Page last updated on January 28, 2014
Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendants of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. She subsequently won reelection in 2011 in a second round vote that was boycotted by the opposition and remains challenged to build Liberia's economy and reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. The United Nations Security Council in September 2012 passed Resolution 2066 which calls for a reduction of UN troops in Liberia by half by 2015, bringing the troop total down to fewer than 4000, and challenging Liberia's security sector to fill the gaps.
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
total: 111,369 sq km
country comparison to the world: 104
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km
slightly larger than Tennessee
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
arable land: 4.04%
permanent crops: 1.62%
other: 94.34% (2011)
total: 0.13 cu km/yr (55%/37%/8%)
per capita: 43.66 cu m/yr (2005)
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)
3,989,703 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 876,696/female 863,873)
15-24 years: 17.8% (male 345,357/female 363,746)
25-54 years: 31.3% (male 622,806/female 624,707)
55-64 years: 4.3% (male 84,252/female 87,250)
65 years and over: 3% (male 60,288/female 60,728) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 84.9 %
youth dependency ratio: 79.3 %
elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 %
potential support ratio: 17.8 (2013)
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.1 years (2013 est.)
2.56% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
35.75 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
10.12 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
urban population: 48.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.43% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
MONROVIA (capital) 882,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
770 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 8
total: 70.93 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 17
male: 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 57.81 years
country comparison to the world: 197
male: 56.2 years
female: 59.47 years (2013 est.)
4.92 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
19.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 1
0.01 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)
1.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
37,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
3,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
4.8% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 161
20.4% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 33
2.8% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 147
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.8%
male: 64.8%
female: 56.8% (2010 est.)
total: 11 years
male: 13 years
female: 9 years (2000)
total number: 177,160
percentage: 21 % (2007 est.)
total: 5.1%
country comparison to the world: 137
male: 3.4%
female: 6.6% (2010)
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revised version adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986; amended 2011 (2011)
mixed legal system of common law (based on Anglo-American law) and customary law
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); Vice President Joseph BOAKAI (since 16 January 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); Vice President Joseph BOAKAI (since 16 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 11 October and 8 November 2011 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF reelected president; percent of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 90.7%, Winston TUBMAN 9.3%
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (73 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held in 2014); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UP 10, NPP 6, CDC 3, APD 2, NUDP 2, LDP 1, LP 1, NDC 1, NDPL 1, independents 3; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UP 24, CDC 11, LP 7, NUDP 6, NDC 5, APD 3, NPP 3, MPC 2, LDP 1, LTP 1, NRP 1, independents 9
highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief Justice and 4 associate justices)
judge selection and term of office: chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70
subordinate courts: judicial circuit courts; special courts including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Marcus S. G. DAHN]
other: demobilized former military officers
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeremiah Congbeh SULUNTEH (since 25 April 2012)
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah R. MALAC (since 20 July 2012)
embassy: U.S. Embassy, P.O. Box 98, 502 Benson Street, Monrovia
mailing address: P.O. Box 98, Monrovia
telephone: [231] 77-677-7000
FAX: [231] 77-677-7370
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness, valor, and fervor
note: the design is based on the US flag
name: "All Hail, Liberia Hail!"
lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author would become the third president of Liberia
Liberia is a low income country heavily reliant on foreign assistance for revenue. Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around the capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them, but with the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically elected government in 2006, several have returned. Liberia has the distinction of having the highest ratio of direct foreign investment to GDP in the world. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, primarily raw timber and rubber and is reviving those sectors. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign-owned, had been small in scope. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government and Liberia shipped its first major timber exports to Europe in 2010. The country reached its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative completion point in 2010, and nearly $5 billion of international debt was permanently eliminated. This new status will enable Liberia to establish a sovereign credit rating and issue bonds. Liberia's Paris Club creditors agreed to cancel Liberia's debt as well. The IMF has completed the sixth review of Liberia's extended credit facility, bringing total disbursements to over $379 million. The African Development Bank approved a grant of $48 million in 2011 to support economic governance and competitiveness. Rebuilding infrastructure and raising incomes will depend on generous financial and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation. The country has achieved high growth during 2010-12 due to favorable world prices for its commodities.
$2.645 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$1.711 billion (2012 est.)
8.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
$700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 222
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 125.6%
government consumption: 15.2%
investment in fixed capital: 25%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 27.5%
imports of goods and services: -93.3%
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
1.372 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 133
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)
85% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)
revenues: $380.9 million
expenditures: $427.1 million (2012 est.)
22.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
-2.7% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
0.4% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
6.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174
13.52% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
$408.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
$664.1 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
$521.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
$-918.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$774.8 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
China 24%, US 15.3%, Spain 11%, Algeria 6.5%, Thailand 4.5%, Malaysia 4.1%, France 4% (2012)
$2.275 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs
South Korea 26.7%, China 24.4%, Singapore 23.2%, Japan 16.1% (2012)
$349.2 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
$3.574 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$201 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -
335 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168
311.6 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
197,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 193
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 185
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 153
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
3,533 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 176
23.37 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
3,673 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 160
588,000 Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178
3,200 (2011)
country comparison to the world: 213
2.394 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 138
general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators
domestic: mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity reached 50 per 100 persons in 2011
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
3 private TV stations; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 15 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
7 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 228
20,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 194
29 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 117
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2013)
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m:
total: 429 km
country comparison to the world: 115
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
note: most sections of the railways were inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt (2008)
total: 10,600 km
country comparison to the world: 134
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)
total: 2,771
country comparison to the world: 2
by type: barge carrier 5, bulk carrier 662, cargo 143, carrier 2, chemical tanker 248, combination ore/oil 8, container 937, liquefied gas 92, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 526, refrigerated cargo 102, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 27
foreign-owned: 2,581 (Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 1, Belgium 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 2, Chile 9, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 9, Denmark 8, Egypt 3, Germany 1185, Gibraltar 5, Greece 505, Hong Kong 48, India 8, Indonesia 4, Israel 34, Italy 47, Japan 110, Latvia 5, Lebanon 1, Monaco 8, Netherlands 31, Nigeria 4, Norway 38, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 109, Saudi Arabia 20, Singapore 22, Slovenia 7, South Korea 2, Sweden 12, Switzerland 25, Syria 1, Taiwan 94, Turkey 16, UAE 37, UK 32, UK 22, Ukraine 10, Uruguay 1, US 53) (2010)
major seaport(s): Buchanan, Monrovia
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)
males age 16-49: 815,826
females age 16-49: 828,484 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 524,243
females age 16-49: 544,349 (2010 est.)
male: 36,585
female: 38,516 (2010 est.)
0.82% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 339
although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia peacekeepers, as of January 2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send their migrant workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber
refugees (country of origin): 54,621 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2013)
IDPs: undetermined (civil war from 1990-2004; post-election violence in March and April 2011; unclear how many have found durable solutions; many dwell in slums in Monrovia) (2012)
current situation: Liberia is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most victims are Liberian and are exploited within the country, where they are forced into domestic servitude, begging, prostitution, street vending, agricultural work, and diamond mining; a small number of Liberian men, women, and children are trafficked to Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and the US, while trafficking victims are brought to Liberia from neighboring West African countries, including Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Nigeria
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Liberia does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has increased its anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts and achieved its first conviction under its 2005 anti-trafficking law; the government has failed to make adequate efforts to identify and protect trafficking victims and has not adopted or implemented the standard operating procedures for assisting victims finalized by the anti-trafficking secretariat in 2012; the referral of victims to NGOs for protective services is inconsistent (2013)
