2007 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: 43.1% (male 656,016/female 653,734) 15-64 years: 54.2% (male 816,443/female 832,152) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 40,591/female 43,068) (2006 est.)

Area

land

96,320 sq km

total

111,370 sq km

water

15,050 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

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 was exiled to Nigeria. 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), 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

44.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 18 N, 10 47 W

name

Monrovia

time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

23.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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, 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

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)

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

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

5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

7,200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

100,000 (2003 est.)

Independence

26 July 1847

Infant mortality rate

female

139.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

171.96 deaths/1,000 live births

total

155.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

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

total

1,585 km

Land use

arable land

3.43%

other

94.59% (2005)

permanent crops

1.98%

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Life expectancy at birth

female

41.35 years (2006 est.)

male

37.99 years

total population

39.65 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 (2007)

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Median age

female

18.3 years (2006 est.)

male

18 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

27.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population

note

at least 238,500 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their ability to return (2006 est.)

Population

3,042,004 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate

4.91% (2006 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 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

6.02 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

53 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m

38 (2006)

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)

Army, Navy, Air Force

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$85.4 million

Currency (code)

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code

LRD

Debt - external

$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

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] 226-370 through 226-380

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Charles A. MINOR

telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

Disputes - international

although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January 2007, 22,000 Liberian refugees still remain in both Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire, 38,500 in Sierra Leone, and 39,690 in Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters 12,580 refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire and 3,600 from Sierra Leone; despite the presence of over 9000 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

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. 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. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained economist, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. An embargo on timber exports has been lifted, opening a source of revenue for the government, but diamonds remain under UN sanctions. 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

302.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

325 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003), 61.754 (2002)

Exports

$910 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners

Belgium 40.7%, Spain 15.2%, US 8.9%, Malaysia 5.4%, Thailand 4.5%, Poland 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

[231] 226-148

consulate(s) general

New York

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 (PPP)

$1,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.7% (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$902.9 million (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$2.911 billion (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

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 8 February, 2007

Imports

$4.839 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Korea 38.1%, Japan 21.2%, Singapore 14.2%, Croatia 4.7% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

15% (2003 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.lr

Internet hosts

8 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2001)

Internet users

1,000 (2002) 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 (30 seats - 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)

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, UP 8, COTOL 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15

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)

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

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

588,780 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

575,384

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

286,231 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

267,430

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 322, cargo 83, chemical tanker 199, combination ore/oil 2, container 477, liquefied gas 75, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 397, refrigerated cargo 76, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 35

foreign-owned

1,611 (Argentina 7, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas, The 1, Bermuda 1, Brazil 3, Canada 2, China 35, Croatia 7, Cyprus 3, Denmark 8, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 587, Greece 267, Hong Kong 37, India 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 5, Italy 16, Japan 102, South Korea 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 14, Lebanon 2, Mexico 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 29, Norway 38, Poland 14, Qatar 2, Russia 77, Saudi Arabia 24, Singapore 28, Slovenia 2, Sweden 8, Switzerland 7, Taiwan 69, Turkey 1, UAE 18, UK 41, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 3, US 93, unknown 1) (2006)

total

1,687 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,522,787 GRT/96,776,521 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$67.4 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

7.5% (2005 est.) Transnational Issues Liberia

Military service age and obligation

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

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption

3,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH]; Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [H. Varney SHERMAN]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN]; Unity Party or UP [Charles CLARKE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Demobilized former military officers

Population below poverty line

80%

Ports and terminals

Buchanan, Monrovia Military Liberia

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios

790,000 (1997)

Railways

narrow gauge

145 km 1.067-m gauge

note

railway is inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil war (2005)

standard gauge

345 km 1.435-m gauge

total

490 km

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin)

6,592 (Cote d'Ivoire)

Roadways

paved

657 km

total

10,600 km

unpaved

9,943 km (1999)

Telephone system

domestic

fully automatic system with very low density of .23 fixed main lines 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

6,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

160,000 (2005)

Television broadcast stations

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

Televisions

70,000 (1997)

Unemployment rate

85% (2003 est.)