Liberia: immigration

How many refugees are in Liberia?

Liberia hosted 1,172 refugees and 725 asylum seekers at the end of 2025, according to the UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. That compares with 1,167 refugees and 687 asylum seekers a year earlier.

In the other direction, UNHCR counted 5,117 refugees and 3,725 asylum seekers from Liberia living in other countries at the end of 2025. The national body for refugee matters is the Liberia Refugee, Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, whose website was under construction on 15 October 2026.

Official sources: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder · LRRRC

What does the Liberia Immigration Service do?

The Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice charged with enforcing the Alien and Nationality Law of Liberia, according to its website. It manages all land, air and sea borders, screens people applying for national documents such as passports and birth certificates, and investigates cross-border crime, including smuggling and trafficking.

The LIS says it follows the ECOWAS and Mano River Union protocols on free movement, so citizens of ECOWAS states can enter without a visa. Visas, visa-on-arrival approvals and residence permits for other foreign nationals are handled by the LIS, while work permits for foreign workers are issued separately by the Ministry of Labour.

Official sources: Liberia Immigration Service · Ministry of Labour

How many foreigners live in Liberia?

102,074 non-Liberians were counted in the 2022 census, 1.96% of the population, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on migration and urbanization. 93% were from West Africa, and Guinea was the largest country of origin (42.4%). 61.5% were men.

Three in five immigrants lived in Montserrado County, which includes Monrovia. The census counts people by nationality rather than country of birth. The UN estimate of the international migrant stock on World Bank Open Data was 1.3% of the population in 2024. Liberia also hosted 1,172 refugees at the end of 2025, according to UNHCR.

Official sources: census thematic report on migration and urbanization · World Bank Open Data (API)

How many Liberians have moved within the country?

1,600,340 people in Liberia, 30.5% of the population, lived in 2022 in a county other than the one where they were born, according to LISGIS's census thematic report on migration and urbanization. The share was 21.7% in 2008.

Montserrado, which contains Monrovia, attracted 69.3% of all internal migrants, and 60.5% of its residents were born elsewhere. Margibi, home to the Firestone rubber plantation, was second. Bong, Grand Bassa, Lofa and Nimba lost the most people. Migrants made up 46.7% of the urban population and 13.6% of the rural population.

Official sources: census thematic report on migration and urbanization

What share of Liberia's population are immigrants?

In 2024, the share of people born abroad in Liberia was 1.3%, according to the UN Population Division. It was 2.4% in 2015. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.2%, and Liberia placed 33rd highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2024 data, 146th highest.

Are more people leaving Liberia than arriving?

The latest figure from the UN Population Division, for 2025, is -9,870. The peak was 101,019 in 2005 and the low -26,796 in 2016. Sub-Saharan Africa median: -5,646; Liberia is 30th highest of 48. Of 193 countries with 2025 data, 130th highest.

How many refugees are in Liberia?

The latest figure from UNHCR, for 2025, is 1,172. Since 2005 it has ranged from 620 (2022) to 128,283 (2011). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 35,241, and Liberia placed 35th highest of 45. Of 169 countries with 2025 data, 123rd highest.

How many refugees come from Liberia?

In 2025, the number of refugees from the country living abroad in Liberia was 5,117, according to UNHCR. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4,838 (2023) to 231,136 (2005). Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 12,726, and Liberia placed 29th highest of 48. Of 189 countries with 2025 data, 78th highest.

How much money do migrants send home to Liberia?

According to the World Bank, personal remittances received in Liberia was 21.3% of GDP in 2024. Its high point since 2005 was 2021, at 24.6% of GDP; its low point was 2009, at 1.4% of GDP. Across Sub-Saharan Africa the middle value was 2.5% of GDP, and Liberia placed 2nd highest of 36. Of 156 countries with 2024 data, 10th highest.