Liberia

total: 15,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

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)

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percent of population: 24% (2023 est.)

total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2022 est.) less than 1

total subscriptions: 1.72 million (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2022 est.)

cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $5 million (2019 est.) expenditures: $6 million (2019 est.)

$64.806 million (2022 est.) -$101.746 million (2021 est.) -$274.971 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$1.335 billion (2023 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar - 174.956 (2023 est.) 152.934 (2022 est.) 166.154 (2021 est.) 191.518 (2020 est.) 186.43 (2019 est.)

$1.22 billion (2022 est.) $1.041 billion (2021 est.) $731.658 million (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$4.75 billion (2024 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

agriculture: 33.6% (2024 est.) industry: 23.3% (2024 est.) services: 42.1% (2024 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

35.3 (2016 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 2.9% (2016 est.) highest 10%: 27.1% (2016 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$1.961 billion (2022 est.) $1.739 billion (2021 est.) $1.371 billion (2020 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

China 48%, Japan 21%, Germany 8%, Brazil 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

6.1% (2024 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

10.1% (2023 est.) 7.6% (2022 est.) 7.8% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

2.607 million (2024 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

50.9% (2016 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

$9.308 billion (2024 est.) $8.882 billion (2023 est.) $8.484 billion (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

4.8% (2024 est.) 4.7% (2023 est.) 4.8% (2022 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$1,700 (2024 est.) $1,600 (2023 est.) $1,600 (2022 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

18.2% of GDP (2023 est.) 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.) 15.1% of GDP (2021 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$599.66 million (2022 est.) $700.829 million (2021 est.) $340.966 million (2020 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

2.9% (2024 est.) 3% (2023 est.) 3% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 2.1% (2024 est.) male: 2.2% (2024 est.) female: 2% (2024 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

imports: 75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity: 199,000 kW (2023 est.) consumption: 215.96 million kWh (2023 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)

electrification - total population: 31.8% (2022 est.) electrification - urban areas: 53.7% electrification - rural areas: 14.9%

fossil fuels: 66.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.) 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.)

1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 4 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

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

tropical rainforest 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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.) forest: 66.5% (2023 est.) other: 13.5% (2023 est.)

41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal: 80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.) industrial: 53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.) agricultural: 12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually: 564,500 tons (2024 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 7.9% (2022 est.)

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

slightly larger than Virginia

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

579 km

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

6 30 N, 9 30 W

facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

30 sq km (2012)

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

agricultural land: 20% (2023 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.) permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.) forest: 66.5% (2023 est.) other: 13.5% (2023 est.)

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

Africa

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm

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

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

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

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

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

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 Liberia's colonization by freed slaves

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

history: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986 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

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

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charg d Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025) embassy: 502 Benson Street, Monrovia mailing address: 8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800 telephone: [231] 77-677-7000 FAX: [231] 77-677-7370 email address and website: ACSMonrovia@state.gov https://lr.usembassy.gov/

chief of mission: Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025) chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436 email address and website: info@liberianembassyus.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/ consulate(s) general: New York

chief of state: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024) head of government: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate election/appointment process: president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term) most recent election date: 10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023 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: October 2029 note: the president is both chief of state and head of government

description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a five-pointed white star sits on a blue square in the upper-left corner 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 note: the design is based on the US flag

presidential republic

26 July 1847

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices) 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 note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases

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

legislature name: Legislature legislative structure: bicameral

chamber name: House of Representatives number of seats: 73 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: full renewal term in office: 6 years most recent election date: 10/10/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (25); Unity Party (UP) (11); Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) (6); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (4); Independents (19); Other (8) percentage of women in chamber: 11% expected date of next election: October 2029

chamber name: The Liberian Senate number of seats: 30 (all directly elected) electoral system: plurality/majority scope of elections: partial renewal term in office: 9 years most recent election date: 10/10/2023 parties elected and seats per party: Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (6); Unity Party (UP) (1); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (1); Liberia Restoration Party (LRP) (1); Independents (6) percentage of women in chamber: 10% expected date of next election: October 2029

title: "All Hail, Liberia, Hail!" 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

red, white, blue

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

white star

All Liberian Party or ALP 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

18 years of age; universal

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.

the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are responsible for external defense and some domestic security responsibilities if called upon, such as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and support to law enforcement; it is a small, lightly equipped force comprised of two combat infantry battalions and supporting units, as well as a few coastal patrol craft for the Coast Guard; the infantry battalions were rebuilt with US assistance in 2007-2008 from the restructured AFL following the end of the second civil war in 2003 when military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed 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)

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2025)

approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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)

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.) 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)

0-14 years: 38.9% (male 1,064,100/female 1,052,556) 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)

total: 3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) 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.)

31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

women married by age 15: 5.8% (2020) women married by age 18: 24.9% (2020) men married by age 18: 8.4% (2020)

10.9% (2019 est.)

51.4% (2020 est.)

8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio: 72 (2025 est.) youth dependency ratio: 66.4 (2025 est.) elderly dependency ratio: 5.6 (2025 est.) potential support ratio: 18 (2025 est.)

urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.) rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.) urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.) rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.) total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.)

2.3% of GDP (2023 est.) 7.4% national budget (2021 est.)

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.)

1.89 (2025 est.)

16.6% of GDP (2021) 4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

total: 55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.) male: 61 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.2 deaths/1,000 live births

English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants

total population: 61.6 years (2024 est.) male: 59.9 years female: 63.3 years

1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)

628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

total: 20.1 years (2025 est.) male: 19.8 years female: 20 years

19.1 years (2019/20 est.) note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

noun: Liberian(s) adjective: Liberian

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

9.9% (2016)

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

total: 5,563,541 (2025 est.) male: 2,774,006 female: 2,789,535

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

2.27% (2025 est.)

Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6% (2022 est.)

urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.) rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.) total: 49% of population (2022 est.) urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.) rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.) total: 51% of population (2022 est.)

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 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.)

total: 6.4% (2025 est.) male: 11.5% (2025 est.) female: 1.5% (2025 est.)

3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)

urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

refugees: 1,854 (2024 est.)

tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Liberia remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/liberia/

19 (2025)

A8

total: 4,821 (2023) by type: bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705

total ports: 4 (2024) large: 0 medium: 0 small: 1 very small: 3 ports with oil terminals: 3 key ports: Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia

total: 429 km (2008) standard gauge: 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge narrow gauge: 84 km (2008) 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