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Angola vs Ghana
Side-by-side comparison of Angola and Ghana from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Ghana scores 39.6 in the NationsTree Index (130th in the world) and Angola scores 34.4 (148th), a gap of 5.2 points. Their trees are 11 m and 9.8 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Angola has 11% more people than Ghana. Angola is 5.2 times larger than Ghana by land area. The economy of Angola is 33% larger than that of Ghana (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Angola 39.0 million and Ghana 35.1 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $10,251 in Angola and $8,610 in Ghana (2025, international dollars). People in Ghana live on average 0.9 years longer (65.7 vs 64.8 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Angola ranks higher in the world on 6 and Ghana on 26. Angola is clearly stronger in military, environment & energy and land & people. Ghana is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, science & innovation and economy.
As a nation, Ghana is the older of the two (statehood since 1957, 69 years), compared with Angola (since 1992). Over the last five years Angola improved faster (direction score 99 vs 56 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Angola and Ghana.
Angola
14.1%
170th of 187
Ghanabetter
3.0%
40th of 187
DPT immunizationSociety & health
Angola
64%
179th of 193
Ghanabetter
95%
59th of 193
High-tech exportsTrade
Angolabetter
16.7%
45th of 168
Ghana
1.6%
139th of 168
Government budget balanceEconomy
Angola
-4.1%
136th of 192
Ghanabetter
-1.3%
59th of 192
Rule of lawInstitutions & safety
Angola
40.1
172nd of 207
Ghanabetter
58.6
97th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Angola overtook Ghana in population in 2017 and has stayed ahead since.
Ghana has been ahead of Angola in the NationsTree Index in every year since 1996.
Angola has been ahead of Ghana in GDP per person (PPP) and GDP (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Ghana has been ahead of Angola in life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
AngolaGhana All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Angola | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 1,246,70022nd/216 · 2024 | 238,53981st/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 1,246,70022nd/216 · 2024 | 227,53382nd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 39.0 m39th/217 · 2025 | 35.1 m47th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 3.00%12th/217 · 2025 | 1.83%58th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 30.4170th/216 · 2024 | 151.375th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 71.5%84th/217 · 2025 | 58.9%132nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 44.1%8th/217 · 2025 | 35.4%51st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 2.9%199th/217 · 2025 | 3.8%172nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $122.17 bn69th/210 · 2025 | $114.21 bn70th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $400.21 bn59th/199 · 2025 | $301.91 bn69th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $342.00 bn59th/199 · 2025 | $258.00 bn68th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $3,129159th/210 · 2025 | $3,257156th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $10,251139th/199 · 2025 | $8,610147th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,860151st/201 · 2025 | $2,630159th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 3.1%109th/210 · 2025 | 6.0%34th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 20.2%170th/180 · 2025 | 14.2%167th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 14.1%170th/187 · 2025 | 3.0%40th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 52.9%95th/189 · 2025 | 48.8%82nd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -4.1%136th/192 · 2025 | -1.3%59th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 25.2%21st/197 · 2025 | 21.3%33rd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 27.1%69th/200 · 2025 | 29.3%57th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 6.8%135th/192 · 2025 | 10.1%96th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 46.8%162nd/200 · 2025 | 42.9%174th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $28.07 bn86th/182 · 2025 | $29.20 bn85th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $14.26 bn107th/182 · 2025 | $28.24 bn84th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 23.0%131st/183 · 2025 | 35.1%94th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 11.7%181st/183 · 2025 | 33.9%116th/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 34.6%171st/183 · 2025 | 69.0%115th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 91.5%4th/170 · 2025 | 8.8%53rd/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 2.0%162nd/171 · 2025 | 5.8%149th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 0.5%166th/171 · 2025 | 19.7%75th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 5.9%56th/171 · 2025 | 2.0%106th/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 16.7%45th/168 · 2024 | 1.6%139th/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 0.3%73rd/191 · 2025 | 8.1%23rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.8%112th/196 · 2025 | 1.7%117th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 30.0%10th/209 · 2021 | 13.3%38th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 28.27%4th/197 · 2021 | 4.06%28th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 1.01%30th/197 · 2021 | 0.37%42nd/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 5.17%22nd/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 0.68%64th/209 · 2021 | 3.76%21st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 3.7%150th/206 · 2024 | 20.7%53rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 4,15369th/183 · 2022 | 914132nd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 218,000149th/194 · 2019 | 897,0002015 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $19.0 m164th/175 · 2020 | $191.0 m128th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.1%166th/168 · 2020 | 0.9%154th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 3,0001996 | — |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 64.8191st/217 · 2024 | 65.7189th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 49.0169th/196 · 2024 | 35.9146th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.24139th/174 · 2022 | 0.27136th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.8126th/145 · 2019 | 0.72015 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 64%179th/193 · 2024 | 95%59th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 38.1%121st/153 · 2023 | 58.4%101st/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 51.5%154th/173 · 2023 | 75.7%135th/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 10.3%2018 | 20.2%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.5%191st/217 · 2025 | 6.2%173rd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.5%186th/193 · 2023 | 2.9%178th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 68.2%83rd/98 · 2023 | 76.5%71st/98 · 2021 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 10.0%141st/150 · 2024 | 21.3%120th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.616148th/193 · 2023 | 0.628143rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 51.32018 | 43.52016 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 39.3%2018 | 39.0%2016 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 55.5%191st/215 · 2024 | 91.9%158th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | — | 42.9%119th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | — | 18.8%128th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 40.7%157th/186 · 2024 | 72.2%120th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 70181st/210 · 2024 | 114109th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.4183rd/208 · 2024 | 0.7176th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.10142nd/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 9532006 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 1.3 m92nd/161 · 2023 | 440,680116th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.7453rd/203 · 2024 | 0.7051st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 52.9%45th/212 · 2021 | 39.0%63rd/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 19.9115th/200 · 2023 | 28.1148th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 51.2%54th/214 · 2024 | 30.9%111th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 424126th/149 · 2024 | 395130th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 37.8157th/205 · 2025 | 55.196th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 34.3144th/207 · 2025 | 45.897th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 40.1172nd/207 · 2025 | 58.697th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 57.9148th/207 · 2025 | 67.1111th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 42.7158th/205 · 2025 | 52.3112th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 39.4151st/205 · 2025 | 64.382nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 4.12016 | 1.864th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $1.46 bn76th/156 · 2025 | $506.7 m104th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 1.4%93rd/156 · 2025 | 0.5%146th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 5.9%60th/154 · 2025 | 2.4%133rd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 117,00049th/170 · 2020 | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.87%80th/168 · 2020 | 0.13%157th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 84.0 m52nd/163 · 2025 | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 2.0 m2002 | 19.0 m2005 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.03%2016 | 0.38%2010 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 22019 | 6113th/137 · 2023 |
| Scientific articles articles | 50154th/197 · 2023 | 3,27067th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Angola or Ghana?
Angola has the larger population: 39.0 m (2025) compared with 35.1 m for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Angola or Ghana?
Angola is larger: 1,246,700 km² (2024) compared with 238,539 km² for Ghana (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Angola or Ghana?
Angola has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $400.21 bn intl. (2025) compared with $301.91 bn intl. for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Angola or Ghana?
Angola has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $10,251 intl. (2025) compared with $8,610 intl. for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Angola or Ghana?
Ghana has the higher life expectancy at birth: 65.7 years (2024) compared with 64.8 years for Angola (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Angola or Ghana?
Angola spends more on the military: $1.46 bn (2025) compared with $506.7 m for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Angola or Ghana?
Ghana: 39.6 points (130th in the world); Angola: 34.4 points (148th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Côte d'Ivoire
Ethiopia
Kenya
Nigeria
South Africa
Tanzania
DR CongoSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Angola vs Ghana — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/angola-vs-ghana. Data as of 26 October 2026.