LIBERIA
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| (See reference map VII) |
LAND
111,370 km²; 20% agricultural, 30% jungle and swamps, 40% forested, 10% unclassified
Land boundaries: 1,336 km
WATER
Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 200 nm
Coastline: 579 km
PEOPLE
Population: 2,024,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 3.2%
Nationality: noun—Liberian(s); adjective—Liberian
Ethnic divisions: 97% indigenous Negroid African tribes, including Kpelle, Bassa, Kru, Grebo, Gola, Kissi, Krahn, and Mandingo; 3% descendants of repatriated slaves known as Americo-Liberians
Religion: probably more Muslims than Christians; 70%-80% animist
Language: English official; 28 tribal languages or dialects, pidgin English used by about 20%
Literacy: about 24% over age 5
Labor force: 510,000, of which 160,000 are in monetary economy; non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and engineering jobs
Organized labor: 2% of labor force
GOVERNMENT
Official name: Republic of Liberia
Type: highly centralized military rule following coup on 12 April 1980
Capital: Monrovia
Political subdivisions: country divided into 9 counties
Legal system: constitution suspended; martial law imposed; laws previously in force remain until repealed or amended by decrees issued by People's Redemption Council
National holiday: National Redemption Day, 12 April
Branches: executive and legislative powers held by military People's Redemption Council, assisted by military
Cabinet: judicial powers vested in People's Supreme Tribunal and lower courts
Government leader: Gen. Samuel Kanyon DOE (replaced President William R. Tolbert)
Suffrage: universal 18 years and over
Elections: military has set 12 April 1985 as the date for return to civilian rule
Political parties and leaders: political activities suspended; before coup True Whig Party dominated; African Socialist-oriented Progressive People's Party headed by B. Gabriel Matthews had recently been legalized; unauthorized Marxist-oriented Movement for Justice in Africa, led by Togba Nah Tipoteh and Amos Sawyer
Communists: no Communist Party and only a few sympathizers
Member of: AFDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMCO, IMF, IPU, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO
ECONOMY
GDP: $1.04 billion (1980), $660 per capita; -3.1% real annual growth rate (1980)
Agriculture: rubber, rice, oil palm, cassava, coffee, cocoa; imports of rice, wheat, and live cattle and beef are necessary for basic diet
Fishing: catch 13,484 metric tons (1979 est.)
Industry: rubber processing, food processing, construction materials, furniture, palm oil processing, mining (iron ore, diamonds), 15,000 b/d oil refinery
Electric power: 355,000 kW capacity (1980); 1.0 billion kWh produced (1980), 534 kWh per capita
Exports: $600.4 million (f.o.b., 1980 est.); iron ore, rubber, diamonds, lumber and logs, coffee, cocoa
Imports: $550.7 million (c.i.f., 1980 est.); machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, manufactured goods, foodstuffs
Major trade partners: US, West Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium
Aid: economic commitments—Western (non-US), ODA and OOF (1970-79), $324.0 million; US authorizations (including Ex-Im) (FY70-80), $182.7 million; Communist (1970-79), $23.0 million; military— US (FY70-80), $13.1 million
Budget: (FY81) revenues $251.8 million, current expenditures $204.3 million, development expenditures $126.0 million
Monetary conversion rate: Liberia uses US currency
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
COMMUNICATIONS
Railroads: 499 km total; 354 km standard gauge (1.435 m), 145 km narrow gauge (1.067 m); all lines single track; rail systems owned and operated by foreign steel and financial interests in conjunction with Liberian Government
