Promote:
Invest in Liberia
A short guide for companies expanding into Liberia: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Liberia at a glance
PopulationEstimate
5.73 million
Population was 5,731,206 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Liberia population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDPEstimate
US$5.25 billion
GDP was US$5.25 billion in 2025 at current prices.
Source: World Bank WDI, Liberia GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per personEstimate
US$915
GDP per person was US$915.33 in 2025 at current prices.
Source: World Bank WDI, Liberia GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growthEstimate
5.0%
Real GDP growth was 5.02 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Liberia real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
4.1%
Twelve-month consumer price inflation was 4.1 percent in July 2026, per the Central Bank of Liberia.
Source: Central Bank of Liberia, Monthly Economic Review, July 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of July 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$500 million
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$500 million in 2025, per UNCTADstat.
Source: UNCTADstat, Liberia FDI inflows, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Liberian dollar, and the United States dollar is also legal tender.
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 19, 2023
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
The investment promotion agency is the National Investment Commission.
Source: National Investment Commission, About page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
The National Investment Commission says it provides single-window support for regulatory clearances.
Source: National Investment Commission, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
The Schedule to the Investment Act of 2010 reserves 16 business activities for Liberians and sets minimum foreign capital for 12 others.
Source: Investment Act of 2010, Ministry of Commerce and Industry copy (opens in a new tab) · as of 2010
As of November 2024, the Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority said five zones have been designated, per the Ministry of Information.
Source: Ministry of Information, zone authority workshop report, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 14, 2024
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Liberia
- Reserve a company name, then register the business with the Liberia Business Registry, which also coordinates the tax identification number.Liberia Business RegistryName reservation about US$15, held 120 days; registration within five days (2023)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: National Investment Commission, Starting a Business page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Register for a tax identification number and goods tax with the Liberia Revenue Authority.Liberia Revenue AuthorityOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Liberia Revenue Authority, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Confirm that Section 16 incentives are still granted, then apply to the National Investment Commission with the documents it lists; the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning issues the certificate.National Investment CommissionCertificate within 15 working days of the Commission’s recommendation (2023)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 19, 2023
- Get any sector license, such as fisheries, forestry, mining or cocoa and coffee, from the regulator for that sector.National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority; Forestry Development Authority; Ministry of Mines and EnergyOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 19, 2023
Show 3 more set-up steps
- Apply for resident and work permits for foreign staff through the Liberia Immigration Service, noting the preference for qualified Liberians.Liberia Immigration ServiceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 19, 2023
- Arrange land through the Liberia Land Authority, since non-Liberians may hold only long-term leases.Liberia Land AuthorityLeases of 25 to 50 years (2023)Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 19, 2023
- Open a bank account; foreign investors have the same right as domestic organizations, and transfers go through an authorized dealer bank.Central Bank of LiberiaOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Investment Act of 2010, Ministry of Commerce and Industry copy (opens in a new tab) · as of 2010
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with NIC and LRA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Investment promotion agency
NIC
National Investment Commission
Promotes and facilitates investment, evaluates incentive applications and negotiates concession agreements.
Visit NIC (opens in a new tab)Source: National Investment Commission, About page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Company registry
LBR
Liberia Business Registry
Registers businesses as the one-stop shop for company registration, name reservation and registration certificates.
Visit LBR (opens in a new tab)Source: National Investment Commission, Starting a Business page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 4 more organizations
- Get advice
Special economic zone authority
LSEZA
Liberia Special Economic Zone Authority
Develops, manages and regulates special economic zones and offers a one-stop shop for registration and permits.
Visit LSEZA (opens in a new tab)Source: National Investment Commission, Free Zones and Industrial Parks page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Land administration authority
LLA
Liberia Land Authority
Administers land, having taken over land functions from several agencies under a 2016 Act.
Visit LLA (opens in a new tab)Source: Liberia Land Authority, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration service
Immigration Service
Liberia Immigration Service
Enforces the Alien and Nationality Law, manages borders and links to online resident permit and visa services.
Visit Immigration Service (opens in a new tab)Source: Liberia Immigration Service, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Central bank
CBL
Central Bank of Liberia
Sets monetary and exchange rate policy, supervises banks and publishes inflation and balance-of-payments data.
Visit CBL (opens in a new tab)Source: Central Bank of Liberia, Annual Report 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Tax and customs authority
LRA
Liberia Revenue Authority
Runs customs through ASYCUDA, registers taxpayers and administers the Revenue Code.
Visit LRA (opens in a new tab)Source: Liberia Revenue Authority, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
- Meet requirements
Port authority
NPA
National Port Authority of Liberia
Operates the ports of Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville and Harper and publishes port tariffs and services.
Visit NPA (opens in a new tab)Source: National Port Authority, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chamber of commerce
LCC
Liberia Chamber of Commerce
Represents the private sector and heads the private-sector members of the national trade policy technical working group.
Visit LCC (opens in a new tab)Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab) · as of April 19, 2023
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
Both the Liberian dollar and the United States dollar are legal tender, and Liberia’s July 2026 inflation was 4.1 percent with a 16.0 percent policy rate.
What to do: Fix the currency of each contract and confirm settlement through an authorized dealer bank.
Sources: Central Bank of Liberia, Monthly Economic Review, July 2026 (opens in a new tab); Ministry of Commerce and Industry, currency regulation, 2019 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Reserved sectors
The Investment Act of 2010 reserves 16 activities for Liberians, and on May 28, 2026 the government said it had begun enforcing the reservation.
What to do: Check the Act’s Schedule, which governs where an enforcement list differs, before you start a project in retail, transport or distribution.
Sources: Investment Act of 2010, Ministry of Commerce and Industry copy (opens in a new tab); Ministry of Information, reserved-business enforcement, May 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Investment incentive sunset
The 2021 Section 16 amendment states that it expires June 30, 2026 unless the Legislature extends it, and certificates issued before that date keep their full term.
What to do: Ask the National Investment Commission whether Section 16 certificates are still issued before you build a project around a duty waiver.
Sources: Liberia Tax Amendment Act of 2021, Section 16 incentives (opens in a new tab); Liberia Revenue Authority, Tax Laws and Amendments page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Land access
As of 2023, per the WTO review, non-Liberians may only lease land for 25 to 50 years, and concessions need a 5 percent community carried interest.
What to do: Confirm land rights and community terms with the Liberia Land Authority before you sign a lease.
Sources: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab); Liberia Land Authority, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Show 2 more
Electricity
As of 2023, per the WTO review, investors face constraints including power supply and roads, and the Central Bank of Liberia expected improved supply in 2026.
What to do: Ask the National Investment Commission about power at your site before you commit capital.
Sources: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Liberia, Secretariat report, 2023 (opens in a new tab); Central Bank of Liberia, Annual Report 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
Tax rules for non-resident services
From April 1, 2026, under the December 2025 Tax Amendment Act, a person furnishing services in Liberia for 30 days or more in twelve months has a permanent establishment.
What to do: Check your tax position with the Liberia Revenue Authority before you send staff to Liberia.
Source: Liberia Tax Amendment Act, December 2025 (approved March 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026
6. How Promote:Global helps
- Compare Liberia with other countriesSet Liberia beside other countries on investment momentum, fundamentals and trade access, before site, tax and legal work.
- Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
- Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.
Turn this guide into your Liberia project.
Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.
Free to start. No card required.
Already have an account? Sign in
Promote:Liberia is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.