Liberia: health and care

What is the life expectancy in Liberia?

Life expectancy at birth was 62.3 years in 2024, according to the World Bank, up from 61.9 years in 2022. The estimate comes from the UN Population Division's World Population Prospects.

Life expectancy at birth is pulled down by deaths in early childhood: the World Bank puts under-five mortality at 86.4 per 1,000 live births in 2024. Liberia's own measures of child and maternal deaths come from the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey, which the Ministry of Health lists among its reports. Modelled UN estimates are revised when new census or survey data arrive.

Official sources: World Bank: Life expectancy at birth, Liberia · Ministry of Health

What is the birth rate in Liberia?

The crude birth rate was 30.6 births per 1,000 people in 2024, and the total fertility rate 3.86 children per woman, according to the World Bank, using UN Population Division estimates. Fertility has been falling: the World Bank figure for 2022 was 4.02.

The crude birth rate counts births against the whole population, while the fertility rate estimates how many children a woman would have over her lifetime at current rates. Survey-based figures for Liberia, including fertility by county and by urban and rural area, are published in the Liberia Demographic and Health Survey reports listed by the Ministry of Health.

Official sources: World Bank · Ministry of Health · World Bank: Fertility rate, Liberia

How much does Liberia spend on health?

Current health spending was 13.0% of GDP in 2023, according to the World Bank, which uses WHO Global Health Expenditure data. That counts all spending on health in Liberia, whether by government, households or donors.

The World Bank also records about 0.18 doctors per 1,000 people in 2022. The Ministry of Health publishes annual reports and plans, and NPHIL publishes disease surveillance bulletins.

Official sources: World Bank: Current health expenditure (% of GDP), Liberia · Ministry of Health

What is the infant mortality rate in Liberia?

Liberia's infant mortality rate was 63.2 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024, according to the UN inter-agency estimates on World Bank Open Data. The under-five mortality rate was 86.4 per 1,000.

LISGIS's 2022 census thematic report on mortality estimates neonatal mortality at 36 deaths per 1,000 live births and, using an indirect method, 47 infant deaths per 1,000 for 2014 to 2018. The 2019-20 Demographic and Health Survey found 63 per 1,000. The report warns that deaths are under-reported in the census, so its estimates may be too low. Rates are higher in rural areas than in towns.

Official sources: World Bank Open Data · 86.4 per 1,000 · 2022 census thematic report on mortality

How many women die in childbirth in Liberia?

Liberia's maternal mortality ratio was 854 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2022, according to LISGIS's 2022 census thematic report on mortality. It was 694 in urban areas and 1,024 in rural areas, and ranged from 531 in Montserrado to 1,252 in Grand Kru.

The census measures pregnancy-related deaths reported by households, which differs from other methods. The 2019-20 Demographic and Health Survey gave 742 per 100,000, and the UN modelled estimate on World Bank Open Data is 628 for 2023. About 9% of all deaths of women aged 10 to 54 in 2022 were pregnancy-related, the report says.

Official sources: 2022 census thematic report on mortality · World Bank Open Data (API)

How many tuberculosis cases are there in Liberia?

5,302 cases of tuberculosis were notified in Liberia in 2024, down from 7,524 in 2023 and 7,034 in 2022, according to the notified TB cases dataset published by LISGIS from health ministry data. The count covers all forms of TB, new and relapse cases, confirmed by laboratory tests or diagnosed clinically.

Notified cases are those found and reported by health services, so a fall can reflect fewer people being diagnosed as well as less disease. LISGIS also publishes treatment success rates and the number of TB patients with HIV started on antiretroviral treatment, by county. Liberia's National Leprosy and TB Control Programme runs TB diagnosis and treatment.

Official sources: notified TB cases dataset

How many health facilities does Liberia have?

819 health facilities were listed in Liberia's 2024 health facility register, according to the register dataset published by LISGIS. The register lists each hospital, health centre and clinic by county and district.

Distance to care is a major issue: in the 2022 census, about 30% of households took an hour or more to reach the nearest health facility, while about 40% took less than 20 minutes, according to LISGIS's census report on housing conditions. In rural areas only 25% of households reached a facility in under 20 minutes. Physicians were 0.18 per 1,000 people in 2022, World Bank data shows.

Official sources: register dataset · census report on housing conditions · World Bank data

What is the average life expectancy in Liberia?

According to the UN Population Division, life expectancy at birth in Liberia was 62.3 years in 2024. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 64.3 years, and Liberia placed 34th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 178th highest.

What is the infant mortality rate in Liberia?

According to the UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation, the infant mortality rate in Liberia was 63.2 per 1,000 in 2024. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 37.2 per 1,000, and Liberia placed 5th highest of 48. Of 192 countries with 2024 data, 5th highest.

What is maternal mortality in Liberia?

In 2023, the maternal mortality ratio in Liberia was 628 per 100,000, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 619 per 100,000 (2005) to 801 per 100,000 (2014). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 257 per 100,000; Liberia is 5th highest of 48. Of 192 countries with 2023 data, 5th highest.

What is Liberia's health spending?

13.0% of GDP: that is current health spending in Liberia for 2023, according to the WHO. Its high point since 2005 was 2022, at 13.6% of GDP; its low point was 2007, at 4.3% of GDP. It is 1st highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 4.4% of GDP. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 6th highest.

What is out-of-pocket health spending in Liberia?

In 2023, out-of-pocket health spending in Liberia was 63.2%, according to the WHO. Since 2005 it has ranged from 34.8% (2008) to 67.1% (2005). Sub-Saharan Africa median: 32.4%; Liberia is 5th highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2023 data, 14th highest.

What is the doctor to patient ratio in Liberia?

In 2022, the number of doctors per 1,000 people in Liberia was 0.18 per 1,000, according to the WHO. It is the top of the series, which starts in 2008. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 0.18 per 1,000; Liberia is 23rd highest of 46. Of 125 countries with 2022 data, 101st highest.

What is hospital capacity in Liberia?

The WHO puts hospital beds per 1,000 people in Liberia at 1.6 per 1,000 in 2021. It was 0.80 per 1,000 in 2010. It is 4th highest of 12 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 0.90 per 1,000. Worldwide: 90th of 124.

How many children in Liberia are vaccinated against measles?

The latest figure from WHO and UNICEF, for 2024, is 82.0%. Since 2005 it has ranged from 58.0% (2014) to 83.0% (2009). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 81.0%, and Liberia placed 23rd highest of 48. Of 191 countries with 2024 data, 137th highest.