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GSS Releases 2021 Provisional Population & Housing Census Results

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The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has released Today, 22nd September 2021, a Preliminary Report which gives the provisional results from the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC).

SUMMARY

1. Ghana’s population figure from the 2021 PHC is 30.8 million.
2. The population has grown almost fivefold since the first post-independence census was
conducted in 1960.
3. Ghana’s population is growing, but at a declining rate compared with previous censuses.
4. Females make up a greater proportion of the population in the 2021 PHC as has been the trend
for the past four censuses. They outnumber males in 10 out of the 16 regions.
5. Greater Accra has overtaken Ashanti as the nation’s most populous region.
6. Ahafo has replaced Upper West as the nation’s least populous region.
7. Average household size, which has been on the decline since 2000, is 3.6 members.
8. Out of the 10.7 million structures listed, 20% were metal containers, kiosks, and wooden
structures.
9. One out of every five of the structures listed was not fully completed.
10. The information on structure usage indicated six out of every 10 structures were for residential
use.

About the 2021 Population and Housing Census

The 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC), Ghana’s first fully digital census, employed
technology in all aspects of its implementation. It leveraged on technology available to improve
operational efficiency, enhance the quality of the data collected and be able to release results in a
timely manner. To learn more about the uniqueness of the 2021 PHC, visit the census website.

The 2021 PHC counted and collected detailed information on all persons that spent the Census
Night, that is Sunday 27th June 2021, in the country (de facto approach). The initial enumeration
period was from 27th June to 11th July, with a mop-up period, first for one week and subsequently
extending it to 15th August in some areas with challenges. Prior to the Census Night, the listing of
structures took place between 13th and 25th June, 2021. Structures listed were completed buildings,
uncompleted buildings at various levels of completion above window level and unconventional
structures (such as metal containers, and kiosks).

Scope of the Preliminary Report

This press release highlights findings from the 2021 PHC Preliminary Report which contains
provisional results on population size and sex composition, population density, and structures by
region.

NB: The results presented in the Preliminary Report are provisional. These statistics will be used as
provisional figures until the final results are released in November. The final results may differ slightly
from the statistics presented in the preliminary report, which is normal in censuses.

Summary of Provisional Results

The de facto population in Ghana on Census Night was 30,792,608 made up of 15,610,149 females
and 15,182,459 males.

Overall, females make up 50.7% of the population and males 49.3%, giving a national sex ratio of
97 males for every 100 females.

In all, 8,345,414 households were enumerated, with an average national household size of 3.6
persons.

The national population density in the 2021 PHC is 129 persons per square kilometre.

Over ten million (10,661,421) structures were counted during the listing, out of which 8,547,391
(80.2%) are fully completed i.e. roofed with windows and doors fixed.