2005 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.6% (male 765,662/female 751,134) 15-64 years: 52.8% (male 896,206/female 940,985) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 64,547/female 63,677) (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

53 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.) Military Liberia

Area

land

96,320 sq km

total

111,370 sq km

water

15,050 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

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 Liberia

Birth rate

44.22 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$85.4 million

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

Currency (code)

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code

LRD

Death rate

17.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

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

FAX

[231] 226-148

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

FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

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

Economic aid - recipient

$94 million (1999)

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.

Electricity - consumption

454.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

488.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, 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

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)

Exchange rates

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

Executive branch

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

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

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

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)

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

Exports

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

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners

Denmark 29.5%, Germany 18.9%, Poland 14.3%, US 8.9%, Greece 8% (2004)

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 - composition by sector

agriculture

76.9%

industry

5.4%

services

17.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

21.8% (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.903 billion (2004 est.)

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

Highways

paved

657 km

total

10,600 km

unpaved

9,943 km (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

100,000 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 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 20 October, 2005 ======================================================================

Imports

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

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Korea 38.8%, Japan 21.2%, Singapore 12.2%, Croatia 5.3%, Germany 4.2% (2004)

Independence

26 July 1847

Industrial production growth rate

NA

Industries

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Infant mortality rate

female

121.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

male

135.64 deaths/1,000 live births

total

128.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2003 est.)

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

Internet country code

.lr

Internet hosts

14 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

1,000 (2002) Transportation Liberia

Irrigated land

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 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

3.95%

other

93.77% (2001)

permanent crops

2.28%

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

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 11 October 2005); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005)

Life expectancy at birth

female

40.81 years (2005 est.)

male

37.03 years

total population

38.89 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

41.6% (2003 est.) Government Liberia

male

73.3%

total population

57.5%

Location

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

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

Lassa fever (2004)

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

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.)

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Median age

female

18.42 years (2005 est.)

male

17.69 years

total

18.06 years

Merchant marine

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)

total

1,465 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,555,752 GRT/79,125,329 DWT

Military branches

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

0.2% (2004) Transnational Issues Liberia

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

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

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.)

Oil - consumption

3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - imports

NA

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

3,482,211 (July 2005 est.)

Population below poverty line

80%

Population growth rate

2.64% (2005 est.)

Ports and harbors

Buchanan, Monrovia

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 because of the civil war (2004)

standard gauge

345 km 1.435-m gauge

total

490 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

500,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2004)

refugees (country of origin)

13,941 (Sierra Leone) 38,325 (Cote d'Ivoire)

Religions

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

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.)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic system with very low density of .21 fixed mainlines per 100 persons; limited wireless service available

general assessment

the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia

international

country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

7,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular

2,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

70,000 (1997)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

6.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate

85% (2003 est.)