Liberia: environment

What are Liberia's CO2 emissions?

Liberia emitted about 0.15 tonnes of carbon dioxide per person in 2024, excluding land use and forestry, according to the World Bank, which uses the EDGAR database. That is among the lowest levels in the world.

The figure leaves out land use, land-use change and forestry, which matter a great deal in Liberia because of its large forests. The Environmental Protection Agency leads Liberia's climate change work and its reporting under the UN climate convention, including the national greenhouse gas inventory that covers forestry.

Official sources: World Bank: CO2 emissions per capita, Liberia · EPA Liberia: Climate change

How many people in Liberia have electricity?

34.9% of Liberians had access to electricity in 2024, according to the World Bank, up from 31.8% in 2022. The World Bank also reports that renewable sources made up 92.8% of final energy consumption in 2022.

Access figures are survey-based estimates from the World Bank's energy tracking work and may differ from connection counts published by the Liberia Electricity Corporation. Electricity tariffs are set by the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Official sources: World Bank: Access to electricity, Liberia · Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission

What is the air quality in Liberia?

The population-weighted average exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Liberia was 17.9 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023, according to the World Bank, using estimates from the Global Burden of Disease study. That is above the WHO guideline of 5 micrograms.

This is a modelled annual average, not a reading from monitors. No national air quality monitoring figures were found on the Environmental Protection Agency site, checked on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: World Bank: PM2.5 air pollution, Liberia · EPA Liberia

How much of Liberia is forest?

Forest covered 66.1% of Liberia's land area in 2024, down from 66.95% in 2022, according to FAO estimates on World Bank Open Data. Liberia holds a large share of the Upper Guinean rainforest of West Africa.

The FAO counts land of more than half a hectare with trees over 5 metres tall and canopy cover above 10%, so the figure includes secondary forest and some plantations. The loss of about 0.4 percentage points a year reflects clearing for farming, charcoal, logging and mining. The Forestry Development Authority manages forest concessions and protected areas.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data (API)

Where does Liberia's electricity come from?

Liberia's regulated power supply was 728,777 MWh in 2025, of which 47.6% came from hydropower, 43.8% from imports and 8.6% from thermal plants, according to Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission figures in the generation mix dataset published by LISGIS. Solar supplied less than 0.1%.

Most hydropower comes from the Mount Coffee plant on the Saint Paul River, which has 88 MW installed and 60 MW available, according to LERC's supply capacity data. Imports come through the West African regional grid from Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea. Access to electricity was 34.9% of the population in 2024.

Official sources: generation mix dataset · supply capacity data

How many Liberians have safe drinking water?

About 69% of Liberian households got drinking water from piped water, public taps or protected wells in 2022, up from 60% in 2008, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on housing conditions. A pipe or pump outside the home was the main source for 46.7% of households.

In Grand Bassa, Grand Kru, River Cess and Sinoe, fewer than 40% of households used a pipe or pump outside the home. An improved source is not necessarily safe: water can be contaminated during collection and storage. The census did not test water quality, and few households have water piped into the dwelling.

Official sources: census thematic report on housing conditions

How many Liberians have a toilet?

About 40% of Liberian households used a flush toilet in 2022, but only 15% in rural areas, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on housing conditions. About a third of households had no toilet and used the bush, 58% in rural areas and almost 6% in towns.

Open defecation can pollute water sources and spread diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. Outside Montserrado, Maryland had the lowest share of households using the bush (22%), and Bomi the highest. The census records the main facility a household uses, which may be shared with other households.

Official sources: census thematic report on housing conditions

What fuel do Liberians cook with?

52.2% of Liberian households cooked mainly with charcoal and about 45% with wood in 2022, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on housing conditions. Wood was the main fuel in every county except Montserrado, where 87.1% of households used charcoal.

Charcoal and firewood come from Liberia's forests, so demand for cooking fuel adds to forest loss. Cooking with solid fuels indoors also causes air pollution that harms health. About 55% of households used battery torches, known locally as "Chinese light", as their main lighting, and 26% the public grid of the Liberia Electricity Corporation.

Official sources: census thematic report on housing conditions

What are Liberia's CO2 emissions per person?

The latest figure from the European Commission's EDGAR database, for 2024, is 0.2 tonnes. Its high point since 2005 was 2016, at 0.3 tonnes; its low point was 2018, at 0.1 tonnes. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 0.4 tonnes; Liberia is 39th highest of 47. Of 186 countries with 2024 data, 174th highest.

What are Liberia's emissions?

According to the European Commission's EDGAR database, total greenhouse gas emissions in Liberia was 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 2.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2005) to 4.5 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent (2016). It is 39th highest of 47 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 24.6 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. Worldwide: 151st of 186.

How much renewable energy does Liberia use?

In 2022, the renewable share of final energy use in Liberia was 92.8%, according to the IEA, IRENA, the UN Statistics Division, the World Bank and the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 86.2% (2012) to 94.4% (2018). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 70.0%, and Liberia placed 2nd highest of 23. Of 53 countries with 2022 data, 2nd highest.

What share of Liberia is covered by forest?

The FAO puts forest area as a share of land in Liberia at 66.1% in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 22.2%; Liberia is 5th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 20th of 190.

How polluted is the air in Liberia?

The Global Burden of Disease study puts average exposure to fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in Liberia at 17.9 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023. The peak was 23.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2015 and the low 16.2 micrograms per cubic metre in 2014. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 27.5 micrograms per cubic metre, and Liberia placed 37th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 98th of 192.

How much of Liberia is in national parks and reserves?

4.0%: that is the share of land in protected areas in Liberia for 2025, according to the UN Environment Programme. Since 2013 it has ranged from 2.5% (2013) to 4.1% (2017). It is 44th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 16.9%. World rank, highest first: 172nd of 192.

How much of Liberia's fresh water is used?

0.3%: that is water stress in Liberia for 2022, according to the FAO. It has not changed since 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 5.1%, and Liberia placed 44th highest of 47. Worldwide: 170th of 175.