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 |
| |
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| Official
Name : |
REPUBLIC
OF LIBERIA |
| Land
Area: |
111,370
square kilometres / 42,988 square miles. |
| Population: |
3,482,000
(est 2005). Density 31.4 persons per square kilometre. |
| Languages: |
English
(official), Kpelle, Bassa, Kwa, others. |
| Religions: |
Traditional 75%, Muslim 20%, Christian 5% |
| Capital: |
Monrovia.
Population 990,000 |
| Currency: |
Liberian
dollar, divided into 100 cents. |
| Political: |
Liberia
has experienced political unrest since 1979. Strongman Taylor (president) held
executive power with no real political opposition until 1997 when renewed episodes
of fighting, with numerous smaller-scale outbreaks. This situation escalated in
2001 and remained volatile until a UN ceasefire among warring factions and the
Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of former president
Taylor. Bryant was elected to power in October 2003. |
| Geography: |
Liberia contains three major physiographic regions. The low Atlantic coastal strip
with lagoon formations and mangrove swamps backed by an undulating plateau region.
Most of the plateau region is grassland or forest. Important upland ranges include
the Bomi Hills in the west and Niete Mountains in the South East. Rivers traversing
the plateau include the Mano, Moro, the St Paul, St John, the Douobe and the semi
navigable Cavalla. |
