Population According to , Liberia's total population was in . This is compared to 911,000 in 1950.
43.5% of Liberians were below the age of 15 in 2010. 53.7% were between 15 and 65 years of age, while 2.8% were 65 years or older.Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat, World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision
Estimates of Liberia's population prior to the 20th century are unreliable due to the lack of historical censuses. Estimates by scholars of pre-World War II demographics in Liberia differ wildly.
Total populationPopulation Age (%)0–1415–6465+ 1950 911 00041.055.93.0 1955 997 00041.156.12.8 19601 116 00041.455.92.7 19651 262 00043.054.32.6 19701 440 00044.153.32.6 19751 658 00044.852.62.6 19801 923 00045.551.92.6 19852 212 00045.951.52.6 19902 127 00045.652.82.6 19952 095 00044.552.82.6 20002 847 00043.653.82.6 20053 183 00043.354.02.7 20103 994 00043.553.72.8
Population by Sex and Age Group (Census 21.III.2008):
Age groupMaleFemaleTotal% Total 1 739 945 1 736 663 3 476 608 1000–14736 834721 2381 458 07241.94 0–4 270 564 263 911 534 475 15.37 5–9 251 411 250 520 501 931 14.44 10–14 214 859 206 807 421 666 12.1315–64945 641954 7841 900 42554.66 15–19 189 407 186 288 375 695 10.81 20–24 161 951 180 979 342 930 9.86 25–29 141 006 150 852 291 858 8.39 30–34 107 326 112 306 219 632 6.32 35–39 99 136 104 400 203 536 5.85 40–44 81 670 74 067 155 737 4.48 45–49 63 827 54 980 118 807 3.42 50–54 44 870 38 070 82 940 2.39 55–59 30 975 25 485 56 460 1.62 60–64 25 473 27 357 52 830 1.5265-85+57 47060 641118 1113.40 65-69 19 250 20 557 39 807 1.14 70-74 12 343 13 403 25 746 0.74 75-79 11 580 11 333 22 913 0.66 80-84 5 408 6 599 12 007 0.35 85+ 8 889 8 749 17 638 0.51
Vital statistics
Registration of vital events is in Liberia not complete. The Population Department of the United Nations prepared the following estimates.
YearMid-year population*Live births per year*Deaths per year*Natural change per year*CBR**CDR**NC**TFR**IMR**Life expectancy (years)1950 916,000 40,000 22,000 18,00043.124.019.16.00199.338.51951 933,000 41,000 23,000 18,00043.724.219.66.04198.838.61952 952,000 42,000 23,000 19,00044.324.220.26.09198.038.71953 971,000 44,000 24,000 20,00044.924.220.66.12197.338.81954 992,000 45,000 24,000 21,00045.424.321.16.16196.639.01955 1,014,000 46,000 25,000 22,00045.824.521.36.19197.238.81956 1,037,000 48,000 26,000 22,00046.424.721.66.24198.038.81957 1,061,000 50,000 26,000 23,00046.824.921.96.28198.738.71958 1,085,000 51,000 27,000 24,00047.225.222.16.31199.438.51959 1,110,000 53,000 28,000 25,00047.725.422.36.35200.138.41960 1,137,000 55,000 29,000 26,00048.025.622.56.39200.638.31961 1,165,000 56,000 30,000 26,00048.425.722.76.45200.738.31962 1,194,000 58,000 31,000 27,00048.725.723.06.50200.538.41963 1,224,000 60,000 31,000 28,00048.925.723.26.56200.038.51964 1,255,000 61,000 32,000 29,00049.025.723.46.59199.038.61965 1,287,000 63,000 33,000 30,00049.125.523.66.62197.538.81966 1,320,000 65,000 33,000 31,00049.025.323.76.63195.839.11967 1,354,000 66,000 34,000 33,00049.025.024.06.65193.739.41968 1,389,000 68,000 34,000 34,00049.024.724.26.66191.339.81969 1,426,000 70,000 35,000 35,00049.124.424.76.64188.540.21970 1,464,000 71,000 35,000 36,00048.524.024.56.58185.640.61971 1,502,000 72,000 35,000 37,00048.023.624.56.54183.140.91972 1,541,000 74,000 36,000 39,00048.223.125.16.60180.341.51973 1,583,000 77,000 36,000 40,00048.422.825.66.65177.741.91974 1,626,000 79,000 36,000 42,00048.522.426.06.69175.142.41975 1,672,000 81,000 37,000 44,00048.622.126.56.74172.442.81976 1,718,000 84,000 37,000 46,00048.721.826.96.79169.943.21977 1,768,000 86,000 38,000 48,00048.721.427.36.84167.643.61978 1,821,000 88,000 38,000 50,00048.621.027.66.88165.444.01979 1,876,000 91,000 39,000 52,00048.520.727.86.92163.444.31980 1,932,000 93,000 39,000 54,00048.020.327.76.87161.644.61981 1,990,000 94,000 40,000 55,00047.519.927.56.83159.945.01982 2,048,000 96,000 40,000 56,00046.919.627.36.79158.645.21983 2,109,000 98,000 41,000 57,00046.519.427.06.76157.845.41984 2,174,000 100,000 42,000 58,00045.919.326.66.73157.845.41985 2,240,000 102,000 44,000 58,00045.719.726.16.69159.944.71986 2,306,000 105,000 45,000 60,00045.519.426.06.64161.045.01987 2,372,000 107,000 47,000 60,00045.019.725.36.57164.044.51988 2,440,000 109,000 49,000 60,00044.720.124.66.51167.444.01989 2,508,000 111,000 51,000 60,00044.520.524.06.43170.643.51990 2,210,000 114,000 65,000 49,00044.425.518.96.37173.236.71991 1,939,000 85,000 40,000 45,00044.621.023.66.32175.042.81992 2,053,000 90,000 43,000 48,00044.521.023.56.28173.942.71993 2,133,000 95,000 46,000 49,00044.621.523.16.25174.842.21994 2,125,000 97,000 48,000 50,00044.621.822.86.21172.941.81995 2,142,000 94,000 43,000 52,00044.720.224.46.17166.143.91996 2,204,000 99,000 44,000 55,00044.619.924.76.13161.244.41997 2,383,000 100,000 39,000 60,00044.417.626.86.08151.547.81998 2,639,000 115,000 44,000 71,00044.316.927.46.02144.648.91999 2,790,000 122,000 45,000 77,00044.116.127.95.95137.350.02000 2,895,000 126,000 44,000 82,00043.615.228.45.88129.851.42001 2,982,000 128,000 43,000 86,00043.014.328.75.77122.052.82002 3,061,000 130,000 42,000 88,00042.313.628.75.65114.253.82003 3,085,000 131,000 43,000 88,00041.713.927.95.55108.953.02004 3,122,000 129,000 38,000 92,00041.512.129.35.5199.556.02005 3,266,000 133,000 37,000 96,00041.511.629.95.5293.256.92006 3,455,000 141,000 38,000 103,00041.311.230.25.5387.857.62007 3,633,000 147,000 39,000 108,00040.910.830.15.4683.358.32008 3,784,000 151,000 39,000 111,00039.910.429.55.3379.658.82009 3,905,000 152,000 39,000 113,00038.910.128.85.1776.559.22010 4,020,000 153,000 40,000 113,00038.19.928.25.0674.059.42011 4,181,000 155,000 40,000 114,00037.49.727.74.9772.059.62012 4,332,000 162,000 42,000 121,00037.39.627.74.8870.359.92013 4,427,000 160,000 42,000 118,00036.19.526.74.7568.859.92014 4,519,000 159,000 44,000 115,00035.19.825.34.6268.759.12015 4,612,000 158,000 45,000 113,00034.29.724.54.5267.759.12016 4,706,000 159,000 43,000 116,00033.79.124.74.4665.060.42017 4,797,000 159,000 43,000 116,00033.29.024.24.4063.760.62018 4,889,000 160,000 43,000 117,00032.78.823.94.3462.460.92019 4,985,000 161,000 43,000 118,00032.28.723.54.2661.161.12020 5,094,000 164,000 44,000 121,00031.98.523.44.1760.261.32021 5,205,000 166,000 45,000 121,00031.58.523.04.0958.861.22022 5,314,000 168,000 44,000 124,00031.28.223.04.0257.361.92023 5,433,000 170,000 44,000 126,00031.08.122.93.9555.962.22024 30.68.022.63.862025 30.38.022.33.79 * In thousands ** CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births; TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman)
Demographic and Health Surveys Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
YearCBRTFR Total Urban Rural Total Urban (Rural) 2007 37.6 32.5 40.4 5.2 (4.6) 3.8 (3.3) 6.2 (5.6) 2013 34.4 31.1 38.5 4.7 (4.0) 3.8 (3.3) 6.1 (5.1)2019-2030.127.533.64.2 (3.7)3.4 (3.1)5.5 (4.8)
Fertility data as of 2013 (DHS Program):
Region Total fertility rate Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant Mean number of children ever born to women age 40-49 North Western 5.8 10.3 7.1 South Central 3.8 6.7 5.8 South Eastern A 6.5 9.6 6.7 South Eastern B 5.9 9.2 7.1 North Central 5.6 10.2 6.2
Ethnic groups
Liberia is ethnically diverse, with more than 17 recognized ethnic groups forming the overwhelming majority of the population. Recent analyses by international organizations such as the World Bank and UNDP highlight persistent regional and socioeconomic disparities that often align with historical settlement patterns and ethnic distribution. The largest groups include the Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Mano, Grebo, Kru, Lorma, Gola, Kissi, Vai, Mandingo, Gbandi, Krahn, Sapo, Belleh (Kuwaa), Mende, and Dey. These groups are primarily of indigenous African origin and collectively account for the vast majority of Liberia’s population.
More recent estimates from the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) based on the 2022 national census confirm the continued dominance of indigenous ethnic groups, although updated disaggregated percentages by ethnicity are limited in publicly available summaries.
Minority and diaspora communities In addition to indigenous groups, Liberia includes several minority and diaspora populations. The Americo-Liberians are descendants of free-born and formerly enslaved African Americans who settled in Liberia beginning in 1822 under the auspices of the American Colonization Society. Related communities include Congo people, descendants of recaptive Africans liberated from transatlantic slave ships and resettled in Liberia during the 19th century.
Other groups include the Fula, who are historically associated with pastoralism and trade across West Africa, and Fanti fishermen, many of whom originate from Ghana and reside seasonally or permanently along Liberia’s coast.
Non-African populations include individuals of Lebanese, Indian, and European descent, many of whom are engaged in commerce and industry. These communities are concentrated primarily in urban centers, especially Monrovia.
Citizenship and legal framework The 1986 Constitution of Liberia restricts citizenship to persons who are "Negroes or of Negro descent", as stated in Article 27(b).
Linguistic classification The indigenous ethnic groups of Liberia can be broadly classified into several major language families within the Niger–Congo language family:
Mande-speaking groups, including the Kpelle, Gio, Mano, Lorma, Vai, Mende, and Mandingo Kru-speaking groups, including the Bassa, Grebo, and Kru Mel-speaking groups, including the Kissi Other groups such as the Gola language, often classified separately within the Niger–Congo phylum
Migration and settlement Historical and linguistic evidence suggests that many of Liberia’s ethnic groups migrated into the region over several centuries from the broader Upper Guinea and western Sudan regions of West Africa. These movements were influenced by trade networks, environmental changes, and regional conflicts. However, detailed migration histories vary among groups and remain the subject of ongoing scholarly research.
Historical immigrant communities During the 19th century, Liberia became a settlement location for freed African Americans and recaptive Africans, who formed the Americo-Liberian and Congo communities. These groups played a central role in the establishment of the Liberian state and dominated political and economic institutions during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Lebanese migration began in the late 19th century, with many settlers establishing businesses in trade, retail, and construction. Their descendants remain active in Liberia’s commercial sector.
Religion
According to the 2008 National Census, 85.5% of Liberia's population practices Christianity. Muslims comprise 12.2% of the population, largely coming from the Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups. The vast majority of Muslims are Malikite Sunni, with sizeable Shia and Ahmadiyya minorities. Traditional indigenous religions are practiced by 0.5% of the population, while 1.8% subscribe to no religion.
Languages
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence.
See also Liberia Persecution against Indigenous Liberians List of countries by population growth rate
References
Bibliography Ciment, J. (2013) Another America: The Story of Liberia and the Former Slaves Who Ruled It. New York: Hill and Wang. Clegg, C. (2004). The Price of Liberty: African Americans and the Making of Liberia. Chapel Hill: UNC Press. Sundiata, I. (2003) Brothers and Strangers: Black Zion, Black Slavery, 1914-1940. Durham: Duke University Press
External links
Liberia: Nation & People without identity