Liberia
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View Liberia on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Liberia as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 7.56, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 6.41, 8.4, 8.49 and 8.07. Street construction in Liberia increased in disconnectivity initially but has since improved. The streets constructed in 1991-2000 were the most disconnected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Liberia spans a total of 23153 kilometers. The period with the greatest volume of street construction was 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 8.07, which is highly disconnected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 6.41, 7.06, 7.39 and 7.56. Overall, the SNDi of the aggregate street network has risen: the street network in Liberia has become more disconnected. This increase has slowed: between 1975 and 1976-1990, SNDi rose by 0.66 points, but between 1991-2000 and 2001-2014, it rose by just 0.17.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Liberia peaked in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Liberia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Montserrado, GrandBassa and Nimba. Out of the three regions, GrandBassa does not follow the same trend as the country. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in GrandBassa followed a zig-zag trend with an overall increase.
How do development practices in Liberia fare in comparison to others in the world? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Liberia was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other countries in the world, street construction in Liberia has become more connected. Liberia ranked 2nd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.
The largest city in Liberia is Monrovia, with a population of 1421600 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Monrovia as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 6.41, which is highly disconnected. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Monrovia followed a zig-zag trend.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Liberia is Monrovia with an SNDi of 6.41, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Ganta with an SNDi of 3.36, which is highly disconnected. See trends for these cities: Ganta, Monrovia
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Liberia rose steadily. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Liberia, we can consider three of its most populous regions: Montserrado, GrandBassa and Nimba. Disconnectivity in the most populous cities in Liberia follow the same country trend.
To date, Liberia is the 2nd-most disconnected out of the 155 countries in the world. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has not changed. Liberia ranked 2nd in 1975, 1st in 1976-1990, 2nd in 1991-2000 and 2nd in 2001-2014.
The largest city in Liberia is Monrovia, with a population of 1421600 people. Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Monrovia as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 6.41, which is highly disconnected. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Monrovia rose steadily.