Doloquee
The Plenary of the House of Representatives has recently passed a resolution, which is a significant milestone in my country, Liberia. The resolution directs the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) to provide a detailed breakdown of the population by electoral districts. This decision comes after the submission of the final report of the 2022 Census by LISGIS, which unveiled a substantial increase in Liberia’s population by nearly two million people. The report revealed that Montserrado and Nimba counties account for almost half of the overall population.
The aim of requesting this district report is to facilitate the pending demarcation process and support targeted development initiatives and resource allocation at the district level. By having a segregated report, we hope to enhance governance effectiveness and address the specific needs of different districts more efficiently.
According to the data from LISGIS, the current population of Liberia stands at 5.2 million, representing a remarkable growth of 50.4 percent compared to the 2008 census result of 3.5 million. This translates to a population gain of over 1.7 million people over the course of 14 years. The urban areas experienced a growth rate of 52 percent, while the rural areas saw a decline of 48 percent.
Most of Liberia’s population resides in regular households, with institutional households such as boarding schools and prisons accounting for less than 2 percent. Additionally, floating or homeless individuals constitute approximately 0.4 percent of the population.
In terms of gender distribution, 50.4 percent of the population identifies as male, while 49.6 percent identifies as female. This results in a national sex ratio of 101.5 males for every 100 females. These figures align with the gender ratios observed in the 2008 census, demonstrating consistency over the years.
When examining the distribution of the population by county, it becomes evident that Liberia’s population remains heavily concentrated in four counties: Montserrado, Nimba, Bong, and Lofa County. These four counties account for approximately 65 percent of the total population, which reflects a long-standing trend observed in the 2008 census as well. On the other hand, counties such as Rivercess, Gbarpolu, Grand Kru, and River Gee have lower population numbers and face challenges due to years of government neglect, including a lack of basic social services.
LISGIS reports a population growth rate of 3 percent, accompanied by an average household size of 4.4 persons. This represents a decrease in household size since 1984 when the average was 6.2 persons. The decline in household size aligns with the ongoing urbanization and modernization of our country.
When compared to neighboring countries, Liberia’s average household size is larger than that of Ghana and Ivory Coast but smaller than that of Sierra Leone and Mali, according to LISGIS data. Furthermore, Liberia’s population growth rate is higher than that of Ghana, Guinea, and Ivory Coast but lower than that of Mali and Sierra Leone.
In other news, the Legislature is expected to convene on July 17 following the Second Quarter, which began on May 2. However, there are rumors suggesting that the session might be extended by a month to address other pressing issues that require immediate attention. The extension would require the President’s signature, as stated in Article 32(b) of the Constitution. The President must issue the proclamation within 48 hours of receiving the certificate from at least one-fourth of the total membership of each House. Failure to do so would result in an automatic recess of the Legislature.
It is worth noting that in April of this year, the Supreme Court of Liberia dismissed a request by the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) to invalidate the ongoing National Elections Commission (NEC
voter registration exercise. The CPP had raised concerns about the constitutionality of the registration process without prior demarcation.
In the ruling delivered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh on Wednesday, April 12, the court stated that it found no reason to halt the ongoing voter registration exercise. The court emphasized that the NEC was not in violation of the Constitution, particularly Article 80(d)(e), regarding the order of demarcation and voter registration.
The CPP had argued that conducting voter registration before completing the census and demarcation of constituencies was unconstitutional. They believed that demarcation should precede voter registration to ensure accurate representation. However, the Supreme Court dismissed their petition, asserting that the NEC had not violated any constitutional mandates.
The CPP had requested the Supreme Court to declare the NEC’s actions void, claiming that the failure to demarcate constituencies before voter registration went against constitutional requirements. However, the court’s ruling favored the continuation of the registration process.
This recent resolution passed by the House of Representatives and the release of the 2022 Census report marks significant developments in Liberia’s governance and planning. The breakdown of the population by electoral districts will provide valuable insights for policymakers and contribute to more effective governance and targeted development initiatives. With the population increasing by nearly two million people, it is crucial to address the specific needs of different districts and ensure fair representation for all citizens.
