Liberia
Liberia⌘K
Overview
- Background
- 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.
Geography
Area
- Land
- 96,320 sq km
- Water
- 15,049 sq km
- Total
- 111,369 sq 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
Land Use
- Other
- 13.5% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 66.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 20% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
- Location
- Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
- Coastline
- 579 km
Elevation
- Lowest point
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- Highest point
- Mount Wuteve 1,447 m
- Mean elevation
- 243 m
- Irrigated land
- 30 sq km (2012)
- Map references
- Africa
Land Boundaries
- Total
- 1,667 km
- Border countries
- Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km
Maritime Claims
- Contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
- Continental shelf
- 200 nm
- Exclusive economic zone
- 200 nm
- Natural hazards
- dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
- 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
- Natural resources
- iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
- Area comparative
- slightly larger than Virginia
- Geographic coordinates
- 6 30 N, 9 30 W
- Population distribution
- 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
People & Society
- Languages
- English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants
- Religions
- Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6% (2022 est.)
Sex Ratio
- At birth
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 0 14 years
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15 64 years
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- 65 years and over
- 0.87 male(s)/female
- Birth rate
- 31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Death rate
- 8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median Age
- Male
- 19.8 years
- Total
- 20.1 years (2025 est.)
- Female
- 20 years
Population
- Male
- 2,774,006
- Total
- 5,563,541 (2025 est.)
- Female
- 2,789,535
Nationality
- Noun
- Liberian(s)
- Adjective
- Liberian
Tobacco Use
- Male
- 11.5% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 6.4% (2025 est.)
- Female
- 1.5% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 53.6% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Age Structure
- 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)
- Ethnic groups
- 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.)
Child Marriage
- Men married BY age 18
- 8.4% (2020)
- Women married BY age 15
- 5.8% (2020)
- Women married BY age 18
- 24.9% (2020)
Dependency Ratios
- Total dependency ratio
- 72 (2025 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 66.4 (2025 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 18 (2025 est.)
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 5.6 (2025 est.)
- Physician density
- 0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
Health Expenditure
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 16.6% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
- Net migration rate
- -0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- Hospital bed density
- 1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
- Total fertility rate
- 3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking Water Source
- Improved: rural
- rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
Education Expenditure
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 7.4% national budget (2021 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate
- Male
- 61 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Female
- 50.2 deaths/1,000 live births
- Population growth rate
- 2.27% (2025 est.)
- Gross reproduction rate
- 1.89 (2025 est.)
- Population distribution
- 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
Life Expectancy at Birth
- Male
- 59.9 years
- Female
- 63.3 years
- Total population
- 61.6 years (2024 est.)
- Maternal mortality ratio
- 628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation Facility Access
- Improved: rural
- rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: total
- total: 49% of population (2022 est.)
- Improved: urban
- urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: rural
- rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 51% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: urban
- urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol Consumption Per Capita
- Beer
- 0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 3.12 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.)
- Major urban areas population
- 1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)
- Obesity adult prevalence rate
- 9.9% (2016)
- Mother's mean age at first birth
- 19.1 years (2019/20 est.)
- Currently married women (ages 15 49)
- 51.4% (2020 est.)
- Children under the age of 5 years underweight
- 10.9% (2019 est.)
Government
Civica · structure
How power is organised
ExecutiveLegislative
- Flag
- 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
Capital
- Name
- Monrovia
- Etymology
- named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of Liberia's colonization by freed slaves
- Time difference
- UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Geographic coordinates
- 6 18 N, 10 48 W
- Suffrage
- 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
- 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
- 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
Country Name
- 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
- Conventional long form
- Republic of Liberia
- Conventional short form
- Liberia
- Independence
- 26 July 1847
- Legal system
- mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law
- Government type
- presidential republic
Judicial Branch
- Note
- note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases
- Highest court(s)
- Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices)
- Subordinate courts
- judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts
- 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
Executive Branch
- Note
- note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
- Cabinet
- Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
- Chief of state
- President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
- 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%- Head of government
- President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
- Most recent election date
- 10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023
- 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)
- Expected date of next election
- October 2029
- National holiday
- Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
- National color(s)
- red, white, blue
- Political parties
- 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
Legislative Branch
- Legislature name
- Legislature
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
National Anthem(s)
- Title
- "All Hail, Liberia, Hail!"
- History
- lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia
- Lyrics/music
- Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
- National symbol(s)
- white star
- Administrative divisions
- 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Legislative Branch Lower Chamber
- Chamber name
- House of Representatives
- Term in office
- 6 years
- Number of seats
- 73 (all directly elected)
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Most recent election date
- 10/10/2023
- Expected date of next election
- October 2029
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 11%
- 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)
Legislative Branch Upper Chamber
- Chamber name
- The Liberian Senate
- Term in office
- 9 years
- Number of seats
- 30 (all directly elected)
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Scope of elections
- partial renewal
- Most recent election date
- 10/10/2023
- Expected date of next election
- October 2029
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 10%
- 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)
Diplomatic Representation in the US
- Fax
- [1] (202) 723-0436
- Chancery
- 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 723-0437
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)
- Consulate(s) general
- New York
- Email address and website
info@liberianembassyus.org
http://www.liberianembassyus.org/
Diplomatic Representation from the US
- Fax
- [231] 77-677-7370
- Embassy
- 502 Benson Street, Monrovia
- Telephone
- [231] 77-677-7000
- Mailing address
- 8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)
- Email address and website
ACSMonrovia@state.gov
https://lr.usembassy.gov/
- International organisations
- 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
- International law organization participation
- accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Legislature
LIBERIA · LOWER HOUSE
House of Representatives
73 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
73
Majority line
38
Largest party
True Whig Party
Parties
10
All political parties
Upper house
LIBERIA · UPPER HOUSE
The Liberian Senate
30 seats · hover a seat for the party
Total seats
30
Majority line
16
Largest party
True Whig Party
Parties
10
All political parties
Leaders
Current
Joseph Boakai
- Head of State
- Head of Government
Economy
Budget
- Revenues
- $5 million (2019 est.)
- Expenditures
- $6 million (2019 est.)
Exports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $731.658 million (2020 est.)
- Note
- note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- Exports 2020
- $731.658 million (2020 est.)
- Exports 2021
- $1.041 billion (2021 est.)
- Exports 2022
- $1.22 billion (2022 est.)
Imports
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1.371 billion (2020 est.)
- Note
- note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- Imports 2020
- $1.371 billion (2020 est.)
- Imports 2021
- $1.739 billion (2021 est.)
- Imports 2022
- $1.961 billion (2022 est.)
- Industries
- mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds
- Labor force
- 2.607 million (2024 est.)
Public Debt
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
- Public debt 2016
- 28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Remittances
- Note
- note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 15.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange Rates
- Currency
- Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2019
- 186.43 (2019 est.)
- Exchange rates 2020
- 191.518 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 166.154 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 152.934 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 174.956 (2023 est.)
Debt External
- Note
- note: present value of external debt in current US dollars
- Debt external 2023
- $1.335 billion (2023 est.)
- Economic overview
- 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
Unemployment Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 2.9%
- Note
- note: % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 3% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 3% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 2.9% (2024 est.)
- Exports partners
- Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023)
- Imports partners
- China 48%, Japan 21%, Germany 8%, Brazil 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)
Real GDP Per Capita
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $1,871
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $1,600 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $1,600 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $1,700 (2024 est.)
Real GDP Growth Rate
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 4.0%
- Note
- note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 4.8% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 4.7% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 4.8% (2024 est.)
- Agricultural products
- cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023)
- Exports commodities
- gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)
- Imports commodities
- ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023)
Current Account Balance
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $119.8M
- Note
- note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
- Current account balance 2020
- -$274.971 million (2020 est.)
- Current account balance 2021
- -$101.746 million (2021 est.)
- Current account balance 2022
- $64.806 million (2022 est.)
- GDP (official exchange rate)
- $4.75 billion (2024 est.)
- Population below poverty line
- 50.9% (2016 est.)
Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 8.2%
- Note
- note: annual % change based on consumer prices
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
- 7.8% (2021 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 7.6% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 10.1% (2023 est.)
- Industrial production growth rate
- 6.1% (2024 est.)
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- $9.308 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $8.484 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $8.882 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $9.308 billion (2024 est.)
Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)
- Male
- 2.2% (2024 est.)
- Note
- note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 2.1% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 2% (2024 est.)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
- Note
- note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
- $340.966 million (2020 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
- $700.829 million (2021 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $599.66 million (2022 est.)
GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin
- Note
- note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Industry
- 23.3% (2024 est.)
- Services
- 42.1% (2024 est.)
- Agriculture
- 33.6% (2024 est.)
Household Income or Consumption BY Percentage Share
- Note
- note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
- Lowest 10%
- 2.9% (2016 est.)
- Highest 10%
- 27.1% (2016 est.)
Gini Index Coefficient Distribution of Family Income
- Note
- note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
- Gini index coefficient distribution of family income 2016
- 35.3 (2016 est.)
Energy
Coal
- Imports
- 75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
- Consumption
- 215.96 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 199,000 kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)
Electricity Access
- Electrification rural areas
- 14.9%
- Electrification urban areas
- 53.7%
- Electrification total population
- 31.8% (2022 est.)
Energy Consumption Per Capita
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity Generation Sources
- Solar
- 1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 66.1% 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.)
Communications
Internet Users
- Percent of population
- 24% (2023 est.)
- Broadcast media
- 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)
- Internet country code
- .lr
Telephones Fixed Lines
- Total subscriptions
- 6,000 (2021 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- (2022 est.) less than 1
Telephones Mobile Cellular
- Total subscriptions
- 1.72 million (2022 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 32 (2022 est.)
Broadband Fixed Subscriptions
- Total
- 15,000 (2022 est.)
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- (2022 est.) less than 1
Transport
Ports
- Large
- 0
- Small
- 1
- Medium
- 0
- Key ports
- Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia
- Very small
- 3
- Total ports
- 4 (2024)
- Ports with oil terminals
- 3
- Airports
- 19 (2025)
Railways
- Note
- note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt
- Total
- 429 km (2008)
- Narrow gauge
- 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge
- Standard gauge
- 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge
Merchant Marine
- Total
- 4,821 (2023)
- BY type
- bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705
- Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
- A8
Environment
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Land Use
- Other
- 13.5% (2023 est.)
- Forest
- 66.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land
- 20% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
- Urban population
- 53.6% of total population (2023)
- Rate of urbanization
- 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Waste and Recycling
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 564,500 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 7.9% (2022 est.)
- Environmental issues
- 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
Total Water Withdrawal
- Municipal
- 80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Agricultural
- 12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon Dioxide Emissions
- Total emissions
- 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.)
- Particulate matter emissions
- 41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
- Total renewable water resources
- 232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
International Environmental Agreements
- 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
Military & Security
- Military note
- 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)
Military Expenditures
- Civica canonical (reconciled)
- 0.7%
- Military expenditures 2020
- 0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military expenditures 2021
- 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military expenditures 2022
- 1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military expenditures 2023
- 1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military expenditures 2024
- 0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
- Military and security forces
- Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard
Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2025) - Military service age and obligation
- 18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)
- Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
- 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)
- Military and security service personnel strengths
- approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Transnational Issues
Trafficking in Persons
- 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/
Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
- Refugees
- 1,854 (2024 est.)
Scores & Rankings
ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of
Civica Index41.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4110 / 1902024-Q4
V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.40as of 2024-Q476 / 1702024-Q4
Freedom House StatusNot Free (67/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4
Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024
Cite this page
Cite this page
Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Liberia — vintage 2026-Q1: Liberia factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/liberia
Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata