{{Short description|Liberian divisions}} [[File:Counties of Liberia.svg|thumb|upright=1.4|Map of the [[counties of Liberia]]]] [[Liberia]] is divided into fifteen first-level administrative divisions called [[Counties of Liberia|counties]], which, in turn, are subdivided into a total of 136 second-level administrative divisions called [[districts of Liberia|districts]] and further subdivided into third-level administrative divisions called ''[[Clans of Liberia|clans]]''.
After its independence in 1847, and over the course of the nineteenth century, Liberia's administrative divisions grew from the original three counties — [[Montserrado County|Montserrado]], [[Grand Bassa County|Grand Bassa]], and [[Sinoe County|Sinoe]] — to the addition of [[Maryland County|Maryland]] and [[Grand Cape Mount County|Grand Cape Mount]], extending along the windward coast between Cape Mount and Cape Palmas.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theperspective.org/2004/june/decentralization.html|title=Decentralization Of Political & Administrative Power In Liberia|website=www.theperspective.org|access-date=2017-01-03}}</ref> Under President [[Arthur Barclay]]'s administration (1904–1912), a new system was established in response to British and French demands that the Liberian government effectively occupy the territory Liberia had claimed. Three inland provinces were created — Western, Central, and Eastern — and each province was divided into several districts. The administrative districts were further sub-divided into clans. The districts were administered by the newly created office of district commissioner and the clans by the newly created office of paramount chief, all appointed by the president. In 1964, under President [[William Tubman]]'s 'Unification' policy, the three inland provinces were disestablished, and the inland administrative divisions were reconstituted into four new counties: [[Grand Gedeh County|Grand Gedeh]], [[Nimba County|Nimba]], [[Bong County|Bong]], and [[Lofa County|Lofa]], administered by superintendents who were appointed by the president.
In 1984, under President [[Samuel Doe]], [[Grand Kru County|Grand Kru]] and [[Bomi County|Bomi]] counties were established. In 1985, two more counties were created: [[Margibi County|Margibi]] and [[Rivercess County|Rivercess]]. The last two current counties were created under President [[Charles Taylor (Liberian politician)|Charles Taylor]]: [[River Gee County|River Gee]] in 2000 and [[Gbarpolu County|Gbarpolu]] in 2001.
== Governance == {{Politics of Liberia}} The fifteen counties are administered by superintendents, and the districts by commissioners, all appointed by the president. The cabinet office with responsibility for the management of the superintendents, commissioners and chiefs is the Minister of Internal Affairs. The 1985 Constitution calls for the election of various [[Tribal chief|chiefs]] at the county and local level. These elections have not taken place since 1985 due to war and financial constraints.<ref name=polls>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7187906.stm |title=Liberia cannot afford local polls |newspaper=BBC News |date=January 14, 2008}}</ref>
== Counties == {{Further|Counties of Liberia}}
There are 15 counties in [[Liberia]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Map # ! County ! Date<br>Created ! Capital ! Area<br>(mi<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="census2008">{{cite web |year=2008 |title=2008 National Population and Housing Census: Preliminary Results |url=http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/census_2008provisionalresults.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213110308/http://www.emansion.gov.lr/doc/census_2008provisionalresults.pdf |archive-date=February 13, 2012 |access-date=October 14, 2008 |publisher=Government of the Republic of Liberia}}</ref> ! Population<br>(2022 Census)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Liberia: Counties, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Areas - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/liberia/ |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref> ! Parent<br>County |- | align="center"| 1 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Bomi County.svg}} [[Bomi County|Bomi]] | align="center" |1984 | align="center" |[[Tubmanburg]] | align="center" |{{convert|749|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |133,668 | align="center" | Montserrado County |- | align="center"| 2 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Bong County.svg}} [[Bong County|Bong]] | align="center" |1964 | align="center" |[[Gbarnga]] | align="center" |{{convert|3386|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |467,502 | align="center" | {{sort|Central|Bong County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=Central|Formerly part of Central Province.}}}} |- | align="center"| 3 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Gbarpolu County.svg}} [[Gbarpolu County|Gbarpolu]] | align="center" |2001 | align="center" |[[Bopolu]] | align="center" |{{convert|3740|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |95,995 | align="center" | Lofa County |- | align="center"| 4 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Grand Bassa County.svg}} [[Grand Bassa County|Grand Bassa]] | align="center" |1839 | align="center" |[[Buchanan, Liberia|Buchanan]] | align="center" |{{convert|3064|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |293,557 | align="center" | Grand Bassa County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=original|Original administrative division.}} |- | align="center"| 5 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Grand Cape Mount County.svg}} [[Grand Cape Mount County|Grand Cape Mount]] | align="center" |1844 | align="center" |[[Robertsport]] | align="center" |{{convert|1993|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |178,798 | align="center" | Grand Cape Mount County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=original}} |- | align="center"| 6 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Grand Gedeh County.svg}} [[Grand Gedeh County|Grand Gedeh]] | align="center" |1964 | align="center" |[[Zwedru]] | align="center" |{{convert|4047|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |216,692 | align="center" | Grand Gedah County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=East|Formerly part of Eastern Province.}} |- | align="center"| 7 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Grand Kru County.svg}} [[Grand Kru County|Grand Kru]] | align="center" |1984 | align="center" |[[Barclayville]] | align="center" |{{convert|1503|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |109,342 | align="center" | Maryland County |- | align="center"| 8 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Lofa County.svg}} [[Lofa County|Lofa]] | align="center" |1964 | align="center" |[[Voinjama]] | align="center" |{{convert|3854|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |367,376 | align="center" | Lofa County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=West|Formerly part of Western Province.}} |- | align="center"| 9 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Margibi County.svg}} [[Margibi County|Margibi]] | align="center" |1985 | align="center" |[[Kakata]] | align="center" |{{convert|1010|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |304,946 | align="center" | Montserrado County |- | align="center"|10 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Maryland County.svg}} [[Maryland County|Maryland]] | align="center" |1857 | align="center" |[[Harper, Liberia|Harper]] | align="center" |{{convert|886|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |172,202 | align="center" | Maryland County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=original}} |- | align="center"|11 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Montserrado County.svg}} [[Montserrado County|Montserrado]] | align="center" |1839 | align="center" |[[Bensonville]] | align="center" |{{convert|737|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |1,920,914 | align="center" | Montserrado County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=original}} |- | align="center"|12 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Nimba County.svg}} [[Nimba County|Nimba]] | align="center" |1964 | align="center" |[[Sanniquellie]] | align="center" |{{convert|4459|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |621,841 | align="center" | {{sort|Central|Nimba County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=Central}}}} |- | align="center"|13 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Rivercess County.svg}} [[Rivercess County|Rivercess]] | align="center" |1985 | align="center" |[[River Cess]] | align="center" |{{convert|2,159|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |90,777 | align="center" | Grand Bassa County |- | align="center"|14 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of River Gee County.svg}} [[River Gee County|River Gee]] | align="center" |2000 | align="center" |[[Fish Town]] | align="center" |{{convert|1974|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |124,653 | align="center" | Grand Gedah County |- | align="center"|15 | align="left"| {{flagicon image|Flag of Sinoe County.svg}} [[Sinoe County|Sinoe]] | align="center" |1843 | align="center" |[[Greenville, Liberia|Greenville]] | align="center" |{{convert|3913|mi2|abbr=on}} | align="center" |150,358 | align="center" | Simoe County{{efn|group=LiberiaCounties|name=original}} |}
;Notes: {{notelist|group=LiberiaCounties}}
== Districts == {{Further|Districts of Liberia}}
{{col-begin}} {{col-2}} *'''[[Bomi County]]''' **[[Dewoin District]] **[[Klay District]] **[[Suehn Mecca District]] **[[Senjeh District]] *'''[[Bong County]]''' **[[Boinsen District]] **[[Fuamah District]] **[[Jorquelleh District]] **[[Kokoyah District]] **[[Kpaai District]] **[[Panta District]] **[[Salala District]] **[[Sanoyeah District]] **[[Suakoko District]] **[[Tukpahblee District]] **[[Yeallequelleh District]] **[[Zota District]] *'''[[Gbarpolu County]]''' **[[Belleh District]] **[[Bopolu District]] **[[Bokomu District]] **[[Gbarma District]] **[[Gounwolaila District]] **[[Kongba District]] *'''[[Grand Bassa County]]''' **[[Commonwealth District, Grand Bassa County|Commonwealth District]] **[[District 1, Grand Bassa County|District #1]] **[[District 2, Grand Bassa County|District #2]] **[[District 3, Grand Bassa County|District #3]] **[[District 4, Grand Bassa County|District #4]] **[[Neekreen District]] **[[Owensgrove District]] **[[St. John River District]] *'''[[Grand Cape Mount County]]''' **[[Commonwealth District, Grand Cape Mount County|Commonwealth District]] **[[Garwula District]] **[[Gola Konneh District]] **[[Porkpa District]] **[[Tewor District]] *'''[[Grand Gedeh County]]''' **[[B'hai District]] **[[Cavala District]] **[[Gbao District]] **[[Gboe-Ploe District]] **[[Glio-Twarbo District]] **[[Konobo District]] **[[Putu District]] **[[Tchien District]] *'''[[Grand Kru County]]'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 Liberia Population and Housing Census : Final Results |url=https://lisgis.gov.lr/document/LiberiaCensus2022Report.pdf |website=Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Service |access-date=3 March 2026 |ref={{SfnRef|LISGIS|2023}} |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260225010032/https://lisgis.gov.lr/document/LiberiaCensus2022Report.pdf |page=87 |date=June 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=25 February 2026 }}</ref> **[[Barclayville]] **[[Bleebo District]] **[[Bolloh District]] **[[Buah District]] **[[Dorbor District]] **[[Dweh District]] **[[Felo-Jekwi District]] **[[Fenetoe District]] **[[Forpoh District]] **[[Garraway District]] **[[Gee District]] **[[Grand Cess Wedabo District]] **[[Upper Jloh District]] **[[Lower Jloh District]] **[[Kpi District]] **[[Nrokwia-Wesldow District]] **[[Penicess District]] **[[Trenbo District]] **[[Wlogba District]] {{col-2}} *'''[[Lofa County]]''' **[[Foya District]] **[[Kolahun District]] **[[Quardu Gboni District]] **[[Salayea District]] **[[Vahun District]] **[[Voinjama District]] **[[Zorzor District]] *'''[[Margibi County]]''' **[[Firestone District]] **[[Gibi District]] **[[Kakata District]] **[[Mambah Kaba District]] *'''[[Maryland County]]''' **[[Gwelekpoken District]] **[[Harper District]] **[[Karluway District #1]] **[[Karluway District #2]] **[[Nyorken District]] **[[Pleebo/Sodoken District]] **[[Whojah District]] *'''[[Montserrado County]]''' **[[Commonwealth District, Montserrado County|Commonwealth District]] **[[Careysburg District]] **[[Greater Monrovia District]] **[[St. Paul River District]] **[[Todee District]] *'''[[Nimba County]]''' **[[Boe & Quilla District]] **[[Buu-Yao District]] **[[Doe District]] **[[Garr-Bain District]] **[[Gbehlay-Geh District]] **[[Gbi & Doru District]] **[[Gbor District]] **[[Kparblee District]] **[[Leewehpea-Mahn District]] **[[Meinpea-Mahn District]] **[[Sanniquellie-Mahn District]] **[[Twan River District]] **[[Wee-Gbehy-Mahn District]] **[[Yarmein District]] **[[Yarpea-Mahn District]] **[[Yarwein Mehnsonnoh District]] **[[Zoe-Gbao District]] *'''[[River Cess County]]''' **[[Beawor District]] **[[Central River Cess District]] **[[Doedain District]] **[[Fen River District]] **[[Jo River District]] **[[Norwein District]] **[[Sam Gbalor District]] **[[Zarflahn District]] *'''[[River Gee]]''' **[[Chedepo District]] **[[Gbeapo District]] **[[Glaro District]] **[[Karforh District]] **[[Nanee District]] **[[Nyenawliken District]] **[[Potupo District]] **[[Sarbo District]] **[[Tuobo District]] **[[Nyenebo District]] *'''[[Sinoe County]]''' **[[Bodae District]] **[[Bokon District]] **[[Butaw District]] **[[Dugbe River District]] **[[Greenville District]] **[[Jaedae District]] **[[Jaedepo District]] **[[Juarzon District]] **[[Kpayan District]] **[[Kulu Shaw Boe District]] **[[Plahn Nyarn District]] **[[Pynes Town District]] **[[Sanquin District #1]] **[[Sanquin District #2]] **[[Sanquin District #3]] **[[Seekon District]] **[[Wedjah District]] {{col-end}} <ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2015 |title=Liberia: Administrative Divisions |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a81506ee5274a2e87dbcf2e/Liberia_Administrative_Divisions.pdf |access-date=12 December 2024 |website=gov.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Liberia Districts |url=https://www.statoids.com/ylr.html |access-date=2024-12-12 |website=www.statoids.com}}</ref>
== Clans == [[File:Liberia clans.png|thumb|right|350px|Clans of Liberia]] The '''Clans of Liberia''' were local political units created by the central government as part of its efforts to extend its authority and influence into the interior of the country.<ref name=GlobalSecurity/> As the tier of administrative government beneath the [[Districts of Liberia|districts]] of [[Liberia]], the clan structure only loosely corresponded to historic local political entities. Clans were legally recognized through legislation in 1905 and 1912.<ref name=Stability> {{cite journal |last=Nyei |first=Ibrahim |title=Decentralizing the State in Liberia: The Issues, Progress and Challenges |journal=Stability: International Journal of Security & Development | doi = 10.5334/sta.eg |volume=3|year=2014 |doi-access=free }} </ref> In a number of cases the clans, each under a chief, were combined under larger units called chiefdoms and headed by a paramount chief.<ref name=GlobalSecurity/> Clans and chiefdoms were in some cases parts of a limited number of officially-recognized tribes.<ref name=GlobalSecurity>{{cite web|title=Indirect Rule in the Hinterland|url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1985/liberia_1_indirectrulep.htm|access-date=13 June 2012|website=GlobalSecurity.org|date=February 2012}}</ref> Under that system, indigenous Africans were regarded as corporate members of their respective groups rather than as individual citizens of Liberia. Clan land was owned communally and could be alienated only with the agreement of the chiefs.<ref name=GlobalSecurity/> Over time, the units of clans and chiefdoms gradually merged into the state. The County Council, affirmed in the Budget Act of 2012, has now replaced informal town hall meetings and includes a broad representation of citizen groups, districts, chiefdoms and clans.<ref name=Stability/>
== See also == * [[Geography of Liberia]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Liberia topics}}
[[Category:Subdivisions of Liberia]]