8 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea,
hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever
animal contact disease: rabies (2008)

Nationality:

noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups:

indigenous African 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo,
Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo,
and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from
the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of
immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Religions:

Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%

Languages:

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a
few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

total: 10 years
male: 11 years
female: 8 years (2000)

Education expenditures:

NA

Government
Liberia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 48 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount,
Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba,
River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Independence:

26 July 1847

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution:

6 January 1986

Legal system:

dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for
the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal
practices for indigenous sector; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head