Facts and Figures

IOM Member State since 1995 Capital: Monrovia Population (2011): 4.1 million Area: 111,369 sq km Languages: English Currency: Liberian Dollar (LRD) GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 419 HDI Rank (2011): 182 of 187 Remittances (2011 estimate): USD 28 million Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): -0.9 migrants /1,000 population Immigrants (2010): 2.3% Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 45.1% Population under 15 (2011): 43.5% Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 2%

Additional Resources International Migration Law Database National Instruments: Liberia Sources and Definitions

Latest News

• IOM Begins First Repatriation of Liberian and Ivorian Refugees
• IOM Helps Trafficked Bangladeshi Workers to Return Home from Liberia
• IOM Creates Waste Management Jobs, Improves Environmental Health in Liberia
• Major Step Forward in Countering Human Trafficking in Liberia
• Agreement Paves the Way for the Reintegration of Conflict-Affected Women and Girls in Liberia

Overview

The instability in neighbouring countries that exacerbated and facilitated conflict within Liberia's borders in the past, combined with current political issues in some neighbouring countries, remains to be a source of concern to Liberia. In response, IOM initiated various activities linked to border and migration management, counter-trafficking, and good governance, in close cooperation with the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) and its UN counterpart agencies. In addition, the IOM Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) initiative that engages former combatants in waste management-related activities is considered to be one of the most important elements of IOM's strategy and a critical intervention to mitigate unemployment in Liberia, promote peace, and resolve conflict.

One of the major difficulties facing Liberia concerns the provision of assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), particularly the implementation of safe and orderly return transport. Organizing the logistics to return IDPs by land to their area of origin or choice of final destination remains difficult due to the current state of the country's infrastructure (especially the roads). The Minister of Internal Affairs and the Minister of Labour solicited IOM's involvement in activities supporting the reintegration of Liberian returnees in their areas of origin, as well as initiatives aimed at combating trafficking of persons.

Movement, Emergency and Post-crisis Migration Management

Funded by the German government, IOM's quick impact local environment initiative project to create 200 waste management jobs for former combatants in Liberia has been expanded to include 200 more beneficiaries from two poor communities. The project is designed to create livelihoods, reduce pollution and improve environmental health and living conditions for poor families in Montserrado and Margibi counties who have lived through 14 years of conflict. It will help municipal authorities to create and manage sustainable waste management systems and carry out community clean-ups.

Project

• Expansion of the Reintegration of Ex-combatants through a Local Environment Initiative Project

Regulating Migration

IOM continues to strengthen the technical capacity of the Government of Liberia to manage migration by providing appropriate technical equipment and relevant training to immigration officials at Robert's International Airport, the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization, and other relevant departments. IOM also provides expert advice and ensures consultation in line with international best practices associated with the normalization and rationalization of agency functions related to migration management.

IOM Liberia's counter-trafficking project which commenced in September 2009 financed by IOM's 1035 Facility is aimed at building the capacity of the Government of Liberia and major stakeholders to strengthen their response in reducing and addressing the challenges raised by trafficking in persons. Implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Labour and the National Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Secretariat, the project components include: 1) the establishment of a National Referral System including the participative development of standard operating procedures designed to improve the government response to the threat of human trafficking; 2) building of the capacity of relevant government agencies and service delivery partners/local NGOs who will be trained to face the issue of trafficking in persons, and 3) the provision of comprehensive reintegration assistance to victims of trafficking.

Projects

• Border Control and Management Programme
• Liberia Network Against Trafficking: Building Capacity of Community Stakeholders in Liberia

Facilitating Migration

Through its Family Reunification Programme, IOM works to reunite Liberian immigrants in the US, Canada and some countries in Europe with their relatives still living in Liberia. The Mission in Liberia also handles caseloads of Liberian refugees in asylum countries seeking IOM's assistance to voluntarily return to Liberia with a reintegration package to re-start their lives and, on a case-to-case basis, at the request of IOM missions in the region and in full coordination with the sending and receiving countries.

IOM provides assistance to ensure the safe and orderly return to their areas of origin or choice of final destinations. In close coordination with other IOM missions in the region, travel arrangements of potential returnees are arranged, including flight bookings, medical checks prior to travel, obtaining transit permissions, providing escorts to transit points, reception assistance and onward transport.

Projects

• Family Reunification Programme
• Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration Programme
• Stranded Migrants Programme

Last updated:
Main text: August 2010
Facts and figures: May 2012