Liberia Poverty Rate
Poverty headcount ratio at $2.15/day SI.POV.DDAY
Liberia's poverty rate was 33.60% in 2016, ranked 77th globally. This represents a 6.0% increase from 2015. Data from World Bank, covering 2007–2016.
Overview
Liberia's poverty rate stood at 33.60% in 2016, a rise of +1.90pp from 2014. Liberia ranked 77th globally.
Liberia’s poverty rate fell dramatically from its all‑time peak of 61.10 % in 2007 to a trough of 31.70 % in 2014, before rising slightly to 33.60 % in 2016, placing the country 77th in the world. The steep decline over the seven‑year interval reflects post‑conflict reconstruction, expanded social safety nets and modest growth in agriculture and services, yet the modest uptick after 2014 suggests vulnerability to external shocks such as commodity price volatility and health crises. Compared with peer Ghana, whose poverty rate stood at 39.00 % in the same period, Liberia’s figure remains lower, but the gap widens when measured against Honduras (19.80 %) and Bangladesh (19.50 %), both of which have sustained deeper reductions through diversified export bases and stronger fiscal capacity. Continued investment in rural infrastructure, education and health, coupled with macro‑stable policies, will be crucial for reversing the recent rise and sustaining the downward trajectory of poverty in Liberia.
Data & projection
| Year | Poverty Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 33.60% | +1.90pp | #77 |
| 2014 | 31.70% | −29.40pp | #79 |
| 2007 | 61.10% | – | #70 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Liberia matched the Fiscal Dominance Trap pattern in 2008. Historically, 72% of countries showing this pattern (278 out of 386) saw poverty rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Liberia's poverty rate was 33.60% in 2016. Ranked 77th globally. This represents a 6.0% increase from the previous year.
Liberia's poverty rate peaked at 61.10% in 2007.
The lowest poverty rate in Liberia was 31.70% in 2014.
Liberia ranks 77th globally in poverty rate as of 2016.
The World Bank indicator code is SI.POV.DDAY. Data sourced from World Bank.
The poverty rate of Liberia in 2016 was 33.60%. This ranks 77th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_liberia_poverty-rate,
title = {Liberia Poverty Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/liberia/poverty-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}