EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Ghana vs Kenya
Side-by-side comparison of Ghana and Kenya 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 Kenya scores 35.5 (144th), a gap of 4.1 points. Their trees are 9.8 m and 11 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Kenya has 64% more people than Ghana. Kenya is 2.5 times larger than Ghana by land area. The economy of Kenya is 34% larger than that of Ghana (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Ghana 35.1 million and Kenya 57.5 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $8,610 in Ghana and $7,016 in Kenya (2025, international dollars). People in Ghana live on average 1.9 years longer (65.7 vs 63.8 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Ghana ranks higher in the world on 21 and Kenya on 11. Ghana is clearly stronger in natural resources, institutions & safety and economy. Kenya is clearly stronger in tourism, military and science & innovation.
As a nation, Ghana is the older of the two (statehood since 1957, 69 years), compared with Kenya (since 1963). Over the last five years Ghana improved faster (direction score 56 vs 46 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Ghana and Kenya.
Ghanabetter
-1.3%
59th of 192
Kenya
-6.5%
169th of 192
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Ghanabetter
67.1
111th of 207
Kenya
46.0
181st of 207
UnemploymentEconomy
Ghanabetter
3.0%
40th of 187
Kenya
5.4%
101st of 187
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Ghanabetter
45.8
97th of 207
Kenya
30.8
159th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Ghana overtook Kenya in the NationsTree Index in 2020 and has stayed ahead since.
Kenya overtook Ghana in GDP (PPP) in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
Ghana overtook Kenya in life expectancy in 1994 and has stayed ahead since.
Ghana overtook Kenya in GDP per person (PPP) in 1992 and has stayed ahead since.
Kenya has been ahead of Ghana in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
GhanaKenya 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 | Ghana | Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 238,53981st/216 · 2024 | 591,97047th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 227,53382nd/216 · 2024 | 580,88045th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 35.1 m47th/217 · 2025 | 57.5 m26th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 1.83%58th/217 · 2025 | 1.93%52nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 151.375th/216 · 2024 | 97.2108th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 58.9%132nd/217 · 2025 | 32.2%191st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 35.4%51st/217 · 2025 | 36.3%46th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.8%172nd/217 · 2025 | 3.0%197th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $114.21 bn70th/210 · 2025 | $135.94 bn62nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $301.91 bn69th/199 · 2025 | $403.64 bn58th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $258.00 bn68th/199 · 2025 | $344.93 bn58th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $3,257156th/210 · 2025 | $2,363171st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $8,610147th/199 · 2025 | $7,016154th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $2,630159th/201 · 2025 | $2,200162nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 6.0%34th/210 · 2025 | 4.6%58th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 14.2%167th/180 · 2025 | 4.1%126th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.0%40th/187 · 2025 | 5.4%101st/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 48.8%82nd/189 · 2025 | 71.3%137th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -1.3%59th/192 · 2025 | -6.5%169th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 21.3%33rd/197 · 2025 | 23.2%25th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 29.3%57th/200 · 2025 | 16.3%155th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 10.1%96th/192 · 2025 | 7.1%132nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 42.9%174th/200 · 2025 | 55.1%118th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $29.20 bn85th/182 · 2024 | $21.43 bn89th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $28.24 bn84th/182 · 2024 | $29.58 bn83rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 35.1%94th/183 · 2024 | 15.8%157th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 33.9%116th/183 · 2024 | 21.8%163rd/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 69.0%115th/183 · 2024 | 37.5%166th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 8.8%53rd/170 · 2025 | 1.8%107th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 5.8%149th/171 · 2025 | 29.7%92nd/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 19.7%75th/171 · 2025 | 50.8%28th/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 2.0%106th/171 · 2025 | 3.3%82nd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 1.6%139th/168 · 2023 | 3.2%115th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | 8.1%23rd/191 · 2025 | -2.8%112th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.7%117th/196 · 2025 | 0.8%150th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 13.3%38th/209 · 2021 | 1.2%111th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 4.06%28th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.37%42nd/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 5.17%22nd/209 · 2021 | 0.01%86th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 3.76%21st/209 · 2021 | 1.22%47th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 20.7%53rd/206 · 2024 | 11.5%91st/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 914132nd/183 · 2022 | 382157th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 897,0002015 | 2.0 m63rd/194 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $191.0 m128th/175 · 2020 | $1.76 bn54th/175 · 2019 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 0.9%154th/168 · 2020 | 15.4%42nd/168 · 2019 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 65.7189th/217 · 2024 | 63.8197th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 35.9146th/196 · 2024 | 38.8154th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.27136th/174 · 2023 | 0.29135th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 0.72015 | 1.3105th/145 · 2019 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 95%59th/193 · 2024 | 91%93rd/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 58.4%101st/153 · 2024 | 66.0%88th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 75.7%135th/173 · 2024 | 84.3%123rd/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 20.2%2016 | 27.4%2015 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 6.2%173rd/217 · 2025 | 5.0%201st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 2.9%178th/193 · 2023 | 4.4%144th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 76.5%71st/98 · 2021 | 82.2%2000 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 21.3%120th/150 · 2024 | 10.4%137th/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.628143rd/193 · 2023 | 0.628143rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 43.52016 | 38.578th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 39.0%2016 | 45.5%102nd/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 91.9%158th/215 · 2024 | 77.0%174th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 42.9%119th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 18.8%128th/144 · 2024 | 35.8%102nd/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 72.2%120th/186 · 2024 | 35.0%162nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 114109th/210 · 2024 | 12670th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.7176th/208 · 2024 | 3.0149th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.5584th/164 · 2018 |
| Rail lines route-km | 9532006 | 1,9172004 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 440,680116th/161 · 2023 | 5.1 m59th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.7051st/203 · 2024 | 0.3836th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 39.0%63rd/212 · 2021 | 67.7%30th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 28.1148th/200 · 2023 | 20.3121st/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 30.9%111th/214 · 2024 | 6.6%175th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 395130th/149 · 2024 | 563117th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 55.196th/205 · 2025 | 50.5114th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 45.897th/207 · 2025 | 30.8159th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 58.697th/207 · 2025 | 50.8133rd/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 67.1111th/207 · 2025 | 46.0181st/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 52.3112th/205 · 2025 | 49.1123rd/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 64.382nd/205 · 2025 | 51.6121st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.864th/145 · 2022 | 4.998th/145 · 2022 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $506.7 m104th/156 · 2025 | $1.47 bn74th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.5%146th/156 · 2025 | 1.1%109th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 2.4%133rd/154 · 2025 | 4.6%90th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 16,000113th/170 · 2020 | 24,00096th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.13%157th/168 · 2020 | 0.11%160th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2025 | 117.0 m46th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 19.0 m2005 | 2.0 m1993 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.38%2010 | 0.81%47th/110 · 2024 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6113th/137 · 2023 | 39650th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 3,27067th/197 · 2023 | 2,07972nd/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Ghana or Kenya?
Kenya has the larger population: 57.5 m (2025) compared with 35.1 m for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Ghana or Kenya?
Kenya is larger: 591,970 km² (2024) compared with 238,539 km² for Ghana (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Ghana or Kenya?
Kenya has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $403.64 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, Ghana or Kenya?
Ghana has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $8,610 intl. (2025) compared with $7,016 intl. for Kenya (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Ghana or Kenya?
Ghana has the higher life expectancy at birth: 65.7 years (2024) compared with 63.8 years for Kenya (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Ghana or Kenya?
Kenya spends more on the military: $1.47 bn (2025) compared with $506.7 m for Ghana (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Ghana or Kenya?
Ghana: 39.6 points (130th in the world); Kenya: 35.5 points (144th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Angola
Côte d'Ivoire
DR Congo
Ethiopia
Tanzania
Nigeria
South AfricaSources
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). Ghana vs Kenya — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/ghana-vs-kenya. Data as of 26 October 2026.