Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (2001)

Internet country code [time series]

.lr

Internet users [time series]

500 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios [time series]

790,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

6,700 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

0 (1998)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

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

Televisions [time series]

70,000 (1997)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

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

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

LRD

Debt - external [time series]

$2.1 billion (2000 est.)

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

$94 million (1999)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

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.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

418.5 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

450 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

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

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

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

Exports - commodities [time series]

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners [time series]

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

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

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

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

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

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

NA

Industries [time series]

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

8% (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

80%

Unemployment rate [time series]

70%

Area [time series]

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

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 [time series]

tropical rain forest 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: 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

Geographic coordinates [time series]

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

30 sq km (1998 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: 1.97% permanent crops: 2.08% other: 95.95% (1998 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, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

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

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

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

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 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%

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, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), 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 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

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

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

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Background [time series]

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.

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

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$7.8 million (FY01)

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

1.3% (FY01)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

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

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

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

Age structure [time series]

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.)

Birth rate [time series]

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

Death rate [time series]

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

Ethnic groups [time series]

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

125,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

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

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

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

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]

-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.)

Population [time series]

3,288,198 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.91% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

6.29 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone

Illicit drugs [time series]

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

Airports [time series]

47 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

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

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

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.)

Merchant marine [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia

Railways [time series]

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

Waterways [time series]

none