Press Release

Monrovia, Liberia: The Government of Liberia and International Partners wish to reaffirm their continued commitment to the successful conduct of the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census by the Government, which runs from11 to 22 November 2022. 

The population and housing census is among the most complex and massive peacetime exercises a nation can undertake. A census, as mandated within the Constitution, involves the complete enumeration of the population in a country. It generates a wealth of data, including numbers of people, their spatial distribution, age and sex structure, as well as their living conditions and other key socioeconomic characteristics. These data are critical for good governance, policy formulation, development planning, crisis prevention, mitigation and response, social welfare programmes and business market analyses, among others. 

Given this, the International Community wishes to encourage all not to politicize or disrupt the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census. We have observed with dismay calls by some elements within the country to boycott the Census. 

Despite some initial challenges, the Census is now on track and has commenced as of 11 November 2022. Any further disruption would lead to delays in, or possible abortion, of the Census which will benefit no one.

The Partners, led by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), are providing technical and financial support to the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, the agency of the Government with the authority to conduct Census taking to ensure the census house listing and enumeration is completed within the timeframe of 11-22 November 2022 as announced by the Government.

The International Partner support is aimed at ensuring that the 2022 National Population and Housing Census is of high quality and upholds international principles and standards.
The unique advantage of the census is that it represents the entire statistical universe, down to the smallest geographical/ administrative area of a country or region. 

The Government of Liberia and its International partners wish to appeal to all citizens, residents, and visitors to peacefully support the ongoing 2022 National Population and Housing Census by welcoming the Census Enumerators to their homes and facilities and allowing them to do their work. Remember that Census takes place every 10 years, and the process gives an individual the opportunity to be heard, and counted. So let’s make this Census count.

From:

Hon. Samuel D. Tweh, Jr. 
Minister of Finance and Development Planning
Republic of Liberia

Mr. Niels Scott
UN Resident Coordinator

Ms. Bidisha Pillai, 
Resident Representative
UNFPA 

Mr. Khwima Nthara, 
Country Manager
World Bank 

H.E Urban Sjöström 
Ambassador 
Kingdom of Sweden

Mr. Jim Wright
Mission Director
USAID

H.E. Gerard Considine
Chargé D'Affaires
Embassy of Ireland