Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 note: two of the FM radio stations are limited to a small area

Radios [time series]

675,000 (1995 est.); note--10,000 windup radios were distributed in the country prior to the 1997 election

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

fewer than 25,000 (1998 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (in addition, there are four low-power repeaters; the station is located in Monrovia) (1997)

Televisions [time series]

56,000 (1995 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture--products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $NA expenditures: $NA

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Liberian dollar (L$) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt--external) [time series]

$2 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid--recipient) [time series]

$122.8 million (1995)

Economic overview (Economy--overview) [time series]

A civil war in 1989-97 has 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 returned during 1997. 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 to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depends on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment.

Electricity - consumption (Electricity--consumption) [time series]

480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - exports (Electricity--exports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - imports (Electricity--imports) [time series]

0 kWh (1996)

Electricity - production (Electricity--production) [time series]

480 million kWh (1996)

Electricity - production by source (Electricity--production by source) [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--1.0000 (officially fixed rate since 1940); market exchange rate: Liberian dollars (L$) per US$1--40 (December 1998), 50 (October 1995), 7 (January 1992); market rate floats against the US dollar

Exports [time series]

$1.1 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports - commodities (Exports--commodities) [time series]

diamonds, iron ore, rubber, timber, coffee

Exports - partners (Exports--partners) [time series]

Belgium, Norway, Ukraine, Singapore (1997)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity--$2.8 billion (1998 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP--composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 30% industry: 36% services: 34%

Real GDP per capita (GDP--per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP--real growth rate) [time series]

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$3.65 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports - commodities (Imports--commodities) [time series]

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

Imports - partners (Imports--partners) [time series]

South Korea, Japan, Italy, Singapore (1997)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

0%

Industries [time series]

rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

NA%

Labor force - by occupation (Labor force--by occupation) [time series]

agriculture 70%

Population below poverty line [time series]

80%

Unemployment rate [time series]

70%

Area [time series]

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

Area - comparative (Area--comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Tennessee

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

579 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

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

Environment - current issues (Environment--current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment--international agreements) [time series]

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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Irrigated land [time series]

20 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 3% permanent pastures: 59% forests and woodland: 18% other: 19% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Africa

Maritime claims [time series]

territorial sea: 200 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

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

Natural resources [time series]

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Monrovia

Constitution [time series]

6 January 1986

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

LI

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Donald PETTERSON embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia mailing address: use embassy street address

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Rachel DIGGS chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch [time series]

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 elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA July 2001) 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

republic

Independence [time series]

26 July 1847

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court

Legal system [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) elections: Senate--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2001); House of Representatives--last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held in NA 2001) 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 LUP

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

TAYLOR]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

The 1995 Abuja Peace Accords ended seven years of civil warfare in Liberia. More than 20,000 of the estimated 33,000 factional fighters gave up their arms to the Cease-Fire Monitoring Group of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOMOG). Free and open presidential and legislative elections were held 19 July 1997; former faction leader, Charles TAYLOR, and his National Patriotic Party won overwhelming victories. The years of civil strife coupled with the flight of most business people disrupted formal economic activity. A short-lived armed clash in September 1998 between government forces and supporters of factional leader Roosevelt JOHNSON and continuing uncertainty about the security situation have slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of the war-torn country. For two centuries the US has had uniquely close ties to Liberia and today is a major aid donor.

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Air Force, Navy

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures--dollar figure) [time series]

$1.4 million (1998)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures--percent of GDP) [time series]

2% (1998)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower--availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 667,032 (1999 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower--fit for military service) [time series]

males age 15-49: 356,825 (1999 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 45% (male 656,101; female 649,389) 15-64 years: 52% (male 775,429; female 738,904) 65 years and over: 3% (male 50,126; female 53,776) (1999 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

41.49 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Death rate [time series]

11.03 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

100.63 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 59.88 years male: 57.2 years female: 62.64 years (1999 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian

Net migration rate [time series]

18.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) note: evidence from UNHCR indicates Liberians are being repatriated

Population [time series]

2,923,725 (July 1999 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

4.92% (1999 est.)

Religions [time series]

traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.02 children born/woman (1999 est.)

Disputes - international (Disputes--international) [time series]

none

Illicit drugs [time series]

increasingly a transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets

Airports [time series]

45 (1998 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports--with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports--with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 43 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 35 (1998 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 10,037 km (there is major deterioration on all highways due to lack of maintenance since the civil war began) paved: 603 km unpaved: 9,434 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 1,651 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 59,804,012 GRT/96,650,752 DWT ships by type: barge carrier 4, bulk 408, cargo 106, chemical tanker 176, combination bulk 25, combination ore/oil 50, container 193, liquefied gas tanker 89, multifunction large-load carrier 2, oil tanker 413, passenger 37, refrigerated cargo 69, roll-on/roll-off cargo 19, short-sea passenger 3, specialized tanker 12, vehicle carrier 45 note: a flag of convenience registry; includes ships from 54 countries among which are Germany 186, US 161, Norway 142, Greece 144, Japan 124, Hong Kong 100, China 53, UK 32, Singapore 39, and Monaco 38 (1998 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia

Railways [time series]

total: 480 km (328 km single track); note--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 standard gauge: NA km 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: NA km 1.067-m gauge