A Guide to Understanding Financial Losses to the Government of Liberia (updated)

In March 2026, we published a Rapid Assessment of Liberia’s Mining Sector’s impact on the environment, communities, and the Government of Liberia (GoL). This briefing updates the estimate of financial losses to the GoL and how they were calculated.

Here we provide evidence that the GoL likely lost more than US$91 million in revenue, which is an updated value as of June 2026. (Importers reported at least US$3 billion more in trade than Liberia reported). Total losses are likely significantly higher due to smuggling, fraudulent reporting and transfer pricing, unpaid obligations, and limited transparency.

Addressing these losses has become increasingly urgent as international interest in the sector (including from China) grows after geologic surveys that indicate significant lithium and other key deposits. This brings renewed attention to how the sector is governed and who benefits from its expansion.