Census Provisional Result Puts Liberia’s Population At 5.2 Million
By Reagan S. Lebbie (LINA)
MONROVIA, Feb.22 ( LINA) – With support from the Liberian government and international partners including the World Bank, Sweden, UNFPA, Irish Aid, ECOWAS, USAID and Ghana the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) Wednesday released the provisional result of the National Population and Housing 2022 putting the Liberian population at 5.248,621 people.
The 2022 exercise is Liberia’s first complete digital census, using state-of-the -art geo- spatial, census monitoring dashboard and Computer Aided Personal Interview (CAPI) technology in all aspects of its implementation.
As a comprehensive digital Census, it leveraged the available technology to improve operational efficiency and enhance the quality of the data collection.
Giving the report, LISGIS acting Director General, Lawrence George, said the data will be used as provisional figures until the final results are released by the end of May 2023.
Accordingly, the de facto population on census night was 5.2 million (5,248,621) he said, adding that the total population increased by 1,772,013, constituting 50 percent when compared o the 2008 census.
George further disclosed that the overall male population makes up 50.4 percent (2,644,450) of the people and the female population accounts for 49.6 percent, representing 2,604,171 and giving the national sex ration of 101.5 male for every 100 females.
Furthermore, 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 acting Director disclosed that the Liberia Average Household size by county according to the 2022 LNPHC provisional results have also revealed that Montserrado County accounts for 37 percent of the total population enumerated, followed by Nimba County with 12 percent, Bong County accounting for nine percent and Lofa County with seven percent, adding that these four counties constitute nearly two-thirds (65percent) of Liberia’s total population.
He named Rivercess County with 1.7 percent and Gbarpolu County 1.8 percent as accounting for less than four percent of the population, followed by Grand Kru County with 2.1 percent and River Gee County with 2.4 percent
“The management and staff of the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo- Information Services hereby express appreciation to all census committees, Census officials, field staff, partners, the media, stakeholders, and the General public who participated in the census and look forward to continued engagements during the dissemination phase of this critical national project,” Director George stated.
He further expressed thanks and appreciation to the President George M. Weah for being “very committed” to the process even when he was abroad, and also Vice President Madame Jewel Howard Taylor who was very instrumental in making sure that “a successful census was conducted.”
Reading the report, the acting Director said, the LISGIS Act of 2004 states that only aggregated data is reported, which is the international norm for census data dissemination, adding that the Act places a legal restriction on publishing data and/or information about individuals, noting that all personal details are protected and removed from publications and datasets to protect the confidentiality of respondents consistent with international standard practices.
According to him, the comprehensive provisional census results are available online at www.lisgis.gov.lr
Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Samuel D. Tweah has also expressed gratitude to the National Legislature for its leadership role played during the conduct of the census, adding: “The National Legislature has been very flexible.”
Minister Tweah used the occasion to thank the government and people of Ghana for assisting Liberia with equipment, including 21K Tablets, 21K Power Banks, among others, to enable LISGIS conduct a digital Census across the country.
“We are grateful to the over 16,565 census Enumerators and supervisors who visited households nationwide to count and collect detailed information on nearly all persons.
