151,149Total Population
20Admin. Districts
3Electoral Districts
44Clans · 42 Chiefdoms
52.5%Male (79,362)
47.5%Female (71,787)
14.9Pop./km²
2.88%Of National Pop.

Administrative Districts Population Overview

Administrative Districts Population Overview: Sinoe (County Total: 151,149) — LISGIS 2022, liberiadata.com/district/sinoe-districts-administrative/
Admin DistrictMaleMale %FemaleFemale %Total% of County
Greenville14,38650.5%14,11749.5%28,50318.9%
Bokon5,55953.6%4,80546.4%10,3646.9%
Butaw5,14452.7%4,61647.3%9,7606.5%
Jlah4,89351.5%4,61048.5%9,5036.3%
Kpayan4,75453.0%4,21947.0%8,9735.9%
Juarzon3,77852.5%3,41447.5%7,1924.8%
Jaedae3,92957.5%2,90242.5%6,8314.5%
Jaedepo3,18554.3%2,67745.7%5,8623.9%
Seekon3,20353.4%2,79646.6%5,9994.0%
Kulu3,23754.2%2,74145.8%5,9784.0%
Pynes Town2,73553.3%2,39646.7%5,1313.4%
Plahn2,36049.7%2,38850.3%4,7483.1%
Bodae2,58156.8%1,96243.2%4,5433.0%
Krah (Kran)2,21052.0%2,04148.0%4,2512.8%
Sanquin District 21,55454.8%1,28345.2%2,8371.9%
Wedjah1,55851.6%1,46348.4%3,0212.0%
Sarboh1,75251.8%1,62848.2%3,3802.2%
Sanquin District 31,13652.2%1,03947.8%2,1751.4%
Sanquin District 11,19150.2%1,18449.9%2,3751.6%
Bar-Nakay1,11049.4%1,13550.6%2,2451.5%
County Total (LISGIS)79,36252.5%71,78747.5%151,149100.0%

Source: 2022 Liberia Population and Housing Census — LISGIS Final Results as published on LiberiaData.com. County total (79,362M + 71,787F = 151,149) is the authoritative LISGIS figure. Note: sum of the 20 individual district rows = 133,671; discrepancy of 17,478 documented in the amber note above.

Population Distribution by Administrative District (2022)

Greenville
28,503
18.9%
Bokon
10,364
6.9%
Butaw
9,760
6.5%
Jlah
9,503
6.3%
Kpayan
8,973
5.9%
Juarzon
7,192
4.8%
Jaedae
6,831
4.5%
Seekon
5,999
4.0%
Kulu
5,978
4.0%
Jaedepo
5,862
3.9%
Pynes Town
5,131
3.4%
Plahn
4,748
3.1%
Bodae
4,543
3.0%
Krah (Kran)
4,251
2.8%
Sarboh
3,380
2.2%
Wedjah
3,021
2.0%
Bar-Nakay
2,245
1.5%

Source: LISGIS 2022 Census via liberiadata.com. Bar chart uses individual district figures as published. County total: 151,149.

County Profile Overview

CountySinoe
Year Established1847 — one of Liberia’s three original counties at independence
CapitalGreenville City
Population (2022)151,149 — 79,362 males (52.5%) / 71,787 females (47.5%)
Area10,133 km² (3,912 sq mi)
Population Density14.9 persons/km² — one of the lowest in Liberia
Read More
Admin. Districts20 (per 2022 LISGIS census; previously 17)
Electoral Districts3 — ED 1, ED 2, ED 3
Chiefdoms42
Clans44
% of National Population2.88% of 5,250,187
Sex Ratio110.5 males per 100 females — pronounced male majority
Population Growth (2008–2022)+44.0% (from 104,932)
District Count NoteLiberiaData county profile states “17 administrative districts (however, 20 according to the 2022 LISGIS census)” — the 2022 census is used throughout this page
Dominant Ethnic GroupsSapo (Sao/De), Kru, Krahn, Bassa
Capital CityGreenville City — on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Sinoe River
Bordered ByGrand Gedeh (N), River Gee (E), Grand Kru (S), Rivercess (NW), Atlantic Ocean (SW)
Primary Data SourceLISGIS 2022 Population and Housing Census via liberiadata.com/district/sinoe-districts-administrative/

District Profiles

All population figures are from the 2022 LISGIS Census as published on LiberiaData.com. Sinoe County has a male majority in 18 of 20 districts. Only Bar-Nakay (50.6% female) and Plahn (50.3% female) have female majorities. Jaedae has the highest male proportion (57.5%), followed by Bodae (56.8%). Greenville, the capital district, is the most gender-balanced at 50.5% male.

Greenville District 28,503 · 18.9%

Home to Greenville City — the county capital and principal Atlantic port of Sinoe County. The most populous district and the most gender-balanced: 50.5% male / 49.5% female. Greenville sits at the mouth of the Sinoe River on the Atlantic coast and serves as the county’s administrative, commercial and maritime centre. Covered by Electoral District 1 (southwestern coast). The city is the seat of county government and judiciary.

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Greenville (historically Sino Town or Greenville-Sino) was established in the 1830s as a settlement for Black American colonists and became one of Liberia’s original county capitals at independence in 1847. The city’s nearly balanced sex ratio (50.5%/49.5%) distinguishes it sharply from Sinoe’s interior districts and reflects the stabilising demographic effect of an established coastal urban centre. Greenville is connected by road to Buchanan (Grand Bassa), Zwedru (Grand Gedeh) and Fish Town (River Gee). The city’s port, while modest, provides Atlantic access for the county’s export commodities.

28,503Total (2022)
14,386Male · 50.5%
14,117Female · 49.5%
18.9%Of County
ED 1Electoral Dist.

Bokon District 10,364 · 6.9%

The second most populous district. Male majority: 53.6% male / 46.4% female. Located in the interior of Sinoe County. Covered by Electoral District 2 (eastern zone, bordering Grand Gedeh, River Gee and Grand Kru counties).

10,364Total (2022)
5,559Male · 53.6%
4,805Female · 46.4%
6.9%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Butaw District 9,760 · 6.5%

Male majority: 52.7% male / 47.3% female. An interior district in the northern part of Sinoe County. Covered by Electoral District 3 (western zone, bordering Grand Gedeh and Rivercess counties). Butaw District is home to the Sapo National Park corridor — Liberia’s largest national park, a critical West African rainforest reserve.

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Sapo National Park was established in 1983 and covers approximately 1,804 km² in Sinoe County — making it Liberia’s largest protected area and one of the most important remaining lowland rainforest reserves in West Africa. The park is home to West African forest elephants, pygmy hippopotami, chimpanzees, leopards, and hundreds of bird species. During the civil war, the park suffered significant encroachment, bushmeat hunting, and illegal diamond mining. Post-war conservation efforts by the Liberian government and international partners (including WCS, FFI and other NGOs) have worked to restore the park’s integrity. Butaw District communities live in close proximity to the park and are key stakeholders in its conservation and buffer-zone management.

9,760Total (2022)
5,144Male · 52.7%
4,616Female · 47.3%
6.5%Of County
ED 3Electoral Dist.

Jlah District 9,503 · 6.3%

Male majority: 51.5% male / 48.5% female — among the more balanced interior districts. Located in central Sinoe County. Covered by Electoral District 3.

9,503Total (2022)
4,893Male · 51.5%
4,610Female · 48.5%
6.3%Of County
ED 3Electoral Dist.

Kpayan District 8,973 · 5.9%

Male majority: 53.0% male / 47.0% female. Located in the eastern interior of Sinoe County, bordering River Gee County. Covered by Electoral District 2.

8,973Total (2022)
4,754Male · 53.0%
4,219Female · 47.0%
5.9%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Juarzon District 7,192 · 4.8%

Male majority: 52.5% male / 47.5% female. Located in the interior of Sinoe County. Covered by Electoral District 2.

7,192Total (2022)
3,778Male · 52.5%
3,414Female · 47.5%
4.8%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Jaedae District 6,831 · 4.5%

The district with the highest male proportion in Sinoe County: 57.5% male / 42.5% female. This extreme gender imbalance indicates a remote interior district with very strong male labour in-migration or significant post-conflict female out-migration. Covered by Electoral District 2.

6,831Total (2022)
3,929Male · 57.5%
2,902Female · 42.5%
4.5%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Seekon District 5,999 · 4.0%

Male majority: 53.4% male / 46.6% female. Interior district covered by Electoral District 2.

5,999Total (2022)
3,203Male · 53.4%
2,796Female · 46.6%
4.0%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Kulu District 5,978 · 4.0%

Male majority: 54.2% male / 45.8% female. Interior district covered by Electoral District 2.

5,978Total (2022)
3,237Male · 54.2%
2,741Female · 45.8%
4.0%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Jaedepo District 5,862 · 3.9%

Male majority: 54.3% male / 45.7% female. Interior district covered by Electoral District 2. The name Jaedepo shares the “Jae-” prefix with Jaedae District, suggesting these two districts derive from the same Sao/Sapo community naming tradition.

5,862Total (2022)
3,185Male · 54.3%
2,677Female · 45.7%
3.9%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Pynes Town District 5,131 · 3.4%

Male majority: 53.3% male / 46.7% female. Covered by Electoral District 1 (southwestern coastal zone).

5,131Total (2022)
2,735Male · 53.3%
2,396Female · 46.7%
3.4%Of County
ED 1Electoral Dist.

Plahn District 4,748 · 3.1%

One of only two districts with a female majority: 50.3% female / 49.7% male. Located in the western section of Sinoe County, bordering Rivercess County. Covered by Electoral District 3.

4,748Total (2022)
2,360Male · 49.7%
2,388Female · 50.3%
3.1%Of County
ED 3Electoral Dist.

Bodae District 4,543 · 3.0%

The second highest male proportion in Sinoe County: 56.8% male / 43.2% female. A remote interior district. Covered by Electoral District 2.

4,543Total (2022)
2,581Male · 56.8%
1,962Female · 43.2%
3.0%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Krah District (Kran) 4,251 · 2.8%

Also written Kran in the LISGIS 2022 table. Male majority: 52.0% male / 48.0% female. Covered by Electoral District 2. The district reflects the Krahn community presence in eastern Sinoe County.

4,251Total (2022)
2,210Male · 52.0%
2,041Female · 48.0%
2.8%Of County
ED 2Electoral Dist.

Sarboh District 3,380 · 2.2%

Male majority: 51.8% male / 48.2% female. Interior district covered by Electoral District 1 or ED 2.

3,380Total (2022)
1,752Male · 51.8%
1,628Female · 48.2%
2.2%Of County

Wedjah District 3,021 · 2.0%

Male majority: 51.6% male / 48.4% female. Covered by Electoral District 2.

3,021Total (2022)
1,558Male · 51.6%
1,463Female · 48.4%
2.0%Of County

Sanquin District 2 2,837 · 1.9%

Male majority: 54.8% male / 45.2% female. The Sanquin districts (1, 2 and 3) represent three separate administrative units within the broader Sanquin area, each with its own LISGIS enumeration. Covered by Electoral District 2.

2,837Total (2022)
1,554Male · 54.8%
1,283Female · 45.2%
1.9%Of County

Sanquin District 1 2,375 · 1.6%

Near gender parity: 50.2% male / 49.9% female. One of the smallest districts. The three Sanquin sub-districts combined total 7,387 residents. Covered by Electoral District 2.

2,375Total (2022)
1,191Male · 50.2%
1,184Female · 49.9%
1.6%Of County

Bar-Nakay District 2,245 · 1.5%

One of only two districts with a female majority: 50.6% female / 49.4% male. The smallest district. Covered by Electoral District 1 (southwestern coastal zone).

2,245Total (2022)
1,110Male · 49.4%
1,135Female · 50.6%
1.5%Of County
ED 1Electoral Dist.

Sanquin District 3 2,175 · 1.4%

Male majority: 52.2% male / 47.8% female. The smallest of the three Sanquin sub-districts. Covered by Electoral District 2.

2,175Total (2022)
1,136Male · 52.2%
1,039Female · 47.8%
1.4%Of County

Administrative Districts vs. Electoral Districts

Sinoe operates two distinct district structures, with 20 administrative districts mapped across 3 electoral districts. See also: District Types and Districts Introduction.

20 Administrative Districts (AD)

42 Chiefdoms and 44 Clans. Sapo National Park lies in the Butaw district zone. 3 Sanquin sub-districts together total 7,387 residents. County previously had 17 ADs; 2022 LISGIS census recognised 20.

3 Electoral Districts (ED)

  • ED 1 — SW coastal zone including Greenville City; borders Atlantic coast 20,783 voters
  • ED 2 — Eastern interior; borders Grand Gedeh, River Gee & Grand Kru 18,439 voters
  • ED 3 — Western zone; borders Grand Gedeh & Rivercess 16,357 voters

Each elects one Representative. Total: 55,579 registered voters (NEC, July 2023). ED 2 has a notably high male voter proportion (59.55%M).

Registered Voter Population: Sinoe County Electoral Districts (NEC, July 2023)
Electoral DistrictLocation / CoverageMaleFemaleTotalRepresentative (2023)
ED 1SW coastal zone — Greenville City & surrounding areas; Atlantic coast10,7999,98420,783Thomas Romeo Quioh (NDC)
ED 2Eastern interior — borders Grand Gedeh, River Gee & Grand Kru counties10,9817,45818,439Samson Quejue Wiah (CDC)
ED 3Western zone — borders Grand Gedeh & Rivercess counties8,9377,42016,357Alex S. Noah (CDC)
County Total30,71724,86255,5793 Representatives

Source: LiberiaData.com — Sinoe County page (liberiadata.com/counties/sinoe/); NEC July 2023; Wikipedia — Sinoe-1, Sinoe-2, Sinoe-3. All 3 EDs arithmetically verified. Note: ED 2 has 59.55% male voters — the most extreme gender imbalance in Sinoe’s electorate, consistent with the heavily male-majority interior districts it covers.


Governance Structure

County Superintendent

Presidential appointee heading Sinoe County administration from Greenville City. The superintendent oversees all 20 administrative districts through their respective District Commissioners.

District Commissioners (20)

Appointed by the President for each of Sinoe’s 20 administrative districts. The increase from 17 to 20 districts recognised by the 2022 LISGIS census has implications for the number of commissioner positions.

Representatives (3)

ED 1: Thomas Romeo Quioh (NDC, elected 2023); ED 2: Samson Quejue Wiah (CDC, re-elected 2023 — won 2020 by-election after Jay Nagbe Sloh died in office); ED 3: Alex S. Noah (CDC, elected 2023).

Senators (2)

Sinoe County elects two senators to the Liberian Senate. The county’s 55,579 registered voters (NEC 2023) make it a mid-sized county electorate.

Paramount Chiefs (42)

Lead Sinoe’s 42 chiefdoms, reflecting the Sapo, Kru, Krahn and Bassa community governance structures across the county’s 20 administrative districts.

Clan Chiefs (44 Clans)

Govern at the sub-chiefdom level across Sinoe’s 44 clans. The 42 chiefdoms and 44 clans covering 20 administrative districts make Sinoe one of the most complex traditional governance structures in southeastern Liberia.


Historical Background

Sinoe County was one of Liberia’s three original counties at independence in 1847, alongside Grand Bassa and Montserrado. Greenville — named after the 19th-century abolitionist leader Anson Green Phelps — has been the county capital since its foundation as a colonial settlement in the 1830s.

Pre-1830s
Sapo, Kru and Krahn Indigenous Communities
The Sapo (Sao/De) people have been the primary indigenous group of Sinoe County for centuries, occupying the vast forested interior. The Kru inhabited the Atlantic coastline, establishing a tradition of seafaring and resistance to enslavement. Krahn communities occupied the northeastern zones near present-day Grand Gedeh. The Sinoe River — from which the county takes its name — was a key transport and fishing corridor for coastal and interior communities.
1830s
Greenville Established — ACS/MSCS Settlement
Greenville was established in the 1830s as a settlement for Black American colonists, initially as part of the broader American Colonization Society network. The settlement was named after Anson Green Phelps, a New York merchant and ACS benefactor. It developed into a modest coastal town at the mouth of the Sinoe River, becoming the county seat at Liberian independence in 1847.
1983
Sapo National Park Established
The Sapo National Park was established in 1983, covering approximately 1,804 km² in the interior of Sinoe County — making it Liberia’s largest and most ecologically significant protected area. It protects one of West Africa’s last remaining extensive lowland tropical rainforests and is home to critically endangered species including the West African forest elephant, pygmy hippopotamus, chimpanzee, and leopard.
Read More
1984
Grand Kru County Created — Sinoe Territory Reduced
PRC Decree No. 87 (March 19, 1984) merged the Kru Coast Territory and parts of Sinoe County’s Sasstown Territory to form Grand Kru County. This reduced Sinoe County’s original territory. The county’s present boundaries — 10,133 km² — reflect the post-1984 configuration.
1989–2003
Civil Wars — Sapo Park Encroachment; Severe Displacement
Both civil wars devastated Sinoe County. Sapo National Park experienced severe encroachment during the civil war period, with armed factions using it as a base and conducting diamond mining, logging, and bushmeat hunting within its boundaries. The 2008 census counted 104,932 residents — reflecting the population’s incomplete recovery from conflict-era displacement. Post-war conservation efforts by the Liberian Forestry Development Authority and international NGOs have worked to restore the park.
2003–Present
Post-War Recovery — +44.0% Growth; 20 Districts Recognised
The 2022 census recorded 151,149 residents — a 44.0% increase from 104,932 in 2008, reflecting significant post-war recovery and resettlement. The census also formally recognised 20 administrative districts for Sinoe County, up from the previous 17, acknowledging population growth and community differentiation in the interior. Sinoe’s 14.9 persons/km² density remains one of the lowest in Liberia, reflecting the vast forested territory relative to population.

People, Ethnicity & Culture

Sinoe County is predominantly home to the Sapo (Sao/De) people — one of Liberia’s 16 ethnic groups, indigenous to the forested interior of southeastern Liberia. Kru communities inhabit the coast. Krahn and Bassa communities are present in the northern and northwestern zones. Sinoe has a male majority in 18 of 20 districts (sex ratio 110.5:100), with only Bar-Nakay (50.6%F) and Plahn (50.3%F) having female majorities. Sapo National Park — named after the Sapo people — is the defining environmental and cultural landmark of the county’s interior.


Economy & Natural Resources

Sinoe County’s economy is grounded in subsistence agriculture (rice, cassava, plantain), Atlantic and river fisheries, and forest products. Rubber and oil palm are cultivated commercially. Sapo National Park generates ecotourism potential and international conservation investment. Greenville’s port provides modest maritime access for exports.

Read More
🏎 Rice & Cassava — Primary subsistence 🆜 Rubber — Commercial production 🍎 Oil Palm — Smallholder & commercial 🌊 Atlantic & Sinoe River Fisheries 🌳 Tropical Rainforest — Sapo National Park (1,804 km²) 🌳 Timber — Logging concessions (post-war) 🎗 Ecotourism — Sapo National Park (WCS, FFI programmes) ▽ Greenville Port — Atlantic access

Geography & Demographic Summary

Spanning 10,133 km², Sinoe is bordered by Grand Gedeh (N), River Gee (E), Grand Kru (S), Rivercess (NW), and the Atlantic Ocean (SW). The county’s vast interior is dominated by tropical rainforest; Greenville City sits on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Sinoe River.

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Sinoe County — Geographic and Demographic Summary (2022 LISGIS)
IndicatorSinoe CountyLiberia National
Total Population (2022)151,1495,250,187
% of National Population2.88%100%
Land Area10,133 km²97,098 km²
Population Density14.9 persons/km² — among lowest in Liberia54.1 persons/km²
Male Population79,362 (52.5%)2,648,553 (50.4%)
Female Population71,787 (47.5%)2,601,634 (49.6%)
Sex Ratio110.5 males per 100 females101.8 males per 100 females
Population Growth (2008–2022)+44.0% (from 104,932)+51.0%
Administrative Districts20 (per 2022 LISGIS; previously 17)136 (national)
Electoral Districts373 (national)
Chiefdoms42
Clans44
Largest DistrictGreenville — 28,503 (18.9% of county)
Smallest DistrictSanquin District 3 — 2,175 (1.4% of county)
Year Established1847 — one of three original counties at independence
National ParkSapo National Park — 1,804 km² — Liberia’s largest protected area

Source: LISGIS 2022 Population and Housing Census via liberiadata.com/district/sinoe-districts-administrative/. Published June 2023.


See Also on Liberia Data

Sinoe County Overview Sinoe Electoral District 1 Sinoe Electoral District 2 Sinoe Electoral District 3 Districts Introduction District Types All Counties Grand Gedeh County River Gee County Grand Kru County Rivercess County
Sources:

Republic of Liberia — Ministry of Internal Affairs

Liberian Government Gazette (1847 County Establishment)

National Archives of Liberia; Sinoe County Administration; County Development Agenda (CDA)

2022 Housing and Population Census: Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) — Final Results as published on liberiadata.com/district/sinoe-districts-administrative/. County total: 151,149 (M: 79,362 / F: 71,787). 20 districts published. Published June 2023. lisgis.gov.lr

2008 National Population and Housing Census: LISGIS — Sinoe County Total: 104,932

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

LiberiaData.com — Sinoe County

Wikipedia — Sinoe County; Sinoe-1; Sinoe-2; Sinoe-3; Greenville, Liberia; Sapo National Park entries

People’s Redemption Council Decree No. 87 (March 19, 1984) — Grand Kru County creation from Sinoe territory

PRC Decree — 1983 Sapo National Park establishment