Ethnic groups in Liberia

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Tribal areas 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.

The largest ethnic groups in Liberia
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:

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