Liberia

Republic of Liberia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here"
Anthem: "All Hail, Liberia, Hail!"
Location of Liberia (dark green)
Capital and largest city	Monrovia 6°19′N 10°48′W / 6.317°N 10.800°W / 6.317; -10.800
Official languages	English
Ethnic groups (2008[1])	20.3% Kpelle 13.4% Bassa 10% Grebo 8% Dan 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 (2018)[2]	85.1% Christianity 76.3% Protestantism 7.2% Catholicism 1.6% other Christian 12.2% Islam 1.4% no religion 1.3% other
Demonym(s)	Liberian
Government	Unitary presidential republic
• President	Joseph Boakai
• Vice President	Jeremiah Koung
• House Speaker	Jonathan F. Koffa
• Chief Justice	Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh
Legislature	Legislature of Liberia
• Upper house	Senate
• Lower house	House of Representatives
Formation and Independence from American Colonization Society
• American Colonization Society settlement	January 7, 1822
• Independence declared	July 26, 1847
• Republic of Maryland annexed	March 18, 1857
• Recognition by the United States	February 5, 1862
• United Nations membership	November 2, 1945
• Current constitution	January 6, 1986
Area
• Total	43,000[1] sq mi (111,370 km2) (102nd)
• Water (%)	13.514
Population
• 2023 estimate	5,506,280[3] (120th)
• Density	92.0/sq mi (35.5/km2) (180th)
GDP (PPP)	2023 estimate
• Total	$9.718 billion[4] (167th)
• Per capita	$1,789[4] (184th)
GDP (nominal)	2023 estimate
• Total	$4.347 billion[4] (171st)
• Per capita	$800[4] (180th)
Gini (2016)	35.3[5] medium
HDI (2021)	0.481[6] low (178th)
Currency	Liberian dollar (LRD)
Time zone	UTC (GMT)
Date format	mm/dd/yyyy
Driving side	right
Calling code	+231
ISO 3166 code	LR
Internet TLD	.lr
Website www.emansion.gov.lr Executive mansion

Liberia (/laɪˈbɪəriə/ ^ⓘ), 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, Ivory Coast to its east, and the Atlantic Ocean to its south and southwest. It has a population of around five and one-half million and covers an area of 43,000 square miles (111,369 km²). The country's official language is English; however, over 20 indigenous languages are spoken, reflecting the country's ethnic and cultural diversity. The capital and largest city is Monrovia.

Liberia began in the early 19th century as a project of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which believed black people would face better chances for freedom and prosperity in Africa than in the United States.^[7] Between 1822 and the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, more than 15,000 freed and free-born African Americans, along with 3,198 Afro-Caribbeans, relocated to Liberia.^[8] Gradually developing an Americo-Liberian identity,^[9][10] the settlers carried their culture and tradition with them. Liberia declared independence on July 26, 1847, which the U.S. did not recognize until February 5, 1862.

Liberia was the first African republic to proclaim its independence and is Africa's first and oldest modern republic. Along with Ethiopia, it was one of the two African countries to maintain its sovereignty and independence during the European colonial "Scramble for Africa". During World War II, Liberia supported the United States war effort against Germany, and in turn received considerable American investment in infrastructure, which aided the country's wealth and development.^[11] President William Tubman encouraged economic and political changes that heightened the country's prosperity and international profile; 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. Colonial settlements were raided by the Kru and Grebo from their inland chiefdoms. Americo-Liberians formed into a small elite that held disproportionate political power; indigenous Africans were excluded from birthright citizenship in their own land until 1904.^[12][13]

In 1980, political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup during which Tolbert was killed, marking the end of Americo-Liberian rule in the country and beginning over two decades of 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, with Liberia's economy shrinking by 90%.^[14] A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005.