Liberia

Liberia, officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to its northwest, Guinea to its north, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean to its south and southwest. With a population of around 5.5 million and covering 43,000 square miles (111,369 km²), Liberia is a diverse nation where English is the official language, though over 20 indigenous languages are spoken. The capital and largest city is Monrovia.

The country began in the early 19th century as a project of the American Colonization Society, which helped freed and free-born African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans relocate from the United States. These settlers formed an Americo-Liberian community and led Liberia to declare independence on July 26, 1847. Liberia became the first African republic to gain independence and remains Africa's oldest continuously independent country.

During the early 20th century, large investments in rubber production by the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company transformed Liberia's economy. In World War II, Liberia supported the U.S. war effort and received significant American investment, boosting its development. Political changes under President William Tubman further increased Liberia's international standing as a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity.

However, the late 20th century brought hardship. Political tensions led to a military coup in 1980, followed by two civil wars that caused great suffering and economic decline. Since a peace agreement in 2003, Liberia has worked toward stability and recovery. Today, mining remains important to the economy, though it also brings challenges related to the environment and workers' conditions.

History

Main article: History of Liberia

Indigenous people

The presence of ancient humans in West Africa was confirmed by artifacts. Early tools and technologies from the Stone Age have been found across the region, showing how people lived and worked long ago. These tools changed over time, showing different ways people adapted to their environments.

Mande expansion

The area known as the Pepper Coast has been home to people for many centuries. Over time, new groups moved into the region, bringing their skills and traditions. This mixing of cultures helped shape the area's history.

Early colonization

Between 1461 and the late 1600s, traders from Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain visited the region. Later, a movement in the United States sought to relocate African Americans to Africa. In 1816, a group formed to support this idea, and in 1822, they began sending people to establish a colony. These settlers brought their own culture and traditions, which sometimes clashed with the local communities.

Political formation

In 1847, the settlers declared independence and created the Republic of Liberia. The new nation was based on ideas from the United States. Over time, one political group became very powerful, shaping the country's early years.

Early 20th century

World Wars and interwar period

In the early 1900s, Liberia's economy faced challenges as trade patterns changed. During World War I, Liberia joined the war on the side of the Allies. The United States helped improve infrastructure, which supported the country during World War II. In the 1940s, new policies encouraged foreign investment, which brought both opportunities and challenges.

Late 20th-century political instability

In 1980, a military coup changed the government. The following years saw conflict and instability, including civil wars that caused great suffering. International efforts helped bring peace, and new leaders worked to rebuild the country.

21st century

In 2003, peace was reached after years of conflict. Elections in 2005 brought a new leader, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who focused on recovery and progress. In 2018, George Weah became president, and in 2024, Joseph Boakai took office, continuing efforts to improve the nation.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Liberia

Liberia is a country in West Africa that borders the North Atlantic Ocean. It lies between latitudes 4° and 9°N, and longitudes 7° and 12°W. The landscape includes flat coastal plains with mangroves and swamps, rising to plateaus and low mountains in the northeast.

The country has tropical rainforests covering hilly areas, with elephant grass and semi-deciduous forests in the north. Liberia's rivers flow toward the Atlantic Ocean, with the Cavalla being the longest at 320 miles. The highest point in Liberia is Mount Wuteve, standing at 4,724 feet above sea level.

Climate

See also: Climate change in Liberia

Liberia has an equatorial climate in the south, with hot temperatures and heavy rains from May to October. Dry, dust-laden winds called harmattan blow from November to March. Climate change poses challenges, including extreme weather and rising sea levels, which can affect farming, fishing, and forests. Human activities like rubber and palm oil production have also impacted the environment.

Biodiversity and conservation

Main article: Wildlife of Liberia

Further information: Environmental issues in Liberia

Liberia's coastline has mangroves, while inland areas include drier grasslands and forests. The country is home to many species, though some, like elephants and chimpanzees, are hunted for bushmeat. Deforestation for rubber and palm oil plantations threatens wildlife and plant life. Conservation efforts are underway to protect areas like Sapo National Park.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Liberia

Liberia is divided into fifteen counties, which are further split into ninety districts. The counties are managed by superintendents chosen by the president. The country does not have a uniform system for local governments, which were created through individual laws.

Government and politics

Main article: Politics of Liberia

The government of Liberia is modeled on the government of the United States. It is a unitary constitutional republic and representative democracy. The government has three branches: the executive, led by the president; the legislative, which is the bicameral Legislature of Liberia; and the judicial, led by the Supreme Court.

The president is both the head of government and head of state. The president signs or vetoes laws, grants pardons, and appoints important officials. The Legislature includes a Senate and a House of Representatives. The Supreme Court is Liberia's highest court, with five members nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Military

Main article: Armed Forces of Liberia

The Armed Forces of Liberia have about 2,010 active personnel. Most are in the 23rd Infantry Brigade, with a small National Coast Guard. The military was rebuilt after civil wars with help from the United States. Liberia has sent peacekeepers to missions in other countries.

Foreign relations

Further information: Foreign relations of Liberia

After civil wars, Liberia has improved relations with its neighbors and Western countries. China plays a key role in the country's reconstruction.

Corruption

Further information: Corruption in Liberia

Corruption remains a big problem in Liberia's government. Many people have to pay bribes when dealing with officials.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Liberia

The Central Bank of Liberia manages the Liberian dollar, which is the main currency of the country. The United States dollar is also accepted for use. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, with only 15% of its people having formal jobs. Its economy has often relied on help from other countries, investments from foreign businesses, and exports such as iron ore, rubber, and timber.

After facing tough times because of civil wars and economic problems, Liberia's economy began to grow again around 2007. However, challenges remain, including limited markets, poor infrastructure, and high transportation costs. The country has also struggled with rising prices for food and energy. Despite these issues, Liberia has attracted significant foreign investment, especially in mining and agriculture. In September 2024, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a financial arrangement of about $210 million to help Liberia with its economic recovery.

Trends

Following a peak in growth in 1979, the Liberian economy began a steady decline due to economic mismanagement after the 1980 coup. This decline was accelerated by the outbreak of civil war in 1989; GDP was reduced by an estimated 90% between 1989 and 1995, one of the fastest declines in modern history. Upon the end of the war in 2003, GDP growth began to accelerate, reaching 9.4% in 2007. In 2009, during the Great Recession GDP growth slowed to 4.6%, though a strengthening agricultural sector led by rubber and timber exports increased growth to 5.1% in 2010 and an expected 7.3% in 2011, making the economy one of the 20 fastest-growing in the world.

Current impediments to growth include a small domestic market, lack of adequate infrastructure, high transportation costs, poor trade links with neighboring countries, and the high dollarization of the economy. Liberia used the United States dollar as its currency from 1943 until 1982 and continues to use the U.S. dollar alongside the Liberian dollar.

Following a decrease in inflation beginning in 2003, inflation spiked in 2008 as a result of worldwide food and energy crises, reaching 17.5% before declining to 7.4% in 2009. Liberia's external debt was estimated in 2006 at approximately $4.5 billion, 800% of GDP. As a result of bilateral, multilateral and commercial debt relief from 2007 to 2010, the country's external debt fell to $222.9 million by 2011.

While official commodity exports declined during the 1990s as many investors fled the civil war, Liberia's wartime economy featured the exploitation of the region's diamond wealth. The country acted as a major trader in Sierra Leonian blood diamonds, exporting over US$300 million (~$530 million in 2024) in diamonds in 1999. This led to a United Nations ban on Liberian diamond exports in 2001, which was lifted in 2007 following Liberia's accession to the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

In 2003, additional UN sanctions were placed on Liberian timber exports, which had risen from US$5 million in 1997 to over US$100 million in 2002 and were believed to be funding rebels in Sierra Leone. These sanctions were lifted in 2006. Due in large part to foreign aid and investment inflow following the end of the war, Liberia maintains a large account deficit, which peaked at nearly 60% in 2008. Liberia gained observer status with the World Trade Organization in 2010 and became an official member in 2016.

Liberia has the highest ratio of foreign direct investment to GDP in the world, with US$16 billion (~$23.9 billion in 2024) in investment since 2006. Following Sirleaf's inauguration in 2006, Liberia signed several multi-billion-dollar concession agreements in the iron ore and palm oil industries with numerous multinational corporations, including ArcelorMittal, BHP and Sime Darby. Palm oil companies like Sime Darby (Malaysia) and Golden Veroleum (USA) have been accused of destroying livelihoods and displacing local communities, enabled by government concessions. Since 1926 Firestone has operated the world's largest rubber plantation in Harbel, Margibi County. As of 2015, it had more than 8,000 mostly Liberian employees, making it the country's largest private employer.

In September 2024 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) announced that its executive board approved a financial arrangement of approximately $210 million for Liberia. The approval includes an immediate disbursement of around $8 million. This arrangement is aimed at supporting Liberia's economic recovery and addressing fiscal challenges.

Shipping flag of convenience

Due to its status as a flag of convenience, Liberia has the second-largest maritime registry in the world behind Panama. It has 3,500 vessels registered under its flag, accounting for 11% of ships worldwide.

Major industries

Agriculture

Sustenance farming is popular in many areas of Liberia. Communities primarily grow upland rice, cassava, and vegetables, though cane sugar distillation and coal mining provide job opportunity diversification.

Traditional farming systems, such as intercropping and agroforestry encourage biodiversity. These farming practices have been shown to increase the resilience of food production and alleviate reduction in access to wild foods associated with the loss of forests. However, continued acquisition of land by palm oil and rubber plantations reduces household access to land, food, and water.

Palm oil production is also a large part of Liberian agriculture and is largely controlled by the Malaysian palm oil company, Sime Darby. In 2009, Liberia granted one of its largest concessions to Sime Darby, despite local and international concern over the environmental impacts this could cause. Liberia, which has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world, was promised employment of roughly 30,000 by Sime Darby for palm oil production. Palm oil production is expected to increase as global demand for palm oil for food and biofuel increases. Rubber production in Liberia is mostly done through plantations and industrial agriculture. These industries can cause deforestation and have been shown to decrease the amount of land owned by locals according to a study done by the Cornell Land Project. They can also decrease local incomes by taking away the ability of locals to hunt for and trade bushmeat or grow crops to sell.

Mining

Between 1960 and 1980, iron ore mining was the mainstay of the Liberian economy, contributing to more than 60 percent of export earnings. This came after former United States president Harry S. Truman encouraged foreign investment, leading some foreign companies to invest in Liberia's mining sector. During this time, much of the mining done in Liberia was carried out by alluvial mining of small-scale operations, with estimates of over 100,000 artisanal miners in Liberia. However, with the onset of Liberia's first civil war, much of the country's productive infrastructure was destroyed and mining was brought to a virtual halt. The commencement of Liberia's second civil war aggravated this trend.

After the end of Liberia's second civil war, there was a sharp post-conflict increase in mining activities, rapid settlement expansion and increasing forest loss. This increased mining activity and associated forest loss threatens biodiversity, increases pressure on available agricultural land, especially land meant for sustenance agriculture, and increases potential exposure of the Liberian population to pollution from mining activities. Many of these iron and gold ore corporations which are increasingly dominating the Liberian economy are geared to satisfy the needs of the metropolitan economies and not the needs of the Liberian economy. This has led to the formation of economic islands which fail to have any "developing effect" on the economy as a whole. Despite the stronger economic linkages artisanal mines have to local communities, investment in industrial mining by foreign companies has increased in post-conflict Liberia due to larger taxes and royalty payments received from industrial mines.

Liberian mining has also been shown to have negative effects on the Liberian environment. Post conflict mining has contributed to an increase in forest loss and air pollution. Though Liberia does possess environmental management tools such as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), use of these tools and environmentally protective policy is still lacking. Harnessing of best practices in regards to agriculture and mining and valorizing local knowledge has been shown to be inadequate, meaning pressure on the environment is still heavy. Liberia's mining industry also impacts food and water availability for many Liberian peoples, impacting household nutrition and income levels.

Gold, diamonds, and iron ore form the core minerals of the mining sector with a new Mineral Development Policy and Mining Code being put in place to attract foreign investments. In 2013, the mineral sector accounted for 11% of GDP in the country and the World Bank projected a further increase in the sector by 2017.

Telecommunications

Main article: Communications in Liberia

There are six major newspapers in Liberia, and 65% of the population has a mobile phone service. Much of Liberia's communications infrastructure was destroyed or plundered during the two civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003). With low rates of adult literacy and high poverty rates, television and newspaper use is limited, leaving radio as the predominant means of communicating with the public.

Transportation

Energy

Further information: Energy in Liberia

Public electricity services are provided solely by the state-owned Liberia Electricity Corporation, which operates a small grid almost exclusively in the Greater Monrovia District. The vast majority of electric energy services is provided by small, privately owned generators. At $0.54 per kWh, the cost of electricity in Liberia is among the highest in the world. Total capacity in 2013 was 20 MW, a sharp decline from a peak of 191 MW in 1989 before the wars.

The repair and expansion of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Project, with a maximum capacity of 80 MW, was completed in 2018. Construction of three new heavy fuel oil power plants is expected to boost electrical capacity by 38 MW. In 2013, Liberia began importing power from neighboring Ivory Coast and Guinea through the West African Power Pool.

Liberia has begun exploration for offshore oil; unproven oil reserves may be in excess of one billion barrels. The government divided its offshore waters into 17 blocks and began auctioning off exploration licenses for the blocks in 2004, with further auctions in 2007 and 2009. An additional 13 ultra-deep offshore blocks were demarcated in 2011 and planned for auction. Among the companies to have won licenses are Repsol YPF, Chevron Corporation and Woodside Energy.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Liberia

See also: Liberian nationality law

Liberia is home to about 5 million people. The country has many different ethnic groups, with the Kpelle being the largest group. Most people in Liberia speak English, which is the official language, but there are also many other languages spoken there.

People in Liberia are mostly Christian, with many also following traditional beliefs. The country has both public and private schools, though not everyone can attend. There are also universities, such as the University of Liberia, which is the oldest in the country. Health care can be difficult to access, and many people face challenges like diseases and malnutrition.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Liberia

Liberia’s culture is shaped by its history and diverse traditions. The Americo-Liberians, who settled the country, brought customs from the American South, including clothing styles and architectural designs. They also contributed to Liberia’s rich textile and quilting traditions, with notable achievements in sewing and crafting.

Liberia has a vibrant literary tradition, with authors like Edward Wilmot Blyden, Bai T. Moore, and others contributing to its literary heritage. The country’s cuisine features rice as a staple, along with ingredients such as cassava, fish, and spices. Popular sports include association football, with former president George Weah being a famous athlete, and basketball. Liberia is gradually transitioning from United States customary units to the International System of Units for measurements.

Media

Main article: Mass media in Liberia

Cuisine

Sport

The most popular sport in Liberia is association football. The Liberia national football team has reached the Africa Cup of Nations finals twice.

The second most popular sport in Liberia is basketball. The Liberian national basketball team has reached the AfroBasket twice.

In Liberia, the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex serves as a multi-purpose stadium.

Measurement system