Liberia
Republic of Liberia
presidential republicIndependence 26 July 1847
Liberia as the 2023 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 156 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic.
Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and 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 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power.
In 2000, fighting resumed. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted President TAYLOR’s resignation. TAYLOR was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. In late 2005, President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy, particularly following the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting.
In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH has struggled to improve the country’s economy. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2023.
Geography
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
17 fieldsLand useshare of 111,369 sq km
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
Population distribution
more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia as shown in this population distribution map
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 and Society
37 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2023 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2023 est.)
Male · female(2017)
Ethnic groups(2008 est.)
Religions(2008 est.)
Languages
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence
Demographic profile
Liberia’s high fertility rate of nearly 5 children per woman and large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020 – will sustain a high dependency ratio for many years to come. Significant progress has been made in preventing child deaths, despite a lack of health care workers and infrastructure. Infant and child mortality have dropped nearly 70% since 1990; the annual reduction rate of about 5.4% is the highest in Africa.
Nevertheless, Liberia’s high maternal mortality rate remains among the world’s worst; it reflects a high unmet need for family planning services, frequency of early childbearing, lack of quality obstetric care, high adolescent fertility, and a low proportion of births attended by a medical professional.
Female mortality is also increased by the prevalence of female genital cutting (FGC), which is practiced by 10 of Liberia’s 16 tribes and affects more than two-thirds of women and girls. FGC is an initiation ritual performed in rural bush schools, which teach traditional beliefs on marriage and motherhood and are an obstacle to formal classroom education for Liberian girls.
Liberia has been both a source and a destination for refugees. During Liberia’s 14-year civil war (1989-2003), more than 250,000 people became refugees and another half million were internally displaced. Between 2004 and the cessation of refugee status for Liberians in June 2012, the UNHCR helped more than 155,000 Liberians to voluntarily repatriate, while others returned home on their own.
Some Liberian refugees spent more than two decades living in other West African countries. Between 2011 and 2022, more than 300,000 Ivoirian refugees in Liberia have been repatriated; as of year-end 2022, less than 2,300 Ivoirian refugees were still living in Liberia.
Population distribution
more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia as shown in this population distribution map
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0-14 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- total:
- 56.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
- male:
- 61.5 deaths/1,000 live births
- female:
- 50.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high (2023)
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria and dengue fever
- water contact diseases:
- schistosomiasis
- animal contact diseases:
- rabies
- aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases:
- Lassa fever
Alcohol consumption per capita
- total:
- 3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- beer:
- 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- wine:
- 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- spirits:
- 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- other alcohols:
- 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Child marriage
- women married by age 15:
- 5.8% NA
- women married by age 18:
- 24.9% NA
- men married by age 18:
- 8.4% (2020 est.)
Environment
12 fieldsLand use(2018 est.)
Environment - current issues
- tropical rain forest deforestation;
- soil erosion;
- loss of biodiversity;
- hunting of endangered species for bushmeat;
- pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage;
- pollution of rivers from industrial run-off;
- burning and dumping of household waste
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Climate
- tropical;
- hot, humid;
- dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights;
- wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Urbanization
- urban population:
- 53.6% of total population (2023)
- rate of urbanization:
- 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Food insecurity
- severe localized food insecurity:
- due to high food prices and macroeconomic challenges - levels of acute food insecurity are expected to increase in 2023 associated with high food prices due to high international commodity prices and elevated transportation costs, exacerbated by the unfolding effects of the war in Ukraine on international trade and commodity prices;
- food availability and access are likely to remain limited by high food prices and below‑average imports;
- an expected further slowdown in economic domestic growth in 2023 is likely to compound food insecurity conditions for the most vulnerable households;
- in the June to August 2023 lean season period, over 531,000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity (2023)
Air pollutants
- particulate matter emissions:
- 35.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- carbon dioxide emissions:
- 1.39 megatons (2016 est.)
- methane emissions:
- 6.56 megatons (2020 est.)
Total water withdrawal
- municipal:
- 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- industrial:
- 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- agricultural:
- 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Government
Presidential republic; President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018)
21 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Senatepercent of vote
Composition: men 27, women 3, percent of women 11%
House of Representativespercent of vote
Composition: men 66, women 7, percent of women 9.5%; total Parliament percent of women 9.7%
Country name
- conventional long form:
- Republic of Liberia
- conventional short form:
- Liberia
- etymology:
- name derives from the Latin word "liber" meaning "free"; so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves
Capital
- name:
- Monrovia
- geographic coordinates:
- 6 18 N, 10 48 W
- time difference:
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- etymology:
- named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of the colonization of Liberia by freed slaves;
- one of two national capitals named for a US president, the other is Washington, D.C.
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
Constitution
- history:
- previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986
- amendments:
- proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens;
- passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters;
- amended 2011, 2020
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
- citizenship by birth:
- no
- citizenship by descent only:
- at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia
- dual citizenship recognized:
- no
- residency requirement for naturalization:
- 2 years
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018);
- Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018);
- note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
- elections/appointments:
- president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term);
- election last held on 10 October 2023 with a run-off on 14 November 2023 (next to be held October 2028)
- election results:
- Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round;
- percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.20%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 1.96%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.61%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.44%, other 5.59%;
- percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4% note - presidential inauguration in January 2024
Legislative branch
- description:
- bicameral National Assembly consists of:; The Liberian Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 2-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms; each district elects 1 senator and elects the second senator 3 years later, followed by a 6-year hiatus, after which the first Senate seat is up for election); House of Representatives (73 seats; members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms; eligible for a second term)
- elections:
- Senate - general election held on 10 October 2023 with half the seats up for election (next to be held on 9 October 2029); House of Representatives - last held on 10 October 2023 (next to be held 9 October 2029)
- election results:
- ;
- Senate - percent of vote by party - Collaborating Political Parties 43.3%, Congress for Democratic Change 16.6%, People's Unification Party 6.6%, Movement for Democracy and Reconstructions 3.3%, National Democratic Coalition 3.3%, National Patriotic Party 3.3%, Independent 23.3%;
- seats by coalition/party- CPP 13, CDC 5, PUP 2, MDR 1, NDC 1, NPP 1, Independent 7;
- composition - men 27, women 3, percent of women 11%
- House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - Coalition for Democratic Change 28.7%, Unity Party 27.3%, People's Unification Party 6.8%, Liberty Party 4.1%, Americo Liberian Party 4.1%, Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction 4.1%, Movement for Economic Empowerment 1.3%, Liberia Transformation Party 1.3%, United People's Party 1.3%, Victory for Change Party 1.3%, Liberian People's Party 1.3%, Liberia National Union 1.3%, Independent 17.8%;
- seats by coalition/party - CDC 21, UP 20, PUP 5, LP 3, ALP 3, MDR 3, MOVEE 1, LTP 1, UPP 1, VCP 1, LPP 1, LNU 1, Independent 13;
- composition - men 66, women 7, percent of women 9.5%;
- total Parliament percent of women 9.7%
Judicial branch
- highest court(s):
- Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases
- 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
Political parties and leaders
- All Liberian Party or ALP [Benoni UREY]
- Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [vacant]
- Alternative National Congress or ANC [Alexander B. CUMMINGS, JR]
- Coalition for Democratic Change [George WEAH] (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP) Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]
- Liberia Destiny Party or LDP [Nathaniel BARNES]
- Liberia National Union or LINU [Dr. Clarence K. MONIBA]
- Liberia Transformation Party or LTP [Kennedy SANDY]
- Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP [Alex J. TYLER]
- Liberian People's Party or LPP [Henry FAHNBULLEH, JR]
- Liberty Party or LP [Charles Brumskine]
- Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR [Prince Y. JOHNSON]
- Movement for Economic Empowerment [Joseph JONES]
- Movement for Progressive Change or MPC [Simeon FREEMAN]
- National Democratic Coalition or NDC [Dew MAYSON]
- National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [D. Nyandeh SIEH]
- National Patriotic Party or NPP [Jewel HOWARD TAYLOR]
- National Reformist Party or NRP [Maximillian T. W. DIABE]
- National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP [Victor BARNEY]
- People's Unification Party or PUP [Isobe GBORKORKOLLIE]
- Unity Party or UP [Josephe BOKAI]
- United People's Party [MacDonald WENTO]
- Victory for Change Party or VCP [Marcus R. JONES]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Jeff Gongoer DOWANA (since 12 December 2022)
- chancery:
- 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 723-0437
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 723-0436
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; http://www.liberianembassyus.org/
- consulate(s) general:
- New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant) Charges d'Affairs Catherine RODRIGUEZ (since 11 August 2023)
- embassy:
- 502 Benson Street, Monrovia
- mailing address:
- 8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800
- telephone:
- [231] 77-677-7000
- FAX:
- [231] 77-677-7370
- email address and website:
- [email protected]; https://lr.usembassy.gov/
Flag description
- 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
National anthem
- name:
- "All Hail, Liberia Hail!"
- lyrics/music:
- Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia
Economy
32 fieldsGDP - composition, by sector of origin(2017 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
By end use% of GDP · (2016 est.)
Budget(2019 est.)
Economic overview
- low-income West African economy;
- food scarcity, especially in rural areas;
- high poverty and inflation;
- bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to Ebola crisis;
- growing government debt;
- longest continuously operated rubber plantation;
- large informal economy
Agricultural products
cassava, sugar cane, oil palm fruit, rice, bananas, vegetables, plantains, rubber, taro, maize
Current account balance
-$653.403 million (2019 est.) · -$674.092 million (2018 est.) · -$565.564 million (2017 est.)
Exports
$554.013 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $527.345 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $429.592 million (2017 est.)
Imports
$1.244 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $1.245 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars; $1.232 billion (2017 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$340.966 million (31 December 2020 est.) · $297.071 million (31 December 2019 est.) · $332.151 million (31 December 2018 est.)
Exchange rates
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - 191.518 (2020 est.) · 186.43 (2019 est.) · 144.056 (2018 est.) · 112.707 (2017 est.) · 94.427 (2016 est.)
Energy
11 fieldsElectrification% of population · (2021)
Installed generating capacity, 196,000 kW(2020 est.)
Coal
- production:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- consumption:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- exports:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- imports:
- 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Petroleum
- total petroleum production:
- 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
- refined petroleum consumption:
- 9,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)
- crude oil and lease condensate exports:
- 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
- crude oil and lease condensate imports:
- 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
- crude oil estimated reserves:
- 0 barrels (2021 est.)
Natural gas
- production:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- consumption:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- exports:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- imports:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
- proven reserves:
- 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
1.346 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from coal and metallurgical coke:
- 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from petroleum and other liquids:
- 1.346 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
- from consumed natural gas:
- 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
Communications
7 fieldsPer 100 inhabitants(2020–21 est.)
Telephones - fixed lines
- total subscriptions:
- 6,000 (2021 est.)
- subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
- (2021 est.) less than 1
Telecommunication systems
- general assessment:
- Liberia has a telecom market which is mainly based on mobile networks;
- this is due to the civil war which destroyed much of the fixed-line infrastructure;
- to facilitate LTC Mobile’s market entry, the government in January 2022 set in train amendments to telecom legislation;
- internet services are available from a number of wireless ISPs as well as the mobile operators;
- the high cost and limited bandwidth of connections means that internet access is expensive and rates are very low;
- additional bandwidth is available from an international submarine cable but considerable investment is still needed in domestic fixed-line infrastructure before end-users can make full use of the cable (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular subscriptions are 32 per 100 persons (2021)
- international:
- country code - 231;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
Broadcast media
- 8 private and 1 government-owned TV station;
- satellite TV service available;
- 1 state-owned radio station;
- approximately 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with approximately 80 more local stations operating in other areas;
- transmissions of 4 international (including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France Internationale) broadcasters are available (2019)
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 4,311 ships by type(2022)
Networkskm
Airports - with paved runways
2
note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature;
paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
27
note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length;
airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control
Railways
- total:
- 429 km (2008)
- standard gauge:
- 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge
- narrow gauge:
- 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge
note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt
Military and Security
7 fieldsPersonnel strengthsone square, 100 people · (2023)
Military and security forces
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard, Air Wing; Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2023) note: the AFL Air Wing was previously disbanded in 2005 and has been under redevelopment since 2019; the Liberian National Police and the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency are under the Ministry of Justice
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a limited inventory; in recent years, it has received small quantities of equipment, including donations, from countries such as China and the US (2023)
Military service age and obligation
18-35 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2023)
Military - note
the AFL is responsible for external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities if called upon, such as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and support to law enforcement; it is a small, lightly equipped force comprised of 2 combat infantry battalions and supporting units;
the infantry battalions were rebuilt with US assistance in 2007-2008 from the restructured AFL following the end of the second civil war in 2003 when military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed
the first militia unit established for defense of the colony was raised in 1832; the AFL traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970
the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established in 2003 as a peacekeeping force; at its height, UNMIL was comprised of about 15,000 personnel, including more than 3,000 troops absorbed from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping mission; Liberian forces reassumed full control of the country’s security in June of 2016, and the UNMIL mission was ended in 2018 (2023)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsIllicit drugs
- not a significant transit country for illicit narcotics bound for the United States or Europe;
- not a key producer of illicit drugs;
- proximity to major drug transit routes contribute to trafficking cocaine and heroin, to and through Liberia and other West African countries;
- local drug use involves locally grown cannabis, heroin (mostly smoked), cocaine (snorted), and more recently kush (Cannabis Indic’s type flower), mixed with different substances including heroin or synthetic DMT
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Liberia.” The World Factbook 2023. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/liberia/2023.