{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic.

Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and 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 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power. In 2000, fighting resumed. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted President TAYLOR’s resignation. TAYLOR was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. In late 2005, President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy, particularly following the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH has struggled to improve the country’s economy. The next presidential election is scheduled for 2023.

 

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "6 30 N, 9 30 W" }, "Map references": { "text": "Africa" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "111,369 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "96,320 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "15,049 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly larger than Virginia" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "1,667 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "579 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers" }, "Terrain": { "text": "mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Mount Wuteve 1,447 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Atlantic Ocean 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "243 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "28.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 5.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 20.8% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "44.6% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "27.3% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "30 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "5,506,280 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Liberian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Liberian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, Krahn 4%, Vai 4%, Mandingo 3.2%, Gbandi 3%, Mende 1.3%, Sapo 1.3%, other Liberian 1.7%, other African 1.4%, non-African 0.1% (2008 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence" }, "Religions": { "text": "Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.5% (2008 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Liberia’s high fertility rate of nearly 5 children per woman and large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 as of 2020 – will sustain a high dependency ratio for many years to come. Significant progress has been made in preventing child deaths, despite a lack of health care workers and infrastructure. Infant and child mortality have dropped nearly 70% since 1990; the annual reduction rate of about 5.4% is the highest in Africa.

Nevertheless, Liberia’s high maternal mortality rate remains among the world’s worst; it reflects a high unmet need for family planning services, frequency of early childbearing, lack of quality obstetric care, high adolescent fertility, and a low proportion of births attended by a medical professional. Female mortality is also increased by the prevalence of female genital cutting (FGC), which is practiced by 10 of Liberia’s 16 tribes and affects more than two-thirds of women and girls. FGC is an initiation ritual performed in rural bush schools, which teach traditional beliefs on marriage and motherhood and are an obstacle to formal classroom education for Liberian girls.

Liberia has been both a source and a destination for refugees. During Liberia’s 14-year civil war (1989-2003), more than 250,000 people became refugees and another half million were internally displaced. Between 2004 and the cessation of refugee status for Liberians in June 2012, the UNHCR helped more than 155,000 Liberians to voluntarily repatriate, while others returned home on their own. Some Liberian refugees spent more than two decades living in other West African countries. Between 2011 and 2022, more than 300,000 Ivoirian refugees in Liberia have been repatriated; as of year-end 2022, less than 2,300 Ivoirian refugees were still living in Liberia.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "42.69% (male 1,187,795/female 1,162,699)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "54.5% (male 1,486,582/female 1,514,163)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "2.82% (2023 est.) (male 75,258/female 79,783)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "79.7" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "73.7" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "6" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "16.7 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "18 years" }, "male": { "text": "17.7 years" }, "female": { "text": "18.2 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "2.71% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "36.26 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "6.46 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia as shown in this population distribution map" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "53.6% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.02 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.98 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.94 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Mother's mean age at first birth": { "text": "19.1 years (2019/20 est.)", "note": "note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49" }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "652 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "43.2 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "47.23 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "39.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "65.8 years" }, "male": { "text": "63.52 years" }, "female": { "text": "68.15 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "4.73 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "2.33 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "24.9% (2019/20)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 96.2% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 70.6% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 84% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 3.8% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 29.4% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 16% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "9.5% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "0.05 physicians/1,000 population (2018)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 68% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 25.2% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 47.5% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 32% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 74.8% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 52.5% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Major infectious diseases": { "degree of risk": { "text": "very high (2023)" }, "food or waterborne diseases": { "text": "bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever" }, "vectorborne diseases": { "text": "malaria and dengue fever" }, "water contact diseases": { "text": "schistosomiasis" }, "animal contact diseases": { "text": "rabies" }, "aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases": { "text": "Lassa fever" }, "note": "note: on 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Liberia is currently considered a high risk to travelers for circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPV); vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) is a strain of the weakened poliovirus that was initially included in oral polio vaccine (OPV) and that has changed over time and behaves more like the wild or naturally occurring virus; this means it can be spread more easily to people who are unvaccinated against polio and who come in contact with the stool or respiratory secretions, such as from a sneeze, of an “infected” person who received oral polio vaccine; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, the CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "9.9% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "8.2% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "14.3% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "2% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "10.9% (2019/20)" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "48.7% (2023 est.)" }, "Child marriage": { "women married by age 15": { "text": "NA" }, "women married by age 18": { "text": "NA" }, "men married by age 18": { "text": "8.4% (2020 est.)" } }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.7% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "48.3%" }, "male": { "text": "62.7%" }, "female": { "text": "34.1% (2017)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "3.2%" }, "male": { "text": "3.2%" }, "female": { "text": "3.2% (2021 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "28.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 5.2% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 20.8% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "44.6% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "27.3% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "53.6% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)" } }, "Food insecurity": { "severe localized food insecurity": { "text": "due to high food prices and macroeconomic challenges - levels of acute food insecurity are expected to increase in 2023 associated with high food prices due to high international commodity prices and elevated transportation costs, exacerbated by the unfolding effects of the war in Ukraine on international trade and commodity prices; food availability and access are likely to remain limited by high food prices and below‑average imports; an expected further slowdown in economic domestic growth in 2023 is likely to compound food insecurity conditions for the most vulnerable households; in the June to August 2023 lean season period, over 531,000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity (2023)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "13.27% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "17.19 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "1.39 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "6.56 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "564,467 tons (2007 est.)" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "232 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Republic of Liberia" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Liberia" }, "etymology": { "text": "name derives from the Latin word \"liber\" meaning \"free\"; so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves" } }, "Government type": { "text": "presidential republic" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Monrovia" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "6 18 N, 10 48 W" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of the colonization of Liberia by freed slaves; one of two national capitals named for a US president, the other is Washington, D.C." } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe" }, "Independence": { "text": "26 July 1847" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 26 July (1847)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters; amended 2011, 2020" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "2 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government" }, "head of government": { "text": "President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "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 10 October 2017 with a run-off on 26 December 2017 (next to be held on 10 October 2023); the runoff originally scheduled for 7 November 2017 was delayed due to allegations of fraud in the first round, which the Supreme Court dismissed" }, "election results": { "text": "George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5%" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "bicameral National Assembly consists of:
The Liberian Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 2-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms; each district elects 1 senator and elects the second senator 3 years later, followed by a 6-year hiatus, after which the first Senate seat is up for election)
House of Representatives (73 seats; members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms; eligible for a second term)" }, "elections": { "text": "

Senate - general election held on 8 December 2020 with half the seats up for election (next to be held on 10 October 2023)
House of Representatives - last held on 10 October 2017 (next to be held 10 October 2023)

 

" }, "election results": { "text": "

Senate - percent of vote by party - Collaborating Political Parties 40.3%, Congress for Democratic Change 28%, People's Unification Party 6.4%, Movement for Democracy and Reconstructions 4.3%, All Liberia Coalition 1.0%, Rainbow Alliance 1.1%, Liberia Restoration Party 0.82%, Liberia National Union 0.77%, Movement for Progressive Change 0.74%, United People's Party 0.66%, Liberia Transformation Party 0.16%, National Democratic Coalition 0.07%, Movement for One Liberia 0.01; seats by coalition/party- CPP 13, CDC 5, PUP 2, MDR 1, NDC 1; composition - men 28, women 2, percent of women 6.7%

House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - Coalition for Democratic Change 15.6%, UP 14%, LP 8.7%, ANC 6.1%, PUP 5.9%, ALP 5.1%, MDR 3.4%, other 41.2%; seats by coalition/party - Coalition for Democratic Change 21, UP 20, PUP 5, LP 3, ALP 3, MDR 2, independent 13, other 6; composition - men 65, women 8, percent of women 11%; total Parliament percent of women 9.7%

 

" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "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": { "text": "chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "All Liberian Party or ALP [Benoi UREY]
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Marcus S. G. DAHN]
Alternative National Congress or ANC [Orishil GOULD]
Coalition for Democratic Change [George WEAH] (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP) Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [Mulbah MORLU]
Liberia Destiny Party or LDP [Nathaniel BARNES]
Liberia National Union or LINU [Nathaniel BLAMA]
Liberia Transformation Party or LTP [Julius SUKU]
Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP [Alex J. TYLER]
Liberian People's Party or LPP [Yanqui ZAZA] 
Liberty Party or LP [Musa Hassan BILITY]
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR [Prince Y. JOHNSON]
Movement for Economic Empowerment [Dr. J. Mill JONES]
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 [Jewel HOWARD TAYLOR]
National Reformist Party or NRP [Maximillian T. W. DIABE]
National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP [Victor BARNEY]
People's Unification Party or PUP [Isobe GBORKORKOLLIE]
Unity Party or UP [Rev. J. Luther TARPEH]
United People's Party [MacDonald WENTO]
Victory for Change Party or VCP [Marcus R. JONES]" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Jeff Gongoer DOWANA (since 12 December 2022)" }, "chancery": { "text": "5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 723-0437" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 723-0436" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
info@liberiaembus.org

http://www.liberianembassyus.org/" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Michael A. MCCARTHY (since 22 January 2021)" }, "embassy": { "text": "502 Benson Street, Monrovia" }, "mailing address": { "text": "8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC  20521-8800" }, "telephone": { "text": "[231] 77-677-7000" }, "FAX": { "text": "[231] 77-677-7370" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
ACSMonrovia@state.gov

https://lr.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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": "note: the design is based on the US flag" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "white star; national colors: red, white, blue" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"All Hail, Liberia Hail!\"" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA" }, "note": "note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "low-income West African economy; food scarcity, especially in rural areas; high poverty and inflation; bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to Ebola crisis; growing government debt; longest continuously operated rubber plantation; large informal economy" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$7.391 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$7.04 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$7.257 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "4.99% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "-2.98% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "-2.47% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$1,400 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$1,400 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$1,500 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$3.071 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018": { "text": "23.56% (2018 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "12.42% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "34% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "13.8% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "52.2% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "128.8% (2016 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "16.7% (2016 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "19.5% (2016 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "6.7% (2016 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "17.5% (2016 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-89.2% (2016 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "cassava, sugar cane, oil palm fruit, rice, bananas, vegetables, plantains, rubber, taro, maize" }, "Industries": { "text": "mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "16.25% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "2.289 million (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "70%" }, "industry": { "text": "8%" }, "services": { "text": "22% (2000 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "4.09% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "3.98% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "3.02% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "3.2%" }, "male": { "text": "3.2%" }, "female": { "text": "3.2% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "50.9% (2016 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016": { "text": "35.3 (2016 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "2.4%" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "30.1% (2007)" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$5 million (2019 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$6 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "34.4% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "16.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$653.403 million (2019 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2018": { "text": "-$674.092 million (2018 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$565.564 million (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2019": { "text": "$554.013 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2018": { "text": "$527.345 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$429.592 million (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Guyana 32%, Poland 10%, Switzerland 8%, Japan 7%, China 5% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "gold, ships, iron, rubber, cocoa beans, palm oil (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2019": { "text": "$1.244 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2018": { "text": "$1.245 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$1.232 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 41%, Japan 21%, South Korea 18% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, boat propellers, centrifuges (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": { "text": "$340.966 million (31 December 2020 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$297.071 million (31 December 2019 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2018": { "text": "$332.151 million (31 December 2018 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2019": { "text": "$826 million (2019 est.)" }, "Debt - external 2018": { "text": "$679 million (2018 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "191.518 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "186.43 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "144.056 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "112.707 (2017 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2016": { "text": "94.427 (2016 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "population without electricity": { "text": "(2020) 4 million" }, "electrification - total population": { "text": "29.8% (2021)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "49.5% (2021)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "8% (2021)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "196,000 kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "292 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "26 million kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "40.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.5% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "59.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "9,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "0 barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2017 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "8,181 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "1.346 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "1.346 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "3.79 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "6,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "(2021 est.) less than 1" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1.7 million (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "32 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Liberia has a telecom market which is mainly based on mobile networks; this is due to the civil war which destroyed much of the fixed-line infrastructure; to facilitate LTC Mobile’s market entry, the government in January 2022 set in train amendments to telecom legislation; internet services are available from a number of wireless ISPs as well as the mobile operators; the high cost and limited bandwidth of connections means that internet access is expensive and rates are very low; additional bandwidth is available from an international submarine cable but considerable investment is still needed in domestic fixed-line infrastructure before end-users can make full use of the cable (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular subscriptions are 32 per 100 persons (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 231; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "8 private and 1 government-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; approximately 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with approximately 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international (including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France Internationale) broadcasters are available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".lr" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "1.768 million (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "34% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "13,000 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "0.3 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "A8" }, "Airports": { "text": "29 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "2", "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "text": "27", "note": "note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "4 km oil (2013)" }, "Railways": { "total": { "text": "429 km (2008)" }, "standard gauge": { "text": "345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge" }, "narrow gauge": { "text": "84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge" }, "note": "note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "10,600 km (2018)" }, "paved": { "text": "657 km (2018)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "9,943 km (2018)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "4,311" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 1,673, container ship 962, general cargo 141, oil tanker 907, other 628 (2022)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Buchanan, Monrovia" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard, Air Wing; Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2023)", "note": "note: the AFL Air Wing was previously disbanded in 2005 and has been under redevelopment since 2019; the Liberian National Police and the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency are under the Ministry of Justice" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "0.8% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "0.7% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "0.6% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 2,000 active personnel (2022)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the military has a limited inventory; in recent years, it has received small quantities of equipment, including donations, from countries such as China and the US (2022)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18-35 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2022)", "note": "note: as of 2020, women made up less than 1% of the active military" }, "Military deployments": { "text": "160 Mali (MINUSMA) (May 2022)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the AFL is responsible for external defense but also has some domestic security responsibilities if called upon, such as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and support to law enforcement; it is a small, lightly equipped force comprised of 2 combat infantry battalions and supporting units; the infantry battalions were rebuilt with US assistance in 2007-2008 from the restructured AFL following the end of the second civil war in 2003 when military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed

the first militia unit established for defense of the colony was raised in 1832; the AFL traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970

the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) was established in 2003 as a peacekeeping force; at its height, UNMIL was comprised of about 15,000 personnel, including more than 3,000 troops absorbed from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peacekeeping mission; Liberian forces reassumed full control of the country’s security in June of 2016, and the UNMIL mission was ended in 2018 (2023)" }, "Maritime threats": { "text": "the International Maritime Bureau reported one incident in the territorial and offshore waters of Liberia in 2022; the offshore waters of the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea remain a very high risk for piracy and armed robbery of ships; past incidents have been reported where vessels were attacked and crews kidnapped; these incidents showed that the pirates / robbers in the area are well armed and violent; pirates have robbed vessels and kidnapped crews for ransom; in the past, product tankers were hijacked and cargo stolen; the Maritime Administration of the US Department of Transportation has issued a Maritime Advisory (2023-001 - Gulf of Guinea-Piracy/Armed Robbery/Kidnapping for Ransom) effective 3 January 2023, which states in part, \"Piracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping for ransom continue to serve as significant threats to US-flagged vessels transiting or operating in the Gulf of Guinea\"" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

Liberia-Guinea: none identified

Liberia-Sierra Leone: none identified

" }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "

not a significant transit country for illicit narcotics bound for the United States or Europe; not a key producer of illicit drugs; proximity to major drug transit routes contribute to trafficking cocaine and heroin, to and through Liberia and other West African countries; local drug use involves locally grown cannabis, heroin (mostly smoked), cocaine (snorted), and more recently kush (Cannabis Indic’s type flower), mixed with different substances including heroin or synthetic DMT

" } } }