Liberia is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, Côte d'Ivoire to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. The country has a population of approximately 5 million people and the capital city is Monrovia.

Liberia was established in 1847 as a colony for freed slaves from the United States. The country has a rich history, including a period of civil war that lasted from 1989 to 2003. Today, Liberia is a stable democracy and is making progress towards economic development.

Liberia has a tropical climate, with two distinct seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season runs from May to October, while the dry season runs from November to April. Liberia is home to many natural resources, including iron ore, timber, and rubber.

The country has a diverse culture, with over 20 different ethnic groups. The official language is English, and over 95% of the population speaks it. Christianity is the dominant religion, with about 85% of the population being Christian, while Islam and traditional African religions make up the remaining 15%.

Tourism is still developing in Liberia, but there are many interesting places to visit, such as the Sapo National Park, which is home to many endangered species including the pygmy hippopotamus. Other popular tourist destinations include the Providence Island, which has a rich history, and the Ducor Palace Hotel, which is a landmark building in Monrovia.

Liberian cuisine is based on stews made with vegetables, fish or meat, and rice. One of the most famous dishes is jollof rice, which is a spicy tomato-based rice dish that is popular throughout West Africa.

Telephone Code
231

Local Emergency Phone
911 (cell phone only)

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for all travelers. See WHO recommendations. On 21 March 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Travel Alert for polio in Africa; Liberia is currently considered a high risk to travelers for polio; the CDC recommends that before any international travel, anyone unvaccinated, incompletely vaccinated, or with an unknown polio vaccination status should complete the routine polio vaccine series; before travel to any high-risk destination, CDC recommends that adults who previously completed the full, routine polio vaccine series receive a single, lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine.

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

Currency (Code)
Liberian dollars (LRD)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
120 V, 220 V / 60 Hz / plug types(s): A, B, C, F

Major Languages
English, some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence

Major Religions
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Mount Nimba; Monkey Island; Waterside Market, Monrovia; Sapo National Park

Major Sports
Soccer, basketball, track and field

Cultural Practices
Communication in Liberia typically involves more physical contact than in America. It is not uncommon for a speaker to rest their hand on your shoulder.

Tipping Guidelines
Some restaurants add a service charge to the bill, if not, a 10% tip is customary. Hotel service staff appreciate small amounts for good service.

Souvenirs
Ritual masks; ebony, soapstone and mahogany carvings; handmade fabrics and tailored clothing; leather goods; stamped metal necklaces and earrings

Traditional Cuisine
Dumboy — boiled cassava pounded into a viscous dough and shaped into balls; typically eaten with pepper soup

Geography
Area
total: 111,369 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,049 sq km

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

Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

People and Society
Population
5,506,280 (2023 est.)

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%, Krahn 4%, Vai 4%, Mandingo 3.2%, Gbandi 3%, Mende 1.3%, Sapo 1.3%, other Liberian 1.7%, other African 1.4%, non-African 0.1% (2008 est.)

Languages
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few of which can be written or used in correspondence

Religions
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.5% (2008 est.)

Population growth rate
2.71% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Monrovia

Economy
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)
$7.391 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$1,400 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
cassava, sugar cane, oil palm fruit, rice, bananas, vegetables, plantains, rubber, taro, maize

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

Exports
$554.013 million (2019 est.)

Exports - partners
Guyana 32%, Poland 10%, Switzerland 8%, Japan 7%, China 5% (2019)

Exports - commodities
ships, iron, gold, rubber, crude petroleum (2019)

Imports
$1.244 billion (2019 est.)

Imports - partners
China 41%, Japan 21%, South Korea 18% (2019)

Imports - commodities
ships, refined petroleum, iron structures, boat propellers, centrifuges (2019)