Liberia

Republic of Liberia

republicIndependence 26 July 1847

Liberia as the 2005 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 113 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalMonrovia
Position6 30 N, 9 30 W
Area111,370 sq km
LocationWestern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
2005

Every edition of Liberia

Populationas each edition published it
3.48 million July 2005 est. · 2.64m in 1990
Population growth% a year
2.64% 2005 est. · 3.37% in 1993
Median ageyears
18.06 years 2005 est. · 18.1 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
38.89 years 2005 est. · 57.28 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.09 children per woman 2005 est. · 6.6 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
128.87 deaths per 1,000 live births 2005 est. · 126 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$900 2004 est. · $400 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
21.8% 2004 est. · 1.5% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

In August 2003, a comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of civil war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. The National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) - composed of rebel, government, and civil society groups - assumed control in October 2003. Chairman Gyude BRYANT, who was given a two-year mandate to oversee efforts to rebuild Liberia, heads the new government.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which maintains a strong presence throughout the country, completed a disarmament program for former combatants in late 2004, but the security situation is still volatile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country remains sluggish.

Geography

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

18 fields

Land useshare of 111,370 sq km

arable land 3.95%permanent crops 2.28%other 93.77% (2001)irrigated 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
111,370sq km
land: 96,320 sq kmwater: 15,050 sq kmslightly larger than Tennessee
Coastline
579km
territorial sea: 200 nm
Highest point
1,380m
Mount Wutevelowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
1,585km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Location

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

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

Natural resources

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

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

Environment - international agreements

party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
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

People

20 fields

Age structuremale left, female right · (2005 est.)

64,547
65 and over3.7%
63,677
896,206
15-6452.8%
940,985
765,662
0-1443.6%
751,134
MaleFemale
Population
3,482,211
(July 2005 est.)growth rate: 2.64% (2005 est.)

Per 1,000 population

Birth
44.22 (2005 est.)Death
17.87 (2005 est.)Net migration
0
Net migration: note: at least 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their ability to return (2005 est.)

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2005 est.)38.89
37.03 · 40.81Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)128.87
135.64 · 121.9
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)57.5%
73.3% · 41.6%Median age years (2005 est.)18.06
17.69 · 18.42
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

indigenous African tribes 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

indigenous beliefs 40%Christian 40%Muslim 20%

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: at least 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their ability to return (2005 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
1.01 male(s)/female
total population:
0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,200 (2003 est.)

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 (2004)

Nationality

noun:
Liberian(s)
adjective:
Liberian

Languages

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

Government

Republic; Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003)

18 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

75.3%
Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%other 11.1%election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005)

Senate, 64 seats, elected 19 July 1997one dot, one seat

NPP 49UP 7ALCOP 3Alliance of Political Parties 2UPP 2LPP 1

Country name

conventional long form:
Republic of Liberia
conventional short form:
Liberia

Capital

Monrovia

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)

Constitution

6 January 1986

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
  • note - this is an interim position until presidential elections in 2005;
  • the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
  • Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003);
  • note - this is an interim position until presidential elections in 2005;
  • the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
  • Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate;
  • note - current cabinet positions are divided among groups participating in the Liberian peace process
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005)
election results:
  • Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president;
  • percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%;
  • note - TAYLOR stepped down in August 2003

note: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and the Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR;

a jointly agreed upon replacement, Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the National Transitional Government on 14 October 2003

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; 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 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005)
election results:
  • Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2;
  • House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%;
  • seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders

  • Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader NA];
  • All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY];
  • Liberian Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT];
  • Liberian People's Party or LPP [Koffa NAGBE];
  • Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA];
  • National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party;
  • United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON];
  • Unity Party or UP [Charles CLARKE]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aaron B. KOLLIE
chancery:
5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone:
[1] (202) 723-0437
FAX:
[1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general:
New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy:
111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address:
use embassy street address
telephone:
[231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX:
[231] 226-148

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

32 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$2.903billion
(2004 est.)
Real growth rate
21.8%
(2004 est.)industrial production growth: NA
Unemployment rate
85%
(2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2002 est.)

agriculture 76.9%industry 5.4%services 17.7% (2002 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

South Korea
38.8%
29.5%
Denmark
Japan
21.2%
18.9%
Germany
4.2%
14.3%
Poland
Singapore
12.2%
8.9%
US
8%
Greece
Croatia
5.3%
Exports $1.079 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)Imports $5.051 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)(2004)

Budget

Revenues
$85.4 millionExpenditures
$90.5 million (2000 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of NA

Electricity

Electricity production
488.8 million (2002)Electricity consumption
454.6 million (2002)

Economy - overview

Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds and timber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeable future. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them.

Some have returned, but many will not. 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.

The departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in August 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive Transitional Government, and the arrival of a UN mission are all necessary for the eventual end of the political crisis, but thus far have done little to encourage economic development.

The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous financial support and technical assistance from donor countries.

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products

  • rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas;
  • sheep, goats;
  • timber

Industries

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Exports

$1.079 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Imports

$5.051 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Debt - external

$2.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$94 million (1999)

Currency (code)

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars per US dollar - 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003), 61.754 (2002), 48.583 (2001), 40.953 (2000)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
2,000
(2001)
Fixed lines
7,000
(2001) · country code .lr

Telephone system

general assessment:
the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia
domestic:
fully automatic system with very low density of .21 fixed mainlines per 100 persons; limited wireless service available
international:
country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Internet users

1,000 (2002)

Transportation

7 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

1
over 3,047 m
1
1,524 to 2,437 m
5
914 to 1,523 m
8
under 914 m
38
Paved 2Unpaved 51

Networkskm

Highways
10,600Railways
490
Highways: paved: 657 km · unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.) · Railways: standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge · narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge note: none of the railways are in operation because of the civil war (2004)

Railways

total:
490 km
standard gauge:
345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge:
145 km 1.067-m gauge

note: none of the railways are in operation because of the civil war (2004)

Highways

total:
10,600 km
paved:
657 km
unpaved:
9,943 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors

Buchanan, Monrovia

Merchant marine

total:
1,465 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,555,752 GRT/79,125,329 DWT
by type:
barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 275, cargo 91, chemical tanker 173, combination ore/oil 22, container 388, liquefied gas 78, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 324, refrigerated cargo 57, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 35
foreign-owned:
1,392 (Argentina 8, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas 3, Brazil 6, British 1, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 36, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Denmark 5, France 3, Germany 511, Greece 149, Hong Kong 29, India 4, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 7, Italy 12, Japan 106, Latvia 18, Monaco 10, Netherlands 18, Nigeria 1, Norway 57, Pakistan 1, Poland 14, Romania 1, Russia 63, Saudi Arabia 23, Singapore 29, Slovenia 1, South Korea 4, Sweden 12, Switzerland 10, Taiwan 54, Turkey 4, Ukraine 7, UAE 10, United Kingdom 56, United States 84, Uruguay 3) (2005)

Airports

53 (2004 est.)

Military

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

6 fields

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: 659,795 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 360,373 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

  • although Liberia's domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs was declared over in 2003, civil unrest persists, and in 2004, 133,000 Liberian refugees remained in Guinea, 72,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 67,000 in Sierra Leone, and 43,000 in Ghana;
  • Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone;
  • since 2003, the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has maintained about 18,000 peacekeepers in Liberia;
  • the Cote d'Ivoire Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivoirian rebels;
  • UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin):
13,941 (Sierra Leone) 38,325 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs:
500,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2004)

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

Central Intelligence Agency. “Liberia.” The World Factbook 2005. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/liberia/2005.

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