GeoRealityMatch
Local fishermen navigate a boat along the coast of Monrovia, Liberia.Vibrant scene of fishing boats and urban skyline in Monrovia, Liberia.

Liberia

Africa · Western Africa

High safetyLow development

Incomes are low.

Safety

86th most peaceful of 161

Global Peace Index
2.024lower is more peacefulHigh safety
#86 of 161
IEP GPI · 2026
Money

Incomes below the median country

GNI per person
$830national income per person, US dollarsVery low
World Bank · 2025

Income and inflation over time

Income per person rose 185% in current dollars from 2006 to 2025, and rose 24% after inflation.

GDP per person, current US$At purchasing power parityInflation

$0$1.0K$2.0K$1,981 PPP$915Inflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020252006, $321 a person, $815 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $374 a person, $873 at PPP, inflation 11.4%2008, $452 a person, $915 at PPP, inflation 17.5%2009, $448 a person, $939 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2010, $492 a person, $980 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2011, $568 a person, $1,041 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2012, $638 a person, $1,157 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2013, $711 a person, $1,360 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2014, $707 a person, $1,419 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2015, $693 a person, $1,340 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2016, $715 a person, $1,490 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2017, $699 a person, $1,665 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2018, $692 a person, $1,800 at PPP, inflation 23.6%2019, $658 a person, $1,900 at PPP, inflation 27%2020, $617 a person, $1,660 at PPP, inflation 17%2021, $668 a person, $1,539 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2022, $745 a person, $1,691 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2023, $799 a person, $1,796 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2024, $851 a person, $1,874 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2025, $915 a person, $1,981 at PPP, inflation 8.3%$0$1.0K$2.0KInflation, % a year30%0200620102015202020252006, $321 a person, $815 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2007, $374 a person, $873 at PPP, inflation 11.4%2008, $452 a person, $915 at PPP, inflation 17.5%2009, $448 a person, $939 at PPP, inflation 7.4%2010, $492 a person, $980 at PPP, inflation 7.3%2011, $568 a person, $1,041 at PPP, inflation 8.5%2012, $638 a person, $1,157 at PPP, inflation 6.8%2013, $711 a person, $1,360 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2014, $707 a person, $1,419 at PPP, inflation 9.9%2015, $693 a person, $1,340 at PPP, inflation 7.7%2016, $715 a person, $1,490 at PPP, inflation 8.8%2017, $699 a person, $1,665 at PPP, inflation 12.4%2018, $692 a person, $1,800 at PPP, inflation 23.6%2019, $658 a person, $1,900 at PPP, inflation 27%2020, $617 a person, $1,660 at PPP, inflation 17%2021, $668 a person, $1,539 at PPP, inflation 7.8%2022, $745 a person, $1,691 at PPP, inflation 7.6%2023, $799 a person, $1,796 at PPP, inflation 10.1%2024, $851 a person, $1,874 at PPP, inflation 8.2%2025, $915 a person, $1,981 at PPP, inflation 8.3%

World Bank: GDP per person in current US dollars and at PPP, real GDP per person, consumer price inflation. Observed years only.

Health

Among the shortest life expectancies

Life expectancy
62.3years, at birthVery low
#180 of 195
World Bank · 2024
Health coverage
49WHO universal health coverage index, 0 to 100Very lowWHO · 2023
Air pollution
29.5PM2.5, micrograms per cubic metre, national averageVery highWHO · 2023
Work and internet
Unemployment rate
2.9%share of the labour force without a jobWorld Bank · 2025
Vibrant scene of fishing boats and urban skyline in Monrovia, Liberia.
How it changed

Liberia's Human Development Index

0.510Low human development

177th of 193 in UNDP's 2023 ranking, 40th of 54 in Africa.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita. UNDP Human Development Report 2025.

Nearest countries by HDI

  1. #175Djibouti0.513
  2. #176Sudan0.511
  3. #177Liberia0.510
  4. #178Eritrea0.503
  5. #179Guinea0.500
Full HDI ranking, all 193 countries

HDI since 1999

Year by year

Human development rose from 0.403 in 1999 to 0.510 in 2023.

0.350.450.550.51019992000201020231999: 0.4032000: 0.4432001: 0.4482002: 0.4532003: 0.4292004: 0.4422005: 0.4462006: 0.4502007: 0.4552008: 0.4592009: 0.4632010: 0.4672011: 0.4712012: 0.4752013: 0.4812014: 0.4792015: 0.4802016: 0.4852017: 0.4912018: 0.4952019: 0.4972020: 0.4982021: 0.5032022: 0.5082023: 0.5100.350.450.5519992000201020231999: 0.4032000: 0.4432001: 0.4482002: 0.4532003: 0.4292004: 0.4422005: 0.4462006: 0.4502007: 0.4552008: 0.4592009: 0.4632010: 0.4672011: 0.4712012: 0.4752013: 0.4812014: 0.4792015: 0.4802016: 0.4852017: 0.4912018: 0.4952019: 0.4972020: 0.4982021: 0.5032022: 0.5082023: 0.510

UNDP Human Development Report, 2025 edition. 25 annual values, none interpolated.

Twenty years here

Year by yearThe world report
Life expectancy at birth
62.3 years2024at birthUp 5.5 years from 56.8 years in 2005
Internet users
32%2024of people onlineUp 32 points from 1% in 2006
Urban population
56%2025of people in towns and citiesUp 10 points from 46% in 2006
Births per woman
3.862024births per womanDown 1.66 from 5.52 in 2005
Renewable share of energy
93%2022of energy usedUp 3 points from 90% in 2004
Access to electricity
35%2024of people with electricityUp 32 points from 3% in 2007
Infant mortality
632024deaths before age one, per 1,000 birthsDown 26 from 89 in 2005
CO2 emissions per person
0.1 t2024of CO2 per person a yearDown 0.1 t from 0.2 t in 2005
Forest area
78%2023of land under forestDown 6 points from 84% in 2004

World Bank, from the first to the last observed year of each indicator; each has its own window.

Our take

Founded by freed American slaves; post-civil-war recovery, a rubber and iron economy. The case against is low incomes, short lives and patchy access to essential health services.

About Liberia

Liberia is a West African country with a history unlike any other on the continent, founded by freed American and Caribbean slaves in the 19th century, with an Atlantic coastline of surf beaches, dense rainforest, and a culture that blends American-influenced Americo-Liberian traditions with the cultures of sixteen indigenous ethnic groups. The natural beauty is largely unspoilt. It is for experienced African travellers who want to engage with a complex and fascinating national identity.

Practical facts

  • CapitalMonrovia
  • LanguagesEnglish
  • CurrencyLiberian dollar (LRD)
  • Area96,320 km²
  • Plug typeType C/D/F/G
  • Drives on theright
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Quick answers

What is Liberia's Human Development Index?

Liberia's Human Development Index is 0.510 for 2023 (UNDP Human Development Report 2025), ranked #177 of 193 by UNDP.

Is Liberia safe?

Liberia scores 2.02 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #86 of 161 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.

What is life expectancy in Liberia?

Life expectancy at birth in Liberia is 62.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #180 of 195 countries.