Gbarpolu: household survey: health, schooling, water, jobs, living standards, poverty

Gbarpolu is a county of Liberia, number 12 of 15 by population. 1.6% of the people living in Liberian households lived in Gbarpolu County according to the 2019-20 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey, carried out by LISGIS and the Ministry of Health, 3rd smallest of the 15 counties. This is a weighted survey share, not a census count.

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Gbarpolu: 56.8% of people in Gbarpolu County had at least a basic drinking water service in 2019-20 (an improved source on the premises or within a 30-minute round trip), 4th lowest of the 15 counties (Liberia: 74.3%).
• Health in Gbarpolu: For every 1,000 babies born in Gbarpolu County in the ten years before the 2019-20 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey, 78 died before their first birthday and 119 before their fifth; the under-five rate is 4th highest of the 15 counties (Liberia, last five years: 63 and 93).
• Education in Gbarpolu: 26.6% of children of primary-school age in Gbarpolu County were attending primary school in 2019-20 (the net attendance ratio), 2nd lowest of the 15 counties (Liberia: 43.3%); counting pupils of any age, primary attendance equalled 57.8% of the age group (Liberia: 90.9%), because many pupils are outside the official age range.
• Poverty and living standards in Gbarpolu: 60.5% of people in Gbarpolu County lived below the national poverty line in the 2016 Household Income and Expenditure Survey by LISGIS, and the rate was 5th lowest of the 15 counties. This is the latest official county poverty figure.

How countys are governed in Liberia

Counties (15). Superintendent and deputies appointed by the president; the 2018 Act provides for an elected county council (not yet set up). Main level below the national government; implements national programmes and county development plans.

Every tier of government in Liberia

Other counties of Liberia

• Montserrado 1,484,000
• Nimba 613,000
• Bong 443,000
• Lofa 367,000
• Grand Bassa 294,000
• Margibi 279,000
• Maryland 180,000
• Grand Cape Mount 169,000
• Grand Gedeh 166,000
• Sinoe 136,000
• Bomi 112,000
• Rivercess 95,000
• River Gee 89,000
• Grand Kru 77,000

Up a level: Liberia · government and power in Liberia

Sources

• Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) and Ministry of Health, with ICF (The DHS Program): Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20, Final Report (county rows of the background-characteristics tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 431010570dbc…)
• Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS); file republished by the World Bank Data Catalog: Liberia Poverty 2016: poverty headcount by county, from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2016 Statistical Abstract, read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d7b29646deb3…)

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