Liberia

Population

• Total Population: Approximately 5.3 million (as of 2024, LISGIS estimate)
• Gender Distribution: 49% female, 51% male
• Youth Population: Over 60% under the age of 25

Urban vs Rural Distribution: 52% urban, 48% rural

Economic Landscape

• GDP: $4 billion (2023 estimate, World Bank)
• Key Industries: Agriculture (rubber, rice), Mining (iron ore), Forestry
• Women in Workforce: Approximately 60%, predominantly in agriculture and informal trade
• Gender Pay Gap: Women earn 28% less than men in formal sectors

Challenges: Limited land access for women (16% ownership), post-conflict economic fragility, climate impacts on farming

Political Landscape

• Women’s Representation in Leadership:
  • Parliament: 11% (2023)
  • Local Government Leadership: Approximately 8% of chiefs are women
• Challenges: Cultural resistance to women’s leadership, weak policy enforcement
• Key Policies Promoting Gender Equality:
  • National Gender Policy (2017): Promotes women’s empowerment
  • Liberia Land Rights Act (2018): Aims to secure women’s land tenure
  • Gender and Development Act: Targets equity in decision-making

• Social and Cultural Context

  • Gender Norms and Cultural Attitudes:
    • Patriarchal traditions prioritize men in leadership and land ownership
    • Women central to farming and household roles
    • Slow shift toward gender equity post-Sirleaf era
  • Traditional Barriers:
    • Early marriage (36% of girls before 18, UNICEF, 2021)
    • High gender-based violence rates (38% lifetime prevalence, DHS, 2020)
    • Female genital mutilation (FGM) persists in rural areas

• Gender Index Rankings

  • Global Gender Gap Index (2023): Ranked 117th out of 146 countries
  • Human Development Index (2023): 0.487 (Low human development)
  • Women’s Empowerment Index: Moderate progress in health, lagging in economic and political empowerment
  • Challenges Identified: Low literacy (48% for women), maternal mortality (661 per 100,000 births), climate vulnerability