Available official and security assessments describe crime risk in Liberia as high. Common incidents include theft, mugging, purse snatching, pickpocketing, burglary, armed robbery, home invasion, assault, rape and sexual assault. Offenders may use knives or machetes and sometimes firearms, and organized gangs are also reported. Romance scams, business scams, job scams, financial scams and other deceptive online contacts can cause financial loss or physical danger. Monrovia and other urban areas have the strongest documented police presence but also frequent exposure in crowded markets, public beaches, Mamba Point and Sinkor. Outside Monrovia, police resources and emergency response are much less consistent. Illegal mining, land disputes and occupation of rubber plantations can trigger violence in rural areas. Organized former combatant groups have been reported in places with limited state presence, including parts of Sinoe rubber plantation areas and Sapo National Park. Border areas in Grand Gedeh and River Gee may also involve additional armed tensions, so travel planning should account for local security information. Darkness increases risk because electricity, street lighting and communications are unreliable in many places. Do not travel alone or walk after dark when avoidable. Outside Monrovia, plan journeys during daylight and avoid night driving, isolated beaches and lonely paths. Use reputable accommodation with security, arrange airport and long-distance transport in advance, keep vehicle windows and doors locked, and avoid displaying valuables, large amounts of cash or visible wealth. Do not physically resist a robbery. Carry photo identification or a copy of your passport, cooperate at checkpoints and request a signed official receipt for unexpected fees. Check local media and security information before travel. Verify unfamiliar online contacts before sending money or accepting travel arrangements. Do not travel because someone claims that you must collect money, rescue a person or take revenge. For an incident, record the time, place, sequence of events, descriptions of people and vehicles, witnesses, photographs, videos and other evidence without putting yourself at further risk. The Liberia National Police, or LNP, operates under the Ministry of Justice. Its Crime Services Command, Operation Command, Women and Children Protection Section and Police Support Unit handle different parts of crime prevention, response and investigation. The LNP emergency number is 911; additional listed contacts are 0770 800-911 and 0770 800-122, and the LNP lists info@lnp.gov.lr. Calls to 911 or other telecommunications services may fail or go unanswered. Keep a local police station, accommodation provider or trusted contact as an alternative, and ask for a police report, especially when an insurer requires one. No reliable nationwide emergency response time has been confirmed. The LNP provides online forms and guidance for reporting armed robbery, rape and gender-based violence, murder, arson, burglary and theft. Regional Justice and Security Joint Programme services operate through five regional centers and may involve police, prosecutors, public defenders, human-rights officers, probation officers, victim-support or case-liaison officers and public-outreach officers. Access is uneven, especially in rural counties. Complaints and feedback channels exist through the LNP and Ministry of Justice, but the cost of an ordinary police report has not been verified and should not be assumed to be free or chargeable. Sexual and gender-based violence, abbreviated SGBV, includes rape, gang rape, incest, sexual assault, abuse and exploitation. The Ministry of Justice SGBV Crimes Unit, Women and Children Protection Section, Case Liaison Officers and Victim Support Officers can support reporting, referrals, emotional assistance, investigation and court processes. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection operates the National GBV 116 Call Center as a toll-free reporting channel. County Gender Coordinators, GBV task forces in all 15 counties and GBV observatories in seven counties support the response, although practical availability varies. After SGBV, seek medical care immediately. Approved One Stop Centres in or around Monrovia include James Davis Hospital, Duport Road Clinic, Hope for Women Hospital, Star of the Sea Hospital and Redemption Hospital; designated centres also exist in other counties. Treatment and tests at One Stop Centres are free, while private clinics may charge. Listed SGBV hotlines include +231 770800073, +231 770800131 and +231 770800172. Post-exposure prophylaxis and emergency contraception work best when started within 72 hours. A One Stop Centre can send a medical report to the Women and Children Protection Department or a prosecutor. You may request a female police officer. A specialised SGBV court exists, but a case can take about two years to reach trial, and private legal representation can be expensive while legal aid remains limited. Children's Law 2011 provides the legal framework for child justice. Relevant services include the Ministry of Justice Child Justice Section, the Women and Children Protection Section, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the SGBV Unit, public defence, the Juvenile Court, Magisterial Courts, corrections, probation and non-governmental organisations. Juvenile diversion can keep children accused of minor or less serious offences out of formal proceedings and support reintegration. Documented diversion activity has focused particularly on Montserrado and Bong. Report child abuse or gender-based violence through 116, and report child trafficking or exploitation to the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection or the LNP. Publicly available LISGIS and LNP figures from 2020 to 2022 recorded 5,260 suspect-linked cases in 2022, including 276 suspects aged 0 to 17, 1,648 aged 18 to 24 and 945 aged 25 to 29. These figures are not a current crime-prevalence estimate and do not measure unreported crime. The LNP portal reports quarterly confirmed cases after investigation or prosecution, so its figures should not be equated with the number of incidents or the actual level of victimisation. The LNP and UNDP Crime and Security Information System has been moving toward real-time data collection since 2025, but the available data remain incomplete. For online crime, the Liberia National Cybersecurity Center, or LNCC, handles incident response, threat intelligence and digital forensics. Its cyber emergency contact is +231 880-911-911, available 24 hours a day, with info@lncc.gov.lr; routine contact is listed for Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 17:00. Preserve chats, payment records, account details and device information. Secure compromised accounts, contact the bank or mobile-money provider, notify the LNP and report the incident to the LNCC. Liberia's Cybercrime Bill was reported as before Parliament for ratification, while another government document calls a Cybercrime Act 2021 a draft-policy document; its final legal status and application should therefore be verified rather than assumed.
Crime in Liberia
Crime in Liberia includes theft, robbery, burglary, assault, sexual violence, murder, arson and scams. Opportunistic theft, mugging, purse snatching and pickpocketing are especially relevant in Monrovia and crowded places, while armed robbery, home invasion and violence also occur. Risk rises after dark, during isolated travel and where police and communications coverage are limited. Safer decisions combine secure transport, low-profile behavior, prompt reporting and support for victims.
Tip
Treat everyday safety in Liberia as a layered decision about place, time, transport, visibility and access to help. Daylight travel, secure arrangements, low-profile behavior and a backup reporting plan reduce the consequences of unreliable communications and uneven police coverage. After violence, sexual abuse or an online scam, preserve evidence and use the relevant support channel quickly.