Liberia

Current head of state

Joseph Boakai President of Liberia In office 2024–present · 2.6y PartyUnity Party Born 1944 · took office at 79 Cabinet Public Relations Office of the Cabinet Secretariat · CC BY 4.0

Joseph Boakai

President of Liberia

Since 2024 2.6 years in office

Governance indicator

-0.72

−2.50+2.5

World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, composite of six dimensions · 2024

Chamber

House of Representatives

Seats

73

Speaker

—

Active alliances

23

1850 1860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Joseph Jenkins Roberts Joseph Jenkins Roberts President of Liberia In office 1848–1856 · 8y PartyRepublican Party Born 1809 · took office at 38 not stated · Public domain

Stephen Allen Benson Stephen Allen Benson President of Liberia In office 1856–1864 · 8y PartyRepublican Party Born 1816 · took office at 39 Rufus Anson · Public domain

Daniel Bashiel Warner Daniel Bashiel Warner President of Liberia In office 1864–1868 · 4y PartyRepublican Party Born 1815 · took office at 48 Author not stated · Public domain

James Spriggs Payne James Spriggs Payne President of Liberia In office 1868–1870 · 2y PartyRepublican Party Born 1819 · took office at 48 unlisted · Public domain

Edward James Roye Edward James Roye President of Liberia In office 1870–1871 · 1.8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1815 · took office at 54 Unknown photographer · Public domain

James Skivring Smith James Skivring Smith President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0.2y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1825 · took office at 46 unlisted · Public domain

Amos Herring Amos Herring President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0y Born 1793 · took office at 77

Reginald Sherman Reginald Sherman President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0y Born 1837 · took office at 33

Charles Dunbar Charles Dunbar President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0y Born 1830 · took office at 40

Joseph Jenkins Roberts Joseph Jenkins Roberts President of Liberia In office 1871–1876 · 4y PartyRepublican Party Born 1809 · took office at 62 not stated · Public domain

James Spriggs Payne James Spriggs Payne President of Liberia In office 1876–1878 · 2y PartyRepublican Party Born 1819 · took office at 56 unlisted · Public domain

Anthony W. Gardiner Anthony W. Gardiner President of Liberia In office 1878–1883 · 5y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1820 · took office at 57 Author not stated · Public domain

Alfred Francis Russell Alfred Francis Russell President of Liberia In office 1883–1884 · 1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1817 · took office at 65 Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain

Hilary R. W. Johnson Hilary R. W. Johnson President of Liberia In office 1884–1892 · 8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1837 · took office at 46 Johnston, Harry Hamilton, Sir, 1858-1927; Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) · Public domain

Joseph James Cheeseman Joseph James Cheeseman President of Liberia In office 1892–1896 · 4.9y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1843 · took office at 48 Author not stated · Public domain

William D. Coleman William D. Coleman President of Liberia In office 1896–1900 · 4.1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1842 · took office at 54 Author not stated · Public domain

Garretson W. Gibson Garretson W. Gibson President of Liberia In office 1900–1904 · 3.1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1832 · took office at 68 Author not stated · Public domain

Arthur Barclay Arthur Barclay President of Liberia In office 1904–1911 · 8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1854 · took office at 49 Author not stated · Public domain

Daniel Edward Howard Daniel Edward Howard President of Liberia In office 1911–1920 · 8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1861 · took office at 50 George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) · Public domain

Charles D. B. King Charles D. B. King President of Liberia In office 1920–1930 · 10.9y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1875 · took office at 44 Auguste Léon · Public domain

Edwin Barclay Edwin Barclay President of Liberia In office 1930–1944 · 13.1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1882 · took office at 48 Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. · Public domain

William Tubman William Tubman President of Liberia In office 1944–1971 · 27.6y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1895 · took office at 48 Robert LeRoy Knudsen · Public domain

William Richard Tolbert William Richard Tolbert President of Liberia In office 1971–1980 · 8.7y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1913 · took office at 58 Kightlinger, Jack E., Photographer · Public domain

Samuel Doe Samuel Doe President of Liberia In office 1986–1990 · 4.7y PartyNational Democratic Party of Liberia Born 1951 · took office at 34 Photographer: Frank Hall, Treatment: Frank C. Müller · Public domain

David Nimley David Nimley President of Liberia In office 1990–1990 · 0.2y Born 1944 · took office at 45 Took power coup 1990-09-09

Amos Sawyer Amos Sawyer President of Liberia In office 1990–1994 · 3.3y PartyLiberian People's Party Born 1945 · took office at 45 Took power coup 1990-11-22 Fred van der Kraaij · CC BY-SA 4.0

David D. Kpormakpor David D. Kpormakpor President of Liberia In office 1994–1995 · 1.5y Born 1935 · took office at 58

Wilton G. S. Sankawulo Wilton G. S. Sankawulo President of Liberia In office 1995–1996 · 1y PartyUnity Party Born 1937 · took office at 58

Ruth Perry Ruth Perry President of Liberia In office 1996–1997 · 0.9y PartyUnity Party Born 1939 · took office at 57

Charles Taylor Charles Taylor President of Liberia In office 1997–2003 · 6y PartyNational Patriotic Party Born 1948 · took office at 49 Plymouth County Sheriff's Office · Public domain

Moses Blah Moses Blah President of Liberia In office 2003–2003 · 0.2y PartyNational Patriotic Party Born 1947 · took office at 56 Photo by Lieutenant Colonel Terry VandenDolder, U.S. Africa Command · Public domain

Gyude Bryant Gyude Bryant President of Liberia In office 2003–2006 · 2.3y PartyLiberia Action Party Born 1949 · took office at 54 Helene C. Stikkel · Public domain

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of Liberia In office 2006–2018 · 12y PartyUnity Party Born 1938 · took office at 67 U.S. Institute of Peace · CC BY 2.0

George Weah George Weah President of Liberia In office 2018–2024 · 6y PartyCongress for Democratic Change Born 1966 · took office at 51 File:George Weah in 2019 (cropped).jpg: U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia derivative work: Boros.i · Public domain

Joseph Boakai Joseph Boakai President of Liberia In office 2024–present · 2.6y PartyUnity Party Born 1944 · took office at 79 Cabinet Public Relations Office of the Cabinet Secretariat · CC BY 4.0

1980-04-12 1990-09-09 1990-11-22 1994-09-07

Term Began with a realized coup In office Realized coup — dated

The scale spans every dated record held for this country, so it may begin before the first leader on file — a gap at the left means coups are recorded for years where no office-holder is. Coup markers link to the Cline Center source.

1. 2024– Joseph Boakai President of Liberia In office 2024–present · 2.6y PartyUnity Party Born 1944 · took office at 79 Cabinet Public Relations Office of the Cabinet Secretariat · CC BY 4.0 Joseph Boakai In office 2.6y
2. 2018–2024 George Weah President of Liberia In office 2018–2024 · 6y PartyCongress for Democratic Change Born 1966 · took office at 51 File:George Weah in 2019 (cropped).jpg: U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia derivative work: Boros.i · Public domain George Weah 6y
3. 2006–2018 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of Liberia In office 2006–2018 · 12y PartyUnity Party Born 1938 · took office at 67 U.S. Institute of Peace · CC BY 2.0 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf 12y
4. 2003–2006 Gyude Bryant President of Liberia In office 2003–2006 · 2.3y PartyLiberia Action Party Born 1949 · took office at 54 Helene C. Stikkel · Public domain Gyude Bryant 2.3y
5. 2003–2003 Moses Blah President of Liberia In office 2003–2003 · 0.2y PartyNational Patriotic Party Born 1947 · took office at 56 Photo by Lieutenant Colonel Terry VandenDolder, U.S. Africa Command · Public domain Moses Blah 0.2y
6. 1997–2003 Charles Taylor President of Liberia In office 1997–2003 · 6y PartyNational Patriotic Party Born 1948 · took office at 49 Plymouth County Sheriff's Office · Public domain Charles Taylor 6y
7. 1996–1997 RP Ruth Perry President of Liberia In office 1996–1997 · 0.9y PartyUnity Party Born 1939 · took office at 57 Ruth Perry 0.9y
8. 1995–1996 WS Wilton G. S. Sankawulo President of Liberia In office 1995–1996 · 1y PartyUnity Party Born 1937 · took office at 58 Wilton G. S. Sankawulo 1y
9. 1994–1995 DK David D. Kpormakpor President of Liberia In office 1994–1995 · 1.5y Born 1935 · took office at 58 David D. Kpormakpor 1.5y
10. 1990–1994 Amos Sawyer President of Liberia In office 1990–1994 · 3.3y PartyLiberian People's Party Born 1945 · took office at 45 Took power coup 1990-11-22 Fred van der Kraaij · CC BY-SA 4.0 Amos Sawyer Coup 1990 3.3y
11. 1990–1990 DN David Nimley President of Liberia In office 1990–1990 · 0.2y Born 1944 · took office at 45 Took power coup 1990-09-09 David Nimley Coup 1990 0.2y
12. 1986–1990 Samuel Doe President of Liberia In office 1986–1990 · 4.7y PartyNational Democratic Party of Liberia Born 1951 · took office at 34 Photographer: Frank Hall, Treatment: Frank C. Müller · Public domain Samuel Doe 4.7y
13. 1971–1980 William Richard Tolbert President of Liberia In office 1971–1980 · 8.7y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1913 · took office at 58 Kightlinger, Jack E., Photographer · Public domain William Richard Tolbert 8.7y
14. 1944–1971 William Tubman President of Liberia In office 1944–1971 · 27.6y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1895 · took office at 48 Robert LeRoy Knudsen · Public domain William Tubman 27.6y
15. 1930–1944 Edwin Barclay President of Liberia In office 1930–1944 · 13.1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1882 · took office at 48 Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division. · Public domain Edwin Barclay 13.1y
16. 1920–1930 Charles D. B. King President of Liberia In office 1920–1930 · 10.9y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1875 · took office at 44 Auguste Léon · Public domain Charles D. B. King 10.9y
17. 1911–1920 Daniel Edward Howard President of Liberia In office 1911–1920 · 8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1861 · took office at 50 George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) · Public domain Daniel Edward Howard 8y
18. 1904–1911 Arthur Barclay President of Liberia In office 1904–1911 · 8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1854 · took office at 49 Author not stated · Public domain Arthur Barclay 8y
19. 1900–1904 Garretson W. Gibson President of Liberia In office 1900–1904 · 3.1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1832 · took office at 68 Author not stated · Public domain Garretson W. Gibson 3.1y
20. 1896–1900 William D. Coleman President of Liberia In office 1896–1900 · 4.1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1842 · took office at 54 Author not stated · Public domain William D. Coleman 4.1y
21. 1892–1896 Joseph James Cheeseman President of Liberia In office 1892–1896 · 4.9y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1843 · took office at 48 Author not stated · Public domain Joseph James Cheeseman 4.9y
22. 1884–1892 Hilary R. W. Johnson President of Liberia In office 1884–1892 · 8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1837 · took office at 46 Johnston, Harry Hamilton, Sir, 1858-1927; Royal Geographical Society (Great Britain) · Public domain Hilary R. W. Johnson 8y
23. 1883–1884 Alfred Francis Russell President of Liberia In office 1883–1884 · 1y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1817 · took office at 65 Unknown authorUnknown author · Public domain Alfred Francis Russell 1y
24. 1878–1883 Anthony W. Gardiner President of Liberia In office 1878–1883 · 5y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1820 · took office at 57 Author not stated · Public domain Anthony W. Gardiner 5y
25. 1876–1878 James Spriggs Payne President of Liberia In office 1876–1878 · 2y PartyRepublican Party Born 1819 · took office at 56 unlisted · Public domain James Spriggs Payne 2y
26. 1871–1876 Joseph Jenkins Roberts President of Liberia In office 1871–1876 · 4y PartyRepublican Party Born 1809 · took office at 62 not stated · Public domain Joseph Jenkins Roberts 4y
27. 1871–1871 CD Charles Dunbar President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0y Born 1830 · took office at 40 Charles Dunbar 0y
28. 1871–1871 RS Reginald Sherman President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0y Born 1837 · took office at 33 Reginald Sherman 0y
29. 1871–1871 AH Amos Herring President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0y Born 1793 · took office at 77 Amos Herring 0y
30. 1871–1871 James Skivring Smith President of Liberia In office 1871–1871 · 0.2y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1825 · took office at 46 unlisted · Public domain James Skivring Smith 0.2y
31. 1870–1871 Edward James Roye President of Liberia In office 1870–1871 · 1.8y PartyTrue Whig Party Born 1815 · took office at 54 Unknown photographer · Public domain Edward James Roye 1.8y
32. 1868–1870 James Spriggs Payne President of Liberia In office 1868–1870 · 2y PartyRepublican Party Born 1819 · took office at 48 unlisted · Public domain James Spriggs Payne 2y
33. 1864–1868 Daniel Bashiel Warner President of Liberia In office 1864–1868 · 4y PartyRepublican Party Born 1815 · took office at 48 Author not stated · Public domain Daniel Bashiel Warner 4y
34. 1856–1864 Stephen Allen Benson President of Liberia In office 1856–1864 · 8y PartyRepublican Party Born 1816 · took office at 39 Rufus Anson · Public domain Stephen Allen Benson 8y
35. 1848–1856 Joseph Jenkins Roberts President of Liberia In office 1848–1856 · 8y PartyRepublican Party Born 1809 · took office at 38 not stated · Public domain Joseph Jenkins Roberts 8y

• 1994
  1994-09-07 Palace
• 1990
  1990-11-22 DissidentForeign
• 1990
  1990-09-09 Rebel
• 1980
  1980-04-12 Military

Source: Cline Center Coup d’État Project — realized events only.

• 2023
  Liberia The Liberian Senate October 2023 Election Independents640% Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)640% Unity Party (UP)16.7% Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR)16.7%

  Seats

  15

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  10.0%

  Parties won

  —

• 2023
  Liberia House of Representatives October 2023 Election Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)2534.2% Independents1926% Unity Party (UP)1115.1% Collaborating Political Parties (CPP)68.2%

  Seats

  73

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  11.0%

  Parties won

  —

• 2020
  Liberia The Liberian Senate December 2020 Election Collaborating Political Parties (CPP)640% Independents426.7% Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)320% People's Unification Party (PUP)16.7%

  Seats

  15

  Turnout

  37.4%

  Women

  3.3%

  Parties won

  4

• 2017
  Liberia House of Representatives October 2017 Election Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)2128.8% Unity Party (UP)2027.4% Independents1317.8% People's Unification Party (PUP)56.8%

  Seats

  73

  Turnout

  75.2%

  Women

  12.3%

  Parties won

  12

• 2014
  Liberia The Liberian Senate December 2014 Election Unity Party (UP)426.7% Independents320% Congress for Democratic Change (CDC)213.3% Liberty Party (LP)213.3%

  Seats

  15

  Turnout

  25.2%

  Women

  10.0%

  Parties won

  7

• 2011
  Liberia The Liberian Senate October 2011 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2011
  Liberia House of Representatives October 2011 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2005
  Liberia House of Representatives October 2005 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 2005
  Liberia The Liberian Senate October 2005 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1997
  Liberia House of Representatives July 1997 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1997
  Liberia The Liberian Senate July 1997 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1985
  Liberia House of Representatives October 1985 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1985
  Liberia The Liberian Senate October 1985 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1975
  Liberia House of Representatives October 1975 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

• 1971
  Liberia House of Representatives May 1971 Election

  Seats

  —

  Turnout

  not recorded

  Women

  —

  Parties won

  —

Source: ipu_parline.

Fertility rate

3.9 2024

Life expectancy at birth

62.3 2024

Population growth

2.2 2024

Total population

5.6M 2024

Urban population percent

55.5 2024

Adult literacy rate

59.4 2010

Government expenditure on education percent of GDP

2.3 2023

Primary net enrollment ratio

44.3 2017

Secondary net enrollment ratio

15.7 2015

Ethnic groups

Religion

Languages

• English 20% and 27 indigenous languages
• including Liberian English variants

Composition: CIA World Factbook, 2022 estimate. Shares are reproduced as published and are not renormalised, so a country may total slightly under or over 100%.

Regional & continental

• AfCFTA
• African Union
• ECOWAS
• Mano River Union

Global bodies & treaties

• African Development Bank
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
• International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
• International Civil Defence Organisation
• International Development Association
• International Finance Corporation
• International Telecommunication Union
• Interpol
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
• Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
• Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
• UNESCO
• United Nations
• Universal Postal Union
• World Customs Organization
• World Health Organization
• World Meteorological Organization
• World Trade Organization

• ICJ 1961 decided

  South West Africa (Liberia v. South Africa)

  mandate territory / self-determination

Register

Every party the observatory holds for this country, historical and current — the register is not filtered to parties currently holding seats.

• Alliance for Peace and Democracy
• All Liberia Coalition Party
• All Liberian Party
• Alternative National Congress
• Citizens Movement for Change
• Congress for Democratic Change populism
• Free Democratic Party
• Freedom Alliance Party of Liberia
• Grassroots Development Movement
• Labor Party of Liberia
• Liberia Action Party
• Liberia Education and Development Party
• Liberia Equal Rights Party
• Liberia National Union
• Liberian Destiny Party
• Liberian People's Party Pan-Africanism; democratic socialism; social democracy
• Liberia Restoration Party
• Liberia Transformation Party
• Liberia Unification Party
• Liberty Party
• Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction
• Movement for Economic Empowerment
• Movement for Progressive Change
• National Democratic Coalition
• National Democratic Party of Liberia anti-communism; authoritarianism; nationalism
• National Party of Liberia
• National Patriotic Front of Liberia
• National Patriotic Party nationalism
• National Reformation Party
• National Union for Democratic Progress
• National Vision Party of Liberia
• New Deal Movement
• People's Democratic Party of Liberia
• People's Party (Liberia) economic liberalism
• People's Unification Party
• Progressive Alliance of Liberia African nationalism; African socialism
• Progressive Democratic Party
• Progressive People's Party African socialism
• Reformation Alliance Party
• Reformed United Liberia Party
• Republican Party classical liberalism; decentralization
• True Whig Party black conservatism; centralisation; protectionism
• Union of Liberian Democrats
• United People's Party African socialism
• Unity Party economic liberalism
• Victory for Change Party
• Vision for Liberia Transformation

Census, population and demographic documents the observatory has located for this country. These are links to the publishers’ own files — the library does not rehost them.

• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Anemia Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — SDGs Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Access to Health Care Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — MICS indicators Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — PMI/RBM Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — DHS Mobile Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — DHS Quickstats Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — FP2020 Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Anthropometry Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — Birth Registration Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — MDGs Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Demographic and Health Data — IYCF Data for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Population Statistics — lbr_admpop_adm1_2020_v2.csv hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Population Statistics — lbr_admpop_adm0_2020_v2.csv hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Population Statistics — lib_population_statistic_Liberia_2020.xlsx hdx xlsx
• Liberia - Subnational Population Statistics — lbr_admpop_adm2_2020_v2.csv hdx csv
• Liberia - Subnational Population Statistics — LBR_AdminBoundaries_TabularData.xlsx hdx xlsx
• HDX HAPI Data for Liberia — Geography & Infrastructure: Baseline Population for Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Data on forcibly displaced populations and stateless persons — Asylum decisions taken on asylum claims of asylum seekers residing in Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Data on forcibly displaced populations and stateless persons — Solutions for refugees and IDPs originating from Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Data on forcibly displaced populations and stateless persons — Asylum decisions taken on asylum claims of asylum seekers originating from Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Data on forcibly displaced populations and stateless persons — End-year stock population figures for forcibly displaced persons originating from Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Data on forcibly displaced populations and stateless persons — Asylum applications by asylum seekers originating from Liberia hdx csv
• Liberia - Data on forcibly displaced populations and stateless persons — Demographics and locations of forcibly displaced and stateless people residing in Liberia hdx csv