Overview

The Republic of Liberia is located on the West African coast and has a population of nearly 5 million. The capital and largest city is Monrovia (population of over 1.5 million). 

English is the official language but more than 20 different languages are spoken by the 16 indigenous ethnic groups who make up more than 95% of the population. 

Learn More:

• Liberia Overview | World Bank
• Liberia Factbook | CIA.GOV
• A Brief History of Liberia | Thoughtco.com
• Impacts of the War | PeacebuildingData.org

Background

Between 1820 and 1865, several thousand free-born Black Americans and formerly enslaved people migrated from America and founded Liberia.

Liberia’s government is a republic with a representative democracy made up of executive, legislative, and judicial branches. It was modeled on the US federal government. According to the 1986 constitution, the president is elected for a six-year term.

A coup d’etat in 1980 resulted in years of dictatorships and two civil wars and many groups struggled for power.

The wars made use of child soldiers and sexual servitude by minors. The amount of destruction caused basic services to collapse and during that time, infant and maternal mortality rates rose dramatically. 

Today

In 2020, Liberia ranked 175 in the world in the Human Development Index as one of the poorest countries in the world. The country is resource-rich, but mostly untapped.

General political stability has been achieved , but the effects of brutal wars are still being felt.

After two civil wars that killed more than 250,000 people and displaced 1 million, an Ebola crisis, and then COVID-19, millions of Liberians cannot meet basic food needs and 600,000+ are considered in extreme poverty.

Revive Liberia exists to help the people of Liberia to build better lives of hope, opportunity and dignity.