Country Profile: Liberia

Last reviewed: 25 February 2009

Country information

Map of The Republic of Liberia

Area: 111,369 sq km (43,000 sq miles)
Population: 3.35 million (2008 estimate)
Capital City: Monrovia
People and languages: the main ethnic groups are Kpelle, Bassa, Krahn, Gio, Mano, Mandingo and Kru. English is the official language. Indigenous languages are widely spoken.
Religion: Christianity, Islam and indigenous religions.
Currency: Liberian Dollar (LDR). The US Dollar is widely used.
Major political parties: Normal party political activity was disrupted under Charles Taylor's rule. Parties have re-emerged since the end of the civil war and, following the elections of October 2005, there are 11 parties represented in the legislature, the biggest of which are the Unity Party, the Liberty Party, The Congress for Democratic Change and the Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia.
President: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Foreign Minister: Olubanke King Akerele.
Membership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Development Bank (AFDB) and Mano River Union (MRU).