Languages: English is the official language. There are 16 indigenous languages.

Education: Literacy (2003)--20%.

Health: Life expectancy (2003)--47 years.

Work force: Agriculture--70%; industry--15%; services--2%. Unemployment is 80% in the formal sector.

There are 16 ethnic groups that make up Liberia's indigenous population. The Kpelle in central and western Liberia is the largest ethnic group. Americo-Liberians who are descendants of freed slaves that arrived in Liberia early in 1821 make up an estimated 5% of the population.

There also are sizable numbers of Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals who make up a significant part of Liberia's business community. The Liberian constitution restricts citizenship only to people of Negro descent; also, land ownership is restricted by law to citizens.

Liberia was traditionally noted for its hospitality and academic institutions, iron mining and rubber industry booms, and cultural skills and arts and craft works. But political upheavals beginning in the 1980s and the brutal 14-year civil war (1989-2003) brought about a steep decline in the living standards of the country, including its education and infrastructure.

GOVERNMENT

Type: Republic

Independence: July 26, 1847

Constitution: January 6, 1986

Political parties: 30 registered political parties

LAND AND RESOURCES

 Liberia's straight, sandy coast, 560 km (350 mi) long, is broken by lagoons and mangrove swamps and gives way to a low, rolling plain about 30 km (20 mi) wide. Further inland, foothills ranging in height from 200 to 300 m (600 to 1,000 ft) are found. They become mountains in the north and east whose ranges run southwest-northeast.

High plateaus are interspersed between the ranges. In the north is Mount Wutuvi, the highest point in the country, which rises to 1,381 m (4,531).

Liberian rivers are short, flowing parallel to one another from the mountains to the ocean. The largest rivers are the Saint Paul, Saint John, and Cavalla.

Liberia is located on the West Coast of Africa. It is bordered by:

Sierra Leone on the West (English Speaking); Guinea to the North (French Speaking); Ivory Coast on the Northeast and East (English Speaking); The Atlantic Ocean on the South.

Official Name: Republic of Liberia

Nationality: Liberian

Type of Government: Republic

Capital: Monrovia

Location: Western Africa

National Language: English

Area: 43,000 sq. miles (111,370 sq. km)

Population: 2,640,000

(1993 estimate)

International Dialing code to Liberia: 231

System of Measurement: Liberia uses both the English & Metric System

English System used by: Government uses English

Metric System used by: Most Businesses, Merchants and Schools

Government: Liberia is a multiparty republic. The executive branch is headed by a president who is popularly elected for a four-year renewable term. The bicameral legislature consists of a 26-seat senate and a 64-seat house of representatives. The country has a dual legal system based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary tribal law for the indigenous sector. Administratively, Liberia is divided into 15 counties.

County - Capital

Bomi - Tubmanburg

Bong - Gbarnga

Gbarpolu - Bopolu

Grand Bassa - Buchanan

Grand Cape Mount - Robertsport

Grand Gedeh - Zwedru

Grand Kru - Barclayville

Lofa - Voinjama

Margibi - Kakata

Maryland - Harper

Montserrado - Bensonville

Nimba - Sanniquellie

Rivercess - Rivercess

River Gee - Fish Town

Sinoe - Greenville

In 1984, Bomi territory was promoted to county, thus splitting it from Montserrado county. In 1984 Grand Kru county split from Maryland county. In 1985 Margibi county split from Montserrado county and Rivercess territory was promoted to county, thus splitting it from Grand Bassa county.

Climate

Liberia's tropical climate is hot and humid. Average temperatures range from 17 deg C (63 deg F) to 31 deg C (87 deg F). Annual rainfall, as much as 4,500 mm (177 in) at the coast, gradually decreases inland to 1,750 mm (69 in). The monsoonal rainy season occurs between May and October. A dusty winter wind, the Harmattan, blows during December.

Resources

Liberia's vast timber resources include over 90 commercially exploitable species. Mineral resources include substantial deposits of iron ore, diamonds, and gold.

• Rubber
• Iron Ore
• Diamonds
• Gold
• Timber

Source: CIA Fact Book and others