EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Guinea-Bissau vs Liberia
Side-by-side comparison of Guinea-Bissau and Liberia from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
Guinea-Bissau
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 52 years
Liberia
Sub-Saharan Africa · nation age 204 years
In short
Liberia scores 24.0 in the NationsTree Index (178th in the world) and Guinea-Bissau scores 17.0 (192nd), a gap of 7.0 points. Their trees are 1.3 m and 1.7 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Liberia has 2.5 times the population of Guinea-Bissau. Liberia is 3.1 times larger than Guinea-Bissau by land area. The economy of Liberia is 53% larger than that of Guinea-Bissau (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Guinea-Bissau 2.2 million and Liberia 5.7 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $3,293 in Guinea-Bissau and $1,981 in Liberia (2025, international dollars). People in Guinea-Bissau live on average 1.9 years longer (64.3 vs 62.3 years).
Of 26 indicators reported by both countries, Guinea-Bissau ranks higher in the world on 12 and Liberia on 14. Guinea-Bissau is clearly stronger in infrastructure & digital and military. Liberia is clearly stronger in trade, institutions & safety and main industries.
As a nation, Liberia is the older of the two (statehood since 1822, 204 years), compared with Guinea-Bissau (since 1974). Over the last five years Liberia improved faster (direction score 64 vs 11 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Guinea-Bissau and Liberia.
Guinea-Bissaubetter
0.9%
32nd of 180
Liberia
8.3%
153rd of 180
Government budget balanceEconomy
Guinea-Bissau
-6.7%
172nd of 192
Liberiabetter
-2.1%
79th of 192
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Guinea-Bissau
32.3
160th of 200
Liberiabetter
17.9
102nd of 200
Voice & accountabilityInstitutions & safety
Guinea-Bissau
38.0
155th of 205
Liberiabetter
58.0
101st of 205
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Liberia overtook Guinea-Bissau in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Guinea-Bissau overtook Liberia in life expectancy in 2014 and has stayed ahead since.
Liberia overtook Guinea-Bissau in GDP (PPP) in 1997 and has stayed ahead since.
Guinea-Bissau has been ahead of Liberia in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Liberia has been ahead of Guinea-Bissau in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
Guinea-BissauLiberia All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Guinea-Bissau | Liberia |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 36,125135th/216 · 2024 | 111,370104th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 28,120139th/216 · 2024 | 96,320107th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 2.2 m147th/217 · 2025 | 5.7 m116th/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 2.16%41st/217 · 2025 | 2.09%44th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 78.3127th/216 · 2024 | 58.3147th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 46.7%157th/217 · 2025 | 56.1%138th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 38.3%31st/217 · 2025 | 39.1%28th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 3.2%187th/217 · 2025 | 3.3%183rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $2.53 bn185th/210 · 2025 | $5.25 bn167th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $7.41 bn165th/199 · 2025 | $11.35 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $6.33 bn165th/199 · 2025 | $9.70 bn160th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $1,124193rd/210 · 2025 | $915200th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $3,293183rd/199 · 2025 | $1,981192nd/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $1,090185th/201 · 2025 | $830190th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 5.8%37th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%51st/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 0.9%32nd/180 · 2025 | 8.3%153rd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 2.7%27th/187 · 2025 | 2.9%36th/187 · 2025 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 75.1%142nd/189 · 2025 | 55.1%103rd/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -6.7%172nd/192 · 2025 | -2.1%79th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 40.6%3rd/197 · 2025 | 32.7%10th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 15.7%158th/200 · 2025 | 24.5%91st/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 8.6%115th/192 · 2025 | 2.3%2011 |
| Services % of GDP | 39.1%187th/200 · 2025 | 40.0%186th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $350.5 m170th/182 · 2025 | — |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $682.9 m171st/182 · 2025 | — |
| Exports % of GDP | 13.9%165th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Imports % of GDP | 27.0%146th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 40.9%160th/183 · 2025 | — |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2015 | 1.8%103rd/170 · 2023 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%2015 | 9.9%133rd/171 · 2023 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 68.5%2018 | 24.5%59th/171 · 2023 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 0.6%2005 | 0.1%166th/171 · 2023 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 5.8%2015 | 0.6%151st/168 · 2023 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -6.2%155th/191 · 2025 | -7.0%160th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 1.3%128th/196 · 2025 | 9.5%23rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 10.4%44th/209 · 2021 | 21.9%21st/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 | 5.44%20th/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 10.43%5th/209 · 2021 | 16.48%2nd/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 16.1%69th/206 · 2024 | 5.2%135th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 7,59955th/183 · 2022 | 37,22115th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 52,400178th/194 · 2019 | — |
| Tourism receipts USD | $18.9 m166th/175 · 2019 | $123.0 m2009 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 6.5%77th/168 · 2019 | 27.1%2009 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 64.3193rd/217 · 2024 | 62.3202nd/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 67.3182nd/196 · 2024 | 86.4187th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.25138th/174 · 2022 | 0.18149th/174 · 2022 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 1.02009 | 1.698th/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 68%173rd/193 · 2024 | 83%137th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 21.4%140th/153 · 2022 | 35.6%2019 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 34.4%2006 | 37.7%2020 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 22.0%45th/55 · 2021 | 14.3%2016 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 5.5%190th/217 · 2025 | 5.8%182nd/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 8.8%49th/193 · 2023 | 13.0%6th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 63.9%85th/98 · 2022 | 59.4%2010 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 2.6%2006 | 10.8%2012 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.514174th/193 · 2023 | 0.510177th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 33.444th/108 · 2021 | 35.32016 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 39.9%99th/108 · 2021 | 33.6%2016 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 43.7%202nd/215 · 2024 | 34.9%207th/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 24.0%135th/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 22.6%124th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 29.8%169th/186 · 2024 | 32.2%166th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 14733rd/210 · 2024 | 32208th/210 · 2022 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 0.4181st/208 · 2024 | 0.3186th/208 · 2022 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 20,4001998 | 32,0001992 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 0.1619th/203 · 2024 | 0.1518th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 87.4%8th/212 · 2022 | 92.8%3rd/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 32.3160th/200 · 2023 | 17.9102nd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 74.8%11th/214 · 2024 | 66.1%21st/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 652007 | — |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 22.2193rd/205 · 2025 | 28.4186th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 19.8193rd/207 · 2025 | 28.6166th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 37.7185th/207 · 2025 | 44.6155th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 56.3156th/207 · 2025 | 63.2125th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 34.3185th/205 · 2025 | 40.6169th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 38.0155th/205 · 2025 | 58.0101st/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 1.12017 | 3.12012 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | $22.4 m151st/156 · 2025 | $44.2 m144th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | 0.9%123rd/156 · 2025 | 0.9%126th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | 4.7%89th/154 · 2025 | 3.9%111th/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 4,000148th/170 · 2020 | 2,000154th/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 0.53%110th/168 · 2020 | 0.09%163rd/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 5.0 m1993 | 0158th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| Patent applications by residents applications | — | 2123rd/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 14181st/197 · 2023 | 32165th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger population: 5.7 m (2025) compared with 2.2 m for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Liberia is larger: 111,370 km² (2024) compared with 36,125 km² for Guinea-Bissau (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Liberia has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $11.35 bn intl. (2025) compared with $7.41 bn intl. for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Guinea-Bissau has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $3,293 intl. (2025) compared with $1,981 intl. for Liberia (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Guinea-Bissau has the higher life expectancy at birth: 64.3 years (2024) compared with 62.3 years for Liberia (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which spends more on the military, Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Liberia spends more on the military: $44.2 m (2025) compared with $22.4 m for Guinea-Bissau (2025). Source: World Bank, MS.MIL.XPND.CD.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Guinea-Bissau or Liberia?
Liberia: 24.0 points (178th in the world); Guinea-Bissau: 17.0 points (192nd). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Cabo Verde
Central African Republic
Comoros
Gambia
Lesotho
Seychelles
Burundi
EswatiniSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Guinea-Bissau vs Liberia — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/guinea-bissau-vs-liberia. Data as of 26 October 2026.