Population growth rate in Liberia
Liberia: Population growth rate was 2.2% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Population growth rate in Liberia, 1950–2023
Source: UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Liberia recorded 2.2% for population growth rate in 2023.
The figure is down 0.5% on the previous year and up 0.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population growth rate in Liberia peaked at 14.2% in 1997 and was at its lowest, -29.9%, in 1990.
Liberia ranks 45th of 236 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population growth rate in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1.8% | — |
| 1951 | 1.9% | +4.6% |
| 1952 | 2.0% | +3.5% |
| 1953 | 2.0% | +1.4% |
| 1954 | 2.1% | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 2.2% | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 2.2% | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 2.3% | +1.7% |
| 1958 | 2.2% | -2.0% |
| 1959 | 2.4% | +5.7% |
| 1960 | 2.4% | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 2.5% | +1.7% |
| 1962 | 2.5% | +1.2% |
| 1963 | 2.5% | +0.8% |
| 1964 | 2.5% | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 2.6% | +1.3% |
| 1966 | 2.5% | -1.4% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | +1.2% |
| 1968 | 2.5% | -0.3% |
| 1969 | 2.6% | +0.7% |
| 1970 | 2.6% | -0.3% |
| 1971 | 2.5% | -2.9% |
| 1972 | 2.6% | +4.2% |
| 1973 | 2.6% | +2.5% |
| 1974 | 2.7% | +1.1% |
| 1975 | 2.7% | +1.6% |
| 1976 | 2.7% | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 2.9% | +6.3% |
| 1978 | 2.9% | +1.2% |
| 1979 | 3.0% | +1.3% |
| 1980 | 3.0% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 2.9% | -2.4% |
| 1982 | 2.9% | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 3.1% | +8.3% |
| 1984 | 3.1% | -0.7% |
| 1985 | 3.0% | -2.3% |
| 1986 | 3.0% | -1.5% |
| 1987 | 2.9% | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 2.9% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 2.8% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | -29.9% | -1154.0% |
| 1991 | 6.4% | -121.5% |
| 1992 | 5.1% | -19.9% |
| 1993 | 2.7% | -46.8% |
| 1994 | -3.2% | -217.9% |
| 1995 | 5.0% | -254.2% |
| 1996 | 0.8% | -83.3% |
| 1997 | 14.2% | +1619.3% |
| 1998 | 6.4% | -54.9% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -27.2% |
| 2000 | 2.8% | -40.7% |
| 2001 | 3.1% | +11.8% |
| 2002 | 2.1% | -31.6% |
| 2003 | -0.5% | -124.3% |
| 2004 | 2.9% | -659.3% |
| 2005 | 6.0% | +108.2% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | -12.8% |
| 2007 | 4.8% | -8.8% |
| 2008 | 3.4% | -28.8% |
| 2009 | 2.9% | -14.2% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 4.9% | +70.4% |
| 2012 | 2.2% | -55.2% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 2.0% | -10.2% |
| 2015 | 2.2% | +9.2% |
| 2016 | 1.9% | -10.1% |
| 2017 | 1.9% | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 2.0% | +2.0% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | +7.2% |
| 2021 | 2.1% | -3.3% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | +6.5% |
| 2023 | 2.2% | -0.5% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 2.2% is below the median for low income countries, which is 2.7%, 81% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 2.2% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.3%, 94% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Population growth rate in Liberia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +1619.3% | 0.8% | 14.2% |
| 1990 | -1154.0% | 2.8% | -29.9% |
| 2004 | +659.3% | -0.5% | 2.9% |
| 1995 | +254.2% | -3.2% | 5.0% |
| 1994 | -217.9% | 2.7% | -3.2% |
| 2003 | -124.3% | 2.1% | -0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2.1% | 1.8% | 2.4% | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.6% | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.7% | 2.5% | 3.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.0% | 2.8% | 3.1% | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | -29.9% | 14.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.3% | -0.5% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.9% | 4.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.2% | 2.1% | 2.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More population data for Liberia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1439 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -0.7859 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.1439 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2874 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 8,891 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3986 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Population density 131.49 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 852,118 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population growth rate in Liberia?
- Population growth rate in Liberia was 2.2% in 2023, according to UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest population growth rate recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 1997.
- What is the lowest population growth rate recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was -29.9% in 1990.
- How does Liberia rank for population growth rate?
- Liberia ranks 45th out of 236 countries with data for 2023.
- Is population growth rate rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia data come from?
- The figures come from UN, World Population Prospects (2024) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Population growth rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rate at which the population is growing, expressed as a percentage.