Geography
Area: 111,369 sq. km. (43,000 sq. mi.). Slightly larger than
Ohio.
Cities: Capital--Monrovia (est. 1,000,000). Principal
towns--Buchanan (est. 300,000), Ganta (est. 290,000), Gbarnga
(est. 150,000), Kakata (est. 100,000), Harbel (est. 136,000).
Terrain: Three areas--Mangrove swamps and beaches along the
coast, wooded hills and semideciduous shrublands along the immediate
interior, and dense tropical forests and plateaus in the interior.
Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.
People
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Liberian(s).
Population (2004): 3.4 million.
Annual growth rate (2004): 2.4%.
Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20%, Bassa 16%, Gio 8%, Kru 7%, 49% spread
over 12 other ethnic groups.
Religions: Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, animist 40%.
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.
Government
Type: Republic.
Independence: From American Colonization Society July 26, 1847.
Constitution: January 6, 1986.
Political parties: 30 registered political parties
Economy
GDP (IMF 2005 est.): $548.4million.
Real GDP growth rate (2004): 2.0%.
Per capita GDP (2005): $119.4.
Consumer Price Index (2004): 7.0%.
Natural resources: Iron ore, rubber, timber, diamonds, gold and tin.
The Government of Liberia has reported in recent years that it has
discovered sizable deposits of crude oil along its Atlantic Coast.
Agriculture: Products--coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, rice,
cassava, palm oil, bananas, plantains, citrus, pineapple, sweet
potatoes, corn, and vegetables.
Industry: Types--agriculture, iron ore, rubber, forestry,
diamonds, gold, beverages, construction.
Trade (2004): Exports--$103.8 million: rubber 93%; cocoa
3.5%. Major markets--Germany, Poland, U.S., Greece.
Imports--$268.1 million: mineral fuels and lubricants; food and
live animals; machinery and transport equipment; manufactured goods;
pharmaceuticals; and tobacco.
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