• Country Facts
  • History
  • First independent republic in Africa
  • 85% unemployment rate
  • Official language is English
  • There are 16 indigenous languages
  • Average yearly income is $150
  • Land size is about equal to the state of Ohio
  • Population is 3.5 million
  • 43% of the population is under 15 years old
  • Average life expectancy is 45 years
  • Liberia means “Land of the Free”
  • Between 1989 and 2003 Liberia suffered two civil wars, leaving an estimated 250,000 dead
  • Infant mortality rate of 15%
  • Illiteracy rate of 80%
  • Religion: 40% Indigenous, 40% Christian, 20% Muslim
  • 72% of people in urban areas and 52% of people in rural areas have access to an improved water source
  • Liberia ranks 169th out of 182 countries on the UN Human Development Report (measured by life expectancy, education/literacy rates, and income/decent standard of living)
  • 1820 The Elizabeth Sails from New York for West Africa - the American Colonization Society (its full name was the American Society for Colonizing the Free People of Color of the United States) arranged for its first wave of colonizers to head for what is now Liberia (6 February).
  • 1821 Liberated US slaves are settled along the coast by the American Colonization Society.
  • 1847 Liberia becomes an independent state (26 July). Its constitution is based on that of the United States of America. Joseph J Roberts, a freed man born in Virginia, becomes its first president.
  • 1890s In response to the Scramble for Africa by European powers, especially Britain and France, the Liberian government formally designates the country's boundaries.
  • 1915 Indigenous peoples rise up against Americo-Liberians.
  • 1926 Liberian government grants land to the Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company. Rubber becomes Liberia's main cash crop.
  • 1936 Liberian government takes action against forced labor.
  • 1951 Liberian government legislates against racial discrimination.
  • 1960 Liberia becomes a 'flag of convenience' for international shippers.
  • 1979 Rioting starts against Americo-Liberian supremacy after severe price rises for rice.
  • 1980 There is a coup led by Samuel K. Doe. President William Richard Tolbert is assassinated along with 13 of his aides.
  • 1984 Doe's government agrees to the return of party politics in Liberia after international pressure from the US and other major creditors. Samuel Doe declares himself president ahead of general elections.
  • 1986 Samuel Doe wins elections and is officially declared president.
  • 1989 Charles Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) begins a rebellion against Doe's government.
  • 1990 Civil war erupts - Samuel Doe's Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) are challenged by two rebel groups, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (Taylor's NPFL) and the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) peace keeping force ECOMOG is sent into the country to help restore order, with backing from Ghana and Nigeria.

    Samuel Doe is assassinated by a section of the NPFL.

    Liberia's various warlords, including Charles Taylor, vie for leadership. Amos Claudius Sawyer becomes acting president for an Interim Government of National Unity with the support of ECOWAS and the NPFL.

  • 1992 ECOMOG peacekeepers are attacked by NPFL forces in Monrovia, the Liberian capital. ECOMOG succeeds in pushing the NPFL out into the surrounding countryside.
  • 1993 A tentative agreement towards a National Transitional Government fails.
  • 1995 A ceasefire is agreed by warring factions. Wilton G. S. Sankawulo takes over as Chairman of the Council of State of the Liberian National Transitional Government.
  • 1996 Ceasefire breaks down, fighting is reported around Monrovia

    ECOMOG peacekeepers begin disarmament of warring factions

  • 1997 Following elections in July, Charles Taylor of the National Patriotic Party (NPP) becomes president with a landslide win. International observers declare the election 'free and fair' but opposition groups are still forcefully active.
  • 1999 Liberia is accused by Nigeria and Ghana of giving support to United Front rebels in Sierra Leone.
  • 2000 A "massive offensive" is initiated by Liberian forces against rebels (Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy, LURD).
  • 2001 Rampaging civil war results in borders with Sierra Leone and Guinea being closed.
  • 2002 President Charles Taylor declares a state of emergency.
  • 2003 Rebel forces approach the capital.

    President Charles Taylor is accused of war crimes over his support for rebel forces in Sierra Leone (June) – this overshadows ceasefire talks in Ghana.

    ECOWAS agrees to provide peacekeeping forces as rebel troops battle for control of the capital Monrovia.

    Charles Taylor hands over power to his deputy, Moses Zeh Blah (11 August). US troops arrive in Monrovia (President Bush insisted that Taylor had to leave the country before US personnel arrived). By October the US forces have been pulled out and 3,500 UN troops are deployed in the capital

    An interim National Transitional Government is formed, with the backing of rebel leaders.

  • 2004 Riots in Monrovia leave 14 dead.
  • 2005 Africa's first elected head of state, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, is elected president. She is the first elected woman leader in Africa.
  • 2006 Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of the Unity Party is inaugurated as president.

    Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is set up to investigate human rights abuses between 1979 and 2003. Its three main goals are: to foster reconciliation and forgiveness, to provide assistance and aid to those who experienced human rights abuses, and to engender a national framework for truth and justice.

  • 2007 Charles Taylor's war crimes trial begins in The Hague, Netherlands (June)