Demographic change in the Republic of Ghana

November 2011

Language: English Capital: Accra President: John Atta Mills Time zone: GMT
Independence gained in 1957 (from UK)

Images from Wikipedia/Wikimedia

Current situation
Population: 24.2 million
(2010 Ghana census)

Infant death rate (per 1000 live births): 43.9

(UN World Population Prospects, 2008 revision)

Annual rate of migration abroad: 800 Relatively young population with equal male to female split
(www.census.gov)

38% of population aged <15, only 4% aged 65+

(Population Reference Bureau)

Typical statistics for an African country

Projected demographic change

Current Population: 24.2 million Projected population increases Approx. 33.4 million in 2025 (+38% in 15 years) Approx. 49.1 million in 2050 (+103% in 40 years) Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births) Decline from current 43.9 to <22 by 2050
(UN World Population Prospects, 2008 revision) (2010 Ghana census)

Projected demographic change 2

Population (millions)

Infant mortality rate (per 1000

Current (2008-2010)

2020

2050

Projected demographic change 3

of demographic change
Increasing population will double in 40 years
Greater demand on infrastructure Need for more food, energy, housing

Implications

Older population due to decline in death rate and higher life expectancy
(www.census.gov, Population Reference Bureau)

Unprecedented amount of older people larger workforce, need for central care provision and funds

Issues arising from internal migration (McFalls 2003)

Country City migration = Demand on cities

of demographic change 2

Implications

Image: Makola Market, Accra

Credit: Georgia Popplewell, Flickr user caribbeanfreephoto http://www.flickr.com/photos/georgiap/3998819632/

Suggested policy considerations

Expected GDP growth of 20% in 2011: Fastest growing economy in the world, 2011 (Economy Watch/IMF)
In response to population increase: - Heavy investment in infrastructure, food and energy (provision efficiency, importing) - Investment in healthcare, welfare, education population increase strongly linked to poverty (Millennium Project) In response to older population: - Welfare provision for the elderly higher tax rates for pensions In response to internal migration (country to city): - Massive expansion of existing cities, from infrastructure upwards - New, efficient, modern cities cities designed for large populations

References
Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affair of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2008 Revision, http://esa.un.org/unpp, August 2011 Census.gov Retrieved 10 November 2011. http://www.census.gov Population Reference Bureau McFalls, Jr. J. A. (2003) Population: A lively Introduction, 4th edition. Population Bulletin, 58(4), 3-21 Vidal, John. "Ghana's population explosion." The Guardian 21 Oct. 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011. http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/2011/oct/21/ghana-population-explosion?INTCMP=SRCH The Millennium Project. Investing in Development. Population, Reproductive Health and the Millennium Project: Summary of Population & Sexual and Reproductive Health Recommendations. Jan., 2005. National Population Council with support of the POLICY Project (2006) Ghanas Development Agenda and Population Growth: The Unmet Need for Family Planning. pp. 8 9 Press Centre, The Presidency, Republic of Ghana. "Ghana: The World's Fastest Growing Economy in 2011". 4 Jan. 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011. http://www.presidency.gov.gh/press-centre/general-news/ghana-worlds-fastest-growing-economy-2011 Kweku, 2011, 2010 Population Census in Ghana weblog post, A fresh breath, 13 March 2011, accessed October 2011 Dodds, L 2010, Family life in Ghana weblog post Gone away the Ghana way June 7, 2010, accessed October 2011