About Liberia

History

Official language is English, with 20+ indigenous languages also spoken
Colonized during the 1820’s and 1830’s in part by the American Colonization Society as well as colonization societies from a number of U.S. states
Transported free black people from the U.S. to Africa to establish a colony
This also served to introduce Christianity to a region where tribal religions were being followed
Complex and conflicting views and motives surrounding these efforts
Evolved into Americo-Liberian culture that rose to political prominence until 1980
First African republic to gain independence, in 1847
Capital city, originally called Christopolis, was renamed Monrovia in honor of U.S. President James Monroe
Africa’s oldest continuously independent country
Civil Wars from 1989-1997 and 1999-2003 caused significant human loss and crushed the economy
Peace Agreement in 2003, relatively stable democracy since then

Background – Poverty and Hunger

9^th poorest country in the world

Source: International Monetary Fund, World Economic Outlook April 2025

In the 2025 Global Hunger Index, Liberia has a level of hunger that is serious

35.5% of the population is undernourished

26.9% of children under five are stunted

7.3% of children die before their fifth birthday

Lack of Infrastructure

Only 10% have access to safe drinking water

Only 32% have access to electricity

Only 250-300 doctors serving the entire population

For every patient a U.S. doctor cares for ….

…. a doctor in Liberia must care for 50

Liberia Compared to the U.S.

Population 5.9 million – would rank 22^nd among U.S. states – between Wisconsin and Minnesota
Size 43,000 square miles – would rank 35^th among U.S. states – between Ohio and Virginia

Annual Gross Domestic Product per Capita

U.S.

$92,883

Liberia

$956