Population and Profile:
According to the CIA World Factbook, Ghana’s total population is 25,241,998. Its age structure is relatively young. 95.6% of the population is 64 years and younger. 0-14 years: 36.5%
15-64 years: 60%
65+ years: 3.6%
Birth, Death Rate and Life Expectancy:
The birth rate is higher than the death rate, which means that the population is growing.
Birth rate: 26.99 births/1,000 population
Death rate: 8.57 deaths/1,000 population
The age of life expectancy is low. Women are expected to live a few years longer than men, which is common in many countries.
Life expectancy at birth: total population-61.45 years
Male: 60.22 years
Female: 62.73 years
Literacy rate (age 15 and over can read and write):
In my research, I learned that there are large disparities in education level between men and women in Ghana. The difference in literacy rates illustrates the gap that men and women experience in educational opportunity and attainment. Total population: 57.9%
Male: 66.4%
Female 49.8%
Major causes of death:
It seems that diarrhea (as a result of poor sanitation) and malaria are two main causes of death for Ghanaians.
Major Exports and Imports:
The two major exports are gold and cocoa, along with others to a lesser degree, including: timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds, and horticulture. Imports include capital equipment, petroleum, and foodstuffs.
Note: 1) I have heard that diamond-mining is a terrible trade for Ghanaians, but I know little beyond that. 2) The term foodstuffs is disconcerting to me. I do not think these qualify as “whole” foods, which mean they have significantly less nutritional value.
Population living below poverty line:
According to 2007 data in CIA World Factbook, 28.5% of the population lives below the poverty line. I wonder how the poverty line is defined in Ghana compared to how we conceptualize poverty in the U.S. More than a quarter of the population seems to be quite a large portion to be living in poverty, which means they lack access to basic necessities. However, the source notes that in the last 25 years, Ghana’s economy has strengthened, resulting in sustained reductions in poverty.
Unemployment rate (urban versus rural, north versus south):
According to 2000 data from CIA World Factbook, the unemployment rate in the nation is 11%. In 2011, the labor force was estimated at 10.77 million, while the population was estimated at 25,241,998 for July 2012. How would this data then be interpreted?
For north versus south, there is greater unemployment in the north versus the south. The small landholders and those who provide labor for them make up a half of the workforce. It seems that there are less jobs in the north, which is why people are moving towards the south, where the urban areas are.
Average educational attainment:
Ghanaians participate in an average of 10 years of primary to tertiary education. This is higher for males, who receive 11 years, while females receive 10 years. This is consistent with the research that states that girls have lower educational attainment, accompanied by lower opportunity of education.
Typical Housing:
In the Greater Accra area, the 2000 census data showed that the average household size was 4.6 people. The average number of rooms in a house was 2.4. This means that an average of 2 people occupied a room.
Internet and cell phone users:
5.12% of the population uses the internet (1.297 million users in 2009 of total population-25,241,998). A greater number of the population use mobile phone with 69% of users (17.436 million in 2010 of total population-25,241,998).
References:
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