Regions of Ghana: population and official figures
Ghana is divided into 16 regions. The largest by population is Greater Accra with 5,455,692 people (17.7% of the total); the smallest is Ahafo with 564,668. Ghana has had 16 regions since 2019, when Brong-Ahafo was split into Bono, Bono East and Ahafo, Northern into Northern, Savannah and North East, Volta into Volta and Oti, and Western into Western and Western North. Population, jobs, schooling, housing, water and poverty figures are from the Ghana Statistical Service's 2021 Population and Housing Census; health and household wealth are from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey.
Who governs Ghana's regions?
Regions (16): Regional minister appointed by the president; Regional Coordinating Council includes MMDA heads and two chiefs from the regional House of Chiefs. Coordinates and monitors districts; not an elected government.
How local power works in Ghana · Level 5: devolved and state governments worldwide
All 16 regions, largest first
| # | Region | Population | Year | Growth (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Accra | 5,455,692 | 2021 | – |
| 2 | Ashanti | 5,440,463 | 2021 | – |
| 3 | Eastern | 2,925,653 | 2021 | – |
| 4 | Central | 2,859,821 | 2021 | – |
| 5 | Northern | 2,310,939 | 2021 | – |
| 6 | Western | 2,060,585 | 2021 | – |
| 7 | Volta | 1,659,040 | 2021 | – |
| 8 | Upper East | 1,301,226 | 2021 | – |
| 9 | Bono | 1,208,649 | 2021 | – |
| 10 | Bono East | 1,203,400 | 2021 | – |
| 11 | Upper West | 901,502 | 2021 | – |
| 12 | Western North | 880,921 | 2021 | – |
| 13 | Oti | 747,248 | 2021 | – |
| 14 | North East | 658,946 | 2021 | – |
| 15 | Savannah | 653,266 | 2021 | – |
| 16 | Ahafo | 564,668 | 2021 | – |
Cities: the largest cities of Ghana.
More on Ghana: official statistics · government and power · local power
Sources
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3K: Housing Characteristics (tables 5.1, 5.10 and 5.11 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 bdd88e32b71f…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3M: Water and Sanitation (tables 5.3 and 5.8 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 6d128406bdbf…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3D district tables: Literacy and Education (tables 3D.3a, 3D.7a and 3D.8a), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 836bec77d67e…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 Population and Housing Census, General Report Volume 3E district tables: Economic Activity (tables 3E.1a, 3E.11a and 3E.19a), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b4275bf6f3dc…)
- Ghana Statistical Service: 2021 PHC thematic report: Gender Dynamics in Multidimensional Poverty (Table A.3: multidimensionally poor population by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0fb1860d93ec…)
- Ghana Statistical Service and ICF (The DHS Program): Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2022, final report (tables 2.6, 5.2, 8.3, 9.9, 10.4, 11.1, 11.12 and 14.1.1 by region), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c3ec15d8465f…)
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