172,587Total Population
7Admin. Districts
15Chiefdoms
33Clans (LISGIS)
50.3%Male (86,867)
49.7%Female (85,720)
214Towns (Survey)
3.29%Of National Pop.

Data source note: Clan count (33) is from the Maryland County Development Agenda (CDA), the official administrative record. Individual district clan breakdowns in the District Profiles below are from the 2022 LISGIS Enumeration Survey (field census). Towns/Villages figure (214) is from the 2022 LISGIS Enumeration Survey. All 7 districts have standalone survey entries.

📌 See Also: Maryland County Profile

For the full county profile, including year of establishment (1857), capital Harper, area, borders, flag, climate and complete county overview, see the Maryland County page. Maryland is the only county in Liberia that was once an independent republic, the Republic of Maryland (1854–1857), and joined Liberia on April 6, 1857.

Administrative Districts Population Overview

Administrative Districts Population Overview: Maryland (County Total: 172,587)
Admin DistrictMaleMale %FemaleFemale %Total% of County
Pleebo/Sodoken42,24949.5%43,03850.5%85,28749.4%
Harper26,75250.4%26,33949.6%53,09130.8%
Karluway No.25,98552.6%5,38547.4%11,3706.6%
Karluway No.13,84552.0%3,54648.0%7,3914.3%
Nyorken3,37550.7%3,28349.3%6,6583.9%
Whojah2,36553.5%2,05946.5%4,4242.6%
Gwelekpoken2,29652.6%2,07047.4%4,3662.5%
Total86,86750.3%85,72049.7%172,587100.0%

Source: 2022 Liberia Population and Housing Census, LISGIS Final Results, Table B: Population Distribution by County, Administrative District, and Sex. Published June 2023.

Population Distribution by Administrative District (2022)

85,287
49.4%
53,091
30.8%
11,370
6.6%
7,391
4.3%
6,658
3.9%
4,424
2.6%
4,366
2.5%

Source: LISGIS 2022 Census. County total: 172,587. Pleebo/Sodoken and Harper together hold 80.2% of the county population.


District Profiles

Population figures (LISGIS, grey pill) are from the 2022 LISGIS Census, Table B, the official county district totals. Clans, towns/villages and enumerated population figures are from the 2022 LISGIS Enumeration Survey (field census). Maryland's most striking demographic feature is the extraordinary concentration in Pleebo/Sodoken District (49.4%) and Harper District (30.8%), together accounting for 80.2% of the county's total population. Pleebo/Sodoken is the only district with a female majority (50.5%); all six other districts have male majorities, led by Whojah at 53.5%.

Pleebo/Sodoken District 85,287 · 49.4%

The overwhelmingly dominant district, nearly half the county's entire population lives here. Home to Pleebo (also spelled Bleebo), Maryland County's largest city and primary commercial centre, located approximately 22 km from Harper. The district is the only one in Maryland with a female majority: 50.5% female / 49.5% male, reflecting Pleebo City's urban demographic stability. The district is split across all three electoral districts: ED 1 (Barraken and Pedebo amalgamated towns), ED 2 (14 amalgamated towns including Pleebo, Sodoken, Tambo, Wetchoken, Gbeken, Gbewein and others) and ED 3 (Gborlorbo amalgamated town).

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Pleebo/Gbolorbo1112,95213,11126,063
Gedetarbo213,9563,8597,815
Twansiebo221,9691,7763,745
Klebo111,6311,4643,095
Gborlorbo141,3761,1292,505
District Total7921,88421,33943,223

Enumeration total: 43,223 across 5 clans and 79 towns/villages. Note: Bleebo City (pop. 11,865) is the largest single town in the enumeration dataset for Maryland County. Official LISGIS district total: 85,287.

5 Largest Towns:

Bleebo City11,865
Barraken407
Division 2-Rubber Bed366
Gebio Mission352
Division 4 Palm Camp337

Pleebo's dominance of Maryland County's population (its district holds 49.4% of county residents) reflects a pattern of urban concentration typical of secondary cities in post-war Liberia. Pleebo City is served by a mayor-council structure, the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC) and Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). Key institutions include Pleebo Central High School, Our Lady of Grace School, and Big F Line High School. The district's five-way split across all electoral districts is among the most complex boundary configurations in Liberia's district system. The Pleebo/Gbolorbo clan (11 towns, 26,063 enumerated) is by far the largest single clan unit in the district.

85,287Total (LISGIS)
5Clans
79Towns/Villages
49.4%Of County

Harper District 53,091 · 30.8%

Home to Harper City, the county capital, located on Cape Palmas at the southeastern tip of Liberia. Harper is the seat of Maryland County government and hosts the county's major national institutions: William V.S. Tubman University (WTU), Cape Palmas High School, J.J. Dossen High School, St. Stephen High School, and the Maryland County Technical and Vocational Educational Institute. Slight male majority: 50.4% male / 49.6% female. Covered entirely by Electoral District 1 (all amalgamated towns in Harper Administrative District + all city wards in Harper City + Barraken and Pedebo from Pleebo/Sodoken). 25 Voter Registration Centres.

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Harper City19,6669,55619,222
Cavalla102,1281,8223,950
Rock Town71,7861,3753,161
Whole Graway121,8801,6843,564
Big Town32,7352,6835,418
Fish Town31,0399391,978
Half Graway4357374731
District Total4019,59118,43338,024

Enumeration total: 38,024 across 7 clans and 40 towns/villages. Note: Harper City (pop. 19,222 in the enumeration, combining two entries) is the second-largest urban centre in the county. Official LISGIS district total: 53,091.

5 Largest Towns:

Harper City19,222
Cavalla Big Town Community555
Fish Town453
Rock Town384
Half Graway

Harper City was established in the 1830s as the capital of the Maryland Colony and served as the capital of the independent Republic of Maryland from 1854 to 1857. Named after Robert Goodloe Harper, an American politician and ACS leader, it sits on a peninsula at Cape Palmas on the Atlantic coast. William V.S. Tubman University traces its origins to the William V.S. Tubman College of Technology, established in 1978 and elevated to full university status in 2009, making it one of Liberia's principal institutions of higher learning outside Monrovia. ED 1 Representative P. Mike Jurry (CDC) won re-election in 2023. Harper's 53,091 population makes it the second most populous district; together with Pleebo/Sodoken, the two coastal districts hold 80.2% of Maryland's population.

53,091Total (LISGIS)
7Clans
40Towns/Villages
30.8%Of County

Karluway No.2 District 11,370 · 6.6%

The largest of the five interior districts and the third most populous overall. Male majority: 52.6% male / 47.4% female. Covered by Electoral District 3. Karluway No.2 represents the second of two administrative districts carved from the Karluway township zone; the dual-district structure (No.1 and No.2) reflects population size and administrative governance needs. Together, Karluway No.1 and No.2 hold 18,761 residents (10.9% of county).

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Wlebo82,7082,2894,997
Benwen52,5621,9564,518
Yederobo61,3961,1352,531
Kanbo61,3961,1632,559
Dediabo4502452954
Nyewraken28657351,600
District Total319,4297,73017,159

Enumeration total: 17,159 across 6 clans and 31 towns/villages. The Wlebo clan (8 towns, 4,997 enumerated) is the largest single clan unit. Official LISGIS district total: 11,370.

5 Largest Towns:

Wuluken514
Tugbaken512
Nye-wissiken500
Henogba477
Gbon473

Karluway No.2 is located in the interior-central zone of Maryland County, along the Karluway township corridor bordering River Gee County. The district's pronounced male majority (52.6%) likely reflects labour migration patterns in the remote interior. The dual Karluway district structure (No.1 and No.2) is unique in Maryland and reflects the geographic spread of the Karluway township zone across a large interior territory.

11,370Total (LISGIS)
6Clans
31Towns/Villages
6.6%Of County

Karluway No.1 District 7,391 · 4.3%

The smaller of the two Karluway districts. Male majority: 52.0% male / 48.0% female. Covered by Electoral District 3. Located in the interior-central zone of Maryland County. The Karluway designation covers communities along the Karluway township corridor bordering River Gee County.

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Gedebo202,9422,6555,597
Dorrobo66955631,258
Nearobo35885021,090
Gbea-ou2276273549
District Total314,5013,9938,494

Enumeration total: 8,494 across 4 clans and 31 towns/villages. The Gedebo clan (20 towns, 5,597 enumerated) dominates the district, accounting for 65.9% of the district's enumerated population. Official LISGIS district total: 7,391.

5 Largest Towns:

Karloken1,674
Wartiken431
Gbeaken234
Gbalaken187
Pougbaken166

Karluway No.1 is the smaller counterpart to Karluway No.2 in the Karluway township zone. The Gedebo clan's 20 towns make it the most geographically dispersed clan unit in the district. Karloken (pop. 1,674) is by far the largest settlement, more than three times the size of the next-largest town. The district's male majority (52.0%) is consistent with interior labour-migration patterns seen across Maryland's five interior districts.

7,391Total (LISGIS)
4Clans
31Towns/Villages
4.3%Of County

Nyorken District 6,658 · 3.9%

A mid-sized interior district. Near gender parity: 50.7% male / 49.3% female, the most balanced of the interior districts. Covered by Electoral District 3. Located in the northern interior of Maryland County in the corridor between the River Gee and Côte d'Ivoire borders.

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Newenken41,7601,4223,182
Farjah21,4471,3522,799
Gbitofla-fla21,3381,3122,650
Koyo37746521,426
District Total115,3194,73810,057

Enumeration total: 10,057 across 4 clans and 11 towns/villages. Newenken clan (4 towns, 3,182 enumerated) is the largest single clan unit. Official LISGIS district total: 6,658.

5 Largest Towns:

Gbakliken1,123
Gbawiliken Cavalla1,014
Rock Town792
Wutuken520
Mafliken292

Nyorken District is located in the northern interior of Maryland County, in the corridor between the River Gee County border and the Côte d'Ivoire frontier. The district's near gender parity (50.7% male / 49.3% female) makes it the most balanced of Maryland's five interior districts. Gbakliken (pop. 1,123) and Gbawiliken Cavalla (pop. 1,014) are the two largest settlements, together accounting for 41.5% of the district's enumerated population. The Newenken clan dominates with 4 towns and 3,182 enumerated residents.

6,658Total (LISGIS)
4Clans
11Towns/Villages
3.9%Of County

Whojah District 4,424 · 2.6%

Also written Worja in some sources. The district with the highest male proportion in Maryland County: 53.5% male / 46.5% female. Covered by Electoral District 3. Its pronounced male majority likely reflects labour migration patterns in the remote interior. Located in the northeastern part of Maryland County.

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Dufu32,4182,0564,474
Wuah19318211,752
Ganijah37587191,477
Fulu26545641,218
District Total94,7614,1608,921

Enumeration total: 8,921 across 4 clans and 9 towns/villages. The Dufu clan (3 towns, 4,474 enumerated) is the dominant clan, accounting for 50.2% of the district's enumerated population. Official LISGIS district total: 4,424.

5 Largest Towns:

Juluken # 11,298
Dwejah821
Geesanken652
Gortiken407
Martuken360

Whojah District has the highest male proportion (53.5%) of any district in Maryland County, reflecting its position as a remote interior district with significant male labour migration. Juluken # 1 (pop. 1,298) is the largest settlement, more than 1.5 times the size of the next-largest town. The Dufu clan dominates with 3 towns and 4,474 enumerated residents, half the district's total. The district is located in the northeastern part of Maryland County, close to the River Gee County boundary.

4,424Total (LISGIS)
4Clans
9Towns/Villages
2.6%Of County

Gwelekpoken District 4,366 · 2.5%

The smallest administrative district in Maryland County. Male majority: 52.6% male / 47.4% female. Covered by Electoral District 3. Gwelekpoken is the most remote of the interior districts, sitting in the northern zone of Maryland County close to the River Gee and Grand Kru county boundaries.

Clans, Towns & Villages
ClanTowns / VillagesMaleFemalePop. (Enumeration)
Datiaken21,4331,4022,835
Gbalaken41,7861,5783,364
Sikliken41,7291,3243,053
Wantoken3422386808
District Total135,3704,69010,060

Enumeration total: 10,060 across 4 clans and 13 towns/villages. The Gbalaken clan (4 towns, 3,364 enumerated) is the largest single clan unit. Official LISGIS district total: 4,366.

5 Largest Towns:

Dugboken1,093
Jargeloken788
Soloken614
Glofaken511
Chiliken383

Gwelekpoken is the smallest administrative district in Maryland County by LISGIS official population (4,366), yet its enumeration total (10,060) is the second-largest among the five interior districts, suggesting significant population in settlements that may not be fully captured in the official Table B aggregation. Dugboken (pop. 1,093) is the largest settlement. The district sits in the northern zone of Maryland County, close to the River Gee and Grand Kru county boundaries, making it the most remote of the interior districts. The Gbalaken clan (4 towns, 3,364) is the dominant clan unit.

4,366Total (LISGIS)
4Clans
13Towns/Villages
2.5%Of County

Administrative Districts vs. Electoral Districts

Maryland operates two distinct district structures. Administrative Districts are used for governance and public administration; Electoral Districts are used for legislative representation. They do not share the same boundaries; Pleebo/Sodoken is uniquely split across all three electoral districts.

7 Administrative Districts (AD)

  • Pleebo/Sodoken 85,287 · 49.4%
  • Harper 53,091 · 30.8%
  • Karluway No.2 11,370 · 6.6%
  • Karluway No.1 7,391 · 4.3%
  • Nyorken 6,658 · 3.9%
  • Whojah 4,424 · 2.6%
  • Gwelekpoken 4,366 · 2.5%

Headed by District Commissioners appointed by the President. Maryland has 15 Chiefdoms and 33 Clans (CDA). Pleebo/Sodoken is uniquely split across all 3 EDs. The two coastal districts (Pleebo/Sodoken + Harper) hold 80.2% of the county's population.

3 Electoral Districts (ED)

  • ED 1: Harper Admin District (all) + Harper City (all wards) + Barraken & Pedebo (Pleebo/Sodoken) 21,122 voters
  • ED 2: 14 Pleebo/Sodoken amalgamated towns: Bessaken, Gbeken, Gbewein, Gbloken, Gbolou, Gedetarbo, Golobo, New Sodoken, Old Sodoken, Pleebo, Sedeken, Tambo, Tunuken, Wetchoken 24,934 voters
  • ED 3: All of Gwelekpoken, Karluway No.1, Karluway No.2, Nyorken, Whojah + Gborlorbo (Pleebo/Sodoken) 21,544 voters

Each elects one Representative to the House of Representatives. Total: 67,600 registered voters (NEC, July 2023). ED 2 has a strong female voter majority (52.48% female) consistent with Pleebo City's urban demographics.

📌 Registered Voter Data: See Maryland County Page

The full Registered Voter Population Overview by Electoral District (NEC, July 2023), including male/female split and Representatives, is county-level electoral data. See the complete breakdown on the Maryland County page, Electoral section.


Economy & Natural Resources by Administrative District

Because this data is broken down specifically by administrative district, it is presented here. For the broader county-level economic narrative, Maryland as a historic maritime republic, Grebo culture, Cape Palmas trade, see the Maryland County economy section.

DistrictKey Economic AssetsNatural Resources
Pleebo/SodokenCounty's largest city (Pleebo); primary commercial centre; weekly market; LWSC/LEC services; rubber and palm oil tradeRubber plantations; oil palm; agricultural land; Cavalla River trade corridor
HarperCounty capital; William V.S. Tubman University; Cape Palmas port; government services; fishing; maritime tradeAtlantic fisheries; Cape Palmas lighthouse; coastal trade; agricultural land; St. Paul River watershed
Karluway No.2Subsistence agriculture; cross-border trade (River Gee corridor); interior farmingAgricultural land; forest products; timber; River Gee border corridor
Karluway No.1Subsistence agriculture; interior farming; Karluway township tradeAgricultural land; forest products; timber; River Gee border corridor
NyorkenSubsistence agriculture; forest resources; cross-district tradeAgricultural land; forest products; Côte d'Ivoire border corridor
WhojahSubsistence agriculture; forest resources; remote interior farmingAgricultural land; forest products; timber
GwelekpokenSubsistence agriculture; forest resources; remote interior farmingAgricultural land; forest products; timber; River Gee and Grand Kru border corridors

Natural Resources of Maryland County

🏎 Rice & Cassava: Main subsistence crops 🍎 Oil Palm: Commercial & subsistence 🆜 Rubber: Smallholder cultivation ☕ Coffee: Interior districts 🌊 Atlantic Fisheries: Coastal zone 🏄 Cross-border Trade: Côte d'Ivoire via Cavalla River ⛏ Iron Ore: Mining potential 🏠 William V.S. Tubman University: Harper 🏭 Maryland County TVET Institute: Harper 🏁 Cape Palmas: Historic maritime landmark

See Also on Liberia Data

Maryland County Overview Maryland Electoral District 1 Maryland Electoral District 2 Maryland Electoral District 3 Districts Introduction District Types District Leadership All Counties All Districts Grand Kru County River Gee County
Sources:

2022 Housing and Population Census: Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS), Final Results, Table B: Population Distribution by County, Administrative District, and Sex (Maryland County, 7 districts). Published June 2023. lisgis.gov.lr

2022 LISGIS Village-Level Enumeration Survey, Maryland County: Clans, Towns/Villages, Population by Sex and Household Head. Source file: liberia_2022_pop_clans_villages_towns.xlsx, Sheet: Maryland. All 7 districts have standalone survey entries. Enumeration totals differ from LISGIS Table B official totals due to different geographic aggregation methods.

2008 National Population and Housing Census: LISGIS, Maryland County Total: 136,404

National Elections Commission (NEC), Republic of Liberia: Electoral Districts & Eligible Voter Registrants Summary Report, July 28, 2023. necliberia.org

Republic of Liberia: Ministry of Internal Affairs; Maryland County Development Agenda (CDA); National Archives of Liberia

LiberiaData.com: Districts Introduction | Maryland County

Wikipedia: Maryland County (Liberia); Maryland-1; Maryland-2; Maryland-3; Pleebo; Harper entries

People's Redemption Council Decree No. 87 (March 19, 1984): Grand Kru County creation from Maryland territory