Liberia announces provisional results of its 5th National Population and Housing Census

Liberia has announced the provisional results of its 2022 National Population and Housing Census. The population was enumerated between November 14 and December 18, 2022. This was preceded by the geographic planning process that included mapping the country into enumeration areas between April 2021 and February 2022.

Speaking on Wednesday, 22 February, at a ceremony in Monrovia, the Acting Director General at the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), Mr. Lawrence George, said: “The de facto Population in Liberia on Census Night [November 10-11, 2022] was 5.2 million (5,248,621). The total population increased by 1,772,013 (50 percent) [when] compared to the 2008 census. Overall the male population makes up 50.4 percent (2,644,450) of the people, and the female population accounts for 49.6 (2,604,171), given a national sex ratio of 101.5 males for every 100 females.”

“A total of 1,187,388 households were enumerated with an average national household size of 4.4 persons, while the national population density is 140 persons per square mile. The completeness of the 2022 Liberia National Population and Housing Census (LNPHC) is 97 percent of the projected population, which is an internationally acceptable achievement,” Mr. George added.

Speaking on behalf of the United Nations, the UN Resident Coordinator for Liberia, Madame Christine N. Umutoni, commended the Government and people of Liberia for conducting a successful national population and housing census.

“The census is like a mirror where you see every aspect of the country to help your planning. With the release of the Provisional Results today, the United Nations in Liberia stands ready to continue working with the Government, international partners, and all stakeholders to ensure the release of the final results as scheduled,” Madame Umutoni said.

“We also stand committed to working closely with the Government and all stakeholders to ensure that this data is analyzed and used to ensure robust policies and programmes that reach everyone, including those farthest behind. With the analysis of the Census data based on the various thematic areas, there will be updated demographic, social, and economic data to support Liberia’s development activities and for tracking the implementation of development goals,” she added.

It is expected that with the release of the provisional results, LISGIS will now move to analyze the census data and produce reports on the various thematic areas, including Housing Conditions and Characteristics, Fertility, Mortality, Nuptiality, Migration and Population Re-distribution, Poverty Dimension, Labour Force and Employment, Disability and Special Population, Education and Literacy, Gender Dimension, Agriculture, Population Projection, Health and Sanitation, and Youth and Adolescents.

Meanwhile, the Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, has praised the United Nations and development partners for supporting Liberia in conducting the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.