Summary: Andy Jensen, Executive Director of a Liberian organization, claimed that there are over 300,000 street children in Liberia. We have checked the available statistics and found his statement to be correct.
On September 12, during an ELBC radio interview, Jensen stated that data from the Ministry of Gender indicates there are over 300,000 street children in Liberia.
He made this comment while discussing his organization’s educational programs and the urgent need for increased interventions in girls’ and children’s education.
The Claim
At 15:16 in the 54:36 long interview, Jensen said, “The issue of street children is very serious. If you look at the Ministry of Gender statistics on street children in recent times, it talks that about 300,000 plus street children.”
Rating Justification
To fact-check this claim, we reviewed a 2023 press release from the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. The press release cited a 2022 survey, supported by UNICEF, which estimated that 366,584 children were living in street situations in Liberia.
A 2024 report by Daily Observer Newspaper on the launch of the Ministry of Gender’s street children project, confirmed this figure, citing the Ministry of Gender Survey report (366,584 Children living in street situations). The report detailed that Montserrado County has the highest number of street children, with 153,965 children (42%); Nimba, 51,321.76 (14%); Grand Bassa, 36,658.4 (10%), Bong 36,658.4 (10%); and Margibi 29,326.72 (8%). The remaining 16% are from the remaining ten counties.
Additionally, a 2024 news report by FrontPage Africa citing the same 2022 survey, reaffirmed that 366,584 Liberian children were living “in street situations.”
UNICEF defines street children as children whose world and livelihood depends upon what they can obtain in the street.
Conclusion
Based on this information, we conclude that Jensen’s claim regarding the Ministry of Gender reporting over 300,000 street children is correct. Multiple publications and reports referencing the survey confirm that the estimate is indeed over 366,000 children living in street situations.
This report is produced with funding from the USAID Media Activity. The funder has No say in the editorial decisions leading to the production of this content