Liberia

World Book Index

Introduction

Background
Freed slaves from the US began being settled in what is today Liberia in 1822. By 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. A military coup in 1980 ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule followed by a civil war. A 2003 peace agreement ended the war, and elections were held in 2005.

Geography

Area
total : 111,369 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km

Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

People and Society

Population
total: 5,437,249 (2024 est.)

Ethnic groups
Kpelle 20.2%, Bassa 13.6%, Grebo 9.9%, Gio 7.9%, Mano 7.2%, Kru 5.5%, Lorma 4.8%, Krahn 4.5%, Kissi, 4.3%, Mandingo 4.2%, Vai 3.8%, Gola 3.8%, Gbandi 2.9%, Mende 1.7%, Sapo 1%, Belle 0.7%, Dey 0.3%, other Liberian ethnic group 0.4%, other African 3%, non-African 0.2% (2022 est.)

Languages
English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants

Religions
Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6% (2022 est.)

Population growth rate
2.32% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Monrovia

Executive branch
chief of state: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
head of government: President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)

Economy

Economic overview
low-income West African economy; food scarcity, especially in rural areas; high poverty and inflation; bad recession prior to COVID-19 due to Ebola crisis; growing government debt; longest continuously operated rubber plantation; large informal economy

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$9.308 billion (2024 est.)
$8.882 billion (2023 est.)
$8.484 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$1,700 (2024 est.)
$1,600 (2023 est.)
$1,600 (2022 est.)

Exports
$1.22 billion (2022 est.)
$1.041 billion (2021 est.)
$731.658 million (2020 est.)

Exports - partners
Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023)

Exports - commodities
gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)

Imports
$1.961 billion (2022 est.)
$1.739 billion (2021 est.)
$1.371 billion (2020 est.)

Imports - partners
China 48%, Japan 21%, Germany 8%, Brazil 3%, Cote d'Ivoire 3% (2023)

Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023)

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.510, ranking it 177th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 121st out of 158 countries tested with a score of 4.422. (more information)