Net migration in Ghana
Ghana: Net migration was -17,079 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Ghana, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
Ghana recorded -17,079 for net migration in 2025.
The figure is down 30.2% on the previous year and down 28.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Ghana peaked at 40,573 in 2002 and was at its lowest, -106,855, in 1985.
That places Ghana 170th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 12,181 | — |
| 1961 | -48,777 | -500.4% |
| 1962 | -48,017 | -1.6% |
| 1963 | -46,516 | -3.1% |
| 1964 | -43,480 | -6.5% |
| 1965 | -38,519 | -11.4% |
| 1966 | -38,143 | -1.0% |
| 1967 | -35,666 | -6.5% |
| 1968 | -36,683 | +2.9% |
| 1969 | -28,752 | -21.6% |
| 1970 | -10,233 | -64.4% |
| 1971 | -12,238 | +19.6% |
| 1972 | -4,589 | -62.5% |
| 1973 | -1,168 | -74.5% |
| 1974 | -1,197 | +2.5% |
| 1975 | -292 | -75.6% |
| 1976 | -2,528 | +765.8% |
| 1977 | 15,243 | -703.0% |
| 1978 | 18,041 | +18.4% |
| 1979 | 20,291 | +12.5% |
| 1980 | -13,564 | -166.8% |
| 1981 | -12,296 | -9.3% |
| 1982 | 7,863 | -163.9% |
| 1983 | 15,276 | +94.3% |
| 1984 | -105,655 | -791.6% |
| 1985 | -106,855 | +1.1% |
| 1986 | -98,099 | -8.2% |
| 1987 | -84,648 | -13.7% |
| 1988 | -64,810 | -23.4% |
| 1989 | -52,293 | -19.3% |
| 1990 | -46,789 | -10.5% |
| 1991 | -57,878 | +23.7% |
| 1992 | -47,736 | -17.5% |
| 1993 | -49,792 | +4.3% |
| 1994 | -47,120 | -5.4% |
| 1995 | -42,558 | -9.7% |
| 1996 | -37,113 | -12.8% |
| 1997 | -15,409 | -58.5% |
| 1998 | -17,564 | +14.0% |
| 1999 | -17,304 | -1.5% |
| 2000 | -4,206 | -75.7% |
| 2001 | 36,050 | -957.1% |
| 2002 | 40,573 | +12.5% |
| 2003 | 28,768 | -29.1% |
| 2004 | 34,433 | +19.7% |
| 2005 | 21,272 | -38.2% |
| 2006 | 28,536 | +34.1% |
| 2007 | 32,813 | +15.0% |
| 2008 | 30,506 | -7.0% |
| 2009 | 22,416 | -26.5% |
| 2010 | -3,726 | -116.6% |
| 2011 | -720 | -80.7% |
| 2012 | 1,005 | -239.6% |
| 2013 | -2,377 | -336.5% |
| 2014 | -6,312 | +165.5% |
| 2015 | -13,306 | +110.8% |
| 2016 | 7,009 | -152.7% |
| 2017 | -4,913 | -170.1% |
| 2018 | -19,375 | +294.4% |
| 2019 | -21,857 | +12.8% |
| 2020 | -291 | -98.7% |
| 2021 | -11,259 | +3769.1% |
| 2022 | -10,003 | -11.2% |
| 2023 | -10,003 | -0.0% |
| 2024 | -13,114 | +31.1% |
| 2025 | -17,079 | +30.2% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's -17,079 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's -17,079 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is -5,646, 3.0× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Ghana changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | -3769.1% | -291 | -11,259 |
| 2001 | +957.1% | -4,206 | 36,050 |
| 1984 | -791.6% | 15,276 | -105,655 |
| 1976 | -765.8% | -292 | -2,528 |
| 1977 | +703.0% | -2,528 | 15,243 |
| 1961 | -500.4% | 12,181 | -48,777 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -35,237 | -48,777 | 12,181 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,133 | -12,238 | 20,291 | 10 |
| 1980s | -51,508 | -106,855 | 15,276 | 10 |
| 1990s | -37,926 | -57,878 | -15,409 | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,116 | -4,206 | 40,573 | 10 |
| 2010s | -6,457 | -21,857 | 7,009 | 10 |
| 2020s | -10,292 | -17,079 | -291 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More financial sector data for Ghana
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 3.61 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0008 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 2.64 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0011 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 3.61 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Ghana?
- Net migration in Ghana was -17,079 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 40,573 in 2002.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was -106,855 in 1985.
- How does Ghana rank for net migration?
- Ghana ranks 170th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.