Today, 18thNovember 2021,Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) releases highlights from the first three volumes of the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) General Report which presents the main census results
Key Takeaways
- The opportunity to invest in harnessing the demographic dividend is now
- Marked variations at all levels – region, district, and urban-rural, with variations more intense between urban and rural areas .
- Significantly high incidence of unregistered marriages
- Population growth rate in urban areas requires multisectoral effort to improve living conditions of people in both rural and urban areas
- Consideration of implications of the decline in household sizes (welfare, housing, environment etc.)
Highlights of Results
| Volume 3A | Volume 3B | Volume 3C | |||
| 1. | Ghana’s population is 30,832,019 | 1. | Nationally, females outnumber males by 431,139 however, males outnumber females in six regions (Western North, Western, Ahafo, Oti, Savannah and Bono East) | 1. | One percent (294,341) of enumerated population are non-Ghanaians and nine out of 10 non-Ghanaian population (270,838– 92.0%) are from ECOWAS countries. |
| 2. | Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern, and Central Region have more than 50 percent of the population. | 2 | Ghana’s population age structure is transitioning from one dominated by children (0-14 years) to one dominated by youth (15-35 years) | 2. | One out of every eight (80.8%) married persons have not registered their marriages. |
| 3. | Urban population increased nationally from 50.9% in 2010 to 56.7% in 2021 with almost half (47.8%) the increase in the urban population in Greater Accra and Ashanti regions. | 3. | A higher concentration of youth population is in the urban areas. | 3. | Substantially more women than men are separated, divorced or widowed. |
| 4. | Annual intercensal population growth rate between 2010 and 2021 is 2.1 percent, the lowest since independence and varies from 3.7 percent in the Northern Region to 1.0 percent in the Eastern Region. | 4. | A total of 17,931,673 (58.2%) of Ghana’s population are 18 years and older. | 4. | Majority of persons were born in the localities where they were enumerated with a higher proportion for males (73.6%) than females (71.6%). |
| 5. | Average household size decreased between 2010 and 2021 in both urban (from 4.1 to 3.3) and rural (from 5.0 to 4.0) areas.Average household size decreased between 2010 and 2021 in both urban (from 4.1 to 3.3) and rural (from 5.0 to 4.0) areas. | 5. | A total of 18,619,021 (60.4%) of Ghana’s population are within the working age bracket of 15 – 64 years. | 5. | Approximately two-thirds (68.6%) of the population have health insurance coverage with higher coverage for females (72.6%) than males (64.5%). |
About the 2021 Population and Housing CensusAbout 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 the main results in a timely manner. To understand more about the uniqueness of the 2021 PHC, download the basics of the census document and the pre-release fact sheets. For more information on the previous 2021 PHC results release, download the press releases on the Preliminary Report and the Residential Proximity to Essential Service Facilities.
Scope of the General Report
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The 2021 PHC General Report contains disaggregated data on the main census results and features 11 volumes presenting findings from the different modules of the census questionnaires. The General Report will be released in multiple instalments starting with Volumes 3A, 3B and 3C on 18th November 2021. Volume 3A, Population of Administrative Units, presents population size, sex composition and population density by region, district, and type of locality (urban/rural). Volume 3B presents statistics on age and sex profile by region, and type of locality. Volume 3C presents background (socio-demographic) characteristics on the population by region, and type of locality. These reports will present important disaggregated data for research, policy, and planning in line with census aim of generating relevant and timely data for decision-making. Disaggregated data, such as presented in the General Report, are critical to identifying vulnerable populations in order to ensure that no one is left behind as is the premise of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) |
2021 PHC General Report Volume 3N: Structures |
District Rankings
Ten Headline Population Figures
| No. |
Categories |
Persons |
| 1. |
Total Population |
30,832,019 (100.0%) |
| 2. |
Population in Urban Areas |
17,472,530 (56.7%) |
| 3. |
Population in Rural Areas |
13,359,489 (43.3%) |
| 4. |
Population of Females |
15,631,579 (50.7%) |
| 5. |
Population of Males |
15,200,440 (49.3%) |
| 6. |
Population of children (0 – 14 years) |
10,890,453 (35.3%) |
| 7. |
Population of working age (15 – 64 years) |
18,619,021 (60.4%) |
| 8. |
Population of elderly (65+ years) |
1,322,545 (4.3%) |
| 9. |
Population of youth (15 – 35 years) |
11,782,614 (38.2%) |
| 10. |
Population of persons18+ years |
17,931,673 (58.2%) |
Data Quality
The 2021 PHC instituted several data quality monitoring mechanisms and leveraged technology to implement interventions towards ensuring complete and accurate coverage. These included the use of GIS technology and geospatial resources, such as collecting the GPS coordinates of all structures, use of census dashboard for real-time monitoring and continuous data validation by Data Quality Monitors at the various levels of operations. These strategies made it possible to continuously assess data quality and correct errors and inconsistencies while enumerators were still on the field. The approach, and with public sensitisation programmes, created an alert, enthusiastic and proactive public leading to avoidance of duplications and omissions as well as eliminating fabrications. Learn more about the 2021 PHC data quality assurance process in our pre-release fact sheet. The technical documentation on the enumeration and data quality assurance procedures are available under the instruments and training materials section of the census website.
Data Confidentiality
Only aggregated data are reported in the General Report and is the norm for the rest of the results in accordance with the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003) which places a legal restriction on publishing particulars on individuals. All personal details are protected and removed from all publications and datasets to protect the confidentiality of respondents.
Upcoming 2021 PHC Product Releases
Information on upcoming releases and data products are available in the 2021 PHC Product Release calendar which can be downloaded here. To learn more about the indicators to be presented in subsequent releases, download the 100 uses of census data document, the information sheet on the census questionnaires and the full questionnaires online.
Accessing the Data
The General Report Volumes 3A to 3B can be downloaded at no cost from the 2021 PHC website: www.census2021.statsghana.gov.gh.
About the Ghana Statistical Service
The conduct of the 2021 Population and Housing Census is in accordance with the mandates of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to provide comprehensive, reliable, quality, relevant, accurate and timely statistical information to guide national development as stipulated in Section 3 of the Statistical Service Act, 2019 (Act 1003). The organisation’s vision is to be a trusted provider of statistical services for good governance and its mission to lead the efficient production and management of quality official statistics based on international standards, using competent staff for evidence-based decision-making, in support of national development. GSS also produces monthly data on important economic indicators such as inflation, Consumer Price Index (CPI), and Producer Price Index as well as population, housing, demographic and economic data at the locality, district, and national levels from routine surveys and censuses. The statistics generated by GSS can be utilised by a wide cross-section of users including the public sector, businesses, academia, civil society organisations and development partners. For more information on the statistics generated by GSS visit www.statsghana.gov.gh