Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), in partnership with the World Bank, has officially launched the 2025 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) on behalf of the Liberian government.
The HIES will gather vital information to support evidence-based decision-making and enhance socioeconomic planning, according a statement dated April 30, 2025. In addition to other socioeconomic indicators, this survey will collect important data on household income, spending, food security, health, education, and employment in each of Liberia’s 15 counties.
The findings will give scholars, civil society, policymakers, and development partners important information about the living circumstances of Liberia’s citizens.
“The home survey’s debut represents a major advancement in our support of sustainable development and evidence-based policymaking in Liberia. Planning, decision-making, and action are made possible by having access to high-quality data, according to World Bank Liberia Country Manager Madam Georgia Wallen.
The World Bank’s Harmonizing and Improving Statistics in West Africa (HISWA) project, a regional effort to improve statistical capability and the quality and comparability of data across a number of West African nations, is supporting this effort.
A common commitment to strengthening data systems and improving the tracking and assessment of the national development plan is reaffirmed by HISWA.
Richard F. Ngafuan, Director-General, Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services, stated, “The 2025 HIES will provide essential baseline data to measure progress, target interventions, and deepen our understanding of poverty, employment, and well-being across the country as the Government implements the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.”
More than just statistics, this study captures the way Liberians live, work, and aspirate. It gives those in charge the knowledge they need to make informed decisions. I applaud the World Bank for its assistance with the HISWA Project, which keeps strengthening Liberia’s development agenda and statistics base.
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,” Madam Rose Mungai, World Bank Senior Poverty Economist for Liberia added.
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.
