Liberia

January 7, 1822 (Monday) – American Colonization Society establishes colony for freed African Americans

July 26, 1847 (Monday) – Declaration of Independence; Republic of Liberia founded

January 3, 1944 (Monday) – William Tubman becomes president; modernization and “Open Door Policy” begins

April 12, 1980 (Saturday) – Coup d’état led by Samuel Doe; President Tolbert executed

December 24, 1989 (Sunday) – Start of First Liberian Civil War

August 2, 1997 (Saturday) – Charles Taylor elected president after civil war ends

June 4, 2003 (Wednesday) – Second Liberian Civil War intensifies

August 11, 2003 (Monday) – Taylor resigns under pressure; transitional government formed

November 23, 2005 (Wednesday) – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf elected Africa’s first female president

March–August 2014 – Ebola outbreak begins in Guinea, rapidly spreads to Liberia

August 6, 2014 (Wednesday) – State of emergency declared due to Ebola crisis

September 20, 2017 (Wednesday) – George Weah wins presidential election

March 19, 2020 (Thursday) – First COVID-19 case confirmed in Liberia

August 20, 2021 (Friday) – Flash flooding in Monrovia displaces hundreds

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) – Fuel tanker explosion in Totota kills over 40 people

October 10, 2023 (Tuesday) – Joseph Boakai defeats George Weah in presidential elections

November 15, 2023 (Wednesday) – Torrential rains trigger landslides in Lofa County

Continent: Africa
Location: West Africa, Atlantic Ocean coast
Capital: Monrovia
Language: English (official); over 20 indigenous languages spoken
Currency: Liberian Dollar (LRD)
Population: ~5.5 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT, UTC+0)*

Borders: Sierra Leone, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Atlantic Ocean
Landscape: Coastal plains, mangrove swamps, rolling hills, inland plateaus
Major Rivers: St. Paul River, St. John River, Mano River, Cavalla River
Major Mountains: Mount Wuteve (highest), Nimba Range
Deserts: None
Lakes: Lake Piso, Lake Shepherd
Volcanoes: None
Highest Point: Mount Wuteve – 1,440 m (4,724 ft)
Lowest Point: Atlantic Ocean – 0 m
Climate: Tropical; hot and humid with wet and dry seasons
Geological Features: Lateritic soils, iron ore deposits, tropical rainforests

Ethnic Groups: Kpelle, Bassa, Grebo, Gio, Kru, Mandingo, Loma, and others
Religion: Christianity (~85%), Islam (~12%), traditional beliefs
Urban Population: ~53% (last updated: 2023)
Aging Population: ~4.1% aged 65+ (last updated: 2024)

Famous For: Historic link to the U.S., rubber production, peacebuilding efforts
Cuisine: Jollof rice, fufu, palm butter soup, cassava
Arts: Storytelling, wood carving, woven crafts, traditional masks
Sports: Football (soccer), basketball, athletics

Economy Type: Low-income, resource-based
GDP: Approx. $3.7 billion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Rubber, mining, agriculture, timber, shipping
Key Exports: Rubber, iron ore, palm oil, cocoa, timber
Unemployment Rate: ~18.4% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: Coastal trade areas, mining interior, agricultural regions

Government Type: Presidential republic
Head of State & Government: President Joseph Boakai (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Bicameral National Legislature (Senate and House of Representatives)
Constitution: Effective since January 6, 1986

Monrovia: National Museum, Ducor Hotel ruins, beaches
Robertsport: Surfing, fishing, colonial architecture
Sapo National Park: Rainforest biodiversity, rare wildlife
Providence Island: Site of first settlers from the U.S.
Lake Piso: Largest lake, scenic and ecological significance
Gbarnga: Cultural and rural experience