Liberia Net Migration
Net migration SM.POP.NETM
Liberia's net migration was -9,870 in 2025, ranked 66th globally. This represents a 26.9% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1960–2025.
Overview
Liberia's net migration stood at -9,870 in 2025, a decline of +2,091 from 2024. Based on recent trends, this figure is projected to reach -7,545 by 2026. Liberia ranked 66th globally.
Liberia’s net migration figure stands at –9,870.00 in 2025, ranking it 66th globally, and reflects a long‑term pattern of out‑flows that intensified after the civil wars of the 1990s. The country’s highest recorded inflow occurred in 1997 with 281,480.00 migrants, a brief reversal driven by post‑conflict repatriation and humanitarian assistance, while the sharpest out‑migration dip was recorded in 1990 at –712,544.00 as violence escalated and refugees fled to neighboring states. Over the 66‑year coverage period, net migration has remained negative since the early 1990s, placing Liberia alongside peers such as Lebanon (–10,230.00) and Montenegro (–9,279.00) in the lower tier of the World Bank ranking. The persistent negative balance is linked to limited economic opportunities, weak institutional capacity, and periodic political instability. Continued investment in education, infrastructure, and governance could stem out‑migration and gradually shift the trajectory toward a modest positive balance in the coming decade.
Data & projection
| Year | Net Migration | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2028* trend | -7,307 | - | - |
| 2027* trend | -7,426 | - | - |
| 2026* trend | -7,545 | - | - |
| 2025 | -9,870 | −2,091 | #66 |
| 2024 | -7,779 | −2,777 | #66 |
| 2023 | -5,002 | +1 | #68 |
| 2022 | -5,003 | +6,849 | #64 |
| 2021 | -11,852 | −1,745 | #48 |
| 2020 | -10,107 | +9,571 | #52 |
| 2019 | -19,678 | +3,521 | #49 |
| 2018 | -23,199 | +1,608 | #45 |
| 2017 | -24,807 | +1,989 | #40 |
| 2016 | -26,796 | −11,614 | #38 |
| 2015 | -15,182 | +11,508 | #61 |
| 2014 | -26,690 | −4,680 | #43 |
| 2013 | -22,010 | +3,700 | #47 |
| 2012 | -25,710 | −117,691 | #51 |
| 2011 | 91,981 | +89,131 | #196 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Liberia matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw net migration improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Liberia's net migration was -9,870 in 2025. Ranked 66th globally. This represents a 26.9% decrease from the previous year.
Liberia's net migration peaked at 281,480 in 1997.
The lowest net migration in Liberia was -712,544 in 1990.
Liberia ranks 66th globally in net migration as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SM.POP.NETM. Data sourced from World Bank.
Liberia's net migration is projected to reach -7,545 by 2026 based on trend extrapolation.
The net migration of Liberia in 2025 was -9,870. This ranks 66th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_liberia_net-migration,
title = {Liberia Net Migration},
url = {https://historysaid.com/liberia/net-migration/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}