Liberia covers roughly 43,000 square miles. The capital is Monrovia and the total population is 3.24 million. Geographically, Liberia is comprised primarily of Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast, wooded hills and semideciduous shrublands along the immediate interior, and dense tropical forests and plateaus in the interior. Liberia has 40 percent of West Africa's rain forest.

The people of Liberia are known as Liberians. The ethnic breakdown is Kpelle 20 percent, Bassa 16percent, Gio 8 percent, Kru 7 percent and 49 percent spread over 12 other ethnic groups. The religious breakdown is Christian 30 percent, Muslim 10 percent, and animist 60 percent. English is the official language, but there are also 16 indigenous languages. Life expectancy is 47 years and the literacy rate is 56 percent.

Liberia – Economy

The Liberian economy relied heavily on the mining of iron ore and on the export of natural rubber prior to the civil war. Liberia was a major exporter of iron ore on the world market. In the 1970s and 1980s, iron mining accounted for more than half of Liberia's export earnings. Following the coup d'etat of 1980, the country's economic growth rate slowed down because of a decline in the demand for iron ore on the world market and political upheavals in Liberia. Liberia's foreign debt amounts to about $3.5 billion.

The 1989-1996 civil war had a devastating effect on the country's economy. Most major businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged. Most foreign investors and businessmen left the country. Iron ore production has stopped completely and Liberia depends heavily on timber and rubber exports and revenues from its maritime registry program. Relatively few foreign investors have returned to the country since the end of the civil war due to the depressed business climate and continuing instability. Timber and rubber are Liberia's main export items since the end of the war. Liberia earns more than $85 million and $57 million annually from timber and rubber exports, respectively. Alluvial diamond and gold mining activities also account for some economic activity. There is increasing interest in the possibility of commercially exploitable offshore crude oil deposits along Liberia's Atlantic Coast.

Liberia is the second-largest maritime licenser in the world with more than 1,800 vessels registered under its flag, including 35 percent of the world's tanker fleet. It earns roughly $15 million a year from this program.

Liberia's business sector is largely controlled by foreigners, mainly of Lebanese and Indian descent. There also are limited numbers of Chinese engaged in agriculture. Significant numbers of West Africans are engaged in cross-border trade.

The United Nations imposed sanctions on rough diamond imports from, and arms exports to, Liberia in May 2001 for Liberia’s support of the brutal rebels of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in neighboring Sierra Leone. The UN renewed these sanctions in 2002, and in 2003, it sanctioned Liberia’s export of timber. In December 2004, the UN renewed these sanctions for another year, causing additional economic stagnation.

As these Liberia facts demonstrate, the country is coming out of a brutal civil war. While it will be a struggle to recover, the election of the first female president in Africa may be a sign of a willingness to forgo the old ways.

Data Source: http://www.factsmonk.com/liberia_facts

Liberia is Open for Business

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