World Factbook Title
navigation arrows
Download Publication
Africa :: Liberia
page last updated on November 17, 2011
Flag of Liberia
(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
Location of Liberia
Click flag or map to enlarge Opens in New Window
 
Map of Liberia
Click map to enlarge Opens in New Window
No Photos available for Liberia
 
no photos available of Liberia
Expand All | collapse All
Introduction ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
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 descendents of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil 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 (UNMIL) 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 continues.
Back to Top
Geography ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
6 30 N, 9 30 W
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 111,369 sq km
country comparison to the world: 104
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
slightly larger than Tennessee
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
579 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
territorial sea: 200 nm
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
arable land: 3.43%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 94.59% (2005)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
30 sq km (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
232 cu km (1987)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 0.11 cu km/yr (27%/18%/55%)
per capita: 34 cu m/yr (2000)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
Back to Top
People and Society ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 census)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3,786,764 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 843,182/female 834,922)
15-64 years: 52.7% (male 989,623/female 1,007,577)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 56,189/female 55,271) (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 18.3 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.3 years (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.663% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
37.25 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
urban population: 48% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 3.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
MONROVIA (capital) 882,000 (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
990 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 5
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 74.52 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 19
male: 78.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total population: 57 years
country comparison to the world: 193
male: 55.44 years
female: 58.6 years (2011 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5.13 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3.9% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 167
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.014 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 191
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
country comparison to the world: 160
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
improved:
urban: 79% of population
rural: 51% of population
total: 68% of population
unimproved:
urban: 21% of population
rural: 49% of population
total: 32% of population (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
improved:
urban: 25% of population
rural: 4% of population
total: 17% of population
unimproved:
urban: 75% of population
rural: 96% of population
total: 83% of population (2008)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
37,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3,600 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
20.4% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 35
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
2.7% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 144
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 11 years
male: 13 years
female: 9 years (2000)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 4.7%
country comparison to the world: 123
male: 5.7%
female: 3.7% (2007)
Back to Top
Government ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
republic
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
26 July 1847
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
6 January 1986
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
mixed legal system of common law (based on Anglo-American law) and customary law
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age; universal
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
(For more information visit the World Leaders website Opens in New Window)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held on 11 October and 8 November 2011 (next to be held in 2017)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF re-elected president; percent of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF 90.7%, Winston TUBMAN 9.3%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (73 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held in 2020); House of Representatives - last held on 11 October 2011 (next to be held 1n 2017)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UP 10, NPP 6, CDC 3, ADP 2, NUDP 2, LDP 1, LP 1, NDC 1, NDP 1, independents 3 ; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UP 30, CDC 11, LP 7, NUDP 6, NDC 5, ADP 3, NPP3, MPC 2, LDP1, LTP 1, NRP 1, independents 9
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Supreme Court
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH]; Congress for Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Roland MASSAQUOI]; Unity Party or UP [Varney SHERMAN]
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
other: demobilized former military officers
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William V. BULL
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda THOMAS-GREENFIELD
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 98, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 7-705-4826
FAX: [231] 7-701-0370
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a white five-pointed star appears on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the stripes symbolize the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence; the blue square represents the African mainland, and the star represents the freedom granted to the ex-slaves; according to the constitution, the blue color signifies liberty, justice, and fidelity, the white color purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness, and the red color steadfastness, valor, and fervor
note: the design is based on the US flag
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
white star
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
name: "All Hail, Liberia Hail!"
lyrics/music: Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
note: lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author would become the third president of Liberia
Back to Top
Economy ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Liberia is a low income country heavily reliant on foreign assistance for revenue. Civil war and government mismanagement destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around the capital, Monrovia. Many businesses fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them, but with the conclusion of fighting and the installation of a democratically-elected government in 2006, several have returned. Liberia has the distinction of having the highest ratio of direct foreign investment to GDP in the world. 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 and is reviving those sectors. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained banker and administrator, has taken steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors, and encourage private investment. Embargos on timber and diamond exports have been lifted, opening new sources of revenue for the government and Liberia shipped its first major timber exports to Europe in 2010. The country reached its Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative completion point in 2010 and nearly $5 billion of international debt was permanently eliminated. This new status will enable Liberia to establish a sovereign credit rating and issue bonds. Liberia's Paris Club creditors agreed to cancel Liberia's debt as well. Rebuilding infrastructure and raising incomes will depend on generous financial and technical assistance from donor countries and foreign investment in key sectors, such as infrastructure and power generation.
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.691 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 190
$1.608 billion (2009 est.)
$1.537 billion (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$974 million (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
4.6% (2009 est.)
7.1% (2008 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
$400 (2009 est.)
$400 (2008 est.)
note: data are in 2010 US dollars
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.372 million (2007)
country comparison to the world: 133
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
85% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
80% (2000 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.1% (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
38.2 (2007)
country comparison to the world: 74
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
34.3% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-0.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
7.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
7.4% (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
14.3% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
14.183% (31 December 2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$289 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170
$260.1 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$398.6 million
country comparison to the world: 179
$343.6 million
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.334 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 146
$1.269 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
NA%
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
335 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 165
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
311.6 million kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
23 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 131
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
4,552 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 198
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
-$692.5 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
-$541.1 million (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$207 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
$180 million (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
South Africa 26.9%, US 18.1%, Spain 7.8%, Denmark 5.4%, Venezuela 4.8%, Malaysia 4.3% (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$726.7 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 181
$559 million (2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
South Korea 37.2%, China 26.3%, Singapore 17.3%, Japan 11.5% (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$399.8 million (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
$372.5 million (31 December 2009 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$1.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
$NA
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -
NA (2007)
59.43 (2006)
53.098 (2005)
54.906 (2004)
59.379 (2003)
Back to Top
Communications ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
5,900 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 209
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.571 million (2010)
country comparison to the world: 142
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia; fixed-line service stagnant and extremely limited; telephone coverage extended to a number of other towns and rural areas by four mobile-cellular network operators
domestic: mobile-cellular subscription base growing and teledensity reached 25 per 100 persons in 2009
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
3 private TV stations; satellite TV service is available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 15 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with another 25 local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 2 international broadcasters are available (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
.lr
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 224
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
20,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 193
Back to Top
Transportation ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
29 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 115
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 14 (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
oil 4 km
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 429 km
country comparison to the world: 115
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 84 km 1.067-m gauge
note: most sections of the railways were inoperable because of damage suffered during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 10,600 km
country comparison to the world: 135
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (2000)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
total: 2,512
country comparison to the world: 2
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 507, cargo 136, carrier 1, chemical tanker 232, combination ore/oil 6, container 875, liquefied gas 93, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 509, refrigerated cargo 109, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 10, vehicle carrier 25
foreign-owned: 2,356 (Angola 1, Argentina 3, Australia 2, Belgium 1, Bermuda 4, Brazil 20, Canada 4, Chile 7, China 10, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7, Denmark 4, Finland 2, Germany 1049, Gibraltar 5, Greece 454, Hong Kong 47, India 1, Indonesia 4, Isle of Man 19, Israel 31, Italy 48, Japan 102, Latvia 9, Lebanon 1, Monaco 10, Netherlands 35, Nigeria 4, Norway 42, Poland 13, Qatar 5, Romania 3, Russia 108, Saudi Arabia 24, Singapore 27, Slovenia 5, South Korea 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 17, Syria 1, Taiwan 88, Turkey 15, UAE 27, UK 25, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 1, US 39, Vietnam 3)
note: this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag; these ships operate under the laws of the flag state (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Buchanan, Monrovia
Back to Top
Military ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2010)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 815,826
females age 16-49: 828,484 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
males age 16-49: 524,243
females age 16-49: 544,349 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
male: 36,585
female: 38,516 (2010 est.)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
1.3% of GDP (2006 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112
Back to Top
Transnational Issues ::Liberia
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of 18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January 2007, Liberian refugees still remain in Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire; despite the presence of over 9,000 UN forces (UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to spread into neighboring states who can no longer send their migrant workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
refugees (country of origin): 12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2007)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
current situation: Liberia is a source, transit, and destination country, principally for young women and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; most trafficking victims originate from within the country's borders and are subjected to domestic servitude, forced begging, forced labor in street vending, on rubber plantations, and alluvial diamond sites, or sex trafficking; victims of cross-border trafficking come to Liberia from Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, and Nigeria and are subjected to the same types of exploitation as internally trafficked victims
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the government has not shown evidence of increased efforts to prosecute and to punish trafficking offenders and to protect trafficking victims; the Liberian Government has never convicted a trafficking offender using its 2005 anti-trafficking law; it reported conducting two investigations of trafficking cases during the year, but did not initiate any prosecutions or convict any traffickers; it also did not provide training to law enforcement officials or magistrates (2011)
Field info displayed for all countries in alpha order.
transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
Back to Top
Expand All | collapse All