2010 Edition

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 faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. 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) maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country continues.

Area

land

96,320 sq km

total

111,369 sq km

water

15,049 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

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

Coastline

579 km

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, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

34 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.11 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%)

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

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%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea

200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

232 cu km (1987)

Age structure

0-14 years: 44.1% (male 760,989/female 758,554) 15-64 years: 53% (male 904,770/female 920,704) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 47,013/female 49,760) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

38.14 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

10.88 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.7% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,300 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

35,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

71.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

80.92 deaths/1,000 live births

total

76.43 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

58.14 years (2010 est.)

male

55.05 years

total population

56.58 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

41.6% (2003 est.)

male

73.3%

total population

57.5%

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

Lassa fever

animal contact disease

rabies (2009)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Median age

female

18.4 years (2010 est.)

male

18.3 years

total

18.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Liberian

noun

Liberian(s)

Net migration rate

0.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

3,685,076 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

2.782% (2010 est.)

Religions

Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

9 years (2000)

male

13 years

total

11 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.24 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

5.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

60% of total population (2008)

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

6 18 N, 10 48 W

name

Monrovia

time difference

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

Constitution

6 January 1986

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Liberia

conventional short form

Liberia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Linda THOMAS-GREENFIELD

embassy

111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 98, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10

FAX

[231] 7-701-0370

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[231] 7-705-4826

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Edwin F. SELE

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of government

election results

Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF elected president; percent of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 59.6%, George WEAH 40.4%

elections

president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 8 November 2005 (next to be held in October 2011)

head of government

President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006)

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

Government type

republic

Independence

26 July 1847

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

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

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; note - 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, COTOL 8, UP 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15; note - the UP now holds 13 out of 30 senate seats and 16 out of 64 house seats following a merger with several smaller parties in 2009 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

elections

Senate - last held on 11 October 2005 (next to be held in October 2011); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2005 (next to be held in October 2011)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author would become the third president of Liberia

name

"All Hail, Liberia Hail!"

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH]; Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL [H. Varney SHERMAN]; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other

demobilized former military officers

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14.4% (31 December 2008) 15.05% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance

-$224 million (2007)

Debt - external

$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Economy - overview

Liberia is a low income country heavily reliant on foreign assistance for revenue. Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around the capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them, but with the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically-elected government in 2006, several have returned. Liberia has the distinction of having the highest ratio of direct foreign investment to GDP in the world. 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 and is reviving those sectors. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government and Liberia shipped its first major timber exports to Europe in 2010. The country reached its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative completion point in 2010 and nearly $5 billion of international debt was permanently eliminated. This new status will enable Liberia to estabilish a sovereign credit rating and issue bonds. Liberia's Paris Club creditors agreed to cancel Liberia's debt as well. Rebuilding infrastructure and raising incomes will depend on generous financial and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation.

Electricity - consumption

325.5 million kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

350 million kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 59.43 (2006), 53.098 (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003)

Exports

$1.197 billion (2006)

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners

Germany 27.92%, Poland 17.12%, South Africa 15.83%, India 10.48%, Greece 7.09%, US 6.23%, Norway 5.24% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

76.9%

industry

5.4%

services

17.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$500 (2010 est.) $500 (2009 est.) $500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2010 est.) 4.6% (2009 est.) 8.6% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$977 million (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$1.76 billion (2010 est.) $1.66 billion (2009 est.) $1.587 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)

Imports

$7.143 billion (2006)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

South Korea 28.29%, Singapore 19.06%, Japan 17.06%, China 14.58%, Taiwan 4.02% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11.2% (2007 est.)

Labor force

1.372 million (2007)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

8%

services

22% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

23 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

4,263 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

80% (2000 est.)

Stock of broad money

$NA (31 December 2009) $NA (31 December 2008)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$1.202 billion (31 December 2008) $1.157 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money

$206.9 million (31 December 2008) $145.6 million (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

85% (2003 est.)

Broadcast media

3 private TV stations; satellite TV service is available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 15 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)

Internet country code

.lr

Internet hosts

8 (2010)

Internet users

20,000 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity reached 25 per 100 persons in 2009

general assessment

the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators

international

country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)

Telephones - main lines in use

2,000 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

842,000 (2009)

Airports

29 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

27 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 14 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 507, cargo 136, carrier 1, chemical tanker 232, combination ore/oil 6, container 875, liquefied gas 93, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 509, refrigerated cargo 109, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 25

foreign-owned

2,356 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Australia 2, Belgium 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 4, Chile 7, China 10, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7, Denmark 4, Finland 2, Germany 1049, Gibraltar 5, Greece 454, Hong Kong 47, India 1, Indonesia 4, Isle of Man 19, Israel 31, Italy 48, Japan 102, Latvia 9, Lebanon 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 35, Nigeria 4, Norway 42, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 108, Saudi Arabia 24, Singapore 27, Slovenia 5, South Korea 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 17, Syria 1, Taiwan 88, Turkey 15, UAE 27, UK 25, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 1, US 39, Vietnam 3) (2010)

total

2,512

Ports and terminals

Buchanan, Monrovia

Railways

narrow gauge

84 km 1.067-m gauge note: most sections of the railway are inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003 (2008)

standard gauge

345 km 1.435-m gauge

total

429 km

Roadways

paved

657 km

total

10,600 km

unpaved

9,943 km (2000)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 797,084 females age 16-49: 808,017 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 510,337 females age 16-49: 527,737 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

35,264 (2010 est.)

male

33,411

Military branches

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures

1.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)

Disputes - international

although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January 2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 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

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 page last updated on January 11, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire)