On this page
- How many Ghana-born people live in the UK?
- Which regions have the most Ghana-born residents?
- Which local authorities have the largest Ghana-born populations?
- How old are Ghana-born residents?
- What other census measures describe the Ghanaian community?
- What do the numbers mean for families looking after someone in Ghana?
- Sources and important information
How many Ghana-born people live in the UK?
England and Wales had 132,577 residents born in Ghana on census day, 21 March 2021, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
That is 38,731 more than the 93,846 counted in the 2011 census, a rise of 41% over the decade. England accounts for 131,753 of the 2021 total and Wales for 824.
Scotland and Northern Ireland run their own censuses. Scotland's Census 2022 counted 3,046 people born in Ghana, and Northern Ireland's Census 2021 counted 231. Because Scotland's census was a year later, the UK figure of 135,854 adds counts from two census years.
These are counts of people born in Ghana. They do not include British-born children and grandchildren of Ghanaian parents, who appear in the ethnic group figures instead.
| Nation | Born in Ghana | Census year | Published by |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 131,753 | 2021 | ONS |
| Wales | 824 | 2021 | ONS |
| Scotland | 3,046 | 2022 | National Records of Scotland |
| Northern Ireland | 231 | 2021 | NISRA |
| UK, all four nations | 135,854 | 2021 and 2022 | Sum of the four counts |
Which regions have the most Ghana-born residents?
London is home to 65,905 Ghana-born residents, almost half (49.7%) of everyone born in Ghana living in England and Wales in 2021.
The South East (16,713), the East of England (13,034) and the West Midlands (12,171) follow. The Nigeria-born population is shown alongside for comparison, from the same ONS release.
| Region | Born in Ghana | Born in Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| London | 65,905 | 117,145 |
| South East | 16,713 | 32,468 |
| East of England | 13,034 | 27,913 |
| West Midlands | 12,171 | 19,911 |
| East Midlands | 8,060 | 13,902 |
| North West | 6,308 | 29,092 |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 5,744 | 12,454 |
Which local authorities have the largest Ghana-born populations?
Croydon has the largest Ghana-born population of any local authority in England and Wales, with 7,244 residents born in Ghana in 2021.
Six of the eight largest are London boroughs. Outside London, Milton Keynes (4,812) and Leeds (3,316) stand out, followed by Manchester (2,822), Birmingham (2,620), West Northamptonshire (2,361) and Coventry (2,258).
| Local authority | Region | Born in Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| Croydon | London | 7,244 |
| Milton Keynes | South East | 4,812 |
| Enfield | London | 4,738 |
| Southwark | London | 4,321 |
| Lambeth | London | 4,106 |
| Newham | London | 4,085 |
| Barking and Dagenham | London | 3,320 |
| Leeds | Yorkshire and The Humber | 3,316 |
How old are Ghana-born residents?
Most Ghana-born residents are of working age: 47,559 were aged 35 to 49 and 38,247 were aged 50 to 64 in 2021, together 65% of the total.
14,033 Ghana-born residents were aged 65 or over, and 7,554 were 70 or over. As a share, that is an older profile than the Nigeria-born population, where 17,397 of 270,768 were 65 or over.
| Age group | Born in Ghana | Share of the Ghana-born total |
|---|---|---|
| 15 and under | 4,156 | 3.1% |
| 16 to 24 | 9,825 | 7.4% |
| 25 to 34 | 18,757 | 14.1% |
| 35 to 49 | 47,559 | 35.9% |
| 50 to 64 | 38,247 | 28.8% |
| 65 and over | 14,033 | 10.6% |
What other census measures describe the Ghanaian community?
Country of birth is one of several census measures, and each counts a different group of people.
The wider Black African ethnic group numbered about 1.5 million in England and Wales in 2021, 2.5% of residents, up from 1.8% (990,000) in 2011.
- Ethnic group: 112,866 people described their ethnic group as Black African with a Ghanaian background in 2021, including British-born people.
- National identity: 47,321 people gave Ghanaian as their only national identity.
- Passports: 47,975 residents of England and Wales held a Ghanaian passport and no UK or Irish passport. The census counts each person once, so people who also hold a UK or Irish passport are counted under that passport instead.
- Scotland: 3,700 people in Scotland wrote in Ghanaian under the Other African ethnic group in 2022, and 2,241 held a Ghanaian passport.
What do the numbers mean for families looking after someone in Ghana?
Around 86,000 Ghana-born residents of England and Wales were aged 35 to 64 in 2021, the stage of life when many people have parents growing older at home.
For a family in Croydon, Milton Keynes or Leeds, that can mean arranging care, health appointments and money from a distance. Our guides to healthcare in Ghana and hospitals in Accra explain how the system works and what to check.
Kinship works in Nigeria today, and Ghana is coming soon.
Questions people ask
How many Ghanaians live in London?
The 2021 census counted 65,905 people born in Ghana living in London, almost half of the 132,577 Ghana-born residents of England and Wales. Croydon has the most of any borough, with 7,244.
Is the Ghanaian community in the UK growing?
Yes. The Ghana-born population of England and Wales rose from 93,846 in the 2011 census to 132,577 in 2021, an increase of 38,731 or 41%.
Do these figures include British-born Ghanaians?
No. Country of birth counts only people born in Ghana. In 2021, 112,866 people in England and Wales described their ethnic group as Black African with a Ghanaian background, which includes many people born in the UK.
Where do Ghanaians live outside London?
Milton Keynes (4,812), Leeds (3,316), Manchester (2,822), Birmingham (2,620), West Northamptonshire (2,361) and Coventry (2,258) have the largest Ghana-born populations outside London, according to the 2021 census.
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Sources
- Office for National Statistics, FOI-2025-3018: West African immigrants in the UK, Census 2021 country of birth, national identity and ethnic group by region, 22 August 2025
- Nomis (ONS), Census 2021 table TS012: Country of birth (detailed), by local authority, checked November 2026
- Office for National Statistics, Census 2021 dataset service: country of birth by age, and passports held, England and Wales, checked November 2026
- Nomis (ONS), 2011 Census table QS203EW: Country of birth (detailed), checked November 2026
- Office for National Statistics, Ethnic group, England and Wales: Census 2021, 29 November 2022
- National Records of Scotland, Scotland's Census 2022: detailed country of birth, ethnic group and passports held, 3 October 2024
- NISRA, Census 2021 MS-A18: Country of birth, full detail, Northern Ireland, 31 May 2023
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