Republic of Liberia
Official language – English
Capital – Monrovia
National holiday – Independence Day, 26 July (since 1847, from USA)
Government type – Presidential Republic
Area – 111,369 sq km
Administrative division – Liberia is divided into 15 counties: Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe. They are subdivided into districts, and further subdivided into clans. The oldest counties are Grand Bassa and Montserrado, both founded in 1839 prior to Liberian independence. Gbarpolu is the newest county, created in 2001. Nimba is the largest of the counties in size at 11,551 square kilometres (4,460 sq mi), while Montserrado is the smallest at 1,909 square kilometres (737 sq mi). Montserrado is also the most populous county with 1,144,806 residents (2008 census). www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberia#Counties_and_districts
Border countries: Sierra Leone (in the northwest), Guinea (in the north), Côte d'Ivoire (in the east), the Atlantic Ocean on the west
Natural resources: iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold and hydropower www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/li.html
Population – 5,1 mln (2020, UNCTAD)
The population of Liberia comprises 16 indigenous ethnic groups and various foreign minorities. Indigenous peoples comprise about 95% of the population, the largest of which are the Kpelle in central and western Liberia. Americo-Liberians, who are descendants of African-American settlers, make up 2.5%, and Congo people, descendants of repatriated Congo and Afro-Caribbean slaves who arrived in 1825, make up an estimated 2.5%. There also is a sizable number of Lebanese, Indians, and other West African nationals who make up a significant part of Liberia's business community. A small minority of Liberians of European descent (estimated at 18,000 in 1999; probably fewer now) reside in the country www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Liberia
Ethnic groups: Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa 13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio 8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, Kissi 4.8%, Gola 4.4%, other 20.1% (2008 Census) www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/li.html
Religion
It is estimated that as much as 40% of the population of Liberia practices either Christianity or Christianity combined with elements of traditional indigenous religious beliefs. Approximately 40% exclusively practices traditional indigenous religious beliefs. An estimated 20 percent of the population practices Islam. A small percentage is Bahá'í, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, or atheist.
Christian denominations include the Lutheran, Baptist, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Roman Catholic, United Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal (AME) and AME Zion denominations, and a variety of Pentecostal churches. Some of the Pentecostal movements are affiliated with churches outside the country, while others are independent. There are also members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Seventh-day Adventists. Christians live throughout the country.
The Muslim population is mainly found among the Mandingo and Vai ethnic groups. Vai live predominantly in the west, but Mandingo reside throughout the country. Ethnic groups in all regions participate in the traditional religious practices of the Poro and Sande secret societies.
The Bahá'í Faith in Liberia begins with the entrance of the first member of the religion in 1952 By the end of 1963 there were five assemblies and Liberian Bahá'ís elected their first National Spiritual Assembly in 1975. The community was somewhat disrupted by the First Liberian Civil War but re-established their National Spiritual Assembly in 1998. Almost 9,500 Bahá'ís are believed to have been in Liberia in 2006 www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Liberia]
Calling code: 231
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