–praises Government, Crusaders, all Liberians
“Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, bravo to Liberia, Liberia has proven once again that in difficult situations, you can come together and you can make it happen”, the words of EU Ambassador to Liberia, Lauren Delarose when he spoke Wednesday in Monrovia when the results of the 2022 national Housing and Population Census were announced by LISGIS.
At the program, the International Community including the EU, UN, ECOWAS, USAID, Civil Society organizations as well as the Muslim and Christian communities declared the Census results free and conducted under best international practices and standard.
Announcing the provisional results earlier, the Acting Director General of LISGIS, Lawrence George, put Liberia’s new population at five million, two hundred and forty eight thousand people (5,248,621) with male accounting for 50.4 percent and female accounting 49.6 percent, an increase of 50 percent in the last 15 years.
According to Mr. George, the total population increased by 1,772,013 (50 percent) when compared to the 2008 census. Overall, the male population makes up 50.4 percent (2,644,450) of the people and the female population accounts for 49.6 (2,604,171), given a national sex ration of 101.5 males for every 100 females.” If the population trend continues, Liberia’s population is expected to double in the next 23 years, Mr. George said.
The 2022 LNHPC was marred by a number of problems, ranging from chaotic recruitment exercise and administrative lapses that led President Weah to sack two of LISGIS’ senior administrators while on his foreign trip. Mr. Lawrence George and others including Ambassador Juli Endee were brought on board to save the 2022 census from collapse, with Ambassador Endee serving as the Media outreach and Community Social Mobilization Chairperson.
Speaking at the announcement of the provisional results at the Monrovia City Hall, VP Taylor thanked Liberia’s development partners including the United Nations system in Liberia, United States, Sweden, Ireland, EU and Ghana for supporting the census. She said the success of Liberia’s first digital census has paved the way to integrate digital system in all sectors called for the setting up of a postal system.
Earlier, the Chairman of LISGIS Board of Directors, Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah thanked President George Weah for his excellent leadership role in guarding the census to a successful conclusion. The data, Tweah said, will be used in Liberia’s development drive and thanked the partners for their unflinching support to the process.
The Liberia’s Financer Minister did not also mint his words in raining endless praises upon Ambassador Endee for her exemplary role in mobilizing the entire country to participate in the 2022 census. The event was also attended by Liberia’s development partners. Leading the One UN System was the new UN Resident Coordinator, Christine N. Umutoni who hailed Liberia for the successful conduct of the fifth National Population and Housing Census, describing it as a significant milestone.
The release of the provisional results, Madam Umutoni said, means that Liberia now has reliable new and multispectral data that the government and its partners can all use immediately and going forward. With the analysis of the Census data based on the various thematic areas, she noted that there will be updated demographic, social, and economic data to support Liberia’s development activities and for tracking the implementation of development goals.
World Bank Country Manager Khwima Nthara said now that the data has been collected, it is now time to use it in the country’s development drive. He pledged the Bank’s continued support to Liberia.
The provisional results of the 2022 National Population and Housing Census (LNHPC) as announced almost bear similar trend with the 2008 census results. Montserrado County came first with 1.9 million people, accounts for 37 percent of the total population enumerated, followed by Nimba County, with a population of 621,841 (12% of the population). Bong sits third with 467,502 (9%) and Lofa followed with 367,502 population (7%), while Rivercess County came the least in population.
Meanwhile, the international Community including the UN Agencies operating in Liberia, Embassies, the Liberian Government, USAID, the Liberia Council of Churches, the National Muslim and Imam Councils have applauded Ambassador Endee for her demonstrated patriotism.
However, the Liberia Culture Ambassador and Traditional Queen has dedicated and appreciated all civil society organizations, the Muslims, Christians, women organizations, federation of Liberian Youths, FLY, the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders headed by Chief Zanzan Kawor, for the successful conduct of the 2022 census. She also commended the all development partners, LISGIS and the Liberian Government for believing in her, noting that she would not have done it alone without their cooperation and support.