Updated
Overview
Ghana has about 45% more people than Burkina Faso: 35.06 million against 24.07 million (2025).
Ghana's economy is 4.1 times the size of Burkina Faso's, at $114.21B versus $27.63B.
Per person, Ghana is the wealthier of the two: $3,257 against $1,148 in GDP per capita.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ghana | Burkina Faso | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $114.21B | $27.63B | 2025 | $82.83B / $23.25B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $3,257 | $1,148 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | Higher: 6.0% | 5.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.2% | Lower: -0.6% | 2025 | 22.8% / 4.2% |
| Unemployment | Lower: 3.0% | 3.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 38 | 37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $182 | Higher: $212 | 2024 / 2025 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $33 | Higher: $74 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.06 million | 24.07 million | 2025 | 35.34 million / 23.49 million |
| Population growth | 1.8% | 2.2% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 21.3 yrs | 17.7 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.30 | 4.00 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 65.7 yrs | 61.3 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 59% | 29% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 72% | 28% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,533 km² | 272,967 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 147.0/km² | 88.2/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 21 Mt | Lower: 6.51 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.6 t | Lower: 0.3 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $268.74M | $1.02B | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 4.7% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 16,000 | 11,000 | 2020 | — / — |
Sources by row: World Bank WDI, IMF WEO, UN WPP 2024, ILOSTAT, The Economist. Emphasis marks the stronger figure where one direction is meaningfully better.
Reading the numbers
Economy
Ghana is growing faster: 6.0% annual GDP growth versus 5.3%.
Ghana runs the hotter price environment: 14.2% inflation versus -0.6%.
Average monthly earnings favour Burkina Faso: $212 against $182 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Burkina Faso is the younger society: median age 17.7 versus 21.3 years.
Life expectancy is 4.4 years longer in Ghana (65.7 vs 61.3).
Ghana is considerably more urbanized: 59% of people live in cities, against 29%.
Internet adoption is higher in Ghana (72% vs 28% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Ghana is 13% smaller than Burkina Faso: 238,533 km² versus 272,967 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Burkina Faso spends 3.8 times as much on defence as Ghana: $1.02B versus $268.74M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Relative to its economy, Burkina Faso carries the heavier military burden: 4.7% of GDP versus 0.4%.
Ghana fields the larger armed forces: 16,000 personnel against 11,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ghana bigger than Burkina Faso?
- Burkina Faso is larger by land area. Ghana covers 238,533 km² while Burkina Faso covers 272,967 km², so Burkina Faso is 14% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Ghana or Burkina Faso?
- Ghana has the larger population: 35.06 million versus 24.07 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ghana richer than Burkina Faso?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ghana is richer: $3,257 against $1,148. Total GDP tells the same story: $114.21B for Ghana versus $27.63B for Burkina Faso.
- Who spends more on their military, Ghana or Burkina Faso?
- Burkina Faso spends more: $1.02B versus $268.74M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).