Republic of Liberia

President: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (2006)

Land area: 37,189 sq mi (96,320 sq km); total area: 43,000 sq mi (111,370 sq km)

Population (2006 est.): 3,042,004 (growth rate: 4.9%); birth rate: 44.8/1000; infant mortality rate: 155.8/1000; life expectancy: 39.6; density per sq mi: 82

Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Monrovia, 1,348,900 (metro. area), 550,200 (city proper)

Monetary unit: Liberian dollar

Languages: English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic-group languages

Ethnicity/race: indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of former U.S. slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of former Caribbean slaves)

Religions: traditional 40%, Christian 40%, Islam 20%

Literacy rate: 58% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $2.598 billion; per capita $900. Real growth rate: 8%. Inflation: 15% (2003 est.). Unemployment: 85% (2003 est.). Arable land: 4%. Agriculture: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber. Labor force: agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.). Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds. Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower. Exports: $910 million f.o.b. (2004 est.): rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee. Imports: $4.839 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.): fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs. Major trading partners: Denmark, Germany, Poland, U.S., Greece, Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Croatia (2004).

Communications: Telephones: main lines in use: 6,700 (2000); mobile cellular: 0 (1998). Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001). Radios: 790,000 (1997). Television broadcast stations: 1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001). Televisions: 70,000 (1997). Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2001). Internet users: 500 (2000).

Transportation: Railways: total: 490 km; note: none of the railways are in operation (2002). Highways: total: 10,600 km; paved: 657 km; unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.). Ports and harbors: Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia. Airports: 47 (2002).

International disputes: rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire, and Guinea; the Ivorian Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels.

 

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