Liberia

Broadcast media

8 private and 1 government-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; 19 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 77 local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international broadcasters are available (2017)

Internet country code

.lr

Internet users

total: 314,717 | percent of population: 7.3% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Telephone system

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital, Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators | domestic: mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity approached 90 per 100 persons in 2016 | international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 8,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 198

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 3,834,600 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 89 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $638.1 million | expenditures: $719.5 million (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 136

Central bank discount rate

3.2% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 105

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.59% (31 December 2016 est.) | 13.61% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 55

Current account balance

$-520 million (2016 est.) | $-859.6 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Debt - external

$938.9 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $836.3 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32 (2014) | 38.2 (2007) | country comparison to the world: 115

Economy - overview

Liberia is a low-income country that relies heavily on foreign assistance and remittances from the diaspora. It is richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture. Its principal exports are iron ore, rubber, diamonds, and gold. Palm oil and cocoa are emerging as new export products. The government has attempted to revive raw timber extraction and is encouraging oil exploration. | In the 1990s and early 2000s, civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially infrastructure in and around the capital. Much of the conflict was fueled by control over Liberia’s natural resources. With the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically elected government in 2006, businesses that had fled the country began to return. The country achieved high growth during the period 2010-13 due to favorable world prices for its commodities. However, during the 2014-2015 Ebola crisis, the economy declined and many foreign-owned businesses departed with their capital and expertise. The epidemic forced the government to divert scarce resources to combat the spread of the virus, reducing funds available for needed public investment. The cost of addressing the Ebola epidemic coincided with decreased economic activity reducing government revenue, although higher donor support significantly offset this loss. During the same period, global commodities prices for key exports fell and have yet to recover to pre-Ebola levels. | In 2017, gold is expected to be a key driver of growth, as a new mining project begins its first full year of production, and iron ore exports are also expected to improve as Arcelor Mittal opens new mines at Mount Gangra. The completion of the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Dam in 2017 will increase electricity production to support ongoing and future economic activity, although electricity tariffs remain high relative to other countries in the region and transmission infrastructure is limited. Scheduled presidential and legislative elections in October 2017 will generate election-related spending pressures. Revitalizing the economy in the future will depend on economic diversification, increasing investment and trade, higher global commodity prices, sustained foreign aid and remittances, development of infrastructure and institutions, combating corruption, and maintaining political stability and security.

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - | 93.4 (2016 est.) | 93.4 (31 December 2015 est.) | 85.3 (2014 est.) | 83.893 (2013 est.) | 73.52 (2012 est.)

Exports

$169.8 million (2016 est.) | $277 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 188

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners

Poland 18.5%, Switzerland 9.7%, UAE 9.4%, Netherlands 8.9%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.9%, South Africa 5%, China 4.4%, Ghana 4.2% (2016)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.101 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$3.743 billion (2016 est.) | $3.758 billion (2015 est.) | $3.716 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 179

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 128.8% | government consumption: 16.7% | investment in fixed capital: 19.5% | investment in inventories: 6.7% | exports of goods and services: 17.5% | imports of goods and services: -89.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 36% | industry: 10.4% | services: 53.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$900 (2016 est.) | $900 (2015 est.) | $900 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 226

GDP - real growth rate

-1.6% (2016 est.) | 0% (2015 est.) | 0.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Gross national saving

NA% (2016 est.) | -21.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | -2.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4% | highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)

Imports

$1.21 billion (2016 est.) | $1.552 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 175

Imports - commodities

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

South Korea 38.3%, Singapore 18%, China 15.9%, Japan 10.9% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-16% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 200

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.8% (2016 est.) | 7.8% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Labor force

1.632 million (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 128

Labor force - by occupation

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

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

54.1% (2014 est.)

Public debt

42.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 39.5% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Stock of broad money

$639 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $679.3 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$201 million (31 December 2013 est.) | $201 million (31 December 2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.01 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $16.56 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 81

Stock of domestic credit

$789.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $724.7 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Stock of narrow money

$436.4 million (31 December 2016 est.) | $459 million (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 170

Taxes and other revenues

30.2% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 27

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

600,000 Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 157

Electricity - consumption

39 million kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 207

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - from fossil fuels

63.3% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

36.7% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 193

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Electricity - installed generating capacity

125,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - production

70.07 million kWh | note: according to a 2014 household survey, only 4.5% of Liberians use Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC)power. 4.9% use a community generator, 4.4% have their own generator, 3.9% use vehicle batteries, and 0.8% use other sources of electricity. 81.3% have no access to electricity. LEC accounts for roughly 70 million kWh of ouput. (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 202

Electricity access

population without electricity: 3,900,000 | electrification - total population: 10% | electrification - urban areas: 17% | electrification - rural areas: 3% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 147

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 160

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 162

Refined petroleum products - consumption

6,600 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,611 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 155

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Area

total: 111,369 sq km | land: 96,320 sq km | water: 15,049 sq km | country comparison to the world: 105

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate

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

Coastline

579 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 243 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m | highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m

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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands | signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates

6 30 N, 9 30 W

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

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 1,667 km | border countries (3): Guinea 590 km, Cote d'Ivoire 778 km, Sierra Leone 299 km

Land use

agricultural land: 28.1% | arable land 5.2%; permanent crops 2.1%; permanent pasture 20.8% | forest: 44.6% | other: 27.3% (2011 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Population - distribution

more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia

Terrain

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

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

Capital

name: Monrovia | geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W | time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Constitution

history: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revised version 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; note - a series of amendment proposals approved by the Constitution Review Conference in early 2015 are pending a referendum ahead of October 2017 elections (2017)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christine A. ELDER (since 23 June 2016) | embassy: U.S. Embassy, 502 Benson Street, Monrovia | mailing address: P.O. Box 98, Monrovia | telephone: [231] 77-677-7000 | FAX: [231] 77-677-7370

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeff Gongoer DOWANA (since 12 April 2017) | chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 | telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 | FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436 | consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); Vice President Joseph BOAKAI (since 16 January 2006); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); Vice President Joseph BOAKAI (since 16 January 2006) | 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 2017 (run-off scheduled for 7 November 2017 has been halted pending a ruling on fraud allegations) | election results: 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% | note: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF is the first elected female head of state in Africa

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

Government type

presidential republic

Independence

26 July 1847

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): 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

Legal system

mixed legal system of common law (based on Anglo-American law) and customary law

Legislative branch

description: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 2-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms with one seat in each district up for election after 3 years followed by a 6-year hiatus; eligible for a second term; and the 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 - last held on 20 December 2014 (originally scheduled for 14 October 2014 but postponed due to Ebola-virus epidemic; next to be held in October 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held on 10 October 2017) | election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDC 29.8%, UP 10.3%, LP 11.5%, NPP 6.1%, PUP 4.9%, ANC 4.2%, NDC 1.3%, other 7.6%, independent 24.3%; seats by party - UP 4, CDC 2, LP 2, ANC 1, NDC 1, NPP 1, PUP 1, independent 3 | House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - UP 17.8%, CDC 12.8%, LP 9.2%, NDC 5.7%, LTP 4.5%, NUDP 3.9%, NPP 3.3%, MPC 2.4%, APD 2.1%,LDP 1.0%, NRP 0.8%, other 16.8% independent 19.7%; seats by party - UP 24, CDC 11, LP 7, NUDP 6, NDC 5, APD 3, NPP 3, MPC 2, LDP 1, LTP 1, NRP 1, independent 9

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 holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

National symbol(s)

white star; national colors: red, white, blue

Political parties and leaders

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, LPDP) | Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH] | Liberia Destiny Party or LDP [Nathaniel BARNES] | Liberia Transformation Party or LTP [Julius SUKU] | Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP [Alex J. TYLER] | Liberty Party or LP [J. Fonati KOFFA] | Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR [Prince Y. JOHNSON] | 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 [Varney SHERMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Liberian Federation of Labor Unions or LFLU [Aloysius KIE] | MCSS Teachers Association | National Health Workers Association of Liberia | National Teachers Association of Liberia or NTAL [Mary MULBAH] | other: demobilized former military officers

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendants of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE 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 allowed for an election that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who was convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. She subsequently won reelection in 2011 and remains challenged to rebuild Liberia's economy, particularly following the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. The UN Security Council in September 2015 passed Resolution 2239, which renewed the mandate for the UN Mission in Liberia for another year. In July 2016, the UN handed over peacekeeping responsibility to Liberia and reduced the UN troop presence, which now serves a support role. Liberia is scheduled to hold presidential and legislative elections in October 2017. Constitutional term limits bar

Military branches

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force (2014)

Military expenditures

0.62% of GDP (2016) | 0.66% of GDP (2015) | 0.71% of GDP (2014) | 0.78% of GDP (2013) | 0.87% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 114

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.82% (male 1,038,452/female 1,016,491) | 15-24 years: 19.56% (male 457,806/female 459,289) | 25-54 years: 30.33% (male 699,879/female 722,244) | 55-64 years: 3.43% (male 82,616/female 78,003) | 65 years and over: 2.86% (male 65,979/female 68,262) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

38.3 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.3% (2013) | country comparison to the world: 28

Contraceptive prevalence rate

20.2% (2013)

Death rate

7.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Demographic profile

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 – 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. Liberia hosted more than 125,000 Ivoirian refugees escaping post-election violence in 2010-11; as of mid-2017, about 12,000 Ivoirian refugees were still living in Liberia as of October 2017 because of instability.

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 83.2 | youth dependency ratio: 77.6 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 | potential support ratio: 18.1 (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 88.6% of population | rural: 62.6% of population | total: 75.6% of population | urban: 11.4% of population | rural: 37.4% of population | total: 24.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.8% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 144

Ethnic groups

Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.6% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 31

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,800 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

43,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 60

Health expenditures

10% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 25

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate

total: 52.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 47.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.3 years | male: 61.2 years | female: 65.5 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 195

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 47.6% | male: 62.4% | female: 32.8% (2015 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever | water contact disease: schistosomiasis | aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever | animal contact disease: rabies (2016)

Major urban areas - population

MONROVIA (capital) 1.264 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

725 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 7

Median age

total: 17.8 years | male: 17.5 years | female: 18 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 211

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2013 est.)

Nationality

noun: Liberian(s) | adjective: Liberian

Net migration rate

-5.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 196

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.9% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 141

Physicians density

0.01 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

4,689,021 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Population distribution

more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia

Population growth rate

2.5% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 22

Religions

Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 28% of population | rural: 5.9% of population | total: 16.9% of population | urban: 72% of population | rural: 94.1% of population | total: 83.1% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.97 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female | total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.06 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 14

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 6% | male: 4.3% | female: 7.6% (2010 est.) | country comparison to the world: 126

Urbanization

urban population: 50.5% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.24% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

as the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) continues to drawdown prior to the 1 March 2018 closure date, the peacekeeping force is being reduced to 434 soldiers and two police units; some Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia shelters almost 15,000 Ivoirian refugees, as of May 2017; in 2017, Liberia's 3 refugee camps will be converted into "settlements" and remaining Ivoirian refugees will be integrated into local communities

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 11,949 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2017) | IDPs: up to 23,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; post-election violence in March and April 2011; many dwell in slums in Monrovia) (2014)

Airports

29 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 117

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 27 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 | 914 to 1,523 m: 8 | under 914 m: 14 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A8 (2016)

Merchant marine

total: 2,771 | by type: barge carrier 5, bulk carrier 662, cargo 143, carrier 2, chemical tanker 248, combination ore/oil 8, container 937, liquefied gas 92, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 526, refrigerated cargo 102, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 27 | foreign-owned: 2,559 (Angola 1, Argentina 1, Australia 1, Belgium 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 2, Chile 9, China 4, Croatia 1, Cyprus 9, Denmark 8, Egypt 3, Germany 1185, Gibraltar 5, Greece 505, Hong Kong 48, India 8, Indonesia 4, Israel 34, Italy 47, Japan 110, Latvia 5, Lebanon 1, Monaco 8, Netherlands 31, Nigeria 4, Norway 38, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 109, Saudi Arabia 20, Singapore 22, Slovenia 7, South Korea 2, Sweden 12, Switzerland 25, Syria 1, Taiwan 94, Turkey 16, UAE 37, UK 32, Ukraine 10, Uruguay 1, US 53) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 3

Pipelines

oil 4 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Buchanan, Monrovia

Railways

total: 429 km | standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge | narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge | note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt (2008) | country comparison to the world: 119

Roadways

total: 10,600 km | paved: 657 km | unpaved: 9,943 km (2000) | country comparison to the world: 134