Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Liberia
Liberia: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 3.21 million people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3.21 million people
Change on year
up 3.1%
World rank
122nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
3.21 million people
in 2025
All-time low
117,980 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Liberia, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Liberia recorded 3.21 million people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 35.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Liberia peaked at 3.21 million people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 117,980 people, in 1950.
That places Liberia 122nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Liberia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 117,980 people | — |
| 1951 | 124,882 people | +5.9% |
| 1952 | 132,289 people | +5.9% |
| 1953 | 140,187 people | +6.0% |
| 1954 | 148,619 people | +6.0% |
| 1955 | 157,640 people | +6.1% |
| 1956 | 167,262 people | +6.1% |
| 1957 | 177,491 people | +6.1% |
| 1958 | 188,257 people | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 199,666 people | +6.1% |
| 1960 | 211,854 people | +6.1% |
| 1961 | 224,763 people | +6.1% |
| 1962 | 238,507 people | +6.1% |
| 1963 | 253,326 people | +6.2% |
| 1964 | 268,981 people | +6.2% |
| 1965 | 285,553 people | +6.2% |
| 1966 | 303,013 people | +6.1% |
| 1967 | 321,390 people | +6.1% |
| 1968 | 340,766 people | +6.0% |
| 1969 | 361,157 people | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 382,599 people | +5.9% |
| 1971 | 404,943 people | +5.8% |
| 1972 | 428,443 people | +5.8% |
| 1973 | 453,461 people | +5.8% |
| 1974 | 480,171 people | +5.9% |
| 1975 | 509,346 people | +6.1% |
| 1976 | 541,253 people | +6.3% |
| 1977 | 575,827 people | +6.4% |
| 1978 | 612,863 people | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 651,602 people | +6.3% |
| 1980 | 691,493 people | +6.1% |
| 1981 | 731,596 people | +5.8% |
| 1982 | 771,062 people | +5.4% |
| 1983 | 810,386 people | +5.1% |
| 1984 | 849,493 people | +4.8% |
| 1985 | 885,163 people | +4.2% |
| 1986 | 848,175 people | -4.2% |
| 1987 | 968,679 people | +14.2% |
| 1988 | 1.01 million people | +4.4% |
| 1989 | 1.05 million people | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 963,629 people | -8.6% |
| 1991 | 1.13 million people | +17.8% |
| 1992 | 1.17 million people | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 1.14 million people | -2.9% |
| 1994 | 1.04 million people | -8.7% |
| 1995 | 965,879 people | -6.9% |
| 1996 | 959,080 people | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 1.04 million people | +8.2% |
| 1998 | 1.15 million people | +11.1% |
| 1999 | 1.23 million people | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 1.28 million people | +4.6% |
| 2001 | 1.33 million people | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 1.38 million people | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 1.40 million people | +1.8% |
| 2004 | 1.43 million people | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 1.51 million people | +5.5% |
| 2006 | 1.61 million people | +6.6% |
| 2007 | 1.71 million people | +6.0% |
| 2008 | 1.80 million people | +5.3% |
| 2009 | 1.88 million people | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 1.95 million people | +4.1% |
| 2011 | 2.05 million people | +5.1% |
| 2012 | 2.15 million people | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 2.22 million people | +3.3% |
| 2014 | 2.29 million people | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 2.36 million people | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 2.44 million people | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 2.51 million people | +3.0% |
| 2018 | 2.59 million people | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 2.67 million people | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 2.75 million people | +3.1% |
| 2021 | 2.84 million people | +3.2% |
| 2022 | 2.93 million people | +3.2% |
| 2023 | 3.02 million people | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 3.12 million people | +3.2% |
| 2025 | 3.21 million people | +3.1% |
Liberia compared with similar countries
- Liberia's 3.21 million people is below the median for low income countries, which is 6.96 million people, 46% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- Liberia's 3.21 million people is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 4.82 million people, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 155,427 people | 117,980 people | 199,666 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 280,931 people | 211,854 people | 361,157 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 504,051 people | 382,599 people | 651,602 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 862,129 people | 691,493 people | 1.05 million people | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.08 million people | 959,080 people | 1.23 million people | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.53 million people | 1.28 million people | 1.88 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.32 million people | 1.95 million people | 2.67 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.98 million people | 2.75 million people | 3.21 million people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More population data for Liberia
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2874 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.1439 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development 0.2% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 852,118 people (2100)
- Population density 131.49 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth 0.2% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.3986 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 2.07 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Liberia?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Liberia was 3.21 million people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.21 million people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 117,980 people in 1950.
- How does Liberia rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Liberia ranks 122nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 35.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Liberia data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.