Updated
Overview
Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) are nearly matched in population: 35.06 million versus 32.71 million people (2025).
Ghana's economy is 14% larger than Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)'s, at $114.21B versus $99.77B.
Population
GDP (nominal)
GDP per capita
The full table
| Indicator | Ghana | Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Years | Factbook, Jan 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | Higher: $114.21B | $99.77B | 2025 | $82.83B / $86.54B |
| GDP per capita | Higher: $3,257 | $3,050 | 2025 | — / — |
| GDP growth | 6.0% | Higher: 6.5% | 2025 | — / — |
| Inflation | 14.2% | Lower: 0.1% | 2025 | 22.8% / 3.5% |
| Unemployment | 3.0% | Lower: 2.3% | 2025 | — / — |
| Price level (US=100) | 38 | 37 | 2025 | — / — |
| Avg monthly earnings | $182 | Higher: $207 | 2024 / 2022 | — / — |
| Minimum wage | $33 | Higher: $124 | 2024 | — / — |
| People | ||||
| Population | 35.06 million | 32.71 million | 2025 | 35.34 million / 31.86 million |
| Population growth | 1.8% | 2.4% | 2025 | — / — |
| Median age | 21.3 yrs | 18.3 yrs | 2025 | — / — |
| Fertility rate | 3.30 | 4.17 | 2025 | — / — |
| Life expectancy | Higher: 65.7 yrs | 62.1 yrs | 2024 | — / — |
| Urban population | 59% | 55% | 2025 | — / — |
| Internet users | Higher: 72% | 41% | 2024 | — / — |
| Geography | ||||
| Area | 238,533 km² | 322,463 km² | — | — / — |
| Population density | 147.0/km² | 101.4/km² | 2025 | — / — |
| Environment | ||||
| CO2 emissions | 21 Mt | Lower: 15 Mt | 2024 | — / — |
| CO2 per capita | 0.6 t | Lower: 0.5 t | 2024 | — / — |
| Military | ||||
| Military spending | $268.74M | $658.35M | 2024 | — / — |
| Military spending (% GDP) | 0.4% | 0.8% | 2024 | — / — |
| Armed forces personnel | 16,000 | 27,000 | 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
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is growing faster: 6.5% annual GDP growth versus 6.0%.
Ghana runs the hotter price environment: 14.2% inflation versus 0.1%.
Average monthly earnings favour Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): $207 against $182 (ILOSTAT, latest available years).
People and society
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is the younger society: median age 18.3 versus 21.3 years.
Life expectancy is 3.6 years longer in Ghana (65.7 vs 62.1).
Internet adoption is higher in Ghana (72% vs 41% of the population).
Geography
By land area, Ghana is 26% smaller than Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): 238,533 km² versus 322,463 km².
The two share a land border, which shapes their trade, migration, and security relationship.
Military
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) spends 2.4 times as much on defence as Ghana: $658.35M versus $268.74M (World Bank/SIPRI data).
Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) fields the larger armed forces: 27,000 personnel against 16,000 (note: personnel data lags; observation years shown in the table).
Frequently asked
- Is Ghana bigger than Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)?
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is larger by land area. Ghana covers 238,533 km² while Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) covers 322,463 km², so Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) is 35% larger than the other.
- Which has more people, Ghana or Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)?
- Ghana has the larger population: 35.06 million versus 32.71 million (World Bank, 2025).
- Is Ghana richer than Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)?
- Measured by GDP per capita, Ghana is richer: $3,257 against $3,050. Total GDP tells the same story: $114.21B for Ghana versus $99.77B for Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast).
- Who spends more on their military, Ghana or Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)?
- Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) spends more: $658.35M versus $268.74M per year (World Bank, SIPRI-derived data; observation years vary).
Related comparisons
Full profiles
Every comparison for Ghana · Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast)