Liberia
Republic of Liberia
Population
5.56M
Area
111,369 km²
GDP
$4.75B
GDP Per Capita
$1,700
Pop. Density
50/km²
Quick Facts
Currency
$Liberian dollar(LRD)
Calling Code
+231
Timezone
UTC
Languages
English
Driving Side
right
Demonym
Liberian
Background
With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic.
Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power. In 2000, fighting resumed. A 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted TAYLOR’s resignation. He was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war.
In 2005, Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy -- particularly after the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic -- and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH struggled to improve the country’s economy. In 2023, former Vice President Joseph BOAKAI was elected president, edging out WEAH by a thin margin, the first time since 1927 that an incumbent was not re-elected after one term.
Historical Trends
GDP (USD)
↑327.1% since 2006Population
↑60.8% since 2006Life Expectancy at Birth
Latest: 62.2 yearsData source: World Bank Open Data
Geography17
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
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Virginia
Land boundaries
border countries: Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km
Coastline
579 km
Maritime claims
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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
mean elevation: 243 m
Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Land use
agricultural land
agricultural land: arable land
agricultural land: permanent crops
agricultural land: permanent pasture
forest
other
Irrigated land
30 sq km (2012)
Population distribution
more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map
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
People & Society34
Population
male: 2,774,006
female: 2,789,535
Nationality
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.)
Age structure
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
youth dependency ratio: 66.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 18 (2025 est.)
Median age
male: 19.8 years
female: 20 years
Population growth rate
2.27% (2025 est.)
Birth rate
31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Net migration rate
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Population distribution
more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization
rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population
1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)
Sex ratio
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.)
Mother's mean age at first birth
19.1 years (2019/20 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male: 61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth
male: 59.9 years
female: 63.3 years
Total fertility rate
3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
1.89 (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
Physician density
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Hospital bed density
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban
improved: rural
improved: total
unimproved: urban
unimproved: rural
unimproved: total
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
9.9% (2016)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer: 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Tobacco use
male: 11.5% (2025 est.)
female: 1.5% (2025 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
10.9% (2019 est.)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.4% (2020 est.)
Child marriage
women married by age 18: 24.9% (2020)
men married by age 18: 8.4% (2020)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% national budget): 7.4% national budget (2021 est.)
Government24
Country name
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
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 Liberia's colonization by freed slaves
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
Legal system
mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law
Constitution
amendment process: 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
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Citizenship
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
head of government
cabinet
election/appointment process
most recent election date
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%
expected date of next election
Legislative branch
legislative structure: bicameral
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
number of seats
electoral system
scope of elections
term in office
most recent election date
parties elected and seats per party
percentage of women in chamber
expected date of next election
Judicial branch
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission
chancery
telephone
FAX
email address and website
consulate(s) general
Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission
embassy
mailing address
telephone
FAX
email address and website
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
Independence
26 July 1847
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Flag
meaning: the stripes stand for the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, the blue square for the African mainland, and the star for the freedom granted to ex-slaves; the blue stands for liberty, justice, and fidelity; the white for purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness; the red for steadfastness, valor, and fervor
National symbol(s)
white star
National color(s)
red, white, blue
National anthem(s)
lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
history: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia
Economy29
Economic 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)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023: $8.882 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022: $8.484 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.7% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 4.8% (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2023: $1,600 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2022: $1,600 (2022 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.75 billion (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 7.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021: 7.8% (2021 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry: 23.3% (2024 est.)
services: 42.1% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023)
Industries
mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds
Industrial production growth rate
6.1% (2024 est.)
Labor force
2.607 million (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2023: 3% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 3% (2022 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male: 2.2% (2024 est.)
female: 2% (2024 est.)
Population below poverty line
50.9% (2016 est.)
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income
Household income or consumption by percentage share
highest 10%: 27.1% (2016 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2022: 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 15.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Budget
expenditures: $6 million (2019 est.)
Public debt
Current account balance
Current account balance 2021: -$101.746 million (2021 est.)
Current account balance 2020: -$274.971 million (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2021: $1.041 billion (2021 est.)
Exports 2020: $731.658 million (2020 est.)
Exports - partners
Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023)
Exports - commodities
gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)
Imports
Imports 2021: $1.739 billion (2021 est.)
Imports 2020: $1.371 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners
China 48%, Japan 21%, Germany 8%, Brazil 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)
Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021: $700.829 million (2021 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020: $340.966 million (2020 est.)
Debt - external
Exchange rates
Currency
Exchange rates 2023
Exchange rates 2022
Exchange rates 2021
Exchange rates 2020
Exchange rates 2019
Energy6
Electricity access
electrification - urban areas: 53.7%
electrification - rural areas: 14.9%
Electricity
consumption: 215.96 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar: 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
hydroelectricity: 32.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
biomass and waste: 0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Coal
Petroleum
Energy consumption per capita
Communications6
Telephones - fixed lines
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones - mobile cellular
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)
Broadcast media
8 private and 1 state-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with about 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international broadcasters are available (2019)
Internet country code
.lr
Internet users
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1
Transportation5
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A8
Airports
19 (2025)
Railways
standard gauge: 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge
Merchant marine
by type: bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705
Ports
total ports
large
medium
small
very small
ports with oil terminals
key ports
Military & Security6
Military and security forces
Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2025)
Military expenditures
Military Expenditures 2023: 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2022: 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military Expenditures 2021: 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military Expenditures 2020: 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military has a limited inventory; in recent years, it has received small quantities of equipment, including donations, from countries such as China, UAE, and the US (2025)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)
Military - note
the first militia unit established for defense of the Liberia colony was raised in 1832; the AFL traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970 (2025)