Ghana Rate of Natural Increase

Ghana’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—has remained relatively high in recent years, with an RNI of about 2.1% per year as of 2023. This means Ghana’s population is growing at a moderate pace, primarily due to a high birth rate and a declining death rate. When compared to its neighbors, Ghana’s RNI is somewhat lower than that of Burkina Faso (around 2.7%) and Côte d’Ivoire (about 2.5%), but higher than Togo (approximately 2.0%). Nigeria, the most populous neighbor, has a similar RNI to Ghana at about 2.4%. These differences reflect variations in fertility rates, healthcare access, and socio-economic conditions across the region. While all these West African countries experience positive natural increase, Ghana’s RNI suggests a steady but slightly more controlled population growth compared to some of its immediate neighbors.

Data from US Census International Database