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First Clearing LTD of LIBERIA
555 Dream Catcher Ave
Monrovia, Liberia
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| Introduction |
Liberia |
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| History:
In January 1820 the first ship, the Elizabeth, set sail from New York headed for West Africa with three white ACS agents and 88 emigrants. The ship first docked at Freetown, Sierra Leone then sailed south to what is now the Northern coast of Liberia in an effort to establish a settlement. All three whites and 22 of the emigrants died within weeks from yellow fever.
Although the first settlement was abandoned, thousands of US Free Blacks eventually immigrated to settlements in the region.
 Joseph Jenkins Roberts became the first non-white governor of Liberia in 1842.The legislature of Liberia declared itself an independent state, with Joseph Jenkins Roberts elected as its first President in 1847, and July 26th is still celebrated as Liberia’s Independents Day and a National Holiday.
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| Geography |
Liberia |
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Location: |
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone |
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Geographic coordinates: |
6 30 N, 9 30 W |
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Map references: |
Africa |
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Area: |
total: 111,370 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
slightly larger than Tennessee - USA |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km |
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Coastline: |
579 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 200 NM |
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Terrain: |
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m |
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Natural resources: |
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower |
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Land use: |
arable land: 1.97%
permanent crops: 2.08%
other: 95.95% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land: |
30 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation |
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Geography - note: |
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture |
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| Climate |
Liberia |
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General: |
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers |
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| People |
Liberia |
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Population:
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3,317,176 (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831)
15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 18.1 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 18.4 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.67% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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45.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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17.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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-10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries though slowly returning (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 132.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 125.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 139.03 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 48.15 years
male: 47.03 years
female: 49.3 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.23 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian |
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Ethnic groups:
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indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves) |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20% |
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Languages:
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English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6%
note: (2003 est.) |
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| Government |
Liberia |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia |
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Government type:
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republic |
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Capital:
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Monrovia |
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Administrative divisions:
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15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe |
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Independence:
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26 July 1847 |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 26 July (1847) |
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Constitution:
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6 January 1986 |
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Legal system:
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dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2005)
note:: a UN-brokered cease fire among waring factions and the Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement, President Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as chairman of the National Transitional Government on 14 October 2003
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - Taylor stepped down in August 2003 |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1
elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 14 October 2003) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party; United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP [Charles CLARKE] |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Aaron B. KOLLIE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148 |
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Flag description:
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11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
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| Economy |
Liberia |
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Economy - overview:
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Civil war has destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia.
Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some have returned; many will not.
Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy has just begun with the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor countries.
With the cessation of civil war and visionary policies implemented by the new Government, the war weary economy of Liberia is now expected to recover and flourish. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $3.116 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 74%
industry: 7%
services: 19% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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80% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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15% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Budget:
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revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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468.8 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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435.9 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber |
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Exports:
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$110 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee |
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Exports - partners:
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Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$165 million f.o.b. (2002 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs |
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Imports - partners:
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South Korea 30.3%, Japan 19.1%, Germany 15.6%, France 9.1%, Singapore 7.9% (2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.1 billion (2000 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$94 million (1999) |
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Currency:
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Liberian dollar (LRD) 
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Currency code:
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LRD |
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Exchange rates:
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Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95 (2000), 41.9 (1999), 41.51 (1998)
note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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| Communications |
Liberia |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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6,700 (2000) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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0 (1998) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia
domestic: NA
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001) |
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Internet country code:
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.lr |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
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2 (2001) |
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Internet users:
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500 (2000) |
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| Transportation |
Liberia |
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Railways:
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total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railways are in operation (2002) |
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Highways:
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total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Ports and harbors:
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Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 1,432 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 48,700,851 GRT/75,408,994 DWT
ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 282, cargo 80, chemical tanker 163, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 24, container 357, liquefied gas 82, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 286, refrigerated cargo 60, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 37
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil 5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11, Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong 69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20, Isle of Man 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore 20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9, Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, UAE 12, UK 39, US 113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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47 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 34 (2002) |
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| Source: CIA - The World Fact Book |
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