[68] Liberia's three largest rivers are St. Paul exiting near Monrovia, the river St. John at Buchanan, and the Cestos River, all of which flow into the Atlantic. In 2008, 0.5% identified adherence to traditional indigenous religions, while 1.5% claimed no religion. [44] Government repression intensified in response, as Doe's troops retaliated by executing members of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups in Nimba County. [172], Higher education is provided by a number of public and private universities. Financial Time's World Desk Reference (2004) Dorling Kindersley Publishing, p. 368. The Constitution calls for the election of various chiefs at the county and local level, but these elections have not taken place since 1985 due to war and financial constraints. [189], In 2014, an outbreak of Ebola virus in Guinea spread to Liberia. [89], Liberia's highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court, made up of five members and headed by the Chief Justice of Liberia. Mean annual temperatures range between 65 F (18 C) in the northern highlands to 80 F (27 C) along the coast. [70] Because of its location in Africa, it is vulnerable to extreme weather, the coastal effects of sea level rise, and changing water systems and water availability. A small number of people were Bah, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist. The outline map represents the West African country of Liberia. A map of Liberia's major rivers and their drainage systems This is a list of rivers in Liberia . [106][107], Agriculture in Liberia is a major sector of the country's economy worth 38.8% of GDP, employing more than 70% of the population and providing a valuable export for one of the world's least developed countries (as defined by the UN). This Island, as one of the global areas of human slave . Many treessuch as red ironwood, camwood, whismore, teak, and mahoganyare valuable, but occur with other species, preventing easy harvest. Official name: Republic of Liberia. Founded in 1988, the school is owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Monrovia. Monrovia (/ m n r o v i /) is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia.Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia's total population. Professor of Geography, East Carolina College, Greenville, North Carolina. [117], While official commodity exports declined during the 1990s as many investors fled the civil war, Liberia's wartime economy featured the exploitation of the region's diamond wealth. [23], The ACS, supported by prominent American politicians such as Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, and James Monroe, believed "repatriation" was preferable to having emancipated slaves remain in the United States. [80] The West African pariah dog is also a host for Tbg. Adolescent girls are the most frequently assaulted, and almost 40% of perpetrators are adult men known to victims. Liberia is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. [68] During the winter months of November to March, dry dust-laden harmattan winds blow inland, causing many problems for residents. It hosts FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in addition to international concerts and national political events. It is a region suitable for agriculture and forestry. Five years of military rule by the People's Redemption Council and five years of civilian rule by the National Democratic Party of Liberia were followed by the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars. [68] Climate change in Liberia causes many problems as Liberia is particularly vulnerable to climate change. Liberia, country along the coast of western Africa. Area: 111,370 square kilometers (43,000 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Mount Wutivi (1,380 meters/4,528 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level. [13] A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005. As inland regions underwent desertification, inhabitants moved to the wetter coast. [85], Liberia is divided into fifteen counties, which, in turn, are subdivided into a total of 90 districts and further subdivided into clans. [12] Americo-Liberians encouraged religious organizations to set up missions and schools to educate the indigenous peoples. [209] Heavy stews spiced with habanero and scotch bonnet chilies are popular and eaten with fufu. 15th-century Portuguese navigators named itfor the cavalla (or horse mackerel) found at its mouth. Howard Brotz, ed., African American Social & Political Thought 18501920 (New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, 1996), 3839. Updates? [102], Liberia scored a 3.3 on a scale from 10 (highly clean) to 0 (highly corrupt) on the 2010 Corruption Perceptions Index. [113][114], Current impediments to growth include a small domestic market, lack of adequate infrastructure, high transportation costs, poor trade links with neighboring countries and the high dollarization of the economy. [98][99] On July 20, 2012, the Liberian senate voted unanimously to enact legislation to prohibit and criminalize same-sex marriages. In 1816, a group of white Americans founded the American Colonization Society (ACS) to deal with the "problem" of the growing number of free blacks in the United States by resettling them in Africa. On May 9, 2015, Liberia was declared Ebola free after six weeks with no new cases. Liberia has year-round evergreen vegetation. As of 2015, it had more than 8,000 mostly Liberian employees, making it the country's largest private employer. Subsequent Portuguese explorers named Grand Cape Mount, Cape Mesurado (Montserrado), and Cape Palmas, all . [1] The country's education sector is hampered by inadequate schools and supplies, as well as a lack of qualified teachers. [195] In 2009, government expenditure on health care per capita was US$22,[196] accounting for 10.6% of total GDP. [121][122] These sanctions were lifted in 2006. Liberia occupies an area of about 43,000 square miles and has a population of about 4,900,000 people. [126] Since 1926 Firestone has operated the world's largest rubber plantation in Harbel, Margibi County. [68] However, Mount Nimba near Yekepa, is higher at 4,724 feet (1,440m) above sea level but is not wholly within Liberia as Nimba shares a border with Guinea and Ivory Coast and is their tallest mountain as well. [39], In the mid-20th century, Liberia gradually began to modernize with American assistance. The climate, especially on the coast, is warm and humid year-round, dominated by a dry season from November to April and by a rainy season from May to October. [175][176][177], Due to student protests late in October 2018, newly elected president George M. Weah abolished tuition fees for undergraduate students in the public universities in Liberia.[178]. As the nation's primate city, Monrovia is the country's economic, financial and cultural center; its economy is primarily centered on . [67] Weah cited fighting corruption, reforming the economy, combating illiteracy, and improving living conditions as the main targets of his presidency.[67]. Liberia forms part of the West African Shield, a rock formation 2.7 to 3.4 billion years old, composed of granite, schist, and gneiss. The Farmington River is a source of hydroelectric power. [34], Liberia remained neutral during World War I until August 4, 1917, upon declaring war on Germany. Quiz, Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Liberia, Liberia - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Liberia - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). [114] Following Sirleaf's inauguration in 2006, Liberia signed several multi-billion-dollar concession agreements in the iron ore and palm oil industries with numerous multinational corporations, including ArcelorMittal, BHP and Sime Darby. The 7 Best Small Towns In Nevada To Chill Out, 11 Coolest Small Towns in Washington for a Summer Vacation. 19, [206], One-third of married Liberian women between the ages of 1549 are in polygamous marriages. Please read the. This page was last updated on February 24, 2021, All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions 2023 worldatlas.com. The colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo, from their inland chiefdoms. The area includes Liberia's highest mountain, Mount Wuteve (Wutuwi) at 1,447 m, as well as several other peaks, including Mount Balagizi (1,100 m). President William Tubman encouraged economic and political changes that heightened the country's prosperity and international profile; Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity. The country enjoyed relative stability until a rebellion in 1989 escalated into a destructive civil war in the 1990s that did not fully cease until 2003. [168] While separation of church and state is mandated by the Constitution, Liberia is considered a Christian state in practice. In 1824 the territory was named Liberia, and its main settlement was named Monrovia, which is the present-day capital. Tbg and its vector Glossina palpalis gambiense are a constant presence in the rainforests here. For most of the 194189 period, training was largely provided by U.S. advisors, with combat experience in the Second World War also playing a role in training. This was a cause for concern among the British colonial authorities of Sierra Leone and the French colonial authorities of French Guinea and the Ivory Coast as tensions with Germany increased. Monrovia is the largest and capital city of Liberia. As of October 2007 it has 844 officers in 33 stations in Montserrado County, which contains Monrovia. The Mano and Morro rivers in the northwest and the Cavalla in the east and southeast are major rivers and form sections of Liberias boundaries. The population includes 16 indigenous ethnic groups and various foreign minorities. Quakers believed black people would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the U.S.[7][19] While slaveholders opposed freedom for enslaved people, some viewed "repatriation" of free people of color as a way to avoid slave rebellions. Liberia Population What Is The Population Of Liberia? [57] The 2005 elections marked the first time that the president's party did not gain a majority of seats in the Legislature. [77], Bushmeat is widely eaten in Liberia, and is considered a delicacy. It was founded during the administration of U.S. Pres. Adventist University of West Africa, a post-secondary learning environment that is situated in Margibi County, on the Roberts International Airport. Coauthor of. In Liberia, the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex serves as a multi-purpose stadium. ", "Ellen Describes Tubman University's Opening As PRS Success", "Remarks by H.E. Liberia declared independence on July 26, 1847, which the U.S. did not recognize until February 5, 1862. [37] (The loser actually received around 60% of the eligible vote. [168], In 2010, the literacy rate of Liberia was estimated at 60.8% (64.8% for males and 56.8% for females). [7], In 1822, the American Colonization Society began sending free people of color to the Pepper Coast voluntarily to establish a colony. [1] The vice president serves as the President of the Senate, with a President pro tempore serving in their absence. The Dei, Bassa, Kru, Gola, and Kissi were some of the earliest documented peoples in the area. Later Stone Age (LSA) populations evidence significant technological diversification, including both microlithic and macrolithic traditions. What part of Africa is Liberia located in? The Liberian constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the government generally respects this right. There are many reptiles, including three types of crocodiles and at least eight poisonous snakes. Liberias terrain ranges from the low and sandy coastal plains to rolling hills and dissected plateau further inland. [68], Tropical rainforests cover the hills, while elephant grass and semi-deciduous forests make up the dominant vegetation in the northern sections. [15], The record shows that aceramic and ceramic Later Stone Age (LSA) assemblages in West Africa overlap chronologically, and that changing densities of microlithic industries from the coast to the north are geographically structured. This was because they faced racial discrimination in the form of political disenfranchisement and the denial of civil, religious, and social rights. [80] This causes the disease nagana. [118] The country acted as a major trader in Sierra Leonian blood diamonds, exporting over US$300 million in diamonds in 1999. [33] In 1914, Imperial Germany accounted for three quarters of the trade of Liberia. [26], By 1877, the True Whig Party was the country's most powerful political entity. Minority ethnic groups especially were exploited in a system that enriched well-connected elites. However, Lincoln in 1862 described Liberia as only "in a certain sensea success", and proposed instead that free people of color be assisted to emigrate to Chiriqu, today part of Panama. "Monrovia's 'Never-Ending' Pollution Issues In 2013, Edwin M. 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B Bushrod Island P Providence Island, Liberia Islands by country Islands of Africa by country Landforms of Liberia Hidden category: Commons category link is on Wikidata Outsiders' knowledge of the west of Africa began with a Portuguese sailor, Pedro de Sintra, who reached the Liberian coast in 1461. Liberia is bounded by Sierra Leone to the northwest, Guinea to the north, Cte dIvoire to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and west. Along the coast lie beds of sandstone, with occasional crystalline-rock outcrops. [205] Moore's novella Murder in the Cassava Patch is considered Liberia's most celebrated novel. The greatest amount of rainfall, 205 inches (5,200 mm), occurs at Cape Mount and diminishes inland to about 70 inches (1,800 mm) on the central plateau. Behind the rolling hills, most of the countrys interior is a dissected plateau with scattered low mountains ranging from 600 to 1,000 feet (180 to 305 metres) in elevation; some mountains rise to 2,000 feet (600 metres). [167] A multitude of diverse Protestant confessions such as Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AME Zion) denominations form the bulk of the Christian population, followed by adherents of the Catholic Church and other non-Protestant Christians. The lowest point of the country is the Atlantic Ocean at 0m. The subsequent 2005 elections were internationally regarded as the freest and fairest in Liberian history. Between 1461 and the late 17th century, Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders had contacts and trading posts in the region. Together with the vice president, the president is elected to a six-year term by majority vote in a two-round system and can serve up to two terms in office. "[163] That being said, numerous immigrants have come as merchants and become a major part of the business community, including Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals. [159] The population of Liberia was 1,016,443 in 1962 and increased to 1,503,368 in 1974. [100], Corruption is endemic at every level of the Liberian government. [43] On November 12, 1985, a failed counter-coup was launched by Thomas Quiwonkpa, whose soldiers briefly occupied the national radio station. [104] When dealing with public-facing government functionaries, 89% of Liberians say they have had to pay a bribe, the highest national percentage in the world according to the organization's 2010 Global Corruption Barometer. [76], Pollution is a significant issue in Monrovia. [50], In March 2003, a second rebel group, Movement for Democracy in Liberia, began launching attacks against Taylor from the southeast. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo from their inland chiefdoms. The landscape is characterized by mostly flat to rolling coastal plains that contain mangroves and swamps, which rise to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast. [61] In October 2011, peace activist Leymah Gbowee received the Nobel Peace Prize in her work of leading a women's peace movement that brought to an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. Latosols of low to medium fertility occur in rolling hill country and cover about three-fourths of the total land surface. Stella Maris Polytechnic, a post-secondary, private institution of higher learning. [25] Indigenous tribesmen did not enjoy birthright citizenship in their own land until 1904. Liberia (/labri/ (listen)), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. "Congos." For much of Liberia's early history, the Congos were classed below the Americo -Liberians. Additional rivers of note are the Lofa, St. Paul, St. John and Cestos River, all of which flow into theAtlantic. Longest distances: 274 kilometers (170 miles) from north-northeast to south-southwest; 548 . [115], Following a decrease in inflation beginning in 2003, inflation spiked in 2008 as a result of worldwide food and energy crises,[116] reaching 17.5% before declining to 7.4% in 2009. [192] In 2007, 20.4% of children under the age of five were malnourished. Liberia possesses about forty percent of the remaining Upper Guinean rainforest. The 2000s saw an expansion of protected regions in Liberia, with new and enlarged wildlife reserves at Gola National Forest, the Wonegizi National Forest Reserve, and Lake Piso, and ecotourism was seen as a potential growth industry for the country. [194], Approximately 95% of the country's healthcare facilities had been destroyed by the time civil war ended in 2003. [146], The repair and expansion of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Project, with a maximum capacity of 80 MW, was completed in 2018. In 1980, political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup during which Tolbert was killed, marking the end of Americo-Liberian rule in the country and beginning over two decades of political instability. [202] Most Americo-Liberian men were members of the Masonic Order of Liberia, which became heavily involved in the nation's politics. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. [90] The judicial system is a blend of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law. [148] In 2013, Liberia began importing power from neighboring Ivory Coast and Guinea through the West African Power Pool. Category:Headlands of Liberia . Retrieved October 29, 2013, Marc DuBois and Caitlin Wake, with Scarlett Sturridge and Christina Bennett (2015). The Wologizi mountains are an isolated area of upland located in north-west of the country, to the south of the town of Voinjama. Most of these Christian denominations were brought by African-American settlers moving from the United States into Liberia via the American Colonization Society, while some are indigenousespecially Pentecostal and evangelical Protestant ones. [citation needed], In the United States, there was a movement to settle free people of color, both free-born and formerly enslaved, in Africa. 6CRF9647+VR. [79] The survey was conducted during the last civil war, and bushmeat consumption is now believed to be far higher. [87], Parallel to the administrative divisions of the country are the local and municipal divisions. With an area of 11,551 sq. The Cavalla is the longest river in the nation at 320 miles (510km). [86] As of 2006[update], Liberia had the highest population growth rate in the world (4.50% per annum). Monrovia stands on such an outcropping, a ridge of diabase (a dark-coloured, fine-grained rock). [88] All existing local governmentscities, townships, and a boroughwere created by specific acts of the Liberian government, and thus the structure and duties/responsibilities of each local government varies greatly from one to the other. Located on the West African coast, Liberia covers an area of 111,369 sq. Mortality from tropical diseases was highof the 4,571 emigrants who arrived in Liberia between 1820 and 1843, only 1,819 survived. Monrovia, capital, largest city, and chief Atlantic port of Liberia, located on Bushrod Island and Cape Mesurado. [citation needed] It was made up primarily of Americo-Liberians, who maintained social, economic and political dominance well into the 20th century, repeating patterns of European colonists in other nations in Africa. It built the Freeport of Monrovia and Roberts International Airport under the Lend-Lease program before its entry into the Second World War. Life expectancy in Liberia is estimated to be 64.4 years in 2020. However, these animals, along with the already threatened elephants, bush cows (short-horned buffalo), and leopards, were hunted for food during the civil war; their populations are recovering. [134], The mining industry of Liberia has witnessed a revival after the civil war which ended in 2003. (April 2014). There is a high percentage of interracial marriage between ethnic Liberians and the Lebanese, resulting in a significant mixed-race population especially in and around Monrovia. These features may represent social networks or some form of cultural diffusion allied to changing ecological conditions. Indigenous peoples comprise about 95 percent of the population. km, Nimba is the largest country and Montserrado is the most populous one. Parallel to the coastal plains is a region of rolling hills some 20 miles (32 km) wide with an average maximum elevation of about 300 feet (90 metres); a few hills rise as high as 500 feet (150 metres). [7] Between 1822 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, more than 15,000 freed and free-born African Americans, along with 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, relocated to Liberia. Located in Monrovia, the university opened in 1862. [164] As of 2022, 27 indigenous languages are spoken in Liberia, but each is a first language for only a small percentage of the population. [151][152][153] An additional 13 ultra-deep offshore blocks were demarcated in 2011 and planned for auction. [171] In other areas children are required to pay a tuition fee to attend school. The Republic of Liberia is a country located in western Africa off the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. The", "Data: Improved sanitation facilities (% of population with access)", "Liberia: Breathing Life into ailing healthcare system", "Data: Health expenditure per capita (current US$)", "Data: Health expenditure, total (% of GDP)", "Liberian health authorities confirm two cases of Ebola: WHO", The Ebola response in West Africa: Exposing the politics and culture of international aid, "Liberia: War-Weary, With Echoes of Old Dixie", "Liberia: It's the Little Things A Reflection on Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's Journey to the Presidency", "Liberia: "Literature Must Be Given Priority", "Baa Salaka: Sacrificial Lamb A Book Review & Commentary", "George Weah: Ex-AC Milan, Chelsea & Man City striker elected Liberia president", "Liberia:Chaos Mars Grand Bassa and Nimba Clash", "Reforming Cocoa and Coffee Marketing in Liberia", "Gov't Pledges Commitment to Adopt Metric System", Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, List of countries by English-speaking population, List of countries where English is an official language, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Liberia&oldid=1150057700, English-speaking countries and territories, States and territories established in 1847, Articles with dead external links from May 2020, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from September 2018, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia indefinitely move-protected pages, All Wikipedia articles written in Liberian English, Wikipedia introduction cleanup from January 2023, Articles covered by WikiProject Wikify from January 2023, All articles covered by WikiProject Wikify, Pages using infobox country or infobox former country with the symbol caption or type parameters, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from March 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2019, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2006, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles lacking reliable references from May 2022, Articles lacking reliable references from November 2015, Articles containing potentially dated statements from November 2014, Articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. [44], The National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), a rebel group led by Charles Taylor, launched an insurrection in December 1989 against Doe's government with the backing of neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. It is located in the Northern and Western Hemispheres.