Population
According to , Liberia's total population was in . This is compared to 911,000 in 1950.
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.
[[Image:Liberia-demography.png|thumb|330x330px|Liberia's population from 1961-2013. Liberia's population tripled in 40 years.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! width="25pt"|Year
! width="70pt"|Mid-year population*
! width="70pt"|Live births per year*
! width="70pt"|Deaths per year*
! width="70pt"|Natural change per year*
! width="70pt"|CBR**
! width="70pt"|CDR**
! width="70pt"|NC**
! width="70pt"|TFR**
! width="70pt"|IMR**
! width="70pt"|Life expectancy (years)
|-
|1950
| 916
| 40
| 22
| 18
|43.1
|24.0
|19.1
|6.00
|199.3
|38.5
|-
|1951
| 933
| 41
| 23
| 18
|43.7
|24.2
|19.6
|6.04
|198.8
|38.6
|-
|1952
| 952
| 42
| 23
| 19
|44.3
|24.2
|20.2
|6.09
|198.0
|38.7
|-
|1953
| 971
| 44
| 24
| 20
|44.9
|24.2
|20.6
|6.12
|197.3
|38.8
|-
|1954
| 992
| 45
| 24
| 21
|45.4
|24.3
|21.1
|6.16
|196.6
|39.0
|-
|1955
| 1 014
| 46
| 25
| 22
|45.8
|24.5
|21.3
|6.19
|197.2
|38.8
|-
|1956
| 1 037
| 48
| 26
| 22
|46.4
|24.7
|21.6
|6.24
|198.0
|38.8
|-
|1957
| 1 061
| 50
| 26
| 23
|46.8
|24.9
|21.9
|6.28
|198.7
|38.7
|-
|1958
| 1 085
| 51
| 27
| 24
|47.2
|25.2
|22.1
|6.31
|199.4
|38.5
|-
|1959
| 1 110
| 53
| 28
| 25
|47.7
|25.4
|22.3
|6.35
|200.1
|38.4
|-
|1960
| 1 137
| 55
| 29
| 26
|48.0
|25.6
|22.5
|6.39
|200.6
|38.3
|-
|1961
| 1 165
| 56
| 30
| 26
|48.4
|25.7
|22.7
|6.45
|200.7
|38.3
|-
|1962
| 1 194
| 58
| 31
| 27
|48.7
|25.7
|23.0
|6.50
|200.5
|38.4
|-
|1963
| 1 224
| 60
| 31
| 28
|48.9
|25.7
|23.2
|6.56
|200.0
|38.5
|-
|1964
| 1 255
| 61
| 32
| 29
|49.0
|style="color:red"|25.7
|23.4
|6.59
|199.0
|38.6
|-
|1965
| 1 287
| 63
| 33
| 30
|49.1
|25.5
|23.6
|6.62
|197.5
|38.8
|-
|1966
| 1 320
| 65
| 33
| 31
|49.0
|25.3
|23.7
|6.63
|195.8
|39.1
|-
|1967
| 1 354
| 66
| 34
| 33
|49.0
|25.0
|24.0
|6.65
|193.7
|39.4
|-
|1968
| 1 389
| 68
| 34
| 34
|49.0
|24.7
|24.2
|6.66
|191.3
|39.8
|-
|1969
| 1 426
| 70
| 35
| 35
|style="color:blue"|49.1
|24.4
|24.7
|6.64
|188.5
|40.2
|-
|1970
| 1 464
| 71
| 35
| 36
|48.5
|24.0
|24.5
|6.58
|185.6
|40.6
|-
|1971
| 1 502
| 72
| 35
| 37
|48.0
|23.6
|24.5
|6.54
|183.1
|40.9
|-
|1972
| 1 541
| 74
| 36
| 39
|48.2
|23.1
|25.1
|6.60
|180.3
|41.5
|-
|1973
| 1 583
| 77
| 36
| 40
|48.4
|22.8
|25.6
|6.65
|177.7
|41.9
|-
|1974
| 1 626
| 79
| 36
| 42
|48.5
|22.4
|26.0
|6.69
|175.1
|42.4
|-
|1975
| 1 672
| 81
| 37
| 44
|48.6
|22.1
|26.5
|6.74
|172.4
|42.8
|-
|1976
| 1 718
| 84
| 37
| 46
|48.7
|21.8
|26.9
|6.79
|169.9
|43.2
|-
|1977
| 1 768
| 86
| 38
| 48
|48.7
|21.4
|27.3
|6.84
|167.6
|43.6
|-
|1978
| 1 821
| 88
| 38
| 50
|48.6
|21.0
|27.6
|6.88
|165.4
|44.0
|-
|1979
| 1 876
| 91
| 39
| 52
|48.5
|20.7
|27.8
|style="color:blue"|6.92
|163.4
|44.3
|-
|1980
| 1 932
| 93
| 39
| 54
|48.0
|20.3
|27.7
|6.87
|161.6
|44.6
|-
|1981
| 1 990
| 94
| 40
| 55
|47.5
|19.9
|27.5
|6.83
|159.9
|45.0
|-
|1982
| 2 048
| 96
| 40
| 56
|46.9
|19.6
|27.3
|6.79
|158.6
|45.2
|-
|1983
| 2 109
| 98
| 41
| 57
|46.5
|19.4
|27.0
|6.76
|157.8
|45.4
|-
|1984
| 2 174
| 100
| 42
| 58
|45.9
|19.3
|26.6
|6.73
|157.8
|45.4
|-
|1985
| 2 240
| 102
| 44
| 58
|45.7
|19.7
|26.1
|6.69
|159.9
|44.7
|-
|1986
| 2 306
| 105
| 45
| 60
|45.5
|19.4
|26.0
|6.64
|161.0
|45.0
|-
|1987
| 2 372
| 107
| 47
| 60
|45.0
|19.7
|25.3
|6.57
|164.0
|44.5
|-
|1988
| 2 440
| 109
| 49
| 60
|44.7
|20.1
|24.6
|6.51
|167.4
|44.0
|-
|1989
| 2 508
| 111
| 51
| 60
|44.5
|20.5
|24.0
|6.43
|170.6
|43.5
|-
|1990
| 2 210
| 114
|style="color:red"| 65
| 49
|44.4
|25.5
|style="color:red"|18.9
|6.37
|173.2
|36.7
|-
|1991
| 1 939
| 85
| 40
| 45
|44.6
|21.0
|23.6
|6.32
|175.0
|42.8
|-
|1992
| 2 053
| 90
| 43
| 48
|44.5
|21.0
|23.5
|6.28
|173.9
|42.7
|-
|1993
| 2 133
| 95
| 46
| 49
|44.6
|21.5
|23.1
|6.25
|174.8
|42.2
|-
|1994
| 2 125
| 97
| 48
| 50
|44.6
|21.8
|22.8
|6.21
|172.9
|41.8
|-
|1995
| 2 142
| 94
| 43
| 52
|44.7
|20.2
|24.4
|6.17
|166.1
|43.9
|-
|1996
| 2 204
| 99
| 44
| 55
|44.6
|19.9
|24.7
|6.13
|161.2
|44.4
|-
|1997
| 2 383
| 100
| 39
| 60
|44.4
|17.6
|26.8
|6.08
|151.5
|47.8
|-
|1998
| 2 639
| 115
| 44
| 71
|44.3
|16.9
|27.4
|6.02
|144.6
|48.9
|-
|1999
| 2 790
| 122
| 45
| 77
|44.1
|16.1
|27.9
|5.95
|137.3
|50.0
|-
|2000
| 2 895
| 126
| 44
| 82
|43.6
|15.2
|28.4
|5.88
|129.8
|51.4
|-
|2001
| 2 982
| 128
| 43
| 86
|43.0
|14.3
|28.7
|5.77
|122.0
|52.8
|-
|2002
| 3 061
| 130
| 42
| 88
|42.3
|13.6
|28.7
|5.65
|114.2
|53.8
|-
|2003
| 3 085
| 131
| 43
| 88
|41.7
|13.9
|27.9
|5.55
|108.9
|53.0
|-
|2004
| 3 122
| 129
| 38
| 92
|41.5
|12.1
|29.3
|5.51
|99.5
|56.0
|-
|2005
| 3 266
| 133
| 37
| 96
|41.5
|11.6
|29.9
|5.52
|93.2
|56.9
|-
|2006
| 3 455
| 141
| 38
| 103
|41.3
|11.2
|style="color:blue"|30.2
|5.53
|87.8
|57.6
|-
|2007
| 3 633
| 147
| 39
| 108
|40.9
|10.8
|30.1
|5.46
|83.3
|58.3
|-
|2008
| 3 784
| 151
| 39
| 111
|39.9
|10.4
|29.5
|5.33
|79.6
|58.8
|-
|2009
| 3 905
| 152
| 39
| 113
|38.9
|10.1
|28.8
|5.17
|76.5
|59.2
|-
|2010
| 4 020
| 153
| 40
| 113
|38.1
|9.9
|28.2
|5.06
|74.0
|59.4
|-
|2011
| 4 181
| 155
| 40
| 114
|37.4
|9.7
|27.7
|4.97
|72.0
|59.6
|-
|2012
| 4 332
| 162
| 42
| 121
|37.3
|9.6
|27.7
|4.88
|70.3
|59.9
|-
|2013
| 4 427
| 160
| 42
| 118
|36.1
|9.5
|26.7
|4.75
|68.8
|59.9
|-
|2014
| 4 519
| 159
| 44
| 115
|35.1
|9.8
|25.3
|4.62
|68.7
|59.1
|-
|2015
| 4 612
| 158
| 45
| 113
|34.2
|9.7
|24.5
|4.52
|67.7
|59.1
|-
|2016
| 4 706
| 159
| 43
| 116
|33.7
|9.1
|24.7
|4.46
|65.0
|60.4
|-
|2017
| 4 797
| 159
| 43
| 116
|33.2
|9.0
|24.2
|4.40
|63.7
|60.6
|-
|2018
| 4 889
| 160
| 43
| 117
|32.7
|8.8
|23.9
|4.34
|62.4
|60.9
|-
|2019
| 4 985
| 161
| 43
| 118
|32.2
|8.7
|23.5
|4.26
|61.1
|61.1
|-
|2020
| 5 094
| 164
| 44
| 121
|31.9
|8.5
|23.4
|4.17
|60.2
|61.3
|-
|2021
| 5 205
| 166
| 45
| 121
|31.5
|8.5
|23.0
|4.09
|58.8
|61.2
|-
|2022
| 5 314
| 168
| 44
| 124
|31.2
|8.2
|23.0
|4.02
|57.3
|61.9
|-
|2023
| 5 433
| 170
| 44
|style="color:blue"| 126
|31.0
|8.1
|22.9
|3.95
|55.9
|62.2
|-
|2024
|
|
|
|
|30.6
|8.0
|22.6
|3.86
|
|
|-
|2025
|
|
|
|
|30.3
|style="color:blue"|8.0
|22.3
|3.79
|
|
|-
| colspan="11" align="left" | * In thousands
<nowiki>**</nowiki> <small> 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)</small>
|}
Demographic and Health Surveys
Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):
{| class="wikitable"
! rowspan="2" |Year
! colspan="3" |CBR
! colspan="3" |TFR
|-
! style="width:50pt;" | Total
! style="width:50pt;" | Urban
! style="width:50pt;" | Rural
! style="width:50pt;" | Total
! style="width:50pt;" | Urban
! style="width:50pt;" | (Rural)
|-
| 2007
| style="text-align:right;" | 37.6
| style="text-align:right;" | 32.5
| style="text-align:right;" | 40.4
| style="text-align:right;" | 5.2 (4.6)
| style="text-align:right;" | 3.8 (3.3)
| style="text-align:right;" | 6.2 (5.6)
|-
| 2013
| style="text-align:right;" | 34.4
| style="text-align:right;" | 31.1
| style="text-align:right;" | 38.5
| style="text-align:right;" | 4.7 (4.0)
| style="text-align:right;" | 3.8 (3.3)
| style="text-align:right;" | 6.1 (5.1)
|-
|2019-20
| style="text-align:right;" |30.1
| style="text-align:right;" |27.5
| style="text-align:right;" |33.6
| style="text-align:right;" |4.2 (3.7)
| style="text-align:right;" |3.4 (3.1)
| style="text-align:right;" |5.5 (4.8)
|-
|}
Fertility data as of 2013 (DHS Program):
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! style="width:100pt;"| Region
! style="width:100pt;"| Total fertility rate
! style="width:100pt;"| Percentage of women age 15-49 currently pregnant
! style="width:100pt;"| 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.
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.
|label1 = Christianity
|value1 = 85.6
|color1 = white
|label2 = Islam
|value2 = 12.2
|color2 = yellow
|label3 = None
|value3 = 1.4
|color3 = blue
|label4 = Traditional
|value4 = 0.6
|color4 = red
|label5 = Others
|value5 = 0.2
|color5 = Black
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. Traditional indigenous religions are practiced by 0.5% of the population, while 1.8% subscribe to no religion.