Introduction

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 ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. December 1989 brought a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to power. The UN Mission in Liberia maintains a strong presence throughout the country, but the security situation is still fragile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country will take many years.

Geographical Location

Liberia is located in western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone. It has a total area of 111,369 sq. km. or slightly larger than Tennessee, with a coast line of 579 km. The coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars. The inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture. Elevations extremes are: lowest - Atlantic Ocean 0 m., highest - Mt. Wuteve 1,380 m. The terrain is mostly flat to rolling coastal plains, rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast. Natural resources include: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydro-power. Agricultural products include: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas, sheep, goats, and timber. Industries include rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, and diamonds.

Climate

Liberia has a tropical climate which is hot and humid. There are dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights, and wet cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers. Natural hazards include dust-laden harmattan winds which blow from the Sahara, December to March. Environmental issues include tropical rain forest deforestation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage.

Population

The population is 3,441,790 (July 2009 est.). The population growth rate is 2.665% with a birth rate of 42.25 per 1000 and a death rate of 20.73 per 1000. Life expectancy at birth is 41.84 years. The labor force by occupation: agriculture - 70%; industry - 8%; services 22% (2000 est.). Over 80% of the population lives below the poverty level (2000 est.). Ethnic groups include: indigenous African 95%, Americo-Liberians 2.5%, Congo People 2.5%.

Languages

English (20%) is the official language, plus some 20 ethnic group languages, few of which cam be written or used in correspondence. Only 57.5% of the population age 15 and up can read and write.

Religion

Forty percent of the population is Christian with 20% Muslim and 40% indigenous beliefs.