Liberia: Statistical Overview

Total Population: 5,612,817

Natural Increase: 2.2%

Density: 56 Inhabitants/km²

Urban Population: 54.1%

Ethnic Origins: The country is essentially comprised of Native Africans, who comprise around 95% of the population (including Kpelle - 20%, Bassa - 14%, as well as Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo and Mende). Other ethnic groups, including Americo-Liberians (descendants of immigrants from the U.S.) and Congo People (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean) represent around 5% of the population. (Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geography)

Official Language: English

Other Languages Spoken: There are 20 ethnic languages. The main ones are : Bassa, Dan, Bandi, Gola, Grebo, Kpelle, Klao and Kisi.

Business Language(s): English

Religion: Christian 84.9%, Muslim 12%, Traditional 0.5%, other 0.1%, none 2.6%

Literacy Rate: 51.9%

Area: 111,370 km²

Type of State: Presidential republic.

Type of Economy: Low income, primarily agricultural economy dependent on international aid..
Liberia's economy is experiencing moderate growth, driven mainly by gold and iron ore mining, but faces high inflation and unemployment, which are weighing on the economic outlook.

HDI*: 0.510/1

HDI (World Rank): 177/192

Telephone Code:
To call from Liberia, dial 00
To call Liberia, dial +231

Internet Suffix: .lr

Households with a computer: 6.6 per 100 Inhabitants

Telephone Lines: 0.0 per 100 Inhabitants

Internet Users: 23.5 per 100 Inhabitants

Access to Electricity: 32.5% of the Population