Liberia Poverty Assessment 2016 - Towards a more inclusive Liberia - Executive Summary

Jul 19, 2026

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Poverty remains widespread in Liberia despite two decades of relative peace, with more than half the population living below the official national poverty line. Poverty rose from 54.1% in 2014 to 58.9% in 2016, driven by the Ebola crisis and the 2015 economic downturn. Low income and low human capital sustain a cycle of deprivation, especially for children and women, while rural areas bear the heaviest burden. High regional inequality and weak access to basic services further threaten inclusive progress.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

Executive Summary

Poverty trends and drivers

Barriers: low income and low human capital

Vulnerable groups and gender disparities

Rural-urban and regional inequalities

Agriculture, employment transition, and productivity

Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized © 2023 The World Bank 1818 H Street NW, Washington DC 20433 Telephone: 202-473-1000; [Internet: www.worldbank.org](Internet: www.worldbank.org) Some rights reserved This work is a product of the staff of The World Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this work do not necessarily reflect the views of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in this work do not imply any judgment on the part of The World Bank concerning the legal status of any territory orthe endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Rights and Permissions The material in this work is subject to copyright. Because The World Bank encourages dissemination of its knowledge, this work may be reproduced, in whole or in part, for noncommercial purposes if full attribution to this work is given. Attribution—Please cite the work as follows: “World Bank. 2023. Liberia Poverty Assessment 2016 –Towards a more inclusive Liberia. © World Bank.”All queries on rights and licenses, including subsidiary rights, should be addressed to World Bank Publications, The World Bank Group, 1818 H Street NW, Washington, DC 20433, USA; fax: 202-522-2625; e-mail: [pubrights@worldbank.org](pubrights@worldbank.org). Photo Credits: World Bank Design: Robert Waiharo 2023 Liberia Poverty Assessment • Pathways Towards Economic Security i ii Liberia Photo: ©Farhat / World Bank EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Even after two decades of relative peace, more than half of Liberia’s population still lives in poverty, reflecting the scars of a devastating civil conflict and the Ebola crisis. Poverty—measured at the official national poverty line—increased from 54.1 percent in 2014 to 58.9 percent in 2016, driven by the Ebola crisis and the 2015 economic downturn. Persistent low income and low human capital continue to be the main barriers to progress, perpetuating a cycle of poverty, notably among vulnerable groups such as children and women. Children often experience severe poverty in large households where dependency on working age adults is higher. Gender disparities in education, resource access, and employment compound these challenges. Regional inequalities are also pronounced, with eight of 10 rural Liberians grappling with poverty, double that of urban Liberians. Liberia’s gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in 2021 ranks as one of the lowest in the world. Conflict, economic shocks, health crises, volatility of international prices, and subsequent persistent economic contraction combined with high population growth have resulted ina low and stagnant gross domestic product per capita. The expenditure of the average Liberian is below the amount needed to satisfy basic food and non-food needs (the poverty line) despite the country’s low inequality levels as measured by the Gini index. Due to poverty being much more pervasive in rural areas, the poorest areas concentrate in the country’s interior (Figure ES1) . Meanwhile, the areas in and around Monrovia are some of the least poor in the country. Half of Liberia’s population resides in rural areas, many of which have experienced deteriorating living standards. Continued disparities and inaccessibility of basic services has the potential to foster discontent among a large proportion of the Liberian population. Figure ES1: Poverty at the enumeration area level A. Poverty head count B. Poverty hotspots Nzérékoré Nzérékoré 16.26-21.19 21.19-25.64 25.64-37.80 37.811-50.95 50.95-61.04 61.04-69.22 69.22-73.53 73.53-76.04 76.05-78.79 78.79-83.75 Hot-spot (99%) Hot-spot (95%) Hot-spot (90%) Non signi cant Cold-spot (90%) Cold-spot (95%)

FAQs

How did poverty change in Liberia between 2014 and 2016?

Poverty increased from 54.1% in 2014 to 58.9% in 2016, linked to the Ebola crisis and the 2015 economic downturn.

Which population groups face the most severe poverty risks?

Children in large households and women face heightened poverty, with gender disparities in education, resources, and employment compounding the challenges.

Why is rural poverty more concentrated than urban poverty?

Poverty is much more pervasive in rural areas, with the poorest regions concentrated in the interior while areas around Monrovia are among the least poor.

Jul 19, 2026

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