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

Ghana Army, Ghana Navy, Ghana Air Force (2012)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.7% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 87

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18-26 years of age for voluntary military service, with basic education certificate; no conscription; must be HIV/AIDS negative (2012)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 4,902,094/female 4,858,630) 15-24 years: 18.8% (male 2,360,293/female 2,382,573) 25-54 years: 33.7% (male 4,120,921/female 4,363,889) 55-64 years: 4.7% (male 577,431/female 610,716) 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 476,297/female 546,765) (2013 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

31.7 births/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Child labor - children ages 5-14 [time series]

total number: 1,806,750 percentage: 34 % (2006 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

14.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 54

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

23.5% (2008)

Death rate [time series]

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Dependency ratios [time series]

total dependency ratio: 72.2 % youth dependency ratio: 66.2 % elderly dependency ratio: 6 % potential support ratio: 16.7 (2013)

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 91% of population rural: 80% of population total: 86% of population unimproved: urban: 9% of population rural: 20% of population total: 14% of population (2010 est.)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

8.2% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 12

Ethnic groups [time series]

Akan 47.5%, Mole-Dagbon 16.6%, Ewe 13.9%, Ga-Dangme 7.4%, Gurma 5.7%, Guan 3.7%, Grusi 2.5%, Mande-Busanga 1.1%, other 1.6% (2010 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.8% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 32

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

18,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 16

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

260,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 23

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

4.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 147

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 39.7 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 59 male: 43.8 deaths/1,000 live births female: 35.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)

Languages [time series]

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 (includes English (official)) 36.1% (2000 census)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 65.32 years country comparison to the world: 172 male: 62.99 years female: 67.71 years (2013 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 71.5% male: 78.3% female: 65.3% (2010 est.)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever water contact disease: schistosomiasis respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis animal contact disease: rabies note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)

Major urban areas - population [time series]

ACCRA (capital) 2.269 million; Kumasi 1.773 million (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

350 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 31

Median age [time series]

total: 20.7 years male: 20.3 years female: 21.2 years (2013 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

21.8 note: Median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2008 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Ghanaian(s) adjective: Ghanaian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 167

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

7.5% (2008) country comparison to the world: 140

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.09 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

Population [time series]

25,199,609 (July 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 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, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected

Population growth rate [time series]

2.19% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Religions [time series]

Christian 71.2% (Pentecostal/Charismatic 28.3%, Protestant 18.4%, Catholic 13.1%, other 11.4%), Muslim 17.6%, traditional 5.2%, other 0.8%, none 5.2% (2010 census)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 19% of population rural: 8% of population total: 14% of population unimproved: urban: 81% of population rural: 92% of population total: 86% of population (2010 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 12 years male: 12 years female: 11 years (2012)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2013 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.12 children born/woman (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 16.6% country comparison to the world: 80 male: 16.4% female: 16.7% (2000)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 51.9% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.5% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

disputed maritime border between Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money laundering center; significant domestic cocaine and cannabis use

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 5,156 (Liberia) (2012); 8,532 (Cote d'Ivoire; flight from 2010 post-election fighting) (2013)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

10 (2013) country comparison to the world: 156

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2013)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 4 country comparison to the world: 131 by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3 foreign-owned: 2 (Brazil 1, South Korea 1) (2010)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 394 km; oil 20 km; refined products 361 km (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Takoradi, Tema

Railways [time series]

total: 947 km country comparison to the world: 91 narrow gauge: 947 km 1.067-m gauge (2008)

Roadways [time series]

total: 109,515 km country comparison to the world: 43 paved: 13,787 km unpaved: 95,728 km (2009)

Waterways [time series]

1,293 km (168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta) (2011) country comparison to the world: 57