Liberia’s Population is 5.2 Million
The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services(LISGIS) on Wednesday, February 22, 2023, released provisional results from the 2022 National Population and Housing Census (NPHC), revealing that Liberia has experienced an intercensal growth rate of 3.0% in its human population that amounts to 5.2 million people currently; as compared to the previous statistics of 3.4m people in 2008.
Announcing the provisional results to the Government and people of Liberia in a ceremony held at the Monrovia City Hall, the Acting Director General of LISGIS, Lawrence George, explained that the results constitute 97% completion of the full statistics collected and certified into the much delayed 2022-National Population and Housing Census across the country.
According to him, the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services employed every due mechanism in finding out its provisional results consistent with the 2022 Census enumeration process that also has a report of two million, six hundred forty-four thousand, four hundred fifty (2,644,450) of male accounting for 50.4% and two million, six hundred four thousand, one hundred seventy-one (2,604,171) of female accounting for 49. 6% which shows a relative rate of male to female in the 5.2m people of the current estimated population.
“The completeness of the 2022 LNPHC is 97 percent of the projection population, which is an internationally acceptable achievement. The 2022 Population and Housing Census employed a de facto population enumeration method”, George said, adding; “Liberia’s population figure from the 2022 NPHC is 5,248,621, with males accounting for 50.4 percent (2,644,450) and 49.6 (2,604,171) percent females. The intercensal population growth rate is 3.0 with an average household size of 4.4”.
George also mentioned that the delays in the census enumeration process which was conducted in 2022 came as a result of the Covid-19 impact and other activities from the democratic transition in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Vice President of Liberia, Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor used the occasion to underscore the importance of the first-ever digitalized census enumeration process, stressing that Liberia can now use the platform to explore its digitalization in other sectors and follow the of other countries.
The Vice President acknowledged the results will determine the improvement of infrastructures, ranging from the building of roads, hospitals, schools, and markets among others to making informed decisions affecting the people indicating that the Liberian Government will continue to ensure that the lives of the people are touched.
‘’Liberia now has done a digital census, the first of its kind. I pray that our Government our partners will now begin to look at how we can synchronize all of the issues that will give each one, one digital footprint to be used in every area, whether it is driver’s license or voter’s registration or passport; She stresses, “This provides unlimited possibilities. We look forward to that’’.
Speaking during the release of the provisional results on Wednesday, Liberia’s international partners expressed their delight over the conduct of the census by LISGIS working alongside UNFPA and other development partners.
Representing the One United Nations, its Resident Coordinator, Ambassador Christine N. Umutoni emphasized; “I like one of UNFPA’s quotes which says “ WHEN YOU DON’T COUNT: YOU DON’T COUNT. Meaning data and particularly census is very important in any country. It provides us the baseline of where we are and propels planning and progress because if you know where you are coming from it is easier to know where you are going”.
The Rwandan Diplomat then added; “No doubt, the conduct of the second National Population and Housing Census during the peace era by Liberia is a significant milestone. (I don’t like saying post-conflict). The release of the provisional results means that Liberia now has reliable new and multi-sectoral data that we can all use immediately and going forward”.
Also speaking at the release of the national demographics include the Swedish Ambassador, Ghanaian Ambassador, USAID, and World Bank among others
W. Roland James is a Journalist by Profession; a Public Speaker and Interested-Advocate, who is determing to render essential conderable service to the Liberian Society.
He has a passion in Sports reporting, Human interest stories and overall reports from all sectors of relative to the field of journalism. He stands by the belief in the profession that ‘’The Public journal is a public trust; and that a journalist shoud only writes what he/she holds in heart to be true’’.
