Country name conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia Background Eight years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1997 when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held. President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real political opposition. 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 arms embargo and a travel ban on government officials, for Liberia"s support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone. Renewed rebel activity has further eroded stability and economic activity. A regional peace initiative commenced in the spring of 2003 but was disrupted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) indictment of President TAYLOR on war crimes charges.Location Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d"Ivoire and Sierra Leone Area total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km Area - comparative slightly larger than Tennessee Coastline 579 km 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 extremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m Natural hazards dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) Environment - current issues tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage 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 Population 3,317,176 (July 2003 est.) Age structure 0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831)
15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.) Median age total: 18.1 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.4 years (2002) Sex ratio 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.) Nationality noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian Ethnic groups 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) Religions indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% Languages English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence Internet country code .lr Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6%
note: (2003 est.) Government type republic National holiday Independence Day, 26 July (1847) Legal system 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 International organization participation ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO Economy - overview Civil war and misgovernment have 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 have returned; many will not. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor countries. Exports - partners Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002) Currency Liberian dollar (LRD) Currency code LRD Exchange rates Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95 (2000), 41.9 (1999), 41.51 (1998)
note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined Airports 47 (2002) Airports - with paved runways total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) Airports - with unpaved runways total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (2002) Disputes - international rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone, Cote d"Ivoire, and Guinea; the Ivorian Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels |
Bulgarian-Norwegian Society BulNor