Capital

Liberia

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.

Citizenship

Liberia

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

Legal system

Liberia

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

Suffrage

Liberia

18 years of age; universal

Area

Liberia

total: 111,369 sq km

land: 96,320 sq km

water: 15,049 sq km

Land use

Liberia

agricultural land: 28.1% (2018 est.)

arable land: 5.2% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 20.8% (2018 est.)

forest: 44.6% (2018 est.)

other: 27.3% (2018 est.)

Location

Liberia

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

Age structure

Liberia

0-14 years: 42.69% (male 1,187,795/female 1,162,699)

15-64 years: 54.5% (male 1,486,582/female 1,514,163)

65 years and over: 2.82% (2023 est.) (male 75,258/female 79,783)

Birth rate

Liberia

33 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Liberia

8.5 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Liberia

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

Life expectancy at birth

Liberia

total population: 61.3 years (2023 est.)

male: 59.7 years

female: 63 years

Major urban areas - population

Liberia

1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)

Median age

Liberia

total: 19.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 19.6 years

female: 19.9 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Liberia

19.1 years (2019/20 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Liberia

-0.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Liberia

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

Population growth rate

Liberia

2.37% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Liberia

4.03 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Liberia

urban population: 53.6% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Education expenditures

Liberia

2.7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Liberia

-4.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Liberia

16.25% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Liberia

2.289 million (2021 est.)

Population below poverty line

Liberia

50.9% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate

Liberia

4.09% (2021 est.)

3.98% (2020 est.)

3.02% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Liberia

34.4% of GDP (2017 est.)

28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Liberia

23.56% (2018 est.)

12.42% (2017 est.)

Exports

Liberia

$554.013 million (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$527.345 million (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$429.592 million (2017 est.)

Exports - partners

Liberia

Guyana 32%, Poland 10%, Switzerland 8%, Japan 7%, China 5% (2019)

Imports

Liberia

$1.244 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.245 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.232 billion (2017 est.)

Imports - partners

Liberia

China 41%, Japan 21%, South Korea 18% (2019)

Airports

Liberia

29 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Liberia

total: 13,000 (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.3 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Liberia

total: 1.768 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 34% (2021 est.)

Railways

Liberia

total: 429 km (2008)

standard gauge: 345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge

narrow gauge: 84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge

note: most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt

Roadways

Liberia

total: 10,600 km (2018)

paved: 657 km (2018)

unpaved: 9,943 km (2018)

Telephones - fixed lines

Liberia

total subscriptions: 6,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: (2021 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular

Liberia

total subscriptions: 1.7 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 32 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Liberia

Liberia-Guinea: none identified

Liberia-Sierra Leone: none identified