-To Inform Policy Decisions and Improve Socio-Economic Planning
Monrovia – The Government of Liberia, through the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) in collaboration with the World Bank, has officially launched the 2025 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). The HIES will collect critical data to inform evidence-based policy decisions and improve socioeconomic planning.
This survey, which is being conducted across Liberia’s 15 counties, will gather key information on household income, expenditure, food security, health, education, and employment, among other socio-economic indicators. The results will provide policymakers, development partners, civil society, and researchers with valuable insights into the living conditions of Liberia’s population.
“The launch of the household survey marks a significant step forward in our support for evidence-based policymaking and sustainable development in Liberia,” said Georgia Wallen, World Bank Liberia Country Manager. “Access to high-quality data is an enabler for planning, decision-making, and action.”
This initiative is supported by the World Bank Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) project, a regional initiative aimed at strengthening statistical capacity and improving the quality and comparability of data across several West African countries. HISWA reinforces a shared commitment to strengthening data systems and enhancing the monitoring and evaluation of the national development strategy.
“As the Government implements the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, the 2025 HIES will provide vital baseline data to measure progress, target interventions, and deepen our understanding of poverty, employment, and well-being across the country,” said Hon. Richard F. Ngafuan, Director-General, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services. “This survey is more than numbers – it reflects how Liberians live, work, and strive. It offers decision-makers the insight needed to govern wisely. I commend the World Bank for its support through the HISWA Project, which continues to bolster Liberia’s statistical foundation and development agenda.”
The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) urges all selected households to participate in the survey, assuring respondents that all information collected will remain strictly confidential and will only be used for statistical purposes.
“Emphasizing the importance of reliable data in driving sustainable development, this survey serves as a crucial instrument for identifying the challenges households face and developing targeted policies to reduce poverty, address inequality, and promote inclusive economic growth,” said Rose Mungai, World Bank Senior Poverty Economist for Liberia.
The HIES is conducted in line with international best practices and adheres to rigorous data collection methodologies to ensure accuracy and representativeness. Previous surveys were paper-based but this survey uses Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) data collection method where interviewers use tablets to record responses during face-to-face interviews. It enhances data accuracy, reduces errors, and allows for real-time data validation and transmission. Trained field teams will visit randomly selected households to conduct face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires and digital data collection tools. In 2016, Liberia conducted its first-ever Household Income and Expenditure Survey, a landmark step in strengthening evidence-based policymaking. Now, nearly a decade later, the country stands at the threshold of commencing the second round of the HIES, a powerful tool to shape policies that truly reflect the experiences of our people.
