2015 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 descendants 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 was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for an election 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 convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for 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. She subsequently won reelection in 2011 and remains challenged to rebuild Liberia's economy, particularly following the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. The UN Security Council in September 2015 passed Resolution 2239, which extends the mandate for the UN Mission in Liberia through September 2016, decreases UN forces by June 2016 and challenges Liberia's security sector to fill the gaps.

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

43.66 cu m/yr (2005)

total

0.13 cu km/yr (55%/37%/8%)

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

21 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (3)

Guinea 590 km, Cote d'Ivoire 778 km, Sierra Leone 299 km

total

1,667 km

Land use

arable land 5.2%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 20.8%

agricultural land

28.1%

forest

44.6%

other

27.3% (2011 est.)

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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

42.75% (male 904,495/female 889,198)

15-24 years

18.3% (male 376,224/female 391,568)

25-54 years

31.51% (male 658,291/female 663,954)

55-64 years

4.3% (male 87,606/female 92,831)

65 years and over

3.13% (male 64,697/female 66,802) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

34.41 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

21% (2007 est.)

total number

177,160

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.3% (2013)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

20.2% (2013)

Death rate

9.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

5.5%

potential support ratio

18.2% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

82.9%

youth dependency ratio

77.4%

Drinking water source

urban: 88.6% of population

rural: 62.6% of population

total: 75.6% of population

urban: 11.4% of population

rural: 37.4% of population

total: 24.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2012)

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)

Health expenditures

10% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.17% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,000 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

33,100 (2014 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

female

63.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

71.71 deaths/1,000 live births

total

67.5 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

60.32 years (2015 est.)

male

56.94 years

total population

58.6 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

32.8% (2015 est.)

male

62.4%

total population

47.6%

Major infectious diseases

aerosolized dust or soil contact disease

Lassa fever

animal contact disease

rabies (2013)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever

water contact disease

schistosomiasis

Major urban areas - population

MONROVIA (capital) 1.264 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

725 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

18.3 years (2015 est.)

male

17.9 years

total

18.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Liberian

noun

Liberian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.8% (2014)

Physicians density

0.01 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

4,195,666 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.47% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 28% of population

rural: 5.9% of population

total: 16.9% of population

urban: 72% of population

rural: 94.1% of population

total: 83.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.02 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.96 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.99 male(s)/female

55-64 years

0.94 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.97 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

0.99 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

4.7 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

6.6% (2010 est.)

male

3.4%

total

5.1%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.36% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

49.7% of total population (2015)

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)

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

Constitution

previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revised version adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986; amended 2011; note - a series of amendment proposals approved by the Constitution Review Conference in early 2015 are pending government review (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Republic of Liberia

conventional short form

Liberia

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Deborah R. MALAC (since 26 July 2012)

embassy

U.S. Embassy, P.O. Box 98, 502 Benson Street, Monrovia

FAX

[231] 77-677-7370

mailing address

P.O. Box 98, Monrovia

telephone

[231] 77-677-7000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

chief of mission

Ambassador Jeremiah Congbeh SULUNTEH (since 25 April 2012)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate

chief of state

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

election results

Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF reelected president; percent of vote in second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (UP) 90.7%, Winston TUBMAN (NDPL) 9.3%

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 11 October and 8 November 2011 (next to be held in 2017)

head of government

President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); Vice President Joseph BOAKAI (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 law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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, MINUSMA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of common law (based on Anglo-American law) and customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 two-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms with half the membership renewed at 3- and 6-year intervals; eligible for a second term; and the House of Representatives (73 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms; eligible for a second term)

election results

Senate - percent of vote by party - CDC 29.8%, LP 11.5%, NPP 6.1%, PUP 4.9%, NDC 1.3%, other parties 11.8%, independent 24.3%; seats by party - UP 4, CDC 2, LP 2, ANC 1, NDC 1, NPP 1, PUP 1, independent 3; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - UP 17.8%, CDC 12.8%, LP 9.2%, NDC 5.7%, LTP 4.5%, PUP 3.9%, NPP 3.3%, MPC 2.4%, LDP 1.0%, NRP 0.8%, other parties 16.8% independent 19.7% ; seats by party - UP 24, CDC 11, LP 7, PUP 6, NDC 5, APD 3, NPP 3, MPC 2, LDP 1, LTP 1, NRP 1, independent 9

elections

Senate - last held on 20 December 2014 (originally scheduled for 14 October 2014, but postponed due to Ebola-virus epidemic; next to be held in fall 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held in 2017)

National anthem

lyrics/music

Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA

name

"All Hail, Liberia Hail!"

note

lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

National symbol(s)

white star; national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Marcus S. G. DAHN]

Alternative National Congress or ANC [Orishil GOULD]

Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]

Liberia Destiny Party or LDP [Nathaniel BARNES]

Liberia Transformation Party or LTP [Julius SUKU]

Liberty Party or LP [J. Fonati KOFFA]

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

National Reformist Party or NRP [Maximillian T. W. DIABE]

National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP [Victor BARNEY]

People's Unification Party [Isobe GBORKORKOLLIE]

Unity Party or UP [Varney SHERMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other

demobilized former military officers

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$539.7 million (2014 est.)

revenues

$517.9 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

13.49% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$578 million (2014 est.)

-$554 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$652.2 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$541.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Liberia is a low income country that relies heavily on foreign assistance. It is richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture. Its principal exports are iron ore, rubber, gold and timber. The Government has attempted to revive raw timber extraction and is encouraging oil exploration. In the 1990s and early 2000s, civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially infrastructure in and around the capital. With the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically elected government in 2006, businesses that had fled the country began to return. The country achieved high growth during 2010-13 due to favorable world prices for its commodities. However, in 2014 as the Ebolavirus began to spread, the economy declined and many businesses departed, taking capital and expertise with them. The epidemic forced the government to divert scarce resources to combat the spread of the virus, reducing funds available for needed public investment. Revitalizing the economy in the future will depend on increasing investment and trade, higher global commodity prices, sustained foreign aid and remittances, development of infrastructure and institutions, and maintaining political stability and security. The cost of addressing the Ebola epidemic will weigh heavily on public finances at the same time decreased economic activity reduces government revenue, although higher donor support will partly offset this loss.

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -

83.893 (2014 est.)

83.893 (2013 est.)

73.52 (2012 est.)

72.227 (2011 est.)

71.403 (2010 est.)

Exports

$468.2 million (2014 est.)

$624.3 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners

China 31.9%, Greece 8.8%, US 8.6%, Germany 8.2%, France 7.3%, Spain 4.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2012 est.)

exports of goods and services

32.4%

government consumption

14.7%

household consumption

116.3%

imports of goods and services

-89.5%

investment in fixed capital

25.4%

investment in inventories

0.8%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

37.1%

industry

16.3%

services

46.6% (2012 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2014 est.)

$900 (2013 est.)

$800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

0.7% (2014 est.)

8.7% (2013 est.)

8.2% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.013 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.711 billion (2014 est.)

$3.686 billion (2013 est.)

$3.392 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

NA% (2014 est.)

-35% of GDP (2013 est.)

-2.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

30.1% (2007)

lowest 10%

2.4%

Imports

$1.052 billion (2014 est.)

$1.02 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Singapore 33.9%, South Korea 25.6%, China 14.7%, Japan 9.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

0.9% (2014 est.)

Industries

mining (iron ore), rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.9% (2014 est.)

7.6% (2013 est.)

Labor force

1.552 million (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

70%

industry

8%

services

22% (2000 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

63.8% (2007 est.)

Public debt

0.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

0.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$738.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$656 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$201 million (31 December 2013 est.)

$201 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$16.56 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$678.8 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$690.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$449.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$461.4 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

25.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

85% (2003 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

541,600 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

276.9 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

23,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

300 million kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3,750 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

3,750 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

3 private TV stations; satellite TV service 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 users

percent of population

4.3% (2014 est.)

total

177,600

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2007)

Telephone system

domestic

mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity reached 50 per 100 persons in 2011

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) (2010)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

less than 1 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

10,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

79 (2014 est.)

total

3.2 million

Television broadcast stations

5 (plus 4 repeaters) (2007)

Airports

29 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

14 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

5

914 to 1,523 m

8

total

27

Merchant marine

by type

barge carrier 5, bulk carrier 662, cargo 143, carrier 2, chemical tanker 248, combination ore/oil 8, container 937, liquefied gas 92, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 526, refrigerated cargo 102, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 27

foreign-owned

2,581 (Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 1, Belgium 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 2, Chile 9, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 9, Denmark 8, Egypt 3, Germany 1185, Gibraltar 5, Greece 505, Hong Kong 48, India 8, Indonesia 4, Israel 34, Italy 47, Japan 110, Latvia 5, Lebanon 1, Monaco 8, Netherlands 31, Nigeria 4, Norway 38, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 109, Saudi Arabia 20, Singapore 22, Slovenia 7, South Korea 2, Sweden 12, Switzerland 25, Syria 1, Taiwan 94, Turkey 16, UAE 37, UK 32, Ukraine 10, Uruguay 1, US 53) (2010)

total

2,771

Pipelines

oil 4 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Buchanan, Monrovia

Railways

narrow gauge

84 km 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 (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

females age 16-49

828,484 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

815,826

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

544,349 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

524,243

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

38,516 (2010 est.)

male

36,585

Military branches

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures

0.82% of GDP (2012)

0.86% of GDP (2011)

0.82% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Disputes - international

although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 6,500 UN Mission in Liberia peacekeepers, as of January 2013, 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 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

up to 23,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; post-election violence in March and April 2011; many dwell in slums in Monrovia) (2014)

refugees (country of origin)

38,090 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2015)