Aid, poverty & equality · Sub-Saharan Africa · Low income
Liberia: poverty, inequality and aid
Extreme poverty is 33.6% (2016), 27th of 151 in the world and 27th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $4.20/day is 55.0% (2016), 26th of 151 in the world and 26th of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa. Poverty, $8.30/day is 88.3% (2016), 22nd of 151 in the world and 21st of 44 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Undernourishment
LiberiaSub-Saharan AfricaLow incomeWorld
Food insecurity
LiberiaLow incomeWorld
14 indicators
Aid, poverty & equality: Liberia in detail
Latest reported value, world rank and rank within Sub-Saharan Africa; values around 2000, 2010, 2020; group and world columns are World Bank aggregates.
| Indicator | Latest | World rank | In region | ~2000 | ~2010 | ~2020 | 10-year change | Region | Income group | World | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme povertyExtreme poverty, $3.00 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 33.6%2016 | 27/151 | 27/44 | · | · | · | — | 45.0% | 52.5% | 10.1% | |
| Poverty, $4.20/dayPoverty at $4.20 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 55.0%2016 | 26/151 | 26/44 | · | · | · | — | 63.2% | 70.3% | 18.2% | |
| Poverty, $8.30/dayPoverty at $8.30 a day (2021 PPP), % of population | 88.3%2016 | 22/151 | 21/44 | · | · | · | — | 88.6% | 92.4% | 46.2% | |
| National poverty ratePoverty at national poverty lines, % of population | 50.9%2016 | 17/145 | 14/45 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Gini indexGini index of income inequality | 35.32016 | 73/151 | 35/44 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Top 10% income shareIncome share held by the richest 10% | 27.1%2016 | 74/151 | 37/44 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| Bottom 20% income shareIncome share held by the poorest 20% | 7.2%2016 | 74/151 | 15/44 | · | · | · | — | — | — | — | |
| UndernourishmentPrevalence of undernourishment, % of population | 37.3%2024 | 7/167 | 5/44 | 35.0%2001 | 35.2% | 37.5% | +0.7 ppsince 2014 | 22.3% | 27.3% | 8.1% | |
| Food insecurityModerate or severe food insecurity, % of population | 79.0%2024 | 8/155 | 7/38 | · | · | 80.6% | — | — | 65.4% | 28.0% | |
| Account ownershipAccount ownership (bank or mobile money), % of adults | 52.2%2024 | 108/145 | 21/36 | · | 18.8%2011 | 51.6%2021 | +33.4 ppsince 2011 | 55.1% | 46.4% | 78.7% | |
| Women in parliamentSeats held by women in national parliament, % | 11.0%2025 | 165/190 | 42/46 | 7.8% | 12.5% | 12.3% | ±0.0 ppsince 2015 | 27.0% | 24.8% | 27.2% | |
| Net ODA receivedNet official development assistance received, US$ | $563m2023 | 61/145 | 29/48 | $67.4m | $1.4bn | $653m | +5.0%since 2013 | $64.8bn | $44.6bn | $259bn | |
| ODA, % of GNINet ODA received, % of GNI | 13.9%2023 | 19/139 | 7/47 | 8.7% | 75.4% | 22.6% | −4.8 ppsince 2013 | 3.1% | 8.2% | 0.2% | |
| ODA per personNet ODA received per capita, US$ | $1022023 | 43/145 | 11/48 | $23.0 | $338 | $127 | −15%since 2013 | $51.5 | $61.4 | $32.2 |
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)“·” — no value reported within two years of that date. World rank counts countries with a recent value.
Better than ten years ago
- Account ownership+33.4 pp52.2% in 2024
Worse than ten years ago
- Undernourishment+0.7 pp37.3% in 2024
Only indicators where higher or lower is clearly better are rated (for example, unemployment down is better, life expectancy up is better).
neighbours
Liberia and its neighbours
Countries sharing a land border with Liberia. Latest values since 2005; the highest in each row is marked.
| Indicator | Liberia | Côte d'Ivoire | Guinea | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Extreme poverty | 33.6%2016 | 20.8%2021 | 11.7%2018 | 41.5%2018 |
| Poverty, $4.20/day | 55.0%2016 | 41.6%2021 | 29.2%2018 | 65.0%2018 |
| Poverty, $8.30/day | 88.3%2016 | 80.9%2021 | 76.6%2018 | 91.5%2018 |
| National poverty rate | 50.9%2016 | 37.5%2021 | 43.7%2018 | 56.8%2018 |
| Gini index | 35.32016 | 35.32021 | 29.62018 | 35.72018 |
| Top 10% income share | 27.1%2016 | 27.8%2021 | 23.1%2018 | 29.4%2018 |
| Bottom 20% income share | 7.2%2016 | 7.6%2021 | 8.5%2018 | 7.9%2018 |
| Undernourishment | 37.3%2024 | 11.4%2024 | 8.7%2024 | 25.3%2024 |
| Food insecurity | 79.0%2024 | 37.9%2024 | — | 88.1%2024 |