The Government of Liberia has finally released the much anticipated final results of the 2008 National Housing and Population Census conducted by the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo Information Services (LIGIS).

The final results released by the government indicate a decrease in the population total by 12,464 or 0.4% as opposed to the provisional results released and published on June 20, 2008.

 The provisional results released on June 20, 2008 put the population of Liberia at 3,489,072 or 3.5 million.

Releasing the final results of the Census Friday, Planning and Economics Affairs Minister, Amara Konneh, said the decrease in the population recorded by LIGIS is in keeping with acceptable international standards.

According to him, the final results of the census will now be followed by the analysis of the data which will bring together subject matter specialists within Liberia and abroad.

Minister Konneh said the final results of the census revealed a growth rate of 2.1% in Liberia.

Montserrado and Grand Kru counties remains the most populated and under populated counties with a total population of 1,118,241 and 57,913 respectively in the final census results.

The final results of the 2008 National Housing and Population Census had been hinged on the passage of the controversial Population Threshold Bill currently before the National Legislature.

A fortnight ago, the House of Representatives suspended deliberations on the passage of the bill until the final results of the census can be made available.