Map of Liberia | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

top of page


Background:


top of page


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

Geographic coordinates: 6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 111,369 km²
Land: 96,320 km²
Water: 15,049 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Virginia
Country comparison total: 1,667 km
Country comparison border countries: (3) Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km

Land boundaries
Total: 1,667 km
Border countries: (3) Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km

Coastline: 579 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Continental shelf: 200 nm

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

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

Elevation
Highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m
Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Mean elevation: 243 m

Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use
Agricultural land: 28.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 5.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 20.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 44.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 27.3% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 30 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 80 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 50 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 232 billion m³ (2020 est.)

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

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


top of page


Population
Distribution: 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
Total: 5,437,249
Male: 2,711,324
Female: 2,725,925 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 2.32% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 50.9% (2016 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Liberian(s)
Adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20.2%, Bassa 13.6%, Grebo 9.9%, Gio 7.9%, Mano 7.2%, Kru 5.5%, Lorma 4.8%, Krahn 4.5%, Kissi, 4.3%, Mandingo 4.2%, Vai 3.8%, Gola 3.8%, Gbandi 2.9%, Mende 1.7%, Sapo 1%, Belle 0.7%, Dey 0.3%, other Liberian ethnic group 0.4%, other African 3%, non-African 0.2% (2022 est.)

Languages: English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants

Religions: Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6% (2022 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 1,064,100/female 1,052,556)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 1,566,263/female 1,579,835)
65 years and over: 3.2% (2024 est.) (male 80,961/female 93,534)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 79.7
Youth dependency ratio: 73.7
Elderly dependency ratio: 6
Potential support ratio: 16.7 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 19.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 19.8 years
Female: 20 years

Population growth rate: 2.32% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 32.4 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: 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: 53.6% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: 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
International agreements party to: 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 35.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.39 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 6.56 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
Total population: 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 19.1 years (2019/20 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 652 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 55.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 61 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 50.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 61.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 59.9 years
Female: 63.3 years

Total fertility rate: 3.93 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 24.9% (2019/20)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 96.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 29.4% of population
Unimproved total: 16% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 3.8% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 68% of population
Improved rural: 25.2% of population
Improved total: 47.5% of population
Unimproved urban: 32% of population
Unimproved rural: 74.8% of population
Unimproved total: 52.5% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 9.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 8.2% (2020 est.)
Male: 14.3% (2020 est.)
Female: 2% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 10.9% (2019/20)

Education expenditures: 2.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 48.3%
Male: 62.7%
Female: 34.1% (2017)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
Conventional short form: Liberia
Etymology: 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: presidential republic

Capital
Name: Monrovia
Geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
Time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: 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: 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Dependent areas

Independence: 26 July 1847

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution
History: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986
Amendments: 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: mixed legal system of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law

International law organization participation: accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
Head of government: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
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 10 October 2023 with a runoff on 14 November 2023 (next to be held in October 2,029)
Note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
Election results: 2023: Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.2%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.6%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.4%, other 5.6%; percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4%; 2017: 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: 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: Senate - general election held on 10 October 2023 with half the seats up for election (next to be held in October 2,029), House of Representatives - last held on 10 October 2023 (next to be held in October 2,029)
Elections results: Senate - percent of vote by party/coalition - CDC 34.3%, UP 12.0%, MDR 7.1%, LRP 1.5%, independent 24.3%; seats by party/coalition - CDC 6, UP 1, MDR 1, LRP 1, independent 6; composition- men 27, women 3, percentage women 10%, House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - CDC 22.1%, UP 13.1%, CPP 7.6%, MDR 2.8%, PUP 4.3%, ALP 2.5%, LINU 2.3%, MPC 1.0%, NDC 1.0%, VOLT 0.8%, LRP 0.8%, Independent 25.7%; seats by party/coalition - CDC 25, UP 11, CPP 6, MDR 4, PUP 2, ALP 1, LINU 1, MPC 1, NDC 1, VOLT 1 LRP 1, independent 19; composition- men 65, women 8, percentage women 11%; total Parliament percentage women 10.6%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: 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

Political parties and leaders: All Liberian Party or ALP , Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD , Alternative National Congress or ANC , Coalition for Democratic Change (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP), Collaborating Political Parties or CPP (coalition includes ANC, LP; CPP dissolved in April 2024), Congress for Democratic Change or CDC , Liberia Destiny Party or LDP , Liberia National Union or LINU , Liberia Transformation Party or LTP , Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP , Liberian People's Party or LPP , Liberian Restoration Party or LRP , Liberty Party or LP , Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR , Movement for Economic Empowerment , Movement for Progressive Change or MPC , National Democratic Coalition or NDC , National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL , National Patriotic Party or NPP , National Reformist Party or NRP , National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP , People's Unification Party or PUP , Unity Party or UP , United People's Party , Victory for Change Party or VCP

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador Jeff Gongoer DOWANA, Sr. (since 12 December 2022)
In the us chancery: 5,201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20,011
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
In the us fax: [1] (202) 723-0436
In the us email address and website: info@liberianembassyus.org; [link]
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) Chargé d'Affaires Catherine RODRIGUEZ (since 11 August 2023)
From the us embassy: 502 Benson Street, Monrovia
From the us mailing address: 8,800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20,521-8,800
From the us telephone: [231] 77-677-7,000
From the us fax: [231] 77-677-7,370
From the us email address and website: ACSMonrovia@state.gov; [link]

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

National symbols: white star; national colors: red, white, blue

National anthem
Name: 'All Hail, Liberia Hail!'
Lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
Note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: 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: $8.884 billion (2023 est.); $8.484 billion (2022 est.); $8.095 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 4.71% (2023 est.); 4.81% (2022 est.); 4.99% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $1,600 (2023 est.); $1,600 (2022 est.); $1,600 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 128.8% (2016 est.)
Government consumption: 16.7% (2016 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 19.5% (2016 est.)
Investment in inventories: 6.7% (2016 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 17.5% (2016 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -89.2% (2016 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 34.9% (2023 est.)
Industry: 22.9% (2023 est.)
Services: 38.5% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: cassava, rice, sugarcane, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate: 13.86% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 2.499 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.94% (2023 est.); 2.99% (2022 est.); 3.79% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 2.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 2.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 2.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 50.9% (2016 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $5 million (2019 est.)
Expenditures: $6 million (2019 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 34.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 13.27% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 23.56% (2018 est.); 12.42% (2017 est.); 8.83% (2016 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $64.806 million (2022 est.); -$101.746 million (2021 est.); -$274.971 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $1.22 billion (2022 est.); $1.041 billion (2021 est.); $731.658 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Switzerland 28%, France 8%, Germany 8%, UK 8%, Poland 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.961 billion (2022 est.); $1.739 billion (2021 est.); $1.371 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: China 42%, South Korea 23%, Japan 15%, Germany 5%, Brazil 3% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: ships, refined petroleum, additive manufacturing machines, centrifuges, rice (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $599.66 million (2022 est.); $700.829 million (2021 est.); $340.966 million (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $835.846 million (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


top of page


Electricity
Access electrification total population: 31.8% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 53.7%
Access electrification rural areas: 14.9%
Installed generating capacity: 197,000 kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 615.96 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 179.222 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 32.8% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 0.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 66.7% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Imports: 78,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 620,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 620,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 1.971 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


top of page


Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 1.653 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures: 0.8% of GDP (2022 est.); 0.7% of GDP (2021 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.); 0.6% of GDP (2019 est.); 0.5% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military and security forces: Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard, Air Wing; Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2024)
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 service age and obligation: 18-35 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service; no conscription (2024)

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A8

Airports: 19 (2024)

Heliports

Pipelines: 4 km oil (2013)

Railways

Roadways
Total: 10,600 km
Paved: 657 km
Unpaved: 9,943 km (2021)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: 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