How many regions are there in Ghana?

16. Ghana had ten until the referendum of 27 December 2018, after which 6 more were created in 2019: Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, Western North.

What are the regions of Ghana and their capitals?

Ahafo (Goaso), Ashanti (Kumasi), Bono (Sunyani), Bono East (Techiman), Central (Cape Coast), Eastern (Koforidua), Greater Accra (Accra), North East (Nalerigu), Northern (Tamale), Oti (Dambai), Savannah (Damongo), Upper East (Bolgatanga), Upper West (Wa), Volta (Ho), Western (Sekondi-Takoradi), Western North (Sefwi Wiawso).

Which is the biggest region in Ghana?

By people, Greater Accra, with 5,455,692 at the 2021 census, just ahead of Ashanti with 5,440,463. By schools on our register, Ashanti, with 7,051. We do not rank by area: the area sources we checked disagree for Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East.

Which is the smallest region in Ghana?

Greater Accra is the smallest by area of the regions where the sources agree, at 3,245 square kilometres. By schools on the register North East is smallest, with 721.

How many districts are there in Ghana?

261 in the Ministry of Education's 2023/24 census register. Every one has its own page here, linked from its region.

Regions of Ghana and their capitals

Ghana has 16 regions and 261 districts. Six of the regions were created in 2019, which is why older lists stop at ten. Ashanti holds the most schools at 7,051 and North East the fewest at 721, against an average of 2,727 a region. Greater Accra has the most people, 5,455,692 at the 2021 census.

Regions

ten before 2019

Districts

261

Ministry of Education 2023/24

Schools

43,626

average region 2,727

Literacy, 6 and over

69.8%

16 regions together, Census 2021, our calculation

The 16 regions, their capitals and the numbers

Alphabetical, so you can find yours. Click a region for its schools, districts, famous schools, festivals and photos. Population is the 2021 census. A blank area means the sources we checked disagree, so we show none.

Regions of Ghana with capital, districts, schools, population, area and literacy
Region	Capital	How it came about	Districts	Schools	People	Area km²	Literacy
Ahafo	Goaso	Created 2019 from Brong Ahafo	6	872	564,668	5,193	68.6%
Ashanti	Kumasi	Before 2019	43	7,051	5,440,463	24,389	78.0%
Bono	Sunyani	Remainder of old Brong Ahafo	12	1,883	1,208,649	11,113	71.5%
Bono East	Techiman	Created 2019 from Brong Ahafo	11	1,684	1,203,400	23,655	56.3%
Central	Cape Coast	Before 2019	22	4,307	2,859,821	9,826	75.2%
Eastern	Koforidua	Before 2019	33	5,241	2,925,653	19,324	75.7%
Greater Accra	Accra	Before 2019	29	5,405	5,455,692	3,245	87.9%
North East	Nalerigu	Created 2019 from Northern	6	721	658,946	9,111	35.9%
Northern	Tamale	Before 2019	16	2,701	2,310,939	n/a	41.3%
Oti	Dambai	Created 2019 from Volta	9	1,311	747,248	n/a	50.6%
Savannah	Damongo	Created 2019 from Northern	7	968	653,266	n/a	32.8%
Upper East	Bolgatanga	Before 2019	15	2,298	1,301,226	n/a	48.1%
Upper West	Wa	Before 2019	11	1,931	904,695	18,476	46.0%
Volta	Ho	Before 2019	18	2,493	1,659,040	9,504	70.9%
Western	Sekondi-Takoradi	Before 2019	14	3,052	2,060,585	13,842	72.6%
Western North	Sefwi Wiawso	Created 2019 from Western	9	1,508	880,921	10,257	62.8%

Source: Ministry of Education school register, 2023/24, and Ghana Statistical Service, 2021. Literacy is our calculation from the census counts of people aged 6 and over.

Schools and literacy, region by region

Schools on the register

Ashanti7,051
Greater Accra5,405
Eastern5,241
Central4,307
Western3,052
Northern2,701
Volta2,493
Upper East2,298
Upper West1,931
Bono1,883
Bono East1,684
Western North1,508
Oti1,311
Savannah968
Ahafo872
North East721

Source: Ministry of Education school register, 2023/24.

People aged 6 and over who can read and write

Greater Accra87.9%
Ashanti78.0%
Eastern75.7%
Central75.2%
Western72.6%
Bono71.5%
Volta70.9%
Ahafo68.6%
Western North62.8%
Bono East56.3%
Oti50.6%
Upper East48.1%
Upper West46.0%
Northern41.3%
North East35.9%
Savannah32.8%

Our calculation from Census 2021 counts. Ghana 69.8%. Literacy rate in Ghana

Six regions were created in 2019, which is why older directories and exam results still list ten. Learning figures from before 2019 belong to the old region, and each region page says so.

Senior high schools, region by region

More ways in

Questions people ask about Ghana's regions

How many regions are there in Ghana?: 16. Ghana had ten until the referendum of 27 December 2018, after which 6 more were created in 2019: Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, Western North.
What are the regions of Ghana and their capitals?: Ahafo (Goaso), Ashanti (Kumasi), Bono (Sunyani), Bono East (Techiman), Central (Cape Coast), Eastern (Koforidua), Greater Accra (Accra), North East (Nalerigu), Northern (Tamale), Oti (Dambai), Savannah (Damongo), Upper East (Bolgatanga), Upper West (Wa), Volta (Ho), Western (Sekondi-Takoradi), Western North (Sefwi Wiawso).
Which is the biggest region in Ghana?: By people, Greater Accra, with 5,455,692 at the 2021 census, just ahead of Ashanti with 5,440,463. By schools on our register, Ashanti, with 7,051. We do not rank by area: the area sources we checked disagree for Northern, Oti, Savannah, Upper East.
Which is the smallest region in Ghana?: Greater Accra is the smallest by area of the regions where the sources agree, at 3,245 square kilometres. By schools on the register North East is smallest, with 721.
How many districts are there in Ghana?: 261 in the Ministry of Education's 2023/24 census register. Every one has its own page here, linked from its region.