Liberia

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Liberia's Information


Capital	Monrovia
Languages	English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence
Ethnic Groups	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)
Religion	Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)
Government	Presidential republic
Independance	26 July 1847
Area	111,369.00 km²
Water Area	15,049.00 km²
Land Area	96,320.00 km²
Population	4,299,944.00
Location	Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
No. Bordering Countries	3
Bordering Countries	Guinea 590 km, Cote d'Ivoire 778 km, Sierra Leone 299 km
GDP(PPP)	$3,787,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$900.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Poland, China, and India.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, and coffee.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Singapore, China, and South Korea.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include fuels, chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment.
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

Where is Liberia?

Located in Western Africa, Liberia has a 1,667.00 km border with Guinea (590 km), Cote d'Ivoire (778 km) and Sierra Leone (299 km). It has a 579.00 km coastline. There is an active ongoing UN Mission in Liberia.

The capital city of Liberia is Monroe. The city is located on the country’s coastline of Atlantic Ocean on Cape Mesurado. Monrovia is the most populous city in Liberia. As per the most recent census held in Liberia in 2008, Monrovia has a population of 1,010,970 people, accounting for approximately 29% of the country’s total population. Monrovia is a top tourist destination in Liberia. The most notable tourist attraction sites in the city include the beaches, Liberian National Museum, the Waterside Market.

Geography

Liberia has a mean elevation of 243 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate with hot, humid winters and wet, cloudy summers. Its terrain is mostly flat, with rolling coastal plains, rolling plateaus and low mountains.

Population

Liberia has a population of 4,299,944 making it the 128th largest in the world.

English is the official language; around 20 other ethnic group languages are also used. The major ethnicities reported are Kpelle, Bassa, and Grebo. The majority of the population is Christian, with a significant Muslim minority.

English is the official and the most widely spoken language in Liberia. It unites the people of Liberia who have different mother tongues. English is an Indo-European language that falls under the West Germanic family of languages. The language has 26 letters, 21 consonants, and 5 vowels. Approximately 2.5 million people or 54% of the population of Liberians are conversant with the English language.

Government

Liberia is an independent country. It has been independent since 1847. Its constitution was last ratified in 1986.

Liberia is a parliamentary representative democratic republic with a multi-party system. The government structure largely resembles that of the government of the United States. The executive power is vested on the government while the legislative powers are vested on both the parliament and the government. The Elections in the country are held after every six years, to elect members of the House of Representatives and the president. The election is supervised by the National Elections Commissions.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Liberia's GDP is $3,787,000,000.00 (USD) with $900.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 178th largest economy and its citizens the 216th richest in the world. The currency of Liberia is the Dollar (LRD).

Its major export partners are Poland, China, and India. Its main exports are rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, and coffee. Its major import partners are Singapore, China, and South Korea. Its major imports include fuels, chemicals, machinery, and transportation equipment.

Flag

The flag of Liberia closely resembles the American flag. In fact, the only differences are the number of stripes and stars. The Liberian flag consists of 11 alternating red and white stripes with the red stripe at the top and bottom. There is also a square blue canton on the upper hoist-side with a five-sided white star on it. The flag was officially adopted on July 26, 1847. The 11 stripes represent the 11 signatories to the Liberian Declaration of Independence. The red and white colors represent the struggle and moral excellence of the Liberians.