Liberia

<p>With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic.</p> <p>Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power. In 2000, fighting resumed. A 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted TAYLOR’s resignation. He was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. <br><br>In 2005, Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy -- particularly after the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic -- and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH struggled to improve the country’s economy. In 2023, former Vice President Joseph BOAKAI was elected president, edging out WEAH by a thin margin, the first time since 1927 that an incumbent was not re-elected after one term. </p> <p> </p>

Land

96,320 sq km

Total

111,369 sq km

Water

15,049 sq km

slightly larger than Virginia

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

579 km

Africa

Highest point

Mount Wuteve 1,447 m

Lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Mean elevation

243 m

6 30 N, 9 30 W

facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

30 sq km (2012)

Border countries

Guinea 590 km; Cote d'Ivoire 778 km; Sierra Leone 299 km

number of neighbors

3

Total

1,667 km

Agricultural land

20% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)

arable land

5.19%

Forest

66.5% (2023 est.)

Other

13.5% (2023 est.)

permanent crops

2.08%

No

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Google Maps

https://goo.gl/maps/4VsHsc2oeGeRL3wg6

OpenStreetMap

https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/192780

Africa

Contiguous zone

24 nm

Continental shelf

200 nm

Exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Territorial sea

12 nm

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one third living within an 80-km (50-mi) radius of Monrovia, as shown in this population distribution map

Western Africa

mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

UTC

number of time zones

1

0-14 years

38.9% (male 1,064,100/female 1,052,556)

15-64 years

57.9% (male 1,566,263/female 1,579,835)

65 years and over

3.2% (2024 est.) (male 80,961/female 93,534)

Beer

0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits

2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total

3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine

0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

31.72 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Men married by age 18

8.4% (2020)

Women married by age 15

5.8% (2020)

Women married by age 18

24.9% (2020)

10.9% (2019 est.)

51.4% (2020 est.)

8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

adult female

245 per 1,000

adult male

288 per 1,000

Elderly dependency ratio

5.6 (2025 est.)

Potential support ratio

18 (2025 est.)

Total dependency ratio

72 (2025 est.)

Youth dependency ratio

66.4 (2025 est.)

Improved: rural

rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.4% national budget (2021 est.)

2 % of GDP

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.)

1.89 (2025 est.)

13 % of GDP

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

16.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

1.6 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Female

50.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

61 deaths/1,000 live births

neonatal

30 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

55.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

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

languages

English

number of languages

1

Female

63.3 years

Male

59.9 years

Total population

61.6 years (2024 est.)

1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)

628 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Female

20 years

Male

19.8 years

Total

20.1 years (2025 est.)

19.1 years (2019/20 est.)

note

<strong>note:</strong> data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Adjective

Liberian

Noun

Liberian(s)

-0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

9.9% (2016)

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Female

2,789,535

Male

2,774,006

Total

5,563,541 (2025 est.)

2.27% (2025 est.)

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

Improved: rural

rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: total

total: 49% of population (2022 est.)

Improved: urban

urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: rural

rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: total

total: 51% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved: urban

urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)

0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

At birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Total population

1 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Female

1.5% (2025 est.)

Male

11.5% (2025 est.)

Total

6.4% (2025 est.)

3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Rate of urbanization

3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban population

53.6% of total population (2023)

measles

82%

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Etymology

named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of Liberia's colonization by freed slaves

Geographic coordinates

6 18 N, 10 48 W

Name

Monrovia

Time difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship by birth

no

Citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia

Dual citizenship recognized

no

Residency requirement for naturalization

2 years

svg

https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/lr.svg

Amendment process

proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters

History

previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986

alternative spellings

LR, Republic of Liberia

Conventional long form

Republic of Liberia

Conventional short form

Liberia

Etymology

name derives from the Latin word <em>liber, </em>meaning "free;" so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves

FIFA code

LBR

local long form (eng)

Republic of Liberia

Chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charg&eacute; d&rsquo;Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)

Email address and website

<br>ACSMonrovia@state.gov<br><br>https://lr.usembassy.gov/

Embassy

502 Benson Street, Monrovia

FAX

[231] 77-677-7370

Mailing address

8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC&nbsp; 20521-8800

Telephone

[231] 77-677-7000

Chancery

5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Chief of mission

Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)

Consulate(s) general

New York

Email address and website

<br>info@liberianembassyus.org<br><br>http://www.liberianembassyus.org/

FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

Telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate

Chief of state

President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)

Election results

<em><br>2023:</em> Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.2%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.6%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.4%, other 5.6%; percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4%<br><br><em>2017:</em> George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5%

Election/appointment process

president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term)

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Head of government

President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)

Most recent election date

10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023

Note

<strong>note:</strong> the president is both chief of state and head of government

<strong>description:</strong> 11 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a five-pointed white star sits on a blue square in the upper-left corner<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> the stripes stand for the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, the blue square for the African mainland, and the star for the freedom granted to ex-slaves; the blue stands for liberty, justice, and fidelity; the white for purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness; the red for steadfastness, valor, and fervor

note

<strong>note: </strong>the design is based on the US flag

The flag of Liberia is composed of eleven equal horizontal bands of red alternating with white. A blue square bearing a five-pointed white star is superimposed in the canton.

svg

https://flagcdn.com/lr.svg

presidential republic

26 July 1847

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices)

Judge selection and term of office

chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70

Note

<strong>note: </strong>the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases

Subordinate courts

judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts

mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law

Legislative structure

bicameral

Legislature name

Legislature

Chamber name

House of Representatives

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Most recent election date

10/10/2023

Number of seats

73 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (25); Unity Party (UP) (11); Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) (6); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (4); Independents (19); Other (8)

Percentage of women in chamber

11%

Scope of elections

full renewal

Term in office

6 years

Chamber name

The Liberian Senate

Electoral system

plurality/majority

Expected date of next election

October 2029

Most recent election date

10/10/2023

Number of seats

30 (all directly elected)

Parties elected and seats per party

Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (6); Unity Party (UP) (1); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (1); Liberia Restoration Party (LRP) (1); Independents (6)

Percentage of women in chamber

10%

Scope of elections

partial renewal

Term in office

9 years

red, white, blue

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

white star

All Liberian Party or ALP <br>Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD <br>Alternative National Congress or ANC <br>Coalition for Democratic Change (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP)<br>Collaborating Political Parties or CPP (coalition includes ANC, LP; CPP dissolved in April 2024)<br>Congress for Democratic Change or CDC <br>Liberia Destiny Party or LDP <br>Liberia National Union or LINU <br>Liberia Transformation Party or LTP <br>Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP <br>Liberian People's Party or LPP <br>Liberian Restoration Party or LRP <br>Liberty Party or LP <br>Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR <br>Movement for Economic Empowerment <br>Movement for Progressive Change or MPC <br>National Democratic Coalition or NDC <br>National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL <br>National Patriotic Party or NPP <br>National Reformist Party or NRP <br>National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP <br>People's Unification Party or PUP <br>Unity Party or UP <br>United People's Party <br>Victory for Change Party or VCP 

Monday

18 years of age; universal

Yes

cassava, sugarcane, rice, oil palm fruit, bananas, rubber, vegetables, plantains, taro, maize (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Expenditures

$6 million (2019 est.)

Revenues

$5 million (2019 est.)

code

LRD

name

Liberian dollar (LRD) [$]

$64.81 million

Current account balance 2020

-$274.971 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$101.746 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$64.806 million (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$2.23 billion

Debt - external 2023

$1.335 billion (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

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

Currency

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

186.43 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

191.518 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

166.154 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

152.934 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

174.956 (2023 est.)

Exports 2020

$731.658 million (2020 est.)

Exports 2021

$1.041 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$1.22 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

net inflows

$471.54 million

Agriculture

33.6% (2024 est.)

Industry

23.3% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Services

42.1% (2024 est.)

$4.75 billion (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

$851

35.3 (2016)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

35.3 (2016 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

$4.48 billion

$760

Highest 10%

27.1% (2016 est.)

Lowest 10%

2.9% (2016 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2020

$1.371 billion (2020 est.)

Imports 2021

$1.739 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$1.961 billion (2022 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

ships, refined petroleum, rice, trucks, centrifuges (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

6.1% (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds

8.21%

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

7.8% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.1% (2023 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

2.607 million (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

total

2.67 million persons

agriculture

41.12%

industry

8.35%

services

50.53%

50.9% (2016 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

Public debt 2016

28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

$10.5 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$8.484 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$8.882 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$9.308 billion (2024 est.)

4.02%

Note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.8% (2024 est.)

$1,871

Note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,600 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,700 (2024 est.)

$1.02 billion

Note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2021

15.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

$599.66 million

Note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$340.966 million (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$700.829 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$599.66 million (2022 est.)

2.88%

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2022

3% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Female

2% (2024 est.)

Male

2.2% (2024 est.)

Note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Total

2.1% (2024 est.)

Imports

75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Consumption

215.96 million kWh (2023 est.)

Installed generating capacity

199,000 kW (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses

179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electrification - rural areas

14.9%

Electrification - total population

31.8% (2022 est.)

Electrification - urban areas

53.7%

Biomass and waste

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels

66.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

hydroelectric

55.72%

Hydroelectricity

32.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

nuclear

0%

renewable

57.42%

Solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

92.8%

per 100 inhabitants

0 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total

15,000 (2022 est.)

8 private and 1 state-owned TV station; satellite TV service available; 1 state-owned radio station; about 20 independent radio stations broadcasting in Monrovia, with about 80 more local stations operating in other areas; transmissions of 4 international broadcasters are available (2019)

.lr

Percent of population

24% (2023 est.)

####

+231

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Total subscriptions

6,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100

32 per 100

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2022 est.)

Total subscriptions

1.72 million (2022 est.)

19 (2025)

A8

Right

By type

bulk carrier 1,895, container ship 1,013, general cargo 170, oil tanker 1,038, other 705

Total

4,821 (2023)

Key ports

Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia

Large

0

Medium

0

Ports with oil terminals

3

Small

1

Total ports

4 (2024)

Very small

3

Narrow gauge

84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge

Note

<strong>note:</strong> most sections of the railways inoperable due to damage sustained during the civil wars from 1980 to 2003, but many are being rebuilt

Standard gauge

345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge

Total

429 km (2008)

LB

the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are responsible for external defense and some domestic security responsibilities if called upon, such as humanitarian assistance during natural disasters and support to law enforcement; it is a small, lightly equipped force comprised of two combat infantry battalions and supporting units, as well as a few coastal patrol craft for the Coast Guard; the infantry battalions were rebuilt with US assistance in 2007-2008 from the restructured AFL following the end of the second civil war in 2003 when military and police forces were disbanded and approximately 100,000 military, police, and rebel combatants were disarmed<br><br>the first militia unit established for defense of the Liberia colony was raised in 1832; the AFL traces its origins to the 1908 establishment of the Liberia Frontier Force, which became the Liberian National Guard in 1965; the AFL was established in 1970 (2025)

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Liberian Coast Guard<br><br>Ministry of Justice: Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (2025)

active duty personnel

2,000

percent of total labor force

0.09 %

approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

the military has a limited inventory; in recent years, it has received small quantities of equipment, including donations, from countries such as China, UAE, and the US (2025)

1 % of GDP

current USD

$33,825,000

Military Expenditures 2020

0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military Expenditures 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

percent of central government expenditure

3.20 %

percent of GDP

0.71 % of GDP

18 years of age for men and women for voluntary military service (2025)

Refugees

1,854 (2024 est.)

Tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Liberia remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/liberia/

From coal and metallurgical coke

4 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids

671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Total emissions

671,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

tropical rainforest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste

Party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling

Signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

1 % of total land area

2 % of total

232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

0 % of internal resources

Agricultural

12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial

53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal

80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually

564,500 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled

7.9% (2022 est.)