Important: Wikitravel is exploring a license upgrade to CC by-sa 3.0, please give your consent or refusal here.

From Wikitravel

This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit the Liberia article.

Seven years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1996 when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held. President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real political opposition. The 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. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds along with an army embargo and a travel ban on government officials for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone.

[edit] Geography

Location 

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

Geographic coordinates 

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references 

Africa

Area 

total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km

Area - comparative 

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries 

total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline 

579 km

Maritime claims 

territorial sea: 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 extremes 

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources 

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use 

arable land: 1.97%
permanent crops: 2.08%
other: 95.95% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards 

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

Environment - current issues 

tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment - international agreements 

party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

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

[edit] People

Population 

3,288,198 (July 2002 est.)

Age structure 

0-14 years: 43.3% (male 714,563; female 709,582)
15-64 years: 53.2% (male 854,324; female 894,753)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 57,925; female 57,051) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate 

1.91% (2002 est.)

Birth rate 

45.95 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate 

16.05 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate 

-10.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: by the end of 1999, all Liberian refugees who had fled the domestic strife were assumed to have returned (2002 est.)

Sex ratio 

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate 

130.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth 

total population: 51.8 years
female: 53.33 years (2002 est.)
male: 50.33 years

Total fertility rate 

6.29 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 

9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 

125,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths 

13,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality 

noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups 

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)

Religions 

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages 

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy 

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4% (1995 est.)
note: these figures are increasing because of the improving school system

[edit] Government

Country name 

conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Government type 

republic

Capital 

Monrovia

Administrative divisions 

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Independence 

26 July 1847

National holiday 

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution 

6 January 1986

Legal system 

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

Suffrage 

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch 

chief of state: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (since 2 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 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%

Legislative branch 

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)
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 2003)
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; note - the Alliance of Political Parties was a coalition of the LAP and the Liberia Unification Party or LUP

Judicial branch 

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders 

All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [George BORWAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian National Union or LINU [Victor MOMOH]; Liberian People's Party or LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [Isaac D. DIKENAH]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Weah A. WEAH]; Reformation Alliance Party or RAP [James THOMAS]; True Whig Party or TWP [Rudolph SHERMAN]; United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP [Charles Clarke]

Political pressure groups and leaders 

NA

International organization participation 

ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US 

chief of mission: Ambassador William V. S. BULL
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation from the US 

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

Flag description 

11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

[edit] Economy

Economy - overview 

A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some returned; many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry and timber industry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment. Recent growth has been from a low base, and continued growth will require major policy successes and containment of armed rebellion.

GDP 

purchasing power parity - $3.6 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate 

5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita 

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector 

agriculture: 60%
industry: 10%
services: 30% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line 

80%

Household income or consumption by percentage share 

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 

8% (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation 

agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate 

70%

Budget 

revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)

Industries 

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate 

NA

Electricity - production 

450 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source 

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%

Electricity - consumption 

418.5 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports 

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports 

0 kWh (2000)

Agriculture - products 

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

Exports 

$55 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities 

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners 

Belgium 38.5%, Germany 17.6%, Italy 6.0%, US 5.8% (2000)

Imports 

$170 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities 

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; rice and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners 

France 29.1%, South Korea 20.6%, Japan 15.8%, Singapore 8.4% (2000)

Debt - external 

$2.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient 

$94 million (1999)

Currency 

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code 

LRD

Exchange rates 

Liberian dollars per US dollar - 46.0400 (December 2001), 48.5833 (2001), 40.9525 (2000), 41.9025 (1999), 41.5075 (1998), 1.0000 (officially fixed rate 1940-97); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars per US dollar - 40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995)
note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined

Fiscal year 

calendar year

[edit] Communications

Telephones - main lines in use 

6,700 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular 

0 (1998)

Telephone system 

general assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations 

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios 

790,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations 

1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions 

70,000 (1997)

Internet country code 

.lr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 

2 (2001)

Internet users 

500 (2000)

[edit] Transportation

Railways 

total: 490 km (328 km single-track)
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
note: in 1989, Liberia had three rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with the Liberian Government; one of these, the Lamco Railroad, closed in 1989 after iron ore production ceased; the other two were shut down by the civil war; large sections of the rail lines have been dismantled; approximately 60 km of railroad track was exported for scrap (2001)
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge

Highways 

total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km
note: there is major deterioration on all highways due to heavy rains and lack of maintenance (1996 est.)

Waterways 

none

Ports and harbors 

Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia

Merchant marine 

total: 1,513 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 51,912,244 GRT/79,297,046 DWT
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil 5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11, Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong 69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20, Man, Isle of 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore 20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9, Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, United Arab Emirates 12, United Kingdom 39, United States 113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 313, cargo 89, chemical tanker 167, combination bulk 16, combination ore/oil 32, container 318, liquefied gas 99, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 23, petroleum tanker 302, refrigerated cargo 69, roll on/roll off 20, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 42

Airports 

47 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways 

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways 

total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (2002)

[edit] Military

Military branches 

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military manpower - availability 

males age 15-49: 729,469 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service 

males age 15-49: 393,028 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure 

$7.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP 

1.3% (FY01)

[edit] Transnational Issues

Disputes - international 

rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone

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