2  definitions  found 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  Liberia 
  n  :  a  republic  in  West  Africa;  established  in  1822  by  Americans 
  as  a  way  to  free  negro  slaves  [syn:  {Liberia}] 
 
  From  The  CIA  World  Factbook  (1995)  [world95]: 
 
  Liberia 
 
  Liberia:Geography 
 
  Location:  Western  Africa,  bordering  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean,  between 
  Cote  d'Ivoire  and  Sierra  Leone 
 
  Map  references:  Africa 
 
  Area: 
  total  area:  111,370  sq  km 
  land  area:  96,320  sq  km 
  comparative  area:  slightly  larger  than  Tennessee 
 
  Land  boundaries:  total  1,585  km  Guinea  563  km  Cote  d'Ivoire  716  km 
  Sierra  Leone  306  km 
 
  Coastline:  579  km 
 
  Maritime  claims: 
  territorial  sea:  200  nm 
 
  International  disputes:  none 
 
  Climate:  tropical;  hot,  humid;  dry  winters  with  hot  days  and  cool  to 
  cold  nights;  wet,  cloudy  summers  with  frequent  heavy  showers 
 
  Terrain:  mostly  flat  to  rolling  coastal  plains  rising  to  rolling 
  plateau  and  low  mountains  in  northeast 
 
  Natural  resources:  iron  ore,  timber,  diamonds,  gold 
 
  Land  use: 
  arable  land:  1% 
  permanent  crops:  3% 
  meadows  and  pastures:  2% 
  forest  and  woodland:  39% 
  other:  55% 
 
  Irrigated  land:  20  sq  km  (1989  est.) 
 
  Environment: 
  current  issues:  tropical  rain  forest  subject  to  deforestation;  soil 
  erosion;  loss  of  biodiversity;  pollution  of  rivers  from  the  dumping  of 
  iron  ore  tailings  and  of  coastal  waters  from  oil  residue  and  raw 
  sewage 
  natural  hazards:  dust-laden  harmattan  winds  blow  from  the  Sahara 
  (December  to  March) 
  international  agreements:  party  to  -  Endangered  Species,  Nuclear  Test 
  Ban,  Ship  Pollution,  Tropical  Timber  83,  Tropical  Timber  94;  signed, 
  but  not  ratified  -  Biodiversity,  Climate  Change,  Environmental 
  Modification,  Law  of  the  Sea,  Marine  Dumping,  Marine  Life  Conservation 
 
  Liberia:People 
 
  Population:  3,073,245  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Age  structure: 
  0-14  years:  44%  (female  674,155;  male  680,952) 
  15-64  years:  52%  (female  768,147;  male  844,326) 
  65  years  and  over:  4%  (female  55,575;  male  50,090)  (July  1995  est.) 
 
  Population  growth  rate:  3.32%  (1995  est.) 
 
  Birth  rate:  43.08  births/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Death  rate:  12.05  deaths/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
 
  Net  migration  rate:  NA  migrant(s)/1,000  population  (1995  est.) 
  note:  if  the  Ghanaian-led  peace  negotiations,  under  way  in  1995,  are 
  successful,  many  Liberian  refugees  may  return  from  exile 
 
  Infant  mortality  rate:  110.6  deaths/1,000  live  births  (1995  est.) 
 
  Life  expectancy  at  birth: 
  total  population:  58.17  years 
  male:  55.67  years 
  female:  60.75  years  (1995  est.) 
 
  Total  fertility  rate:  6.3  children  born/woman  (1995  est.) 
 
  Nationality: 
  noun:  Liberian(s) 
  adjective:  Liberian 
 
  Ethnic  divisions:  indigenous  African  tribes  95%  (including  Kpelle, 
  Bassa,  Gio,  Kru,  Grebo,  Mano,  Krahn  Gola,  Gbandi  Loma,  Kissi,  Vai, 
  and  Bella),  Americo-Liberians  5%  (descendants  of  former  slaves) 
 
  Religions:  traditional  70%,  Muslim  20%,  Christian  10% 
 
  Languages:  English  20%  (official),  Niger-Congo  language  group  about  20 
  local  languages  come  from  this  group 
 
  Literacy:  age  15  and  over  can  read  and  write  (1990  est.) 
  total  population:  40% 
  male:  50% 
  female:  29% 
 
  Labor  force:  510,000  including  220,000  in  the  monetary  economy 
  by  occupation:  agriculture  70.5%,  services  10.8%,  industry  and 
  commerce  4.5%,  other  14.2% 
  note:  non-African  foreigners  hold  about  95%  of  the  top-level 
  management  and  engineering  jobs 
 
  Liberia:Government 
 
  Names: 
  conventional  long  form:  Republic  of  Liberia 
  conventional  short  form:  Liberia 
 
  Digraph:  LI 
 
  Type:  republic 
 
  Capital:  Monrovia 
 
  Administrative  divisions:  13  counties;  Bomi,  Bong,  Grand  Bassa,  Grand 
  Cape  Mount,  Grand  Gedeh,  Grand  Kru,  Lofa,  Margibi  Maryland, 
  Montserrado  Nimba,  River  Cess,  Sinoe 
 
  Independence:  26  July  1847 
 
  National  holiday:  Independence  Day  26  July  (1847) 
 
  Constitution:  6  January  1986 
 
  Legal  system:  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 
 
  Suffrage:  18  years  of  age;  universal 
 
  Executive  branch: 
  chief  of  state  and  head  of  government:  Chairman  of  the  Council  of 
  State  David  KPOMAKPOR  (since  March  1994);  election  last  held  on  15 
  October  1985;  results  -  Gen.  Dr  Samuel  Kanyon  DOE  (NDPL)  50.9%, 
  Jackson  DOE  (LAP)  26.4%,  other  22.7% 
  note:  constitutional  government  ended  in  September  1990  when  President 
  Samuel  Kanyon  DOE  was  killed  by  rebel  forces;  civil  war  ensued  and  in 
  July  1993  the  Cotonou  Peace  Treaty  was  negotiated  by  the  major  warring 
  factions  under  UN  auspices;  a  transitional  coalition  government  under 
  David  KROMAKPOR  was  formed  in  March  1994  but  has  been  largely 
  ineffective  and  unable  to  implement  the  provisions  of  the  peace 
  treaty;  Ghanaian-led  negotiations  are  now  underway  to  seat  a  new 
  interim  government  that  would  oversee  elections  proposed  for  late  1995 
 
  cabinet:  Cabinet;  selected  by  the  leaders  of  the  major  factions  in  the 
  civil  war 
 
  Legislative  branch:  unicameral  Transitional  Legislative  Assembly,  the 
  members  of  which  are  appointed  by  the  leaders  of  the  major  factions  in 
  the  civil  war 
  note:  the  former  bicameral  legislature  no  longer  exists  and  there  is 
  no  assurance  that  it  will  be  reconstituted  very  soon 
 
  Judicial  branch:  Supreme  Court 
 
  Political  parties  and  leaders:  National  Democratic  Party  of  Liberia 
  (NDPL),  Augustus  CAINE,  chairman;  Liberian  Action  Party  (LAP), 
  Emmanuel  KOROMAH  chairman;  Unity  Party  (UP),  Joseph  KOFA,  chairman; 
  United  People's  Party  (UPP),  Gabriel  Baccus  MATTHEWS,  chairman; 
  National  Patriotic  Party  (NPP),  Charles  TAYLOR,  chairman;  Liberian 
  Peoples  Party  (LPP),  Dusty  WOLOKOLLIE  chairman 
 
  Member  of:  ACP,  AfDB  CCC,  ECA,  ECOWAS  FAO,  G-77,  IAEA,  IBRD,  ICAO, 
  ICFTU  ICRM,  IDA,  IFAD,  IFC,  IFRCS  ILO,  IMF,  IMO,  INMARSAT  INTELSAT 
  (nonsignatory  user),  INTERPOL,  IOC,  ITU,  NAM,  OAU,  UN  UNCTAD  UNESCO, 
  UNIDO  UPU,  WCL,  WFTU  WHO  WIPO,  WMO 
 
  Diplomatic  representation  in  US: 
  chief  of  mission:  (vacant);  Charge  d'Affaires  Konah  K.  BLACKETT 
  chancery:  5201  16th  Street  NW  Washington,  DC  20011 
  telephone:  [1]  (202)  723-0437 
  consulate(s)  general:  New  York 
 
  US  diplomatic  representation: 
  chief  of  mission:  (vacant);  Charge  d'  Affaires  William  P.  TWADDELL 
  embassy:  111  United  Nations  Drive,  Monrovia 
  mailing  address:  P.  O.  Box  100098,  Mamba  Point,  Monrovia 
  telephone:  [231]  222991  through  222994 
  FAX:  [231]  223710 
 
  Flag:  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 
 
  Economy 
 
  Overview:  Civil  war  since  1990  has  destroyed  much  of  Liberia's 
  economy,  especially  the  infrastructure  in  and  around  Monrovia. 
  Businessmen  have  fled  the  country,  taking  capital  and  expertise  with 
  them  Many  will  not  return.  Richly  endowed  with  water,  mineral 
  resources,  forests,  and  a  climate  favorable  to  agriculture,  Liberia 
  had  been  a  producer  and  exporter  of  basic  products,  while  local 
  manufacturing,  mainly  foreign  owned,  had  been  small  in  scope. 
  Political  instability  threatens  prospects  for  economic  reconstruction 
  and  repatriation  of  some  750,000  Liberian  refugees  who  have  fled  to 
  neighboring  countries.  The  political  impasse  between  the  interim 
  government  and  rebel  leader  Charles  TAYLOR  has  prevented  restoration 
  of  normal  economic  life,  including  the  re-establishment  of  a  strong 
  central  government  with  effective  economic  development  programs.  The 
  economy  deteriorated  further  in  1994. 
 
  National  product:  GDP  -  purchasing  power  parity  -  $2.3  billion  (1994 
  est.) 
 
  National  product  real  growth  rate:  NA% 
 
  National  product  per  capita:  $770  (1994  est.) 
 
  Inflation  rate  (consumer  prices):  NA% 
 
  Unemployment  rate:  NA% 
 
  Budget: 
  revenues:  $242.1  million 
  expenditures:  $435.4  million,  including  capital  expenditures  of  $29.5 
  million  (1989  est.) 
 
  Exports:  $505  million  (f.o.b.,  1989  est.) 
  commodities:  iron  ore  61%,  rubber  20%,  timber  11%,  coffee 
  partners:  US  EC  Netherlands 
 
  Imports:  $394  million  (c.i.f.,  1989  est.) 
  commodities:  mineral  fuels,  chemicals,  machinery,  transportation 
  equipment,  rice  and  other  foodstuffs 
  partners:  US  EC  Japan,  China,  Netherlands,  ECOWAS 
 
  External  debt:  $2.1  billion  (September  1993  est.) 
 
  Industrial  production:  growth  rate  NA%  (1993-94);  much  industrial 
  damage  caused  by  factional  warfare 
 
  Electricity: 
  capacity:  330,000  kW 
  production:  440  million  kWh 
  consumption  per  capita:  143  kWh  (1993) 
 
  Industries:  rubber  processing,  food  processing,  construction 
  materials,  furniture,  palm  oil  processing,  mining  (iron  ore,  diamonds) 
 
  Agriculture:  accounts  for  about  40%  of  GDP  (including  fishing  and 
  forestry);  principal  products  -  rubber,  timber,  coffee,  cocoa,  rice, 
  cassava,  palm  oil,  sugarcane,  bananas,  sheep,  goats;  not 
  self-sufficient  in  food,  imports  25%  of  rice  consumption 
 
  Illicit  drugs:  increasingly  a  transshipment  point  for  heroin  and 
  cocaine 
 
  Economic  aid: 
  recipient:  US  commitments,  including  Ex-Im  (FY70-89),  $665  million; 
  Western  (non-US)  countries,  ODA  and  OOF  bilateral  commitments 
  (1970-89),  $870  million;  OPEC  bilateral  aid  (1979-89),  $25  million; 
  Communist  countries  (1970-89),  $77  million 
 
  Currency:  1  Liberian  dollar  (L$)  =  100  cents 
 
  Exchange  rates:  Liberian  dollars  (L$)  per  US$1  -  1.00  (officially 
  fixed  rate  since  1940);  unofficial  parallel  exchange  rate  of  US$1  - 
  L$7  (January  1992),  unofficial  rate  floats  against  the  US  dollar 
 
  Fiscal  year:  calendar  year 
 
  Liberia:Transportation 
 
  Railroads: 
  total:  490  km  (single  track);  note  -  three  rail  systems  owned  and 
  operated  by  foreign  steel  and  financial  interests  in  conjunction  with 
  Liberian  Government;  one  of  these  the  Lamco  Railroad,  closed  in  1989 
  after  iron  ore  production  ceased;  the  other  two  have  been  shut  down  by 
  the  civil  war 
  standard  gauge:  345  km  1.435-m  gauge 
  narrow  gauge:  145  km  1.067-m  gauge 
 
  Highways: 
  total:  10,087  km 
  paved:  603  km 
  unpaved:  gravel  5,171  km  (includes  2,323  km  of  private  roads  of  rubber 
  and  timber  firms,  open  to  the  public);  earth  4,313  km 
 
  Ports:  Buchanan,  Greenville,  Harper,  Monrovia 
 
  Merchant  marine: 
  total:  1,549  ships  (1,000  GRT  or  over)  totaling  56,709,634 
  GRT/97,038,680  DWT 
  ships  by  type:  barge  carrier  3,  bulk  392,  cargo  121,  chemical  tanker 
  114,  combination  bulk  33,  combination  ore/oil  57,  container  124, 
  liquefied  gas  tanker  75,  oil  tanker  459,  passenger  32,  passenger-cargo 
  1,  refrigerated  cargo  58,  roll-on/roll-off  cargo  18,  short-sea 
  passenger  1,  specialized  tanker  7,  vehicle  carrier  54 
  note:  a  flag  of  convenience  registry;  includes  53  countries;  the  10 
  major  fleet  flags  are:  United  States  232  ships,  Japan  190,  Norway  166, 
  Greece  125,  Germany  125,  United  Kingdom  102,  Hong  Kong  95,  China  45, 
  Russia  41,  and  the  Netherlands  34 
 
  Airports: 
  total:  59 
  with  paved  runways  over  3,047  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  1,524  to  2,437  m:  1 
  with  paved  runways  under  914  m:  43 
  with  unpaved  runways  1,524  to  2,438  m:  3 
  with  unpaved  runways  914  to  1,523  m:  11 
 
  Liberia:Communications 
 
  Telephone  system:  NA  telephones;  telephone  and  telegraph  service  via 
  radio  relay  network;  main  center  is  Monrovia;  most  telecommunications 
  services  inoperable  due  to  insurgency  movement 
  local:  NA 
  intercity:  NA 
  international:  1  INTELSAT  (Atlantic  Ocean)  earth  station 
 
  Radio: 
  broadcast  stations:  AM  3,  FM  4,  shortwave  0 
  radios:  NA 
 
  Television: 
  broadcast  stations:  5 
  televisions:  NA 
 
  Liberia:Defense  Forces 
 
  Branches:  NA  the  ultimate  structure  of  the  Liberian  military  force 
  will  depend  on  who  is  the  victor  in  the  ongoing  civil  war 
 
  Manpower  availability:  males  age  15-49  732,063;  males  fit  for  military 
  service  390,849  (1995  est.) 
 
  Defense  expenditures:  exchange  rate  conversion  -  $30  million,  2%  of 
  GDP  (1994) 
 
 
 

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