Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia
Liberia: Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas was 44.5% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia is 44.5%, measured in 2020.
The figure is up 20.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia peaked at 47.1% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1950.
Liberia ranks 83rd of 236 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.0% | — |
| 1955 | 0.0% | — |
| 1960 | 0.0% | — |
| 1965 | 0.0% | — |
| 1970 | 0.0% | — |
| 1975 | 3.8% | — |
| 1980 | 15.0% | +290.8% |
| 1985 | 22.2% | +48.4% |
| 1990 | 47.1% | +111.6% |
| 1995 | 22.4% | -52.4% |
| 2000 | 33.4% | +49.2% |
| 2005 | 40.7% | +21.7% |
| 2010 | 36.9% | -9.1% |
| 2015 | 41.5% | +12.2% |
| 2020 | 44.5% | +7.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1960s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 2 |
| 1970s | 1.9% | 0.0% | 3.8% | 2 |
| 1980s | 18.6% | 15.0% | 22.2% | 2 |
| 1990s | 34.7% | 22.4% | 47.1% | 2 |
| 2000s | 37.0% | 33.4% | 40.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 39.2% | 36.9% | 41.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 44.5% | 44.5% | 44.5% | 1 |
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 share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia?
- Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas in Liberia was 44.5% in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 47.1% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1950.
- How does Liberia rank for share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Liberia ranks 83rd out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of population living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 15 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated share of the population living in cities. Cities are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.