2003 Edition

Administrative divisions

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831) 15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851) 65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.)

Area

land

96,320 sq km

total

111,370 sq km

water

15,050 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Background

Eight years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1997 when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held. President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real political opposition. Years of fighting, coupled with the flight of most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity. A still unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds, along with an arms embargo and a travel ban on government officials, for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone. Renewed rebel activity has further eroded stability and economic activity. A regional peace initiative commenced in the spring of 2003 but was disrupted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) indictment of President TAYLOR on war crimes charges. Geography Liberia

Birth rate

45.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Capital

Monrovia

Climate

tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Coastline

579 km

Constitution

6 January 1986

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Liberia

conventional short form

Liberia

Death rate

17.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94

signed, but not ratified

Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

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)

Executive branch

chief of state

President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of

Geographic coordinates

6 30 N, 9 30 W

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 Liberia

Government type

republic

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

125,000 (2001 est.)

Independence

26 July 1847

Infant mortality rate

female

125.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

139.03 deaths/1,000 live births

total

132.18 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

total

1,585 km

Land use

arable land

1.97%

other

95.95% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

2.08%

Languages

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

49.3 years (2003 est.)

male

47.03 years

total population

48.15 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

41.6%

male

73.3%

note

(2003 est.) Government Liberia

total population

57.5%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 NM

Median age

female

18.4 years (2002)

male

17.7 years

total

18.1 years

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Nationality

adjective

Liberian

noun

Liberian(s)

Natural hazards

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Natural resources

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Net migration rate

-10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries though slowly returning (2003 est.)

Population

3,317,176 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

1.67% (2003 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Terrain

mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Total fertility rate

6.23 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

47 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m

34 (2002) Military Liberia

Budget

expenditures

$90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

revenues

$85.4 million

Currency

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code

LRD

Debt - external

$2.1 billion (2000 est.)

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Aaron B. KOLLIE

consulate(s) general

New York

Disputes - international

rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea; the Ivorian Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels

Economic aid - recipient

$94 million (1999)

Economy - overview

Civil war and misgovernment have destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some have returned; 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 restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor countries.

Electricity - consumption

435.9 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

468.8 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95 (2000), 41.9 (1999), 41.51 (1998)

note

until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined

Exports

$110 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners

Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

[231] 226-148

telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Liberia

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 Liberia

GDP

purchasing power parity - $3.116 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

74%

industry

7%

services

19% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2% (2002 est.)

Highways

paved

657 km

total

10,600 km

unpaved

9,943 km (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

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 18 December, 2003

Imports

$165 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Korea 30.3%, Japan 19.1%, Germany 15.6%, France 9.1%, Singapore 7.9% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.lr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

500 (2000) Transportation Liberia

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force - by occupation

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

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)

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

elections

Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 14 October 2003)

Merchant marine

convenience

Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil 5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11, Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong 69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20, Isle of Man 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore 20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9, Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, UAE 12, UK 39, US 113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)

note

includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of

ships by type

barge carrier 3, bulk 282, cargo 80, chemical tanker 163, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 24, container 357, liquefied gas 82, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 286, refrigerated cargo 60, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 37

total

1,432 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 48,700,851 GRT/75,408,994 DWT

Military branches

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$7.8 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

1.3% (FY02) Transnational Issues Liberia

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

735,481 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

396,725 (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

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]

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population below poverty line

80%

Ports and harbors

Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

790,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

145 km 1.067-m gauge

note

none of the railways are in operation (2002)

standard gauge

345 km 1.435-m gauge

total

490 km

Telephone system

domestic

NA

general assessment

telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia

international

satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

6,700 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular

0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

70,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

NA

Waterways

none