Exchange Rates

Exchange Rates as of December 2005 for the Liberian Dollar (LRD)

1 US Dollar (USD) = 53.0 (LRD)
1 Euro (EUR) = 64.62 (LRD)
1 Japanese Yen = 0.46 (LRD)
1 Chinese Yuan Renminbi = 6.68 (LRD)
1 CFA Franc (BEAC) = 0.097 (LRD)

Background/Government

After a 14-year civil war, Liberia held presidential elections in October 2005. Harvard-educated Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was elected Liberia’s 23rd president in a runoff election with Mr. George Weah, an international soccer star.

The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which maintains a strong presence throughout the country with over 15,000 troops, completed a disarmament program for former combatants in late 2004, but the security situation is still volatile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country remains sluggish.

Government Type
Republic (Legislative Branch, Executive Branch, Judicial Branch)

Capital
Monrovia

Independence
26 July 1847

Legal system
dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector

Flag
(show image of flag)

Geography

Area
total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km

Land boundaries
total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline
579 km

Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry season with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy rain season with frequent heavy showers.
Rain Season: May to September
Dry Season: October to April

Terrain
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Geography – note
facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

Population Facts

Population
3,482,211 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 765,662/female 751,134)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 896,206/female 940,985)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 64,547/female 63,677) (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
total population: 38.89 years
male: 37.03 years
female: 40.81 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate
6.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups
indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves) indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Religions
indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages
English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

National Holidays

New Years Day
January 1

Constitution
January 6 (1986)

Decoration Day
2nd Wednesday in March

J.J. Robert’s Birthday
1st President of Liberia
March 15

Fast & Prayer Day
2nd Friday in April

National Unification Day
April 14

National Redemption Day
April 15

Independence Day
July 26 (1847)

Flag Day
August 24

Thanksgiving Day
1st Thursday in November

W.V.S. Tubman’s Birthday
November 29

Christmas Day
December 25

Liberia Staple Foods

Rice: Sold in 100 Lbs bags or by the cup. Variety includes 'Pusawah Rice' and 'White Rice'. Served with most dishes.

Palm Butter: Spicy sauce made form palm oil. A Liberian favorite. Some may include 'snail' and 'kiss meat' in preparation. Please ask.

Cassava Leaf: Leafy sauce made also with palm oil.

Palava Sauce: Slimy but delicious sauce made also with palm oil. Usually embellished with smoked fish, dried meat, chicken, pig's feet.

Jollof Rice: Standard holiday dish. Made by combining tomato paste, rice, and variety of meats.

Pepper Soup & Fufu: Tasty and usually very hot and very spicy soup made with a variety of meats and pepper. Served mostly to guests at the end of house parties. Fufu, may or may not be included. Fufu is a thick, gel-like dish made from ground cassava (yucca) or potatoes.

Potato Greens: Very tasty and leafy dish. Made with vegetable or palm oil.

Fish Gravy: Can't go wrong with this simple dish. Served with rice, fried or broiled fish, and a delicious gravy sauce.

Okra Sauce: Sauce made from okra plant. Served with rice.

Torborgee: Another favorite, but not for the faint hearted. Taste is an acquired one. Bitter but very tasty. Made with variety of meats and palm oil.

Cabbage: Sauce made from cabbage bulbs. Cabbage bulbs are cut into small pieces and cooked with diced turkey or pork. Very healthy and delicious.