1986 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1986 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Airfields
28 total, 28 usable; 1 with permanent surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 3 with runways 1,2202,439 m
Branches
- Army, Army Air Wing, Police Department
- executive powers held by President, assisted by appointed Cabinet; legislative powers held by bicameral legislature; independent judiciary
Capital
Monrovia
Civil air
1 major transport aircraft
Coastline
579 km People
Elections
presidential and legislative elections held October 1985; Doe was proclaimed winner of presidential election and took office in January 1986 Political parties and leaders: 4 parties participated in elections in October 1985; National Democratic Party of Liberia, headed by Samuel Doe; Liberian Action Party; Liberian Unity Party; and Unity Party
Ethnic divisions
95% indigenous African tribes, including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella; 5% descendants of repatriated slaves known as AmericoLiberians
Government leader
Gen. Samuel Kanyon DOE, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (since April 1980)
Highways
approx. 4,221 km total; 508 km paved; 1,585 km crushed stone, gravel, or stabilized soil; 946 km improved, 2,128 km unimproved earth
Infant mortality rate
153/1,000(1984)
Labor force
510,000, of which 220,000 are in monetary economy; non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and engineering jobs; 70.5% agriculture, 10.8% services, 4.5% industry and commerce, 14.2% other
Land boundaries
1,336 km Water
Language
English (official); more than 20 local languages of the Niger-Congo language group; English used by about 20%
Legal system
new constitution approved by nationwide referendum in July 1984 and implemented in January 1986); judicial powers invested in People's Supreme Court and lower courts
Life expectancy
54
Limits of territorial waters (claimed)
200 nm
Literacy
24%
Military manpower
males 15-49, 353,000; 189,000 fit for military service Buchana North Atlantic Ocean f regional map VII Harper* Land 111,370 km2; slightly smaller than Pennsylvania; 40% forest, 30% jungle and swamp, 20% agricultural, 10% other
National holiday
National Redemption Day, 12 April; Independence Day, 26 July
Nationality
noun — Liberian(s); adjective — Liberian
Official name
Republic of Liberia
Organized labor
2% of labor force Government
Political subdivisions
country divided into 13 counties
Population
2,307,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 3.3%
Religion
75% traditional, 15% Muslim, 10% Christian
Suffrage
universal at age 18
Telecommunications
system a modest one consisting of a few land lines, a small radiorelay system, and minor radiocommunication stations; 5,920 telephones (0.3 per 100 popl.); 2 AM, 2 FM stations; 1 TV station planned; 1 Atlantic Ocean satellite station Defense Forces
Type
republic under military rule from April 1980 until January 1986, when it returned to civilian rule