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Liberia |
Capital: Monrovia
Languages: English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
Currency: Liberian dollar (LRD)
Background: Years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1996 when presidential and legislative elections were held. The years of fighting coupled with the flight of most businesses have disrupted formal economic activity. A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope.
PEOPLE
Population: 3,195,931 (July 2007 est.); 3,685,076 (July 2010 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
2007
Total Population: 40.39 years
Male: 38.93 years
Female: 41.89 years (2007 est.)
2010
Total population: 56.58 years
Male: 55.05 years
Female: 58.14 years (2010 est.)
Age structure:
2007
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 698,382/female 695,409)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 848,951/female 865,380)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 42,745/female 45,064) (2007 est.)
2010
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 760,989/female 758,554)
15-64 years: 53% (male 904,770/female 920,704)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 47,013/female 49,760) (2010 est.)
Population growth rate: 4.836% (2007 est.); 2.782% (2010 est.)
Population below poverty line: 80% (2000 est.)
HIV/AIDS adult prevalence rate: 5.9% (2003 est.); 1.7% (2007 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: 100,000 (2003 est.); 35,000 (2007 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total Population: 57.5%
Male: 73.3%
Female: 41.6% (2003 est.)
Refugees and Internally Displaced People:
Refugees (country of origin): 6,592 (Cote d'Ivoire) IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004;
Refugees (country of origin): 12,600 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2007)
IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2006)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2007)
ECONOMY
Unemployment rate: 85% (2003 est.)
Labour force by Occupation: agriculture: 70%; industry: 8%; services: 22% (2000 est.)
Agricultural Products: rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Industries: rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Exports - Commodities: rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - Partners:
Germany 22.6%, South Africa 15.5%, Poland 15.1%, US 11%, Spain 10.6%, South Korea 4.1% (2006)
Germany 27.92%, Poland 17.12%, South Africa 15.83%, India 10.48%, Greece 7.09%, US 6.23%, Norway 5.24% (2009)
Imports - Commodities: fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs
Imports - Partners:
South Korea 43.2%, Singapore 15%, Japan 12.8%, China 8.2% (2006)
South Korea 28.29%, Singapore 19.06%, Japan 17.06%, China 14.58%, Taiwan 4.02% (2009)
ENVIRONMENT
Environment - Current issues: tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Natural hazards: dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Source: CIA World Factbook
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