Years of civil strife have destroyed much of Liberia's economic infrastructure, made civil administration nearly impossible, and brought economic activity virtually to a halt. The deterioration of economic conditions has been greatly exacerbated by the flight of most business people with their expertise and capital. Civil order ended in 1990 when President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces. The ensuing civil war persisted until August 1995 when the major factions signed the Abuja peace accord and, in September 1995, formed a transitional coalition government under Wilton SANKAWULO. The war was resumed in April 1996, when forces loyal to faction leaders Charles TAYLOR and Alhaji KROMAH attacked rival factions in Monrovia, further damaging the capital's already dilapidated infrastructure and causing panic among the remaining foreign residents, thousands of whom sought refuge in US facilities. Prospects for peace became extremely uncertain again.
People
Population:
2,109,789 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years:
45% (male 475,138; female 470,970)
15-64 years:
52% (male 557,855; female 532,143)
65 years and over:
3% (male 35,544; female 38,139) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.13% (1996 est.)
Birth rate:
42.72 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate:
11.95 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate:
-9.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
note:
until the Ghanaian-led peace negotiations are successful, many Liberian refugees will be unable to return from exile
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.93 male(s)/female
all ages:
1.03 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
108.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
58.59 years
male:
56.05 years
female:
61.22 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.23 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun:
Liberian(s)
adjective:
Liberian
Ethnic divisions:
indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella), Americo-Liberians 5% (descendants of former slaves)
Religions:
traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%
Languages:
English 20% (official), Niger-Congo language group about 20 local languages come from this group
Literacy:
age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population:
38.3%
male:
53.9%
female:
22.4%
