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Communications

Broadband - fixed subscriptions [time series]

total: 8,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)

Broadcast media [time series]

8 private and 1 government-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; approximately 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with approximately 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international (including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France Internationale) broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code [time series]

.lr

Internet users [time series]

total: 383,819 | percent of population: 7.98% (July 2018 est.)

Telecommunication systems [time series]

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital, Monrovia; fixed-line service is stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage recently extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators; Liberia is almost entirely a wireless telecommunications market; a number of operators avoid paying dues and operate despite regulations; govt. regulatory impose SIM card registration in an attempt to reduce crime, but makes mobile penetration seem low; the high cost and limited bandwidth of connections means that Internet access is expensive and data rates are very low (2020) | domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity approached 57 per 100 persons (2019) | international: country code - 231; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019) | note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated

Telephones - fixed lines [time series]

total subscriptions: 8,394 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2019 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

total subscriptions: 2,793,316 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 56.57 (2019 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: 553.6 million (2017 est.) | expenditures: 693.8 million (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$627 million (2017 est.) | -$464 million (2016 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$1.036 billion (31 December 2017 est.) | $938.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Ease of Doing Business Index scores [time series]

88.9 (2020)

Economic overview [time series]

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 was a key driver of growth, as a new mining project began its first full year of production; iron ore exports are also increased as Arcelor Mittal opened new mines at Mount Gangra. The completion of the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Dam increased 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. Presidential and legislative elections in October 2017 generated 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 [time series]

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - | 109.4 (2017 est.) | 93.4 (2016 est.) | 93.4 (2015 est.) | 85.3 (2014 est.) | 83.893 (2013 est.)

Exports [time series]

$330 million (2019 est.) | $362 million (2018 est.) | $359 million (2017 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners [time series]

Germany 36.2%, Switzerland 14.2%, UAE 8.8%, US 6.8%, Indonesia 4.7% (2017)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$3.071 billion (2019 est.)

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

$5.074 billion (2019 est.) | $5.192 billion (2018 est.) | $5.129 billion (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

GDP - composition, by end use [time series]

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

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

agriculture: 34% (2017 est.) | industry: 13.8% (2017 est.) | services: 52.2% (2017 est.)

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

$516 (2019 est.) | $541 (2018 est.) | $548 (2017 est.) | note: data are in 2010 dollars

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

2.5% (2017 est.) | -1.6% (2016 est.) | 0% (2015 est.)

Gross national saving [time series]

NA% (2017) | -21.9% of GDP (2016 est.) | 1.9% of GDP (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$1.82 billion (2019 est.) | $1.956 billion (2018 est.) | $2.118 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

Singapore 29.8%, China 24.4%, South Korea 17.5%, Japan 9.4% (2017)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (2017 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

12.4% (2017 est.) | 8.8% (2016 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.677 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Population below poverty line [time series]

54.1% (2014 est.)

Public debt [time series]

34.4% of GDP (2017 est.) | 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$459.8 million (31 December 2017 est.) | $528.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

16.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

2.8% (2014 est.)

Energy

Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]

1.163 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption [time series]

279 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]

57% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]

43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]

151,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

300 million kWh (2016 est.) | 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, and 81.3% have no access to electricity; LEC accounts for roughly 70 million kWh of ouput.

Electricity access [time series]

population without electricity: 4 million (2019) | electrification - total population: 12% (2019) | electrification - urban areas: 18% (2019) | electrification - rural areas: 6% (2019)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]

8,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]

8,181 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 111,369 sq km | land: 96,320 sq km | water: 15,049 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly larger than Virginia | Area comparison map: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Liberia Print Image Description slightly larger than Virginia

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 [time series]

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

Environment - current issues [time series]

tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste

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

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 [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 (2012)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

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

Population distribution [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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 [time series]

name: Monrovia | 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 the colonization of Liberia by freed slaves; one of two national capitals named for a US president, the other is Washington, D.C.

Citizenship [time series]

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 [time series]

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

Country name [time series]

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 [time series]

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Alyson GRUNDER (since 21 March2020) | telephone: [231] 77-677-7000 | embassy: U.S. Embassy, 502 Benson Street, Monrovia | mailing address: P.O. Box 98, Monrovia | FAX: [231] 77-677-7370

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador George PATTEN (since 11 January 2019) | 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 [time series]

chief of state: President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018) | 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 with a run-off on 26 December 2017) (next to be held on 10 October 2023); the runoff originally scheduled for 7 November 2017 was delayed due to allegations of fraud in the first round, which the Supreme Court dismissed | election results: 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%

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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 [time series]

presidential republic

Independence [time series]

26 July 1847

International law organization participation [time series]

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

International organization participation [time series]

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 [time series]

highest courts: 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 [time series]

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

Legislative branch [time series]

description: bicameral National Assembly consists of: The Liberian Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 2-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms; each district elects 1 senator and elects the second senator 3 years later, followed by a 6-year hiatus, after which the first Senate seat is up for election) 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 ; byelection to fill the senate seats vacated by WEAH and HOWARD-TAYLOR was held on 31 July 2018 (next general election to be held on 31 December 2020) House of Representatives - last held on 10 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2023) | 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; composition - men 27, women 3, percent of women 10% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - Coalition for Democratic Change 15.6%, UP 14%, LP 8.7%, ANC 6.1%, PUP 5.9%, ALP 5.1%, MDR 3.4%, other 41.2%; seats by coalition/party - Coalition for Democratic Change 21, UP 20, PUP 5, LP 3, ALP 3, MDR 2, independent 13, other 6; composition - men 64, women 9, percent of women 12.3%; total Parliament percent of women 11.7%

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

National symbol(s) [time series]

white star; national colors: red, white, blue

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

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Marcus S. G. DAHN] All Liberian Party or ALP [Benoi UREY] Alternative National Congress or ANC [Orishil GOULD] Coalition for Democratic Change [George WEAH] (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP)Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH] Liberia Destiny Party or LDP [Nathaniel BARNES] Liberia National Union or LINU [Nathaniel BLAMA] Liberia Transformation Party or LTP [Julius SUKU] Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP [Alex J. TYLER] Liberian People's Party or LPP Liberty Party or LP [J. Fonati KOFFA] Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR [Prince Y. JOHNSON] Movement for Economic Empowerment [J. Mill JONES, Dr.] 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] United People's Party [MacDonald WENTO] Victory for Change Party [Marcus R. JONES]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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 but was 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. Constitutional term limits barred President JOHNSON SIRLEAF from running for re-election. Legal challenges delayed the 2017 presidential runoff election, which was eventually won by George WEAH. In March 2018, the UN completed its 15-year peacekeeping mission in Liberia.

Military and Security

Military and security forces [time series]

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberia Air Wing, Liberian Coast Guard (2019)

Military and security service personnel strengths [time series]

the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) have approximately 2,000 personnel (2019)

Military deployments [time series]

150 Mali (MINUSMA) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions [time series]

the AFL has almost no significant combat hardware as nearly all aircraft, equipment, materiel, and facilities were damaged or destroyed during the country's civil war; it has received little new equipment outside of ammunition, small arms, and trucks from China in 2008 and boats donated to the Coast Guard by the US in 2011 and 2016 (2019)

Military expenditures [time series]

0.5% of GDP (2019) | 0.4% of GDP (2018) | 0.4% of GDP (2017) | 0.4% of GDP (2016) | 0.5% of GDP (2015)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

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

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 43.35% (male 1,111,479/female 1,087,871) | 15-24 years: 20.35% (male 516,136/female 516,137) | 25-54 years: 30.01% (male 747,983/female 774,615) | 55-64 years: 3.46% (male 89,150/female 86,231) | 65 years and over: 2.83% (male 70,252/female 73,442) (2020 est.) | population pyramid: The World Factbook Field Image Modal × Africa :: Liberia Print Image Description This is the population pyramid for Liberia. A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of a country's population and may provide insights about political and social stability, as well as economic development. The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends. For additional information, please see the entry for Population pyramid on the Definitions and Notes page under the References tab.

Birth rate [time series]

37.3 births/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

13.6% (2016)

Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]

31.2% (2016)

Current health expenditure (Current Health Expenditure) [time series]

8.2% (2017)

Death rate [time series]

7 deaths/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Demographic profile [time series]

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 [time series]

total dependency ratio: 77.6 | youth dependency ratio: 71.7 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.9 | potential support ratio: 17 (2020 est.)

Drinking water source [time series]

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

2.6% of GDP (2018)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, Krahn 4%, Vai 4%, Mandingo 3.2%, Gbandi 3%, Mende 1.3%, Sapo 1.3%, other Liberian 1.7%, other African 1.4%, non-African .1% (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

1.5% (2019 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

1,900 (2019 est.)

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

47,000 (2019 est.)

Hospital bed density [time series]

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 47.4 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 51.7 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 43.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2020 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 64.7 years | male: 62.5 years | female: 67 years (2020 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 48.3% | male: 62.7% | female: 34.1% (2017)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: very high (2020) | food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever | vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever | water contact diseases: schistosomiasis | animal contact diseases: rabies | aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever

Major urban areas - population [time series]

1.517 million MONROVIA (capital) (2020)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

661 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 18 years | male: 17.7 years | female: 18.2 years (2020 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Liberian(s) | adjective: Liberian

Net migration rate [time series]

-2.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2020 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]

9.9% (2016)

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population [time series]

5,073,296 (July 2020 est.)

Population distribution [time series]

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

Population growth rate [time series]

2.71% (2020 est.)

Religions [time series]

Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.5% (2008 est.)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

Sex ratio [time series]

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.9 children born/woman (2020 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]

total: 2.3% | male: 2.4% | female: 2.2% (2016 est.)

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 52.1% of total population (2020) | rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.) | total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030: PDF

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

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 8,804 Ivoirian refugees, as of 2019

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 8,098 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2020)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

29 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 2 (2019) | over 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

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

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix [time series]

A8 (2016)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 3,496 | by type: bulk carrier 1,161, container ship 854, general cargo 145, oil tanker 761, other 575 (2019)

Pipelines [time series]

4 km oil (2013)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

major seaport(s): Buchanan, Monrovia

Railways [time series]

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

Roadways [time series]

total: 10,600 km (2018) | paved: 657 km (2018) | unpaved: 9,943 km (2018)