Ghana’s latest population figures, released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), indicate that the urban population has climbed to an estimated 19.8 million, accounting for 58.7 % of the country’s total residents. The rise follows a steady increase from 12.55 million in 2010, when Ghana became more urban than rural, to 17.47 million in 2021.
Despite this rapid urbanisation, the GSS reports a persistent housing deficit of 1.8 million units, down from about 2.8 million in 2010 but still significant. The deficit reflects the gap between the number of homes required and those currently available, and it does not directly measure housing quality or affordability.
In 2021, the census counted roughly 10 million dwelling units. The GSS also highlighted that 30.8 % of the urban population lives in slums or informal settlements, underscoring the strain on housing and infrastructure.
Access to basic services has improved markedly: household electricity coverage rose from 43.8 % in 2000 to 86.3 % in 2021, and improved drinking water access increased from 60.7 % to 92 %. However, nearly one in three households still lacks an improved toilet facility.
The data, published in the GSS report “Ghana in Numbers, 2025,” points to the growing importance of roads, water supply, sanitation, schools, healthcare and waste management as the country’s urban areas expand. The GSS cautions that the housing deficit estimate is an approximation and does not capture the full spectrum of housing challenges.
As Ghana continues to urbanise, policymakers and developers will need to address the dual pressures of housing shortages and service provision to meet the needs of a rapidly growing city‑dwelling population.
