The number of Ghanaians officially registered as living abroad climbed to 293,416 in 2021, up from 250,624 in 2010, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu revealed on Channel One TV’s The Point of View with Bernard Avle on Wednesday, November 4.
According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, Europe hosts the largest share of Ghanaian expatriates, accounting for 37.6 per cent of the total. The Americas follow with 23.7 per cent, while ECOWAS countries hold 23 per cent of the diaspora.
In a detailed breakdown, Dr Iddrisu said other African nations comprised 10 per cent of the overseas population, Asia 4.7 per cent and Oceania 0.7 per cent.
“About 37.6 per cent [are in] Europe; we have America’s 23.7 per cent, ECOWAS, 23.3 per cent, other African countries, 10 per cent, Asia, 4.7 per cent, and Oceania is 0.7 per cent,” he said.
So largely, we are talking about Europe and America.
The figures reflect a growth of 42,792 registered Ghanaians abroad between the 2010 and 2021 censuses, underscoring a continued trend of migration for work, study and family reunification.
These statistics are expected to inform future policy on diaspora engagement, remittance flows and investment opportunities, as the government seeks to harness the economic potential of Ghanaians overseas.
