Liberia

Introduction

Background

Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendants of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for an election that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who was convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. She subsequently won reelection in 2011 but was challenged to rebuild Liberia's economy, particularly following the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic, and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. Constitutional term limits barred President JOHNSON SIRLEAF from running for re-election. Legal challenges delayed the 2017 presidential runoff election, which was eventually won by George WEAH. In March 2018, the UN completed its 15-year peacekeeping mission in Liberia.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 111,369 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km
country comparison to the world: 105

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Virginia

Land boundaries

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

Coastline

579 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 200nm

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

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

Natural resources

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use

agricultural land: 28.1% (2011 est.)
arable land: 5.2% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 2.1% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 20.8% (2011 est.)
forest: 44.6% (2011 est.)
other: 27.3% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia

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; 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 agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

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

People and Society

Population

4,809,768 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124

Nationality

noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups

Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, Krahn 4%, Vai 4%, Mandingo 3.2%, Gbandi 3%, Mende 1.3%, Sapo 1.3%, other Liberian 1.7%, other African 1.4%, non-African .1% (2008 est.)

Languages

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence

Religions

Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.5% (2008 est.)

Demographic profile

Liberia’s high fertility rate of nearly 5 children per woman and large youth cohort – more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25 – will sustain a high dependency ratio for many years to come. Significant progress has been made in preventing child deaths, despite a lack of health care workers and infrastructure. Infant and child mortality have dropped nearly 70% since 1990; the annual reduction rate of about 5.4% is the highest in Africa.Nevertheless, Liberia’s high maternal mortality rate remains among the world’s worst; it reflects a high unmet need for family planning services, frequency of early childbearing, lack of quality obstetric care, high adolescent fertility, and a low proportion of births attended by a medical professional. Female mortality is also increased by the prevalence of female genital cutting (FGC), which is practiced by 10 of Liberia’s 16 tribes and affects more than two-thirds of women and girls. FGC is an initiation ritual performed in rural bush schools, which teach traditional beliefs on marriage and motherhood and are an obstacle to formal classroom education for Liberian girls.Liberia has been both a source and a destination for refugees. During Liberia’s 14-year civil war (1989-2003), more than 250,000 people became refugees and another half million were internally displaced. Between 2004 and the cessation of refugee status for Liberians in June 2012, the UNHCR helped more than 155,000 Liberians to voluntarily repatriate, while others returned home on their own. Some Liberian refugees spent more than two decades living in other West African countries. Liberia hosted more than 125,000 Ivoirian refugees escaping post-election violence in 2010-11; as of mid-2017, about 12,000 Ivoirian refugees were still living in Liberia as of October 2017 because of instability.

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.72%(male 1,062,766 /female 1,040,211)
15-24 years: 19.9%(male 478,041 /female 478,999)
25-54 years: 30.1%(male 711,963 /female 735,878)
55-64 years: 3.43%(male 84,474 /female 80,410)
65 years and over: 2.85%(male 67,229 /female 69,797) (2018 est.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 83.2 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 77.6 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 18.1 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 17.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 17.6 years
female: 18.1 years
country comparison to the world: 217

Population growth rate

2.59% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Birth rate

37.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Death rate

7.4 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Net migration rate

-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192

Population distribution

more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia

Urbanization

urban population: 51.6% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

1.467 million MONROVIA (capital) (2019)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.2 years (2013 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality rate

661 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10

Infant mortality rate

total: 50.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 25

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 63.8 years (2018 est.)
male: 61.6 years
female: 66 years
country comparison to the world: 193

Total fertility rate

5 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13

Contraceptive prevalence rate

31.2% (2016)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 88.6% of population
rural: 62.6% of population
total: 75.6% of population
unimproved: urban: 11.4% of population
rural: 37.4% of population
total: 24.4% of population (2015 est.)

Current Health Expenditure

9.6% (2016)

Physicians density

0.04 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2010)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 28% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 5.9% of population (2015 est.)
total: 16.9% of population (2015 est.)
unimproved: urban: 72% of population (2015 est.)
rural: 94.1% of population (2015 est.)
total: 83.1% of population (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

1.3% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

39,000 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,800 (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high (2016)
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever (2016)
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever (2016)
water contact diseases: schistosomiasis (2016)
animal contact diseases: rabies (2016)
aerosolized dust or soil contact diseases: Lassa fever (2016)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.9% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 141

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

15.3% (2013)
country comparison to the world: 42

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2017)
country comparison to the world: 114

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.6%
male: 62.4%
female: 32.8% (2015)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 2.3%
male: 2.4%
female: 2.2% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Government

Country name

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

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

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 the colonization of Liberia by freed slaves; one of two national capitals named for a US president, the other is Washington, D.C.

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

Independence

26 July 1847

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution

history: previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revised version adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986
amendments: 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; amended 2011 (2018)

Legal system

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George WEAH (since 22 January 2018); Vice President Jewel HOWARD-TAYLOR (since 22 January 2018)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 10 October 2017 with a run-off on 26 December 2017); the runoff originally scheduled for 7 November 2017 was delayed due to allegations of fraud in the first round, which the Supreme Court dismissed
election results: 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%

Legislative branch

description: bicameral National Assembly consists of:
The Liberian Senate (30 seats; members directly elected in 15 2-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 9-year staggered terms; each district elects 1 senator and elects the second senator 3 years later, followed by a 6-year hiatus, after which the first Senate seat is up for election)
House of Representatives (73 seats; members directly elected in single-seat districts by simple majority vote to serve 6-year terms; eligible for a second term)
elections: Senate - last held on 20 December 2014 (originally scheduled for 14 October 2014 but postponed due to Ebola-virus epidemic; next to be held in October 2020); by-elections to fill the senate seats vacated by WEAH and HOWARD-TAYLOR was held on 31 July 2018
House of Representatives - last held on 10 October 2017 (next to be held in October 2023)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - CDC 29.8%, UP 10.3%, LP 11.5%, NPP 6.1%, PUP 4.9%, ANC 4.2%, NDC 1.3%, other 7.6%, independent 24.3%; seats by party - UP 4, CDC 2, LP 2, ANC 1, NDC 1, NPP 1, PUP 1, independent 3; composition - men 27, women 3, percent of women 10%
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - Coalition for Democratic Change 15.6%, UP 14%, LP 8.7%, ANC 6.1%, PUP 5.9%, ALP 5.1%, MDR 3.4%, other 41.2%; seats by coalition/party - Coalition for Democratic Change 21, UP 20, PUP 5, LP 3, ALP 3, MDR 2, independent 13, other 6; composition - men 64, women 9, percent of women 12.3%; total Parliament percent of women 11.7%

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Marcus S. G. DAHN]
All Liberian Party or ALP [Benoi UREY]
Alternative National Congress or ANC [Orishil GOULD]
Coalition for Democratic Change [George WEAH] (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP)Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]
Liberia Destiny Party or LDP [Nathaniel BARNES]
Liberia National Union or LINU [Nathaniel BLAMA]
Liberia Transformation Party or LTP [Julius SUKU]
Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP [Alex J. TYLER]
Liberian People's Party or LPP
Liberty Party or LP [J. Fonati KOFFA]
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR [Prince Y. JOHNSON]
Movement for Economic Empowerment [J. Mill JONES, Dr.]
Movement for Progressive Change or MPC [Simeon FREEMAN]
National Democratic Coalition or NDC [Dew MAYSON]
National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL [D. Nyandeh SIEH]
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Jewel HOWARD TAYLOR]
National Reformist Party or NRP [Maximillian T. W. DIABE]
National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP [Victor BARNEY]
People's Unification Party or PUP [Isobe GBORKORKOLLIE]
Unity Party or UP [Varney SHERMAN]
United People's Party [MacDonald WENTO]
Victory for Change Party [Marcus R. JONES]

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, MINUSMA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador George PATTEN (since 11 January 2019)
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christine A. ELDER (since 23 June 2016)
telephone: [231] 77-677-7000
embassy: U.S. Embassy, 502 Benson Street, Monrovia
mailing address: P.O. Box 98, Monrovia
FAX: [231] 77-677-7370

Flag description

11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness, valor, and fervor
note: the design is based on the US flag

National symbol(s)

white star; national colors: red, white, blue

National anthem

name: All Hail, Liberia Hail!
lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia

Economy

Economy - overview

Liberia is a low-income country that relies heavily on foreign assistance and remittances from the diaspora. It is richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture. Its principal exports are iron ore, rubber, diamonds, and gold. Palm oil and cocoa are emerging as new export products. The government has attempted to revive raw timber extraction and is encouraging oil exploration.In the 1990s and early 2000s, civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially infrastructure in and around the capital. Much of the conflict was fueled by control over Liberia’s natural resources. With the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically elected government in 2006, businesses that had fled the country began to return. The country achieved high growth during the period 2010-13 due to favorable world prices for its commodities. However, during the 2014-2015 Ebola crisis, the economy declined and many foreign-owned businesses departed with their capital and expertise. The epidemic forced the government to divert scarce resources to combat the spread of the virus, reducing funds available for needed public investment. The cost of addressing the Ebola epidemic coincided with decreased economic activity reducing government revenue, although higher donor support significantly offset this loss. During the same period, global commodities prices for key exports fell and have yet to recover to pre-Ebola levels.In 2017, gold was a key driver of growth, as a new mining project began its first full year of production; iron ore exports are also increased as Arcelor Mittal opened new mines at Mount Gangra. The completion of the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydroelectric Dam increased electricity production to support ongoing and future economic activity, although electricity tariffs remain high relative to other countries in the region and transmission infrastructure is limited. Presidential and legislative elections in October 2017 generated election-related spending pressures.Revitalizing the economy in the future will depend on economic diversification, increasing investment and trade, higher global commodity prices, sustained foreign aid and remittances, development of infrastructure and institutions, combating corruption, and maintaining political stability and security.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.112 billion (2017 est.)
$5.965 billion (2016 est.)
$6.064 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 173

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.285 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.5% (2017 est.)
-1.6% (2016 est.)
0% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,300 (2017 est.)
$1,300 (2016 est.)
$1,300 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 221

Gross national saving

NA% (2017)
-21.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
1.9% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 184

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 128.8% (2016 est.)
government consumption: 16.7% (2016 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 19.5% (2016 est.)
investment in inventories: 6.7% (2016 est.)
exports of goods and services: 17.5% (2016 est.)
imports of goods and services: -89.2% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 34% (2017 est.)
industry: 13.8% (2017 est.)
services: 52.2% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (manioc, tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

9% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19

Labor force

1.677 million (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.8% (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31

Population below poverty line

54.1% (2014 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32 (2014)
38.2 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 120

Budget

revenues: 553.6 million (2017 est.)
expenditures: 693.8 million (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.9% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Public debt

34.4% of GDP (2017 est.)
28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Fiscal year

calendar year

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12.4% (2017 est.)
8.8% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

Central bank discount rate

3.2% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 107

Commercial bank prime lending rate

13.3% (31 December 2017 est.)
13.59% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Stock of narrow money

$423 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$438.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Stock of broad money

$423 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$438.3 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

Stock of domestic credit

$792.3 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$789.4 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

-$627 million (2017 est.)
-$464 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Exports

$260.6 million (2017 est.)
$169.8 million (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186

Exports - partners

Germany 36.2%, Switzerland 14.2%, UAE 8.8%, US 6.8%, Indonesia 4.7% (2017)

Exports - commodities

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Imports

$1.166 billion (2017 est.)
$1.296 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Imports - commodities

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners

Singapore 29.8%, China 24.4%, South Korea 17.5%, Japan 9.4% (2017)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$459.8 million (31 December 2017 est.)
$528.7 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Debt - external

$1.036 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$938.9 million (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.01 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$16.56 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$201 million (31 December 2013 est.)
$201 million (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108

Exchange rates

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -
109.4 (2017 est.)
93.4 (2016 est.)
93.4 (2015 est.)
85.3 (2014 est.)
83.893 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

population without electricity: 4 million (2017)
electrification - total population: 19.8% (2016)
electrification - urban areas: 34% (2016)
electrification - rural areas: 1.3% (2016)

Electricity - production

300 million kWh (2016 est.)
note: according to a 2014 household survey, only 4.5% of Liberians use Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) power, 4.9% use a community generator, 4.4% have their own generator, 3.9% use vehicle batteries, and 0.8% use other sources of electricity, and 81.3% have no access to electricity; LEC accounts for roughly 70 million kWh of ouput.
country comparison to the world: 184

Electricity - consumption

279 million kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Electricity - installed generating capacity

151,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 173

Electricity - from fossil fuels

57% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

43% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166

Refined petroleum products - consumption

8,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Refined petroleum products - imports

8,181 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 168

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.163 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 8,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 3,117,002
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 66 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139

Telephone system

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital, Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators; almost entirely wireless telecommunications market; mobile market penetration is low compared to others in the region; number of operators avoid paying dues and operate despite regulations (2018)
domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100; mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity approached 66 per 100 persons (2018)
international: country code - 231; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking 20 West African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)

Broadcast media

8 private and 1 government-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; approximately 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with approximately 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international (including the British Broadcasting Corporation and Radio France Internationale) broadcasters are available (2019)

Internet country code

.lr

Internet users

total: 314,717
percent of population: 7.3% (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 8,000
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: less than 1 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Military and Security

Military expenditures

0.77% of GDP (2018)
0.73% of GDP (2017)
0.7% of GDP (2016)
0.73% of GDP (2015)
0.72% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 133

Military and security forces

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberia Air Wing, Liberian Coast Guard (2019)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2012)

Transportation

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A8 (2016)

Airports

29 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 117

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 (2017)
over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 27 (2013)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2013)
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2013)
under 914 m: 14 (2013)

Pipelines

4 km oil (2013)

Railways

total: 429 km (2008)
standard gauge: 345 km1.435-m gauge (2008)
narrow gauge: 84 km1.067-m gauge (2008)
note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt
country comparison to the world: 117

Roadways

total: 10,600 km (2018)
paved: 657 km (2018)
unpaved: 9,943 km (2018)
country comparison to the world: 130

Merchant marine

total: 3,321
by type: bulk carrier 1086, container ship 834, general cargo 130, oil tanker 723, other 548 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 8

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Buchanan, Monrovia

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

as the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) continues to drawdown prior to the 1 March 2018 closure date, the peacekeeping force is being reduced to 434 soldiers and two police units; some Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia shelters 8,804 Ivoirian refugees, as of 2019

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 8,551 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2019)

Illicit drugs

transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

Flag of Liberia