Demographic Characteristics
Figure 1: Population of Major Settlements in the Municipality
Source: 2010 Municipal Population Estimate
|
S/N |
SETTLEMENT |
POPULATION |
|
1. |
Swedru |
55,239 |
|
2. |
Nyakrom |
18,666 |
|
3. |
Bobikuma |
7,980 |
|
4. |
Abodom |
6,576 |
|
5. |
Kwaman |
3,846 |
|
6. |
Nkum |
3,073 |
|
7. |
Wawase |
1,588 |
|
8. |
Otsenkorang |
1,076 |
|
9. |
Adukori |
891 |
|
10. |
Oteprow |
878 |
|
11. |
Ahomadonko |
745 |
|
12. |
Odomu |
736 |
|
13. |
Dadzie |
735 |
|
14. |
Nkwantanando |
729 |
|
15. |
Kukurantumi |
599 |
|
16. |
Bosompa |
600 |
|
17. |
Jukwafum |
510 |
|
18. |
Amponsahkrom |
506 |
|
19. |
Nkranfo |
485 |
|
20. |
Nsonan |
467 |
POPULATION SIZE AND GROWTH RATE
The population growth rate was 2.656% in 1984. About 40% of the populace were children. In 1960, the population of the area forming the current Agona District was 82,607 and growing at an annual rate of 0.6% it reached 87,446 in 1970 and by 1984 the total population was 122,631 showing an annual growth rate of 2.66% between 1970 and 1984(source: 1996-2000 Medium Term Development Plan page 14). With the current (2010) population estimated at 115358. The annual growth rate between 2000 and 2010 is 2.8 per annum
The Agona Municipality growth rate of 2.8% is higher than both the national and regional growth rates of 2.5% and 3.1% respectively. The above picture shows that the Municipality is experiencing a continual rise in the growth rate as it has shown a rise from 0.6% in 1960 to the present rate of 2.8%. The rapid increase is more importantly the result of both high birth rate and a considerably reduction in mortality as well as high in-migration rate. Though these are encouraging, the increasing population in the Municipality will place a growing strain on the municipality’s resources and create serious problems for the Municipal Assembly in particular and the central government in general.
AGE & GENDER STRUCTURE OF POPULATION
The age and sex structure of the Municipal population shows that the population is predominantly female (53.1%), with males forming about 46.9%.
1.5 Economic and Occupational Characteristics
The resource base of the Municipality is determined by the natural resources of the area. This has made the Municipality economy predominantly agricultural oriented. The climate, soil and labour base of the Municipality is agricultural biased. As a result of this, all the products of the Municipality are mainly agriculture outputs. Cash crop production dominates all farming activities of the Municipality e.g. cocoa, citrus, oil palm and coconut. There are a few deposits of clay and gold but not to support commercial production and exploitation. Agriculture is the major economic activity in Agona West and engages more than 64% of the Municipal population.
