Liberia Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Monrovia

Population

5,563,541 (2025 est.)

Area

111,369 sq km

Location

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

🧭 Background

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. 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. 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references

Africa

Area — total

111,369 sq km

Area — land

96,320 sq km

Area — water

15,049 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than Virginia

Land boundaries — total

1,667 km

Land boundaries — border countries

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

Coastline

579 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — exclusive economic zone

200 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

200 nm

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

Elevation — highest point

Mount Wuteve 1,447 m

Elevation — lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Elevation — mean elevation

243 m

Natural resources

Iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use — agricultural land

20% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

66.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

13.5% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

30 sq km (2012)

Population distribution

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

Natural hazards

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

Geography - note

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

5,563,541 (2025 est.)

Population — male

2,774,006

Population — female

2,789,535

Nationality — noun

Liberian(s)

Nationality — adjective

Liberian

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.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

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

Age structure — 15-64 years

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

Age structure — 65 years and over

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

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

72 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

66.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

5.6 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

18 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

20.1 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

19.8 years

Median age — female

20 years

Population growth rate

2.27% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Population distribution

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

Urbanization — urban population

53.6% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

1.678 million MONROVIA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.01 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.87 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

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

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.1 years (2019/20 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate — total

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

Infant mortality rate — male

61 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

50.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

61.6 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

59.9 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

63.3 years

Total fertility rate

3.84 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

1.89 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 84.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 65.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 75.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 15.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 34.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 24.4% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

16.6% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

4.8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.18 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 70.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 25.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 49% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 29.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 74.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 51% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

9.9% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

3.12 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.38 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.44 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

2.28 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.02 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

6.4% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

11.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

1.5% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

10.9% (2019 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

51.4% (2020 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

5.8% (2020)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

24.9% (2020)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

8.4% (2020)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

2.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

7.4% national budget (2021 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

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

International environmental agreements — 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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

20% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 5.2% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 2.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 12.7% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

66.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

13.5% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

53.6% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

4 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

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

Particulate matter emissions

41.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

564,500 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

7.9% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

80.2 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

53.4 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

12.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

232 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Republic of Liberia

Country name — conventional short form

Liberia

Country name — etymology

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

Government type

Presidential republic

Capital — name

Monrovia

Capital — geographic coordinates

6 18 N, 10 48 W

Capital — time difference

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

Capital — etymology

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

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution — history

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

Constitution — 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

International law organization participation

Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

At least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

2 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)

Executive branch — head of government

President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate

Executive branch — 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)

Executive branch — most recent election date

10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023

Executive branch — election results

2023: 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% 2017: 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%

Executive branch — expected date of next election

October 2029

Legislative branch — legislature name

Legislature

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

73 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

6 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

10/10/2023

Legislative branch - lower chamber — 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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

11%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

October 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

The Liberian Senate

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

30 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Partial renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

9 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

10/10/2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber — 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)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

10%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

October 2029

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

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

Judicial branch — 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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 723-0437

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 723-0436

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@liberianembassyus.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

502 Benson Street, Monrovia

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[231] 77-677-7000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[231] 77-677-7370

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ACSMonrovia@state.gov https://lr.usembassy.gov/

International organization participation

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

Independence

26 July 1847

National holiday

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Flag

Description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a five-pointed white star sits on a blue square in the upper-left corner meaning: 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

National symbol(s)

White star

National color(s)

Red, white, blue

National anthem(s) — title

"All Hail, Liberia, Hail!"

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA

National anthem(s) — history

Lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$9.308 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$8.882 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$8.484 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.8% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.7% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.8% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$1,700 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$1,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$1,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$4.75 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

10.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

7.8% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

33.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

23.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

42.1% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

6.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

2.607 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

3% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

2.1% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

2.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

2% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

50.9% (2016 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2016

35.3 (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

2.9% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

27.1% (2016 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

18.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

17.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

15.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$5 million (2019 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$6 million (2019 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2016

28.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$64.806 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2021

-$101.746 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2020

-$274.971 million (2020 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$1.22 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2021

$1.041 billion (2021 est.)

Exports — Exports 2020

$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 — Imports 2022

$1.961 billion (2022 est.)

Imports — Imports 2021

$1.739 billion (2021 est.)

Imports — Imports 2020

$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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$599.66 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$700.829 million (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$340.966 million (2020 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$1.335 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Liberian dollars (LRD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

174.956 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

152.934 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

166.154 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

191.518 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2019

186.43 (2019 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

31.8% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

53.7%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

14.9%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

199,000 kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

215.96 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

179.222 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

66.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

1.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

32.4% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — biomass and waste

0.3% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

75,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

5,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

1.822 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

6,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

1.72 million (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

32 (2022 est.)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.lr

Internet users — percent of population

24% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

15,000 (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

(2022 est.) less than 1

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A8

Airports

19 (2025)

Railways — total

429 km (2008)

Railways — standard gauge

345 km (2008) 1.435-m gauge

Railways — narrow gauge

84 km (2008) 1.067-m gauge

Merchant marine — total

4,821 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

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

Ports — total ports

4 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

0

Ports — small

1

Ports — very small

3

Ports — ports with oil terminals

3

Ports — key ports

Buchanan, Cape Palmas, Greenville, Monrovia

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

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

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

0.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

0.8% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

0.5% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 2,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

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)

Military service age and obligation

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

Military - note

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 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)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

1,854 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons — 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/