Liberia: housing

How many people in Liberia own their home?

63.3% of households in Liberia lived in a home they owned in 2022, down from 70.2% in 2008, according to LISGIS's 2022 census thematic report on housing conditions. 28.1% rented, up from 20%. In towns, 44.7% of households rented and 46.7% owned; in rural areas 81.1% owned.

Owned homes include those bought, built by the household, inherited or received as gifts. Only 0.5% of households lived in government-provided housing and 0.2% in housing from the National Housing Authority or with a mortgage. 3.4% were squatters. The census counted 1,187,272 households in 2022, with an average of 4.4 people each, according to LISGIS census data.

Official sources: 2022 census thematic report on housing conditions · LISGIS census data

What are housing conditions like in Liberia?

Only 21% of Liberian households lived in permanent housing in 2022, down from 29% in 2008, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on housing conditions. 45% lived in semi-permanent and 35% in temporary housing units. 32% of households had outer walls of cement blocks and 46.3% walls of mud and sticks or mud bricks.

Mud floors were used by 50% or more of households in every county except Montserrado (18%). 40% of households had housing with no repairs or only minor repairs needed, down from 55% in 2008. Classification as permanent, semi-permanent or temporary depends on the building materials recorded by census enumerators.

Official sources: census thematic report on housing conditions

How crowded are homes in Liberia?

36.1% of Liberian households lived in a single room in 2022, up from 34.1% in 2008, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on housing conditions. The share was highest in Bomi (52%), Montserrado (47%) and River Cess (44.3%), and lowest in Lofa (12.5%).

One-room living is more common in towns than in rural areas, and 44.7% of urban households rent. Households average 4.4 people, and 56% have four or more members, the census shows. So many families share one room for sleeping, cooking and living. The census does not measure floor area, so it counts rooms rather than space.

Official sources: census thematic report on housing conditions

What are mortgage rates in Liberia?

The average mortgage rate charged by Liberian banks was 14.33% in June 2026, according to the Central Bank of Liberia's Monthly Economic Review for June 2026. The average personal loan rate was 16.31% and the average lending rate 12.88%. The rates were broadly unchanged from a year earlier.

Bank savings deposits earned an average of 1.93% and time deposits 3.75%. Few Liberians use mortgages: the 2022 census found only 0.2% of households living in mortgaged or National Housing Authority housing. The central bank's policy rate was 16.0% in October 2026.

Official sources: Monthly Economic Review for June 2026

What is Liberia's urbanisation rate?

In 2025, the share of people living in urban areas in Liberia was 56.1%, according to the UN Population Division. That is the highest since at least 2005. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 44.9%, and Liberia placed 13th highest of 48. Worldwide: 118th of 193.

What share of Liberia's city dwellers live in slums?

UN-Habitat puts the share of city dwellers living in slums in Liberia at 60.5% in 2022. It is the bottom of the series, which starts in 2006. It is 17th highest of 48 in Sub-Saharan Africa, where the median is 48.7%. Of 170 countries with 2022 data, 18th highest.

What share of people in Liberia have electricity?

In 2024, the share of people with access to electricity in Liberia was 34.9%, according to the World Bank. That is the highest since at least 2007. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 57.8%, and Liberia placed 40th highest of 48. World rank, highest first: 185th of 193.

What share of homes in Liberia cook with clean fuels?

The WHO puts the share of people using clean cooking fuels in Liberia at 1.0% in 2024. No year since 2005 has been higher. Sub-Saharan Africa median: 13.0%; Liberia is 45th highest of 48. Worldwide: 189th of 192.