With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia.
Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the United States began sending freed
enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the United States, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic.
Geography
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between
Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Area
total: 111,369 sq km
PEOPLE & SOCIETY
Population
5.1 million (July 2020 est.)
Population Growth
2.71% (2020 est.)
Ethnicity
Kpelle 20.3%, Bassa
13.4%, Grebo 10%, Gio
8%, Mano 7.9%, Kru 6%, Lorma 5.1%, other 29.3% (2008 est.)
Language
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages few
of
which can be written or used in correspondence
Religion
Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%,
none 1.5% (2008 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 52.1% of total population (2020)
rate of urbanization: 3.41% annual rate of change (2015-20
est.)
Literacy
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to
cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling
plateau and low mountains in northeast
Elevation
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
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