MONROVIA, LIBERIA — In a significant and frequent exercise of its constitutional power, the House of Representatives (HOR) has voted to expand its manpower by 14 seats, which will raise the total number of representatives from 73 to 87 ahead of the 2029 general and presidential elections.
The move, finalized this week, is a critical step to ensure fair and proportional representation across Liberia’s 15 counties ahead of the 2029 General and Presidential Elections.
The decision was formalized during the 16th Day Sitting of the 3rd Quarter of the 2nd Session, following the submission and endorsement of a detailed report by the Joint Committee on Elections and Inauguration, Judiciary, and Good Governance & Government Reform.
The expansion directly addresses the constitutional mandate to reapportion constituencies based on population dynamics, utilizing results from the recent 2022 National Population and Housing Census. The constitutional limit for electoral constituencies is set at 100.
Amid the HOR’s deliberations, 14 new seats will be distributed among seven counties, with the highly populated capital region receiving the largest allocation: Montserrado (5 new seats), Nimba (2 new seats) Bong (2 new seats) Lofa (2 new seats) Margibi (1 new seat) Grand Bassa (1 new seat) and Grand Gedeh (1 new seat).
Following the vote on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, Hon. Foday Fahnbulleh proffered a successful motion to endorse the committee report and recommended a crucial next step: the formation of a specialized committee.
This new committee is tasked with collaborating directly with the National Elections Commission (NEC) and the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS). This partnership is vital to ensure the accurate demarcation and implementation of the new electoral districts, making the process legally sound and guided by precise census data.
This expansion marks the second major reapportionment since the end of the Liberian civil war, highlighting continuous efforts to align the Legislature with demographic reality: The 2005 General Elections were conducted with 64 total seats, however, the 2008 National Census data led to the first reapportionment, increasing the total number of seats from 64 to 73 for the 2011 polls. This change added seats to six counties, including Montserrado (+3), Nimba (+2), and Bong (+1).
The 2022 Census Results
The 2022 National Population and Housing Census estimated Liberia’s population at about 5.2 million people confirming the growth and urbanization trends that necessitate this current reapportionment. Taking into consideration this significant increase in the population, the new reapportionment of the counties will now see seats allocated as follow: Montserrado (22 seats), Nimba (11 seats) Bong (9 seats) Grand Bassa (6 seats) Lofa (7 seats) Margibi (6 seats) Bomi (3 seats) Gbarpolu (3 seats) Grand Cape Mount (3 seats) Grand Gedeh (4 seats) Maryland (3 seats) River Gee (3 seats) Sinoe (3 seats) Grand Kru (2 seats) and River Cess (2 seats).
Public Scrutiny
While the expansion is constitutionally compliant, the move is likely to draw mixed public reaction. Many Liberians remain disappointed with the performance and efficiency of the Legislature. The addition of seats—and the associated increase in government operating expenses—is expected to draw scrutiny amidst ongoing calls for greater accountability and improved services for the populace. The most immediate and tangible impact of the expansion for ordinary citizens is financial. Each new seat comes with an associated public cost, including salaries, benefits, operational expenses, constituency allowances, and vehicle maintenance for the newly elected Representative and their staff.
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