Lake Bomi, Tubmanburg, Liberia
Photo: Sahmeditor, Public domain · source
Did you know?
Liberia began in the early 19th century as a project of the American Colonization Society (ACS), which fomented the emigration of Black Americans from the United States to Africa. 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. Gradually developing an Americo-Liberian identity, the settlers carried their culture and traditions with them while colonizing the indigenous population. Led by the Americo-Liberians, Liberia declared independence on July 26, 1847, which the U.S. did not recognize until February 5, 1862.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
A tropical forest in Liberia
Photo: USAID, Public domain · source
Photo taken in May, 1968
Photo: John Atherton, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
History
The presence of Oldowan artifacts in West Africa was confirmed by Michael Omolewa, attesting to the presence of ancient humans.
Undated Acheulean (Early Stone Age) artifacts are well documented across West Africa. The emerging chronometric record of the Middle Stone Age (MSA) indicates that core and flake technologies have been present in West Africa since at least the Chibanian (~780–126 thousand years ago or ka) in northern, open Sahelian zones, and that they persisted until the Terminal Pleistocene/Holocene boundary (~12 ka) in both northern and southern zones of West Africa.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos from the WTO Aid for Trade Global Review 2017 photo gallery may be reproduced provided attribution is given to the WTO and the WTO is informed. Photos: © WTO/Jay…
Photo: World Trade Organization from Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
The baggage claim area at arrivals of the new international terminal at Roberts International Airport
Photo: Sm105, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Geography
Liberia is situated in West Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean to the country's southwest. It lies between latitudes 4° and 9°N, and longitudes 7° and 12°W.
The landscape is characterized by mostly flat to rolling coastal plains that contain mangroves and swamps, which rise to a rolling plateau and low mountains in the northeast.
Tropical rainforests cover the hills, while elephant grass and semi-deciduous forests make up the dominant vegetation in the northern sections.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Armed Forces of Liberia Chief of Staff Brigadier General Davidson Fayiah Forleh speaking at HQ-AFL Affiliation Day in Monrovia.
Photo: Kolojoe, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Government and politics
The government of Liberia, modeled on the government of the United States, is a unitary constitutional republic and representative democracy as established by the Constitution. The government has three co-equal branches of government: the executive, headed by the president; the legislative, consisting of the bicameral Legislature of Liberia; and the judicial, consisting of the Supreme Court and several lower courts.
The president serves as head of government, head of state, and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
These students in Bong County, Liberia, study by candlelight. They are part of the Accelerated Learning Program in the country, an effort to compress several years of…
Photo: USAID, Public domain · source
Photo taken in May, 1968
Photo: John Atherton, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Photos from the WTO Aid for Trade Global Review 2017 photo gallery may be reproduced provided attribution is given to the WTO and the WTO is informed. Photos: © WTO/Jay…
Photo: World Trade Organization from Switzerland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Economy
The Central Bank of Liberia is responsible for printing and maintaining the Liberian dollar, Liberia's primary currency (the United States dollar is also legal tender in Liberia). Liberia is one of the world's poorest countries, with a formal employment rate of 15%. GDP per capita peaked in 1980 at US$496, (~$1,938 in 2025) when it was comparable to Egypt's (at the time). In 2011, the country's nominal GDP was US$1.154 billion, while nominal GDP per capita stood at US$297, the third-lowest in the world. Historically the Liberian economy has depended heavily on foreign aid, foreign direct investment and exports of natural resources such as iron ore, rubber, and timber.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Business Class Lounge at the new international terminal at Roberts International Airport
Photo: Sm105, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
The old passenger terminal at Roberts International Airport in 2006.
Photo: Sm105, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Demographics
As of the 2017 national census, Liberia was home to 4,694,608 people. Of those, 1,118,241 lived in Montserrado County, the most populous county in the country and location of the capital Monrovia. The Greater Monrovia District has 970,824 residents. Nimba County is the next most populous county, with 462,026 residents. As revealed in the 2008 census, Monrovia is a primate city, being over four times more populous than all county capitals combined.
Prior to the 2008 census, the last census had been taken in 1984 and listed the country's population as 2,101,628.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0
Culture
The religious practices, social customs, and cultural standards of the Americo-Liberians had their roots in the antebellum American South. The settlers wore top hat and tails and modeled their homes on those of Southern slaveowners. Most Americo-Liberian men were members of the Masonic Order of Liberia, which became heavily involved in the nation's politics.
Liberia has a rich history in textile arts and quilting, as the settlers brought with them their sewing and quilting skills. Liberia hosted National Fairs in 1857 and 1858 in which prizes were awarded for various needle arts.
Wikipedia: Liberia – read more, CC BY-SA 4.0