IPNEWS: It has been more than three years Liberia officially 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, 2023, 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] stood at 5.2 million (5,248,621).
Mr. George stated that 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.
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.
Former Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, praised the United Nations and development partners for supporting Liberia in conducting the 2022 National Population and Housing Census.
As of Thursday, July 11, 2024, Liberia’s population density reflects 5,536,949 at a growth rate of 2.19%
Now, the Director-General of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo Information Services, Richard Ngafuan, has differed with the results of the 2022 Census and challenged the figures of 5.2 million as Liberia’s population.
Mr. Ngafuan as also vowed to audit the results of the Census to determine the actual population.
According to him, the government of President Joseph Boakai through LISGIS will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the actual population of Liberia, stressing that the Census results under former President George Weah’s regime has raised numerous public perceptions.
About two years ago, the government of former president George Weah conducted what is believed as a controversial nationwide census which provided that Liberia as a country has a population of 5.2 million people.
Ngafuan claimed that conducting a census audit is necessary for the UP administration which he said will inform the public about the actual inhabitants and inform policy makers to make sound economic decisions.
He has further assured members of the Legislature and the public that upon the conclusion of the process the institute will inform the Liberian people.
