The Human Truth Foundation

Ghana (Republic of Ghana)

https://www.humantruth.info/ghana.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#ghana

Ghana
Republic of Ghana
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index108th best
CapitalAccra
Land Area 227 540km21
LocationAfrica
Population29.8m2
Life Expectancy63.80yrs (2017)3
GNI$5 745 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesGH, GHA, 2885
Internet Domain.gh6
CurrencyCedi (GHC)7
Telephone+2338

1. Overview

#ghana #UK

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.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverHailed as West Africa´s golden child, Ghana, a historic land boasting a depth of culture and diverse natural attractions, deserves its place in the sun. One of Africa´s great success stories, Ghana is reaping the benefits of a stable democracy in the form of fast-paced development. And it shows: Ghana is suffused with the most incredible energy.

Ghana has the signature African attractions of beautiful beaches and herds of elephants in its fine national parks, plus drawcards like hiking, partying and cultural tours. With its welcoming beaches, gorgeous hinterland, rich culture, vibrant cities, diverse wildlife, easy transport and affable inhabitants, it´s no wonder Ghana is sometimes labelled "Africa for beginners".

But this is only half the story. No trip can be complete without a visit to Ghana's coastal slave forts, poignant reminders of a page of history that defined our modern world.

Travel north and you´ll feel like you´ve arrived in a different country, with a different religion, geography and cultural practices. The beauty is that this diversity exists so harmoniously, a joy to experience and a wonder to behold in uncertain times.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Ghana National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
130Tuvalu0.641
131Marshall Islands0.639
132India0.633
133Ghana0.632
134Micronesia0.628
135Guatemala0.627
136Kiribati0.624
137Honduras0.621
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
129Tuvalu$6 351
130Belize$6 309
131Cape Verde$6 230
132Ghana$5 745
133Nicaragua$5 625
134Bangladesh$5 472
135Angola$5 466
136Samoa$5 308
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
105Belize90.1
106Kazakhstan90.7
107Bahrain91.1
108Ghana92.5
109Guatemala93.7
110Palau93.7
111Kyrgyzstan94.3
112Botswana94.5
Africa Avg119.0
World Avg88.6
q=199.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Ghana's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Ghana's population is predicted to rise to 36.54 million by 2030. These millions of extra people will all need space to live, food to eat, energy to consume, and will increase the burden on the planet's resources. This country has a fertility rate of 3.51. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
43Peru32.0m
44Malaysia31.5m
45Angola30.8m
46Ghana29.8m
47Mozambique29.5m
48Venezuela28.9m
49Yemen28.5m
50Nepal28.1m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
152Tuvalu64.5
153Madagascar64.5
154Mauritania64.4
155Ghana63.8
156Yemen63.8
157Bolivia63.6
158Nauru63.6
159Congo, (Brazzaville)63.5
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
164Iraq3.45
165Gabon3.46
166Nauru3.46
167Ghana3.51
168Vanuatu3.70
169Yemen3.72
170Rwanda3.75
171Sao Tome & Principe3.75
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
35Mozambique06.4
36=Madagascar06.4
36=Papua New Guinea06.4
38Ghana06.5
39=Palestine06.5
40Ethiopia06.6
41=Swaziland06.6
42Central African Rep.06.8
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
139Senegal1.7%
140Comoros1.5%
141Fiji1.5%
142Ghana1.4%
143Niger1.4%
144Yemen1.4%
145Bolivia1.3%
146Tuvalu1.3%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
134Canada3.5%
135Algeria3.4%
136Sweden3.4%
137Ghana3.4%
138Nepal3.3%
139Bangladesh3.3%
140Botswana3.2%
141Spain3.0%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#antisemitism #christianity #equality #freedom #gender_equality #Ghana #ghana_antisemitism #human_rights #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
103Sri Lanka89.6
104Thailand90.0
105Guyana90.6
106Ghana92.3
107India93.0
108Nicaragua93.2
Africa Avg110.04
World Avg86.55
q=199.
Ghana is generally poor at ensuring human rights and freedom compared to the rest of the world. Ghana comes in the best 20 for its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice19 (amongst the best in Africa). It does better than average for supporting press freedom20, its average Freedom in the World rating, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms21 (one of the lowest in Africa) and in its nominal commitment to Human Rights22. But, things still need to improve in Ghana. Ghana does worse than average when it comes to eliminating modern slavery23 (still low for Africa), freethought24, opposing gender inequality25 (still low for Africa) and in LGBT equality26. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators)27. Homosexuality is illegal, and even in 2021, new and harsher legal measures were going through government, including imprisonment of ten years for promoting LGBT tolerance28, coming after a push by a coalition of conservative Christian and Islamic organisations.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Ghana's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #ghana #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Tunisia69.2
2Mauritius69.2
3Seychelles84.8
...
13Lesotho131.8
14Rwanda134.4
15Sao Tome & Principe134.9
16Ghana135.9
17Mauritania140.8
18Comoros141.5
19Namibia141.7
20Gambia141.9
21Gabon142.7
Africa Avg111.13
q=54.
Health (2025)29
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank29
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
167Rwanda134.4
168Sao Tome & Principe134.9
169Laos135.6
170Ghana135.9
171Iraq139.7
172Mauritania140.8
173Comoros141.5
174Namibia141.7
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man30. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria30.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans30, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia30.

For more, see:

Health:

Ghana is a pretty unhealthy country. Ghana does better than average in terms of its smoking rate31 and in its alcohol consumption rate32. However Ghana performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average in its immunizations take-up33 (still high for Africa), its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance34, its adolescent birth rate35 (still low for Africa), its average life expectancy11 (still good for Africa) and in its fertility rate14 (still low for Africa). The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Ghana improved by +9.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, better than the global average of +7.9yrs. Ghana's peak fertility rate was 6.98 in 1963.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
152Tuvalu64.5
153Madagascar64.5
154Mauritania64.4
155Ghana63.8
156Yemen63.8
157Bolivia63.6
158Nauru63.6
159Congo, (Brazzaville)63.5
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
Per Capita32
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
50=Guatemala2.5
51Congo, DR2.6
52=Uzbekistan2.7
52=Ghana2.7
52=Maldives2.7
55Ethiopia2.9
56=Fiji3.0
56=Benin3.0
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
164Iraq3.45
165Gabon3.46
166Nauru3.46
167Ghana3.51
168Vanuatu3.70
169Yemen3.72
170Rwanda3.75
171Sao Tome & Principe3.75
Africa Avg3.97
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
31
Pos.201431
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
26Haiti 114
27Peru 116
28Somalia 117
29Ghana 121
30Benin 122
31Zimbabwe 134
32Mauritania 135
33Bhutan 155
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
136Madagascar136
137Congo, (Brazzaville)137
138Albania138
139Ghana139
140Chad140
141Rwanda141
142Mali142
143Niger143
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
36
Pos.2016
%36
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
49Ivory Coast31.6
50Singapore31.8
51Gambia31.9
52Ghana32.0
53=China32.3
53=Mauritius32.3
55N. Korea32.4
56Thailand32.6
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
35
Pos.2022
Per 100035
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
146Vanuatu63.2
147Dominican Rep.63.2
148Nepal63.4
149Ghana63.4
150Eritrea63.6
151Senegal64.6
152Guyana64.6
153Ethiopia66.5
Africa Avg84.6
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
107Azerbaijan92.2
108=Australia92.1
108=Barbados92.1
110Ghana91.7
111=Lesotho91.7
112Malawi91.7
113Mexico91.6
114Moldova91.5
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Ghana's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #energy #environmentalism #food #ghana #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #sustainability #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Morocco46.5
2Burundi47.8
3Mali51.0
...
7Uganda57.8
8Kenya57.9
9Mauritius58.1
10Ghana58.6
11Tunisia60.1
12Niger61.3
13Tanzania61.6
14Ethiopia61.7
15Cameroon62.6
Africa Avg80.07
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)37
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank37
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
22Portugal58.0
23Mauritius58.1
24Germany58.2
25Ghana58.6
26Thailand59.5
27Spain59.5
28Austria59.6
29Tunisia60.1
World Avg84.93
q=199.

All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Ghana is 25th in the world. This rank is calculated from 7 data sets. Ghana does better than average in terms of its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, reducing annual meat consumption per person38, energy to GDP efficiency39 and in the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population40. Ghana doesn't do so well in other areas. Ghana does worse than average for its environmental performance41 (still good for Africa) and in its forested percent change 2000-202042. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to its score on the Green Future Index43 (one of the worst in Africa).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
42
Pos.Total42
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
193Senegal-9.1%
194Indonesia-9.2%
195Ecuador-9.2%
196Ghana-9.7%
197Brazil-10.1%
198Guinea-11.0%
199Mozambique-11.1%
200Sao Tome & Principe-11.1%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2010, Ghana destroyed 10% of its forest cover, falling from 8849 thousand hectares, to 7943. Thankfully from 2010 to 2020, it halted this demise.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
41
Pos.201841
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
121Thailand49.9
122Micronesia49.8
123Libya49.8
124Ghana49.7
125Timor-Leste (E. Timor)49.5
126Senegal49.5
127Malawi49.2
128Guyana47.9
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better39
Pos.2022
Avg39
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
48Comoros0.81
49Costa Rica0.81
50Latvia0.81
51Ghana0.83
52Colombia0.83
53Lithuania0.83
54Italy0.84
55Mali0.86
Africa Avg0.83
World Avg1.23
q=165.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
38Uzbekistan69%
39India69%
40Paraguay69%
41Ghana68%
42Luxembourg68%
43Netherlands68%
44Kenya68%
45Senegal67%
Africa Avg56.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better40
Pos.2011
%40
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
64India41.2%
65Canada41.2%
66Serbia41.1%
67Ghana40.4%
68Moldova40.4%
69Cameroon39.0%
70Uganda38.6%
71Sierra Leone38.6%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
38
Pos.2021
kg38
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
42=Angola20.0
43S. Sudan20.2
44Liberia20.3
45Ghana20.9
46Haiti21.6
47Lesotho21.7
48Thailand26.0
49Swaziland27.1
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.
Green Future Index
Higher is better
43
Pos.2023
Score43
1Iceland6.7
2Finland6.7
3Norway6.4
...
62Peru4.0
63Turkey3.8
64Cameroon3.8
65Ghana3.8
66Uganda3.7
67Pakistan3.7
68Malaysia3.7
69=Guatemala3.6
Africa Avg4.0
World Avg4.8
q=76.

7. Ghana's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #charity #corruption #economics #education #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #modernity #morals #peace #politics #poverty #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #research #science #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)44
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank44
1S. Africa56.9
2Tunisia70.8
3=Mauritius79.6
...
10Algeria100.2
11Gabon108.2
12Uganda109.8
13Ghana110.3
14Nigeria111.1
15Zimbabwe111.6
16Cape Verde113.3
17Namibia113.4
18Cameroon114.2
Africa Avg120.19
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)44
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank44
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
122Gabon108.2
123El Salvador109.2
124Uganda109.8
125Ghana110.3
126Nigeria111.1
127Marshall Islands111.1
128Zimbabwe111.6
129Cape Verde113.3
World Avg86.31
q=190.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are Finland, Belgium and Denmark45. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone45. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots46.

Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.

Bill Emmott (2017)47

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe45, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia45.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2948
2Israel4.1148
3Japan3.5848
...
71=Romania0.3848
71=Montenegro0.3849
71=Chile0.3848
71=Ghana0.3850
75Moldova0.3549
76Ecuador0.3451
77Bosnia & Herzegovina0.3349
78Iran0.3150
Africa Avg0.36
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
52
Pos.201852
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
86Argentina64.8%
87Greece64.8%
88Guyana63.3%
89Ghana63.1%
90Peru62.2%
91Palestine61.1%
92Suriname60.5%
93Mexico59.7%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
53
Pos.2021
Years53
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
134Angola12.2
135Zimbabwe12.1
136Iraq12.1
137Ghana12.0
138Lesotho12.0
139Namibia11.9
140Comoros11.9
141India11.9
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
60Egypt60
61Japan61
62Malta62
63Ghana63
64Samoa64
65Jordan65
66Namibia66
67India67
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity
Lower is better
54
Pos.2018
%54
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
86=Nigeria88
86=Nicaragua88
88Djibouti89
89=Ghana89
89=Guatemala89
91Honduras90
92=Cameroon90
92=Rwanda90
Africa Avg87.0
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better55
Pos.200655
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
108=S. Africa72
109Zambia71
110=Jamaica71
110=Ghana71
112Namibia70
113=Togo70
113=Botswana70
113=Rwanda70
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
56
Pos.201656
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
133Syria30%
134Sri Lanka29%
135Samoa29%
136Ghana28%
137Swaziland28%
138Guatemala27%
139Sudan26%
140Sao Tome & Principe26%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
57
Pos.2017
Ratio57
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
100=Nigeria0.0
100=Uzbekistan0.0
100=Colombia0.0
100=Ghana0.0
100=Yemen0.0
100=Laos0.0
100=Malta0.0
100=Turkmenistan0.0
Africa Avg0.04
World Avg3.82
q=176.
Digital Quality of Life
Higher is better
58
Pos.202458
1Germany77.9%
2Finland76.9%
3France73.9%
...
85Jamaica38.9%
86Bosnia & Herzegovina38.8%
87Trinidad & Tobago38.1%
88Ghana37.9%
89Kenya37.4%
90Sri Lanka36.3%
91Angola34.9%
92Mongolia34.6%
Africa Avg32.3%
World Avg48.4%
q=121.

National Culture:

World Giving Index
Higher is better
59
Pos.2022
%59
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
47=Iran43.0
47=Kosovo43.0
47=Bolivia43.0
47=Ghana43.0
51Sweden42.0
52=Colombia42.0
52=China42.0
52=Ecuador42.0
Africa Avg38.2
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
60
Pos.2022
Points60
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
73S. Africa43.0
74=Bulgaria43.0
74=Benin43.0
74=Ghana43.0
77Timor-Leste (E. Timor)42.0
78=Vietnam42.0
78=Trinidad & Tobago42.0
78=Burkina Faso42.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.
Happiness
Higher is better
61
Pos.2024
Score61
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
122Somalia4.3
123Mali4.3
124Cambodia4.3
125Ghana4.3
126Myanmar (Burma)4.3
127Togo4.3
128Jordan4.3
129Liberia4.3
Africa Avg4.42
World Avg5.58
q=147.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
101Russia101
102Vietnam102
103Armenia103
104Ghana104
105Bahrain105
106Ecuador106
107Uganda107
108Lesotho108
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
104Dominica104
105Iceland105
106Bolivia106
107Ghana107
108Mexico108
109Thailand109
110Ecuador110
111Malawi111
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
62
Pos.2023
Score62
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
48Oman1.79
49Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.80
50Uruguay1.80
51Ghana1.80
52Senegal1.83
53Indonesia1.83
54Argentina1.84
55Madagascar1.85
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
63Kenya63
64Denmark64
65Austria65
66Ghana66
67Sweden67
68Congo, (Brazzaville)68
69Bulgaria69
70Zimbabwe70
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
34
Pos.2017
Rank34
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
90Cameroon90
91Venezuela91
92Belarus92
93Ghana93
94Qatar94
95Peru95
96Gabon96
97Russia97
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
63
Pos.2019
Score63
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
62Papua New Guinea1.36
63Bosnia & Herzegovina1.39
64Kyrgyzstan1.47
65Ghana1.56
66Kazakhstan1.57
67Austria1.66
68Argentina1.68
69Madagascar1.96
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better64
Pos.201964
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
144Djibouti23.40
145Papua New Guinea24.10
146=Zimbabwe24.20
146=Ghana24.20
148Kiribati24.70
149=Yemen24.70
150Ethiopia24.90
151=Swaziland25.10
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
65
Pos.2023
%65
1Slovakia24.1%66
2Slovenia24.3%66
3Belarus24.4%67
...
135Uganda42.7%68
136=Central African Rep.43.0%66
136=Chile43.0%69
138Ghana43.5%70
139=Mexico43.5%69
140St Lucia43.7%71
141=Rwanda43.7%70
142Grenada43.8%72
Africa Avg40.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Ghana - only for 7 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
73
Pos.2018
Severity73
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
53India.123
54Guatemala.134
55Zimbabwe.137
56Ghana.138
57Lesotho.146
58Nepal.148
59Cambodia.170
60Namibia.171
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

8. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #Ghana #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religion_in_ghana #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)54
Pos.Lower is better
%54
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
86=Nigeria88
86=Nicaragua88
88Djibouti89
89=Ghana89
89=Guatemala89
91Honduras90
92=Cameroon90
92=Rwanda90
92=Liberia90
95Morocco91
96=Guinea-Bissau91
96=Philippines91
96=Zambia91
99Afghanistan92
100=Burkina Faso93
100=Tanzania93
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)74
Pos.Higher is better
%74
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
108=Haiti0
108=Iraq0
108=Guinea0
108=Ghana0
108=Jordan0
108=Gambia0
108=Kenya0
108=Ethiopia0
108=Afghanistan0
108=Egypt0
108=Liberia0
108=Libya0
108=Ivory Coast0
108=Pakistan0
108=Niger0
108=Saudi Arabia0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below75:

Christian74.9%
Muslim15.8%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion4.9%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated4.2%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: 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)76.

Freedom of Religion and Belief: Ghana's Constitution protects "freedom of thought, conscience and belief", protects religious freedom, and prohibits discrimination based on religion.28. However, the State itself causes some indirect discrimination by directly funding and supporting specific Christian and Muslim institutions, and religious leaders are seen to have undue influence on the Government28.

In 2019, a constitutional challenge against the construction of the National Cathedral [on 14 acres of state land next to Parliament] and the setting up of the Hajj board [which pays for Muslims to go on the Hajj pilgrimage] was brought by a local politician, James Bomfeh, who argued that both measures are a violation of the [...] duty of the State to respect equality and uphold religious neutrality.

Bomfeh's case was dismissed by the Supreme Court, who found that the Constitution did not specifically prohibit the Government from "supporting, assisting or cooperating with religious groups."

"The Freedom of Thought Report" by Humanists International (2021)28.

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