Ethnic groups in Liberia
In 2008 a total of 3,476,608 people lived in Liberia . There are numerous ethnic groups made up of both locals and immigrants.
Native people groups
The locals belong to the Mande peoples (Mande Tan and Mande Fu) or Kruvölkers as well as the West Atlantic peoples . There are around twenty peoples.
Ethnic group | Number (1962 census) |
Number (1974 census) |
Number (1984 census) |
Number (2008 census) |
Language group |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bassa | 165,826 | 214.143 | 291.106 | 466.477 | Kru |
Grebo | 77.007 | 119.985 | 188.275 | 348,758 | Kru |
Mano | 72.122 | 110,770 | 148.977 | 273,439 | Mande Fu |
Loma | 53,891 | 88,351 | 118.716 | 178,443 | Mande Fu |
Gola | 47,295 | 67,819 | 83,148 | 152.925 | West Atlantic |
Vai | 28,898 | 49.504 | 74,950 | 140.251 | Mande Tan |
Kpelle | 211,081 | 298,532 | 488.206 | 705.554 | Mande Fu |
Dan | 83.208 | 130,300 | 164,823 | 276.923 | Mande Fu |
Kru | 80,813 | 121,414 | 148,610 | 209.993 | Kru |
Mandinka | 29,750 | 58,414 | 107.186 | 110,596 | Mande Tan |
Krahn | 52,552 | 71,177 | 99,352 | 139.085 | Kru |
Kissi | 34,914 | 51,318 | 94,661 | 167.980 | West Atlantic |
Mende | 4,474 | 8,678 | 16,462 | 46,413 | Mande Fu |
Kuwaa | 5,465 | 7,369 | 10,708 | 26,516 | Kru |
Dei | 5,396 | 6.365 | 7,604 | 11,783 | Kru |
Other indigenous ethnic groups are the Sapo (Bush Kru) with 43,327 (census 2008), the Tajuahson 20,000 that GBII 12,000 that Glio with 7300, the Glaro-Twabo with 6,600 and the crumbs (tepo) with 4,500 people (figures for Joshua Project).
Immigrants from other countries in Africa
In addition, black Africans have always immigrated from other countries. The largest groups of immigrants come from Ghana , Guinea and especially Sierra Leone . All West African countries have smaller or larger contingents of immigrants. The 2008 statistic mentions 47,453 African foreigners.
Ameriko-Liberians
The third group are the Creole Ameriko-Liberians, who today offer a uniform picture, but are of different origins. The largest part comes from the United States, part from the Caribbean (especially Barbados ) and others are so-called Congos . The Congos are black Africans who were freed from slavery before they arrived in America. Overall, they make up about 2–5% of Liberia's population.
The American-born Liberians were the politically and economically dominant group of Liberia until the assassination of President William R. Tolbert Jr. in 1980.
Non-african
The 2008 census found 4,508 foreigners from non-African countries, the most represented being:
Web links
- NPHC 2008 Report Preliminary Results , Liberia, preliminary statistical analysis of the 2008 census (PDF; 1.4 MB)
- www.ethnologue.com (Engl.)