Liberia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigationJump to search This article is about the country in Africa. For other uses, see Liberia (disambiguation). Coordinates: 6°30′N 9°30′W Republic of Liberia Flag of Liberia Flag Coat of arms of Liberia Coat of arms Motto: "The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here" Anthem: All Hail, Liberia, Hail! MENU0:00 Location of Liberia (dark blue) in Africa (light blue) Location of Liberia (dark blue) in Africa (light blue) Capital and largest city Monrovia 6°19′N 10°48′W Official languages English Spoken and national languages[1] Liberian English Ethnic groups (2008[2]) 20.3% Kpelle 13.4% Bassa 10% Grebo 8% Gio 7.9% Mano 6% Kru 5.1% Lorma 4.8% Kissi 4.4% Gola 4% Krahn 4% Vai 3.2% Mandinka 3% Gbandi 1.3% Mende 1.2% Sapo 0.8% Belle 0.3% Dey 0.6% other Liberian 1.4% other African 0.1% non-African Religion 85.6% Christianity 12.2% Islam 2.2% others[2] Demonym(s) Liberian Government Unitary presidential constitutional republic • President George Weah • Vice President Jewel Taylor • Speaker of the House Bhofal Chambers • Chief Justice Francis Korkpor Legislature Legislature of Liberia • Upper house Senate • Lower house House of Representatives Formation and Independence from United States • Settlement by the American Colonization Society January 7, 1822 • Liberian Declaration of Independence July 26, 1847 • Annexation of Republic of Maryland March 18, 1857 • Recognition by the United States February 5, 1862 • Admitted to the United Nations November 2, 1945 • Current constitution January 6, 1986 Area • Total 111,369 km2 (43,000 sq mi) (102nd) • Water (%) 13.514 Population • 2015 estimate 5,073,296[2] (126th) • 2008 census 3,476,608 • Density 40.43/km2 (104.7/sq mi) (180th) GDP (PPP) 2019 estimate • Total $6.468 billion • Per capita $1,413[3] GDP (nominal) 2019 estimate • Total $3.221 billion • Per capita $704[3] Gini (2016) 35.3[4] medium HDI (2018) Increase 0.465[5] low · 176th Currency Liberian dollar (LRD) Time zone UTC (GMT) Driving side right Calling code +231 ISO 3166 code LR Internet TLD .lr Liberia (/laɪˈbɪəriə/ (About this soundlisten)), officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country on the West African coast. It is bordered by Sierra Leone to its northwest, Guinea to its north, Côte d’Ivoire to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean to its south-southwest. It has a population of around 5 million and covers an area of 111,369 square kilometres (43,000 sq mi). English is the official language, but over 20 indigenous languages are spoken, representing the numerous ethnic groups who make up more than 95% of the population. The country's capital and largest city is Monrovia. Liberia began as a settlement of the American Colonization Society (ACS), who believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States.[6] The country declared its independence on July 26, 1847. The U.S. did not recognize Liberia's independence until February 5, 1862, during the American Civil War. Between January 7, 1822, and the American Civil War, more than 15,000 freed and free-born black people who faced legislated limits in the U.S., and 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, were relocated to the settlement.[7] The settlers carried their culture and tradition with them. The Liberian constitution and flag were modeled after those of the U.S. On January 3, 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, a wealthy, free-born African American from Virginia who settled in Liberia, was elected Liberia's first president after the people proclaimed independence.[7] Liberia was the first African republic to proclaim its independence, and is Africa's first and oldest modern republic. It retained its independence during the Scramble for Africa. During World War II, Liberia supported the United States war effort against Germany and in turn, the U.S. invested in considerable infrastructure in Liberia to help its war effort, which also aided the country in modernizing and improving its major air transportation facilities. In addition, President William Tubman encouraged economic changes. Internationally, Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations, and the Organisation of African Unity. The Americo-Liberian settlers did not relate well to the indigenous peoples they encountered, especially those in communities of the more isolated "bush". The colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo from their inland chiefdoms. Americo-Liberians developed as a small elite that held on to political power,[8] and indigenous tribesmen were excluded from birthright citizenship in their own land until 1904, in an echo of the United States' treatment of Native Americans.[9] Americo-Liberians promoted religious organizations to set up missions and schools to educate the indigenous peoples.[10] In 1980 political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup during which Tolbert was killed, marking the beginning of years-long political instability. 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. These resulted in the deaths of 250,000 people (about 8% of the population) and the displacement of many more, and shrank Liberia's economy by 90%.[11] A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005, in which Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected President, making history as the first female president in the continent. National infrastructure and basic social services were severely affected by the conflicts as well as by the 2013–2016 outbreak of Ebola virus, with 83% of the population living below the international poverty line as of 2015.[12]
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