Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Liberia
Liberia: Share of population living in urban and rural areas was 59.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Share of population living in urban 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
Liberia recorded 59.0% for share of population living in urban and rural areas in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 8.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of population living in urban and rural areas in Liberia peaked at 61.5% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 38.4%, in 1950.
That places Liberia 185th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Liberia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 38.4% | — |
| 1955 | 38.5% | +0.3% |
| 1960 | 39.0% | +1.3% |
| 1965 | 39.8% | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 40.8% | +2.5% |
| 1975 | 41.9% | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 43.2% | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 46.8% | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 61.5% | +31.4% |
| 1995 | 45.9% | -25.4% |
| 2000 | 52.1% | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 58.6% | +12.5% |
| 2010 | 54.4% | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 56.7% | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 59.0% | +4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 38.4% | 38.4% | 38.5% | 2 |
| 1960s | 39.4% | 39.0% | 39.8% | 2 |
| 1970s | 41.3% | 40.8% | 41.9% | 2 |
| 1980s | 45.0% | 43.2% | 46.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 53.7% | 45.9% | 61.5% | 2 |
| 2000s | 55.4% | 52.1% | 58.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 55.6% | 54.4% | 56.7% | 2 |
| 2020s | 59.0% | 59.0% | 59.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Liberia
More reference data data for Liberia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0476 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.1282 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.229 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0532 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.229 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.1597 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.183 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.5564 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2896 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of population living in urban and rural areas in Liberia?
- Share of population living in urban and rural areas in Liberia was 59.0% 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 urban and rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The highest recorded value was 61.5% in 1990.
- What is the lowest share of population living in urban and rural areas recorded in Liberia?
- The lowest recorded value was 38.4% in 1950.
- How does Liberia rank for share of population living in urban and rural areas?
- Liberia ranks 185th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is share of population living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Liberia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated share of the population living in urban areas (the sum of cities and towns and suburbs). Urban areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.