Liberia’s fiscal authorities said domestic revenue collections surpassed $1 billion in the third quarter of the 2026 budget year, putting the government closer to its full-year target of $1.25 billion.
Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan announced the milestone Monday in Harper, Maryland County, during the 17th Founders’ Day ceremony of William V.S. Tubman University.
He described the collections as evidence of stronger tax administration and improved compliance, and a step toward greater fiscal self-reliance.
The government has three months remaining in the budget year to reach its revenue target. The collections come as Liberia implements its largest-ever national budget, totaling about $1.25 billion for fiscal 2026. Domestic resources were expected to finance roughly 94% of the spending plan.
The budget allocates about $959.94 million, or 77%, to recurrent expenditure, including salaries, government operations, goods and services and debt servicing. Capital and development spending under the Public Sector Investment Plan amounts to about $289.72 million, or 23%, for projects including roads, energy and community development.
The revenue milestone has nevertheless drawn criticism from political and civil-society groups, who say higher collections have yet to translate into meaningful improvements in living conditions.
“Gaf, $1 billion da audio money?” Jacob Jallah of the Citizens Movement for Change wrote on Facebook, using a Liberian expression for money that exists only in words. He cited persistent poverty, unemployment and inadequate public services as evidence that the increase in government receipts has had little impact on ordinary citizens.
The criticism reflects broader concerns that revenue growth has not kept pace with public spending on capital investment, goods and services needed to stimulate the domestic economy. High living costs have also eroded household purchasing power, making the fiscal gain less meaningful for vulnerable families with little or no income.
Data from the Liberia Revenue Authority show that collections increased to $848 million in 2025 from $699 million in 2024, exceeding annual targets. Receipts had reached $904.7 million by Aug. 18, 2026, according to the agency.
International Monetary Fund data also show an upward trend in government revenue, which rose from $590 million in 2023 to $694 million in 2024 before accelerating in 2025. Tax revenue increased to 14.5% of gross domestic product in 2024 from 13.4% a year earlier, with a projection of 15.9% for 2025.
Ngafuan said the increase in collections would provide fiscal space for investment in education, health care and infrastructure. The revenue authority said reforms are being pursued to broaden the tax base, digitize tax administration and prepare for the introduction of value-added tax.
Liberia remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with widespread unemployment, fragile infrastructure and limited access to basic services. Critics say impassable roads, underfunded schools, poorly equipped hospitals and weak agricultural output continue to overshadow the government’s revenue gains.
The government argues that the $1 billion milestone is a foundation for improving service delivery. Its impact will depend on whether increased collections are translated into visible public investment and stronger support for households facing rising costs.
