|
Background: |
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 descendents 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 himself 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. The UN Mission in Liberia
(UNMIL) maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the
security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the
social and economic structure of this war-torn country will take many
years. |
|
Location: |
Western Africa, bordering the
North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone |
|
Geographic coordinates: |
6 30 N, 9 30 W |
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Map references: |
Africa |
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Area: |
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Tennessee
|
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra
Leone 306 km |
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Coastline: |
579 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 200 nm
|
|
Climate: |
tropical; hot, humid; dry
winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with
frequent heavy showers |
|
Terrain: |
mostly flat to rolling coastal
plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast |
|
Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m |
|
Natural resources: |
iron ore, timber, diamonds,
gold, hydropower |
|
Land use: |
arable land: 3.43%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 94.59% (2005) |
|
Irrigated land: |
30 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources: |
232 cu km (1987) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
Total: 0.11 cu km/yr
(27%/18%/55%)
Per capita: 34 cu m/yr (2000) |
|
Natural hazards: |
dust-laden harmattan winds blow
from the Sahara (December to March) |
|
Environment - current issues: |
tropical rain forest
deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal
waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
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Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not
ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life
Conservation |
|
Geography - note: |
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the
coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and
river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited
agriculture |
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Population: |
3,195,931 (July 2007 est.)
|
|
Age structure: |
0-14 years: 43.6% (male
698,382/female 695,409)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 848,951/female
865,380)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 42,745/female 45,064)
(2007 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 18.1 years
male: 17.9 years
female: 18.2 years (2007 est.)
|
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Population growth rate: |
4.836% (2007 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
43.75 births/1,000 population
(2007 est.) |
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Death rate: |
22.24 deaths/1,000 population
(2007 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
26.86 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2007 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.004 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.981 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.949 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female
(2007 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 149.73
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 165.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 133.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 40.39
years
male: 38.93 years
female: 41.89 years (2007
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
5.94 children born/woman (2007
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
5.9% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
100,000 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
7,200 (2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases: |
degree of risk: very
high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water
contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil
contact disease: Lassa fever (2007) |
|
Nationality: |
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian |
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Ethnic groups: |
indigenous African 95%
(including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi,
Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5%
(descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People
2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
|
|
Religions: |
Christian 40%, Muslim 20%,
indigenous beliefs 40% |
|
Languages: |
English 20% (official), some 20
ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in
correspondence |
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
|
|
Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia |
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Government type: |
republic |
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Capital: |
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time
difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time) |
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Administrative divisions: |
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: |
26 July 1847 |
|
National holiday: |
Independence Day, 26 July
(1847) |
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Constitution: |
6 January 1986 |
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Legal system: |
dual system of statutory law
based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law
based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
|
|
Executive branch: |
chief of state:
President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (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)
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); election last held 8 November
2005 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON
SIRLEAF elected president; percent of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON
SIRLEAF 59.6%, George WEAH 40.4% |
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Legislative branch: |
bicameral National Assembly
consists of the Senate (30 seats; note - number of seats changed in 11
October 2005 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year
terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last
held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in 2011); House of Representatives -
last held 11 October 2005 (next to be held in 2011)
election
results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CDC 15,
LP 9, COTOL 8, UP 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15
note: junior
senators - those who received the second most votes in each county in the
11 October 2005 election - will only serve a six-year first term because
the Liberian constitution mandates staggered Senate elections to ensure
continuity of government; all senators will be eligible for nine-year
terms thereafter |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Alliance for Peace and
Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH]; Coalition for the Transformation of
Liberia or COTOL [H. Varney SHERMAN]; Congress for Democratic Change or
CDC [George WEAH]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National
Patriotic Party or NPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen
JOHNSON SIRLEAF] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Demobilized former military
officers |
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International organization participation: |
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO,
G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO |
|
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Charles A. MINOR
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New
York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive,
P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing
address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231]
7-705-4825 or 4826
FAX: [231] 7-701-0370 |
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Flag description: |
11 equal horizontal stripes of
red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed
star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based
on the US flag |
|
Economy - overview: |
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, some have returned. 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. 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. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of
incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous financial
and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in
key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation. |
|
GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$1.498 billion (2007 est.)
|
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
$902.9 million (2007 est.)
|
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GDP - real growth rate: |
8.5% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$500 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
85% (2003 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
80% (2000 est.) |
|
Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
15% (2003 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA |
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Agriculture - products: |
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice,
cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
|
|
Industries: |
rubber processing, palm oil
processing, timber, diamonds |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
NA% |
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Electricity - production: |
319.3 million kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
|
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Electricity - consumption: |
296.9 million kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption: |
3,550 bbl/day (2005 est.)
|
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Oil - exports: |
23.31 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports: |
3,532 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
|
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Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
|
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Exports: |
$1.197 billion f.o.b. (2006)
|
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Exports - commodities: |
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds,
cocoa, coffee |
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Exports - partners: |
Germany 22.6%, South Africa
15.5%, Poland 15.1%, US 11%, Spain 10.6%, South Korea 4.1% (2006) |
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Imports: |
$7.143 billion f.o.b. (2006)
|
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Imports - commodities: |
fuels, chemicals, machinery,
transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners: |
South Korea 43.2%, Singapore
15%, Japan 12.8%, China 8.2% (2006) |
|
Economic aid - recipient: |
$236.2 million (2005) |
|
Debt - external: |
$3.2 billion (2005 est.) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$NA |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$NA |
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$NA |
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Currency (code): |
Liberian dollar (LRD) |
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Currency code: |
LRD |
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Exchange rates: |
Liberian dollars per US dollar
- NA (2007), 59.43 (2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)
|
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
6,900 (2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
160,000 (2005) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment: the
limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital
Monrovia; coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by
four mobile-cellular network operators
domestic: combined fixed
and mobile-cellular teledensity only about 5 per 100 persons
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1
Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2007)
|
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Radios: |
790,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
4 (plus 4 repeaters) (2007)
|
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Televisions: |
70,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.lr |
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Internet hosts: |
38 (2007) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
2 (2001) |
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Internet users: |
1,000 (2002) |
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Airports: |
53 (2007) |
|
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 2
over
3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
|
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 51
1,524
to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38
(2007) |
|
Railways: |
total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:
145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: railway is inoperable because of
damage suffered during the civil war (2006) |
|
Roadways: |
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999) |
|
Merchant marine: |
total: 1,948 ships (1000
GRT or over) 71,387,243 GRT/109,450,945 DWT
by type: barge
carrier 3, bulk carrier 338, cargo 91, chemical tanker 211, combination
ore/oil 9, container 614, liquefied gas 81, passenger 2, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 455, refrigerated cargo 91, roll on/roll off 6,
specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 35
foreign-owned: 1,904
(Argentina 3, Australia 2, Belgium 1, Brazil 3, Canada 3, China 32,
Croatia 5, Cyprus 5, Denmark 12, Estonia 1, France 5, Germany 728,
Gibraltar 7, Greece 311, Hong Kong 21, India 2, Indonesia 1, Israel 9,
Italy 31, Japan 111, South Korea 4, Kuwait 1, Latvia 15, Lebanon 2, Mexico
1, Monaco 8, Netherlands 28, Norway 42, Poland 14, Qatar 2, Russia 87,
Saudi Arabia 24, Singapore 42, Slovenia 1, Sweden 11, Switzerland 11,
Taiwan 82, Turkey 7, Ukraine 24, UAE 22, UK 74, US 103, Uruguay 3, Vietnam
3) (2007) |
|
Ports and terminals: |
Buchanan, Monrovia
|
|
Military branches: |
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL):
Army, Navy, Air Force |
|
Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for voluntary
military service; no conscription (2001) |
|
Manpower available for military service: |
males age 18-49: 575,384
females age 18-49: 588,780 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 18-49: 267,430
females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.) |
|
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.3% (2006 est.)
|
|
Disputes - international: |
although civil unrest continues
to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)
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 (UNOCI) 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 and internally displaced persons: |
refugees (country of
origin): 6,592 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from
1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2006) |
|
Illicit drugs: |
transshipment point for
Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the
European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and
diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the
lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a
major money-laundering center |
This page was last updated on 12 February, 2008
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