Liberia: Economic Growth Must Work for Liberians

What the report says

Liberia’s New Dawn newspaper, in an editorial republished by AllAfrica, says the country’s latest World Bank economic update highlights a gap between growth and everyday living conditions. Citing the World Bank’s Seventh Liberia Economic Update, the piece says real GDP growth is estimated to have risen from 4.0% in 2024 to 5.1% in 2025, helped mainly by mining and modest gains in services, while extreme poverty is reported to have increased over the same period.

The editorial argues that the trend is especially troubling because it comes alongside a larger national budget, which the article says grew from US$738.9 million in 2024 to about US$1.21 billion in 2026. It says that despite higher spending and stronger revenue collection, many Liberians still face unemployment, food insecurity, weak public services and difficulty affording basic goods. The article also points to operational problems at the Freeport of Monrovia and funding delays affecting ministries and agencies.

The New Dawn frames the issue as a reminder of Liberia’s 1955-1975 economic period, when growth was tied to iron ore and rubber but did not broadly improve welfare. In the newspaper’s view, the Boakai administration should focus on turning economic gains into better healthcare, education, jobs, infrastructure and living standards. The broader context is a common development challenge in Liberia and elsewhere: rising output does not automatically reduce poverty unless public policy and institutions deliver benefits more widely.