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Background:
|
 Years
of fighting, coupled with the flight of most businesses, have
disrupted formal economic activity. A still unsettled domestic
security situation has slowed the process of rebuilding the
social and economic structure of this war-torn country.
President TAYLOR, who won the 1997 presidential elections
after an eight-year-long civil war, was never able to fully
eliminate rebel groups that sought to oust him by force. Rebel
attacks on Monrovia, coupled with two years of UN-imposed
sanctions for TAYLOR'S meddling in Sierra Leone's civil war,
finally prompted TAYLOR'S abdication from power in August
2003. A transitional government - composed of rebel,
government, and civil society groups - assumed control in
October 2003. Chairman Gyude BRYANT, who has a two-year
mandate to oversee efforts to rebuild Liberia, heads the new
government. |
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Location:
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Western Africa,
bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and
Sierra Leone |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total:
111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger
than Tennessee |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km,
Sierra Leone 306 km |
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Coastline:
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579 km |
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Climate:
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tropical; hot,
humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet,
cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers |
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Terrain:
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mostly flat to
rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low
mountains in northeast |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m |
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Natural resources:
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iron ore, timber,
diamonds, gold, hydropower |
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Land use:
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arable land:
1.97%
permanent crops: 2.08%
other: 95.95% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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30 sq km (1998
est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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dust-laden
harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) |
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Environment - current issues:
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tropical rain
forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity;
pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental
Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note:
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facing the
Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons,
mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland
grassy plateau supports limited agriculture |
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Population:
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3,390,635 (July
2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years:
43.4% (male 742,508; female 730,677)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 875,951; female 918,570)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 61,867; female 61,062)
(2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.1 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.4 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.7% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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44.81
births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Death rate:
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17.86
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000
population
note: at least 200,000 Liberian refugees are in
surrounding countries; the uncertain security situation has
hindered their ability to return (2004 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
130.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 123.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 137.32 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 47.93 years
male: 46.9 years
female: 48.99 years (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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9% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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125,000 (2001
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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5,000 (2001 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian |
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Ethnic groups:
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indigenous
African tribes 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) |
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Religions:
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indigenous
beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% |
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Languages:
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English 20%
(official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can
be written and are used in correspondence |
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Literacy:
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definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6%
note: (2003 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional
long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Monrovia |
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Administrative divisions:
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15 counties; Bomi,
Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh,
Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River
Cess, River Gee, Sinoe |
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Independence:
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26 July 1847 |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day,
26 July (1847) |
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Constitution:
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6 January 1986 |
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Legal system:
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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 |
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Executive branch:
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chief of
state: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note
- this is an interim position until presidential elections in
2005; the chairman is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14
October 2003); note - this is an interim position until
presidential elections in 2005; the chairman is both the chief
of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and
confirmed by the Senate; note - current cabinet positions are
divided among groups participating in the Liberian peace
process
elections: president elected by popular vote for a
six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997
(next to be held NA October 2005)
note:: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions
and the Liberian government resulted in the August 2003
resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly
agreed upon replacement, Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office
as head of the National Transitional Government on 14 October
2003
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected
president; percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP)
75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP)
4%, other 11.1%; note - Taylor stepped down in August 2003 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral
National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; 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 - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties
2, UPP 2, LPP 1
elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be
held NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July
1997 (next to be held NA October 2005) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance of
Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader NA];
All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian
Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party
or LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader
NA]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing
party; United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity
Party or UP [Charles CLARKE] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aaron B.
KOLLIE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of
mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098,
Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148 |
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Economy - overview:
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Civil war and
misgovernment 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, 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. The departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR,
to Nigeria in August 2003, the establishment of the
all-inclusive National Transition Government of Liberia (NTGL),
and the arrival of a UN mission are all encouraging signs that
the political crisis is coming to an end. The restoration of
infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged
economy depend on the implementation of sound macro- and
micro-economic policies, including the encouragement of
foreign investment, and generous support from donor countries. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power
parity - $3.261 billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power
parity - $1,000 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture:
76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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80% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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15% (2003 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 70%,
industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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85% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues:
$85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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rubber
processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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468.8 million kWh
(2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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435.9 million kWh
(2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001
est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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3,100 bbl/day
(2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rubber, coffee,
cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas;
sheep, goats; timber |
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Exports:
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$1.079 billion
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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rubber, timber,
iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 52.7%,
France 8.2%, Poland 6.8%, Denmark 5.3%, China 4.7%, Italy
4.4%, US 4% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$5.051 billion
f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, chemicals,
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods;
foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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South Korea
31.1%, Japan 19.5%, Germany 16%, France 9.3%, Singapore 8.1%
(2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.1 billion
(2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$94 million
(1999) |
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Currency:
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Liberian dollar (LRD) |
|
Currency code:
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LRD |
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Exchange rates:
|
Liberian dollars
per US dollar - NA (2003), 61.75 (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95
(2000), 41.9 (1999) |
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Fiscal year:
|
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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7,000 (2001) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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2,000 (2001) |
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Telephone system:
|
general
assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave
radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: country code - 231; satellite earth
station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM 7,
shortwave 2 (2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (plus four
low-power repeaters) (2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.lr |
|
Internet users:
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1,000 (2002) |
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Railways:
|
total: 490
km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
note: none of the railways are in operation (2002)
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge |
|
Highways:
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total:
10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Buchanan,
Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
1,449 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,555,752 GRT/79,125,329 DWT
by type: bulk 278, cargo 67, chemical tanker 161,
combination bulk 10, combination ore/oil 20, container 388,
liquefied gas 77, multi-functional large load carrier 3,
passenger 3, petroleum tanker 317, refrigerated cargo 62, roll
on/roll off 14, short-sea/passenger 3, specialized tanker 13,
vehicle carrier 33
registered in other countries: 35 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Argentina 9, Australia 3, Austria 16,
Belgium 8, Bermuda 1, Brazil 5, Chile 7, China 40, Croatia 11,
Cyprus 4, Denmark 4, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 510, Greece
142, Hong Kong 56, Iceland 1, India 3, Indonesia 1, Israel 4,
Italy 8, Japan 81, South Korea 7, Latvia 22, Isle of Man 5,
Mexico 1, Monaco 59, Netherlands 11, Nigeria 2, Norway 54,
Panama 1, Poland 2, Portugal 6, Russia 68, Saudi Arabia 23,
Singapore 43, Slovenia 1, Spain 1, Sri Lanka 1, Sweden 9,
Switzerland 7, Taiwan 36, Turkey 3, Ukraine 3, United Kingdom
36, United States 95, Uruguay 3 |
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Airports:
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53 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38 (2003 est.) |
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Military branches:
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Armed Forces of
Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force |
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Military manpower - availability:
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males age
15-49: 752,943 (2004 est.) |
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Military manpower - fit for military service:
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males age
15-49: 406,293 (2004 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$10 million
(2003) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.3% (2003) |
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Disputes - international:
|
domestic fighting
among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in
Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have created insurgencies,
street violence, looting, arms trafficking, and ethnic
conflicts and refugees in border areas; the Cote d'Ivoire
Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels |
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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 11 May, 2004
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