Ghana’s urban population reached approximately 19.8 million in 2025, representing 58.7 per cent of the national population, as the country’s changing settlement pattern increases demand for housing, infrastructure and essential public services.
The figures, published in the Ghana Statistical Service’s (GSS) Ghana in Numbers, 2025, highlight the growing pressure on urban development, particularly in housing, sanitation, electricity and access to improved drinking water.
Ghana’s urban population has grown from 12.55 million in 2010 to 17.47 million in 2021, before reaching an estimated 19.8 million in 2025. The country first became more urban than rural in 2010, marking a significant shift in its population distribution.
The continued expansion means that the availability of affordable housing, reliable water systems, roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and waste management services will become highly important to the country’s urban development.
Housing And Sanitation Gaps Persist
Despite improvements in housing availability, Ghana’s housing deficit remains a major concern.
The 2021 Population and Housing Census recorded approximately 10 million dwelling units, with the GSS estimating the national housing deficit at 1.8 million units, down from about 2.8 million in 2010.
However, the reduction does not fully capture the country’s housing challenges, particularly affordability and the quality of available accommodation.
Average household size has also declined to 3.6 people, its lowest recorded level. This could increase demand for separate housing units as household structures change, even if population growth slows.
Access to basic services has improved considerably. The proportion of households with electricity increased from 43.8 per cent in 2000 to 86.3 per cent in 2021, while access to improved drinking water rose from 60.7 per cent to 92 per cent over the same period.
Improved sanitation increased from 44.8 per cent in 2010 to 69 per cent in 2022.
However, about 30.8 per cent of Ghana’s urban population still lives in slums or informal settlements. Approximately one in seven households lacks electricity, while almost one in three has no access to an improved toilet.
These figures expose the gap between expanding urban populations and the infrastructure available to support them.
GSS Calls For Localised Investment Planning
The Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, has stressed the importance of using district-level data to guide development planning and ensure public resources are directed towards communities with the greatest needs.
“Use local figures, not national averages, to decide where the next cedi goes, because averages hide differences,” he said.
He added that population statistics should help determine “where schools, clinics and homes must go”, highlighting the importance of directing investment towards communities with the greatest needs.
