Changes

==Geography==

==Geography==

*Area: 111,369 sq. km. (43,000 sq. mi.). Slightly larger than Ohio.

*Area: 111,369 sq. km. (43,000 sq. mi.). Slightly larger than Ohio.

*Cities: Capital--Monrovia (pop. 1,010,970). Principal towns--Ganta (pop. 41,000), Buchanan (pop. 34,000), Gbarnga (pop. 34,000), Kakata (pop. 33,000), Voinjama (pop. 26,000).  

*Cities: Capital—Monrovia (pop. 1,010,970). Principal towns—Ganta (pop. 41,000), Buchanan (pop. 34,000), Gbarnga (pop. 34,000), Kakata (pop. 33,000), Voinjama (pop. 26,000).  

*Terrain: Three areas--Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast, wooded hills and semideciduous shrub lands along the immediate interior, and dense tropical forests and plateaus in the interior. Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.  

*Terrain: Three areas—Mangrove swamps and beaches along the coast, wooded hills and semideciduous shrub lands along the immediate interior, and dense tropical forests and plateaus in the interior. Liberia has 40% of West Africa's rain forest.  

==People==

==People==

*Education: Literacy (2003)--20%.

*Education: Literacy (2003)--20%.

*Health: Life expectancy (2005)--42.5 years.

*Health: Life expectancy (2005)--42.5 years.

*Work force: Agriculture--70%; industry--15%; services--2%. Unemployment is 80% in the formal sector.

*Work force: Agriculture—70%; industry—15%; services—2%. Unemployment is 80% in the formal sector.

===Religion===

===Religion===

It is estimated that as much as 40% of the population of 3.5 million practices either Christianity or Christianity combined with elements of traditional indigenous religious beliefs. Approximately 40% percent exclusively practices traditional indigenous religious beliefs. An estimated 20% of the population practices Islam. A small percentage is Baha'i, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist.

It is estimated that as much as 40% of the population of 3.5 million practices either Christianity or Christianity combined with elements of traditional indigenous religious beliefs. Approximately 40% percent exclusively practices traditional indigenous religious beliefs. An estimated 20% of the population practices Islam. A small percentage is Baha'i, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist.

Christians live throughout the country. Muslims belong mainly to the Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups. Mandingo reside throughout the country, while Vai live predominantly in the west. Ethnic groups in all regions participate in the traditional religious practices of the Poro and Sande secret societies.

Christians live throughout the country. Muslims belong mainly to the Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups. Mandingo reside throughout the country, while Vai live predominantly in the west. Ethnic groups in all regions participate in the traditional religious practices of the Poro and Sande secret societies.

There have been recent reports of ritual killings -- the killing for body parts for use in traditional rituals -- from all parts of the country. Many believe that practitioners of traditional indigenous religious beliefs among the Grebo and Krahn, who are concentrated in the southeast, engage in ritual killings. The Government treated ritualistic killing cases as homicides and investigated and prosecuted them accordingly. There were multiple reports of protests against ritual killings and calling for government investigations into particular cases, which at times led to riots and loss of life.

There have been recent reports of ritual killings—the killing for body parts for use in traditional rituals—from all parts of the country. Many believe that practitioners of traditional indigenous religious beliefs among the Grebo and Krahn, who are concentrated in the southeast, engage in ritual killings. The Government treated ritualistic killing cases as homicides and investigated and prosecuted them accordingly. There were multiple reports of protests against ritual killings and calling for government investigations into particular cases, which at times led to riots and loss of life.

==Government and Political Conditions==

==Government and Political Conditions==

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal Government Officials===

*President--Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

*President—Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

*Vice President--Joseph Nyumah Boakai

*Vice President—Joseph Nyumah Boakai

*Speaker of the House of Representatives--J. Alex Tyler

*Speaker of the House of Representatives—J. Alex Tyler

*Chief Justice of the Supreme Court--Johnnie N. Lewis

*Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—Johnnie N. Lewis

*Minister of Foreign Affairs--George W. Wallace

*Minister of Foreign Affairs—George W. Wallace

*Minister of Finance--Antoinette Sayeh

*Minister of Finance—Antoinette Sayeh

*Minister of Justice--Frances Johnson Morris

*Minister of Justice—Frances Johnson Morris

*Minister of Defense--Brownie Samukai

*Minister of Defense—Brownie Samukai

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

The 1989-2003 civil war had a devastating effect on the country's economy. Most major businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged, and most foreign investors and businesses left the country. Iron ore production stopped completely, and the United Nations banned timber and diamond exports from Liberia. UN sanctions on Liberian timber were removed in 2006; however, activity in the timber sector has not yet resumed on a large scale. Diamond sanctions were terminated by the UN Security Council on April 27, 2007 in Resolution 1753. Liberian diamond exports will be certified through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

The 1989-2003 civil war had a devastating effect on the country's economy. Most major businesses were destroyed or heavily damaged, and most foreign investors and businesses left the country. Iron ore production stopped completely, and the United Nations banned timber and diamond exports from Liberia. UN sanctions on Liberian timber were removed in 2006; however, activity in the timber sector has not yet resumed on a large scale. Diamond sanctions were terminated by the UN Security Council on April 27, 2007 in Resolution 1753. Liberian diamond exports will be certified through the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme.

Currently, Liberia's few earnings come primarily from rubber exports and revenues from its maritime registry program. With the second-largest maritime registry in the world--there are more than 2,350 vessels registered under its flag, and some 35% of the oil imported to the United States is transported on Liberian-flagged ships--Liberia earns over $15 million annually from the flag registry. There is increasing interest in the possibility of commercially exploitable offshore crude oil deposits along Liberia's Atlantic Coast.

Currently, Liberia's few earnings come primarily from rubber exports and revenues from its maritime registry program. With the second-largest maritime registry in the world—there are more than 2,350 vessels registered under its flag, and some 35% of the oil imported to the United States is transported on Liberian-flagged ships—Liberia earns over $15 million annually from the flag registry. There is increasing interest in the possibility of commercially exploitable offshore crude oil deposits along Liberia's Atlantic Coast.

With a new, democratically elected government in place since January 2006, Liberia seeks to reconstruct its shattered economy. The Governance and Economic Management Program (GEMAP), which started under the 2003-2006 transitional government, is designed to help the Liberian Government raise and spend revenues in an efficient, transparent way.  

With a new, democratically elected government in place since January 2006, Liberia seeks to reconstruct its shattered economy. The Governance and Economic Management Program (GEMAP), which started under the 2003-2006 transitional government, is designed to help the Liberian Government raise and spend revenues in an efficient, transparent way.  

*Average annual inflation (2005): 6.9%.

*Average annual inflation (2005): 6.9%.

*Natural resources: Iron ore, rubber, timber, diamonds, gold and tin. The Government of Liberia believes there may be sizable deposits of crude oil along its Atlantic Coast.

*Natural resources: Iron ore, rubber, timber, diamonds, gold and tin. The Government of Liberia believes there may be sizable deposits of crude oil along its Atlantic Coast.

*Agriculture: Products--coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, cassava, palm oil, bananas, plantains, citrus, pineapple, sweet potatoes, corn, and vegetables.

*Agriculture: Products—coffee, cocoa, sugarcane, rice, cassava, palm oil, bananas, plantains, citrus, pineapple, sweet potatoes, corn, and vegetables.

*Industry: Types--agriculture, iron ore, rubber, forestry, diamonds, gold, beverages, construction.

*Industry: Types—agriculture, iron ore, rubber, forestry, diamonds, gold, beverages, construction.

*Trade (2005): Exports--$112 million (of which rubber $99 million). Major markets--Germany, Poland, U.S., Greece. Imports--$272 million (petroleum $89 million; rice $30 million; donor and foreign direct investment-related $141 million).

*Trade (2005): Exports--$112 million (of which rubber $99 million). Major markets—Germany, Poland, U.S., Greece. Imports--$272 million (petroleum $89 million; rice $30 million; donor and foreign direct investment-related $141 million).

==History==

==History==

On December 24, 1989, a small band of rebels led by Doe's former procurement chief, Charles Taylor, invaded Liberia from the Ivory Coast. Taylor and his National Patriotic Front rebels rapidly gained the support of many Liberians and reached the outskirts of Monrovia within six months.  

On December 24, 1989, a small band of rebels led by Doe's former procurement chief, Charles Taylor, invaded Liberia from the Ivory Coast. Taylor and his National Patriotic Front rebels rapidly gained the support of many Liberians and reached the outskirts of Monrovia within six months.  

From 1989 to 1996 one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars ensued, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displacing a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened in 1990 and succeeded in preventing Charles Taylor from capturing Monrovia. Prince Johnson--formerly a member of Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)--formed the break-away Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). Johnson's forces captured and killed Doe on September 9, 1990. Taking refuge in Sierra Leone and other neighboring countries, former AFL soldiers founded the new insurgent United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), fighting back Taylor’s NPFL.  

From 1989 to 1996 one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars ensued, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians and displacing a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) intervened in 1990 and succeeded in preventing Charles Taylor from capturing Monrovia. Prince Johnson—formerly a member of Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL)--formed the break-away Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). Johnson's forces captured and killed Doe on September 9, 1990. Taking refuge in Sierra Leone and other neighboring countries, former AFL soldiers founded the new insurgent United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), fighting back Taylor’s NPFL.  

An Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) was formed in Gambia under the auspices of ECOWAS in October 1990, headed by Dr. Amos C. Sawyer. Taylor (along with other Liberian factions) refused to work with the interim government and continued fighting. After more than a dozen peace accords and declining military power, Taylor finally agreed to the formation of a five-man transitional government. A hasty disarmament and demobilization of warring factions was followed by special elections on July 19, 1997. Charles Taylor and his National Patriotic Party emerged victorious. Taylor won the election by a large majority, primarily because Liberians feared a return to war had Taylor lost.  

An Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) was formed in Gambia under the auspices of ECOWAS in October 1990, headed by Dr. Amos C. Sawyer. Taylor (along with other Liberian factions) refused to work with the interim government and continued fighting. After more than a dozen peace accords and declining military power, Taylor finally agreed to the formation of a five-man transitional government. A hasty disarmament and demobilization of warring factions was followed by special elections on July 19, 1997. Charles Taylor and his National Patriotic Party emerged victorious. Taylor won the election by a large majority, primarily because Liberians feared a return to war had Taylor lost.  

{{African Countries}}

{{African Countries}}

[[ Category:Liberia ]]

[[Category:Liberia]]