Article Outline
Monrovia is the capital of Liberia and by far the country’s largest city. Other important communities are the coastal towns of Buchanan and Harper; and the inland trade centers of Zwedru, near the border with Côte d’Ivoire, and Yekepa, close to the Guinea border.
About 43 percent of Liberia’s people follow traditional animist religions. About 29 percent are Christians (most Protestants) and 16 percent are Muslims. English is Liberia’s official language but is spoken by only about one-fifth of the people. The rest of the people speak various African languages which mainly belong to the Mande, West Atlantic, or Kwa linguistic groups.
Education is free and compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 15. However, a scarcity of educational facilities means that few Liberians progress beyond primary school. Almost all children of primary school-age attend school, but the figure drops to 23 percent (1999–2000) for secondary school-age children. Just 60 percent of the population was literate in 2005. Higher education is provided by the University of Liberia (1862), in Monrovia, and several colleges.
Civil war destroyed much of the economy of Liberia, particularly the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Prior to the war the country had encouraged foreign investment in the development of its rich natural resources, mainly rubber, iron ore, and timber. Many of these investors were slow to return after the end of hostilities. With 72 percent of the labor force engaged in agriculture and forestry, the postwar government hoped educational and vocational training programs would encourage the development of other sectors. During the war, Liberia’s gross domestic product (GDP)—the total value of goods and services produced within a country—dropped to a fraction of prewar levels. The economy improved after the end of the civil war in 1996, but large numbers of returning refugees led to high unemployment rates.
Rice and cassava are the principal food crops of Liberia; the country must import rice to meet its needs. Fruits, vegetables, and sweet potatoes are also grown for local consumption.
Liberia’s dominant export crop is rubber, the production of which rebounded quickly after the end of the civil war. Other cash crops include oil palm fruit (from which palm oil is extracted), coffee, cocoa, and sugar.
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