Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
15,000 (2022 est.)
Communications: 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)
Communications: Internet country code
.lr
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
24% (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
(2022 est.) less than 1
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
6,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
32 (2022 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
1.72 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$1.043 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$642.5 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
$171.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$276.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$565.6 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$674.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$653.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$274.971 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$101.746 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$64.806 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$505.1 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$119.8 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$1.922 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$1.335 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
191.307 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
77.5200 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
83.8925 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
86.1884 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
94.4272 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
112.707 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
144.056 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
186.430 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
191.518 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
166.154 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
152.934 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
174.956 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
191.307 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$731.658 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$1.041 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$1.22 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
33.6% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
23.3% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
42.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,871 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$4.75 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$10.502 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016
35.3 (2016 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
27.1% (2016 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
2.9% (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.371 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.739 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$1.961 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
6.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
7.75% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
8.83% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
12.42% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
23.56% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
26.97% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
16.96% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
7.82% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.59% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
10.09% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
8.21% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
2.607 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
50.90% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$6.476 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$6.246 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$7.087 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$8.073 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$9.581 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$8.546 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$8.095 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$8.484 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$8.882 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$9.308 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
-0.02% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
-1.55% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
2.46% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
1.16% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
-2.47% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-2.98% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.99% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
4.81% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.68% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.02% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$1,419 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$1,340 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$1,490 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$1,665 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$1,900 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$1,660 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$1,539 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$1,692 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$1,795 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$412.7 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$512.0 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$654.4 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$417.0 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
15.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$1.017 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$560.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$586.0 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$586.0 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$332.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$297.1 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$340.966 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$700.829 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$599.66 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$441.4 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$367.7 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
3.07% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
4.10% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
3.84% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
2.96% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
2.90% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
2.91% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
2.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
2.1% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
14.9%
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
31.8% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
53.7%
Energy: Electricity generation sources: biomass and waste
0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
66.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
32.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
215.96 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
199,000 kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
4 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Environment: 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
Environment: 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
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
20% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
66.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
13.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
55.54% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
564,500 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
7.9% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Virginia
Geography: Area: land
96,320 sq km
Geography: Area: water
15,049 sq km
Geography: Coastline
579 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Wuteve 1,447 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
243 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Geography: 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
Geography: Irrigated land
30 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,667 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
20% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
66.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
13.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Africa
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone
200 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Geography: 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
Geography: Terrain
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Government: 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
Government: Capital: etymology
named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of Liberia's colonization by freed slaves
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
6 18 N, 10 48 W
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
2 years
Government: Constitution: 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
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Liberia
Government: 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
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ACSMonrovia@state.gov https://lr.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
502 Benson Street, Monrovia
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[231] 77-677-7370
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[231] 77-677-7000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@liberianembassyus.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 723-0436
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 723-0437
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
Government: Executive branch: 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%
Government: Executive branch: 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)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Executive branch: head of government
President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023
Government: 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
Government: International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Government: International organization participation
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
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices)
Government: Judicial branch: 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
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts
Government: Legal system
mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
10/10/2023
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
73 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: 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)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
11%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
6 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
The Liberian Senate
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
October 2029
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
10/10/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
30 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: 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)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
10%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
partial renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
9 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Legislature
Government: National anthem(s): history
lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
Government: National color(s)
red, white, blue
Government: National holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Government: National symbol(s)
white star
Government: 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
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: 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.
Military and 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 and Security: 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 and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: 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: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
0.48% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
0.45% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
0.40% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
0.41% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
0.42% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
0.42% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
0.85% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.31% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1.42% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
0.71% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
38.9% (male 1,064,100/female 1,052,556)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
57.9% (male 1,566,263/female 1,579,835)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
3.2% (2024 est.) (male 80,961/female 93,534)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
8.4% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
5.8% (2020)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
24.9% (2020)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
10.9% (2019 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
13.01% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
51.4% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
18 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
72 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
66.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
7.4% national budget (2021 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
2.27% (2023 est.)
People and Society: 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.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
1.89 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
16.6% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.90% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
50.2 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
61 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
63.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
63.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
61.0 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
59.40% (2010 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
20 years
People and Society: Median age: male
19.8 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
19.1 years (2019/20 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Liberian
People and Society: Net migration rate
-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
9.9% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
5,612,817 (2024 est.)
People and Society: 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 and Society: Population growth rate
2.16% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
2,789,535
People and Society: Population: male
2,774,006
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 49% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 51% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.01 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.99 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.87 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
1.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
11.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
6.4% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
3.86 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
55.54% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
1,854 (2024 est.)
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/
Transportation: Airports
19 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A8
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
4,821 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
0
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
3
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
4 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
3
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: standard gauge
345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
429 km (2008)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.