Quick facts
Tamale overview
Tamale (orange) and the other large cities of Ghana
Tamale lies in Northern in Ghana at 9.4°N, 0.84°W, about 196 m above sea level. The local time zone is Africa/Accra (UTC+0); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Accra (1,963,264) and larger than Takoradi (389,114). The largest city in Ghana is Kumasi with 2,544,530 people; the capital, Accra, has 1,963,264.
The national capital, Accra, is about 433 km away; the nearest large city is Bolgatanga, 154 km from Tamale.
Ghana as a whole has a live population of 35,884,280 (+1.8% a year) and ranks #46 of 238 countries — see the Ghana population page for the full statistics and the Ghana atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Tamale
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Bolgatanga Upper East | 154 km | 81,958 |
| Bawku Upper East | 196 km | 76,459 |
| Wa Upper West | 196 km | 78,107 |
Largest cities in Ghana
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Tamale?
Tamale has about 464,316 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Tamale the capital of Ghana?
No. The capital of Ghana is Accra (1,963,264 people), about 433 km away. Tamale is the 3rd largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Tamale compared with the rest of Ghana?
Its 464,316 residents are 1.3% of the 35,884,280 people living in Ghana today. Kumasi is larger with 2,544,530 people.
Where is Tamale?
In Northern, Ghana, at latitude 9.4 and longitude -0.84, 196 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Bolgatanga (154 km), Bawku (196 km), Wa (196 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Tamale Population 2026 — Ghana. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/ghana/tamale/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/ghana/tamale/">Tamale Population 2026 — Ghana</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.