Ethnicity

The classification of the Ghanaian population by ethnicity as used in the previous censuses is one provided by the Ghana Bureau of languages and which has been used in the 2010 census. The classifications include a wider coverage of ethnic groupings. Consistent with past trends, the Akan (51.1%) constitute the largest ethnic group in the region, followed by Ewe (18.9%), Ga-Adangbe (17%) and the Guan (5.3%). While the largest ethnic group in 12 of the 21 districts is Akan, the concentration of this group is in Birim South where four out of every five persons is Akan.

 The Ga-Adangbe constitutes more than 90 percent in the three districts of lower Manya (73.8%), Upper Manya (85.3%) and Yilo Krobo (82.3%). The higher proportion of the Ewe in Kwahu North (53.1%) could be attributed to the economic potential of the district for fishing and farming which are major economic activities of the Ewe migrants who have been displaced when the Volta Dam was created. The district is endowed with rich agricultural land and its proximity to the Volta Lake may have attracted migrants, particularly the Ewe, to the area.

Religion

Dominant religious group in the Eastern Region is Christianity with more than four-fifth (84.5%) professing adherence to the Christian faith. Moslems form only 6.7 percent of the population. The adherents to traditional religion form (1.4%) and those who have no religion constitute 6.5 percent.

At the district level, the proportion of Christians is highest in the Yilo Krobo District (93.9%). Pentecostals/Charismatic Christians account for large proportions of Christians in almost all the districts. Moslems are concentrated mostly in the New Juaben Municipality (10.5%) and Kwahu West Districts (10.0%). Persons who profess to have no Religion are found mostly in Kwahu South (12.0%) and Kwahu East Districts (13.0%).