LIBERIA

Official name: The Republic of Liberia

Capital: Monrovia

Population: 2.8 million

Currency: Liberian dollar

Official language: English

Named after liberated slaves who began returning from the US in 1816, Liberia was torn by civil war between 1990 and 1995. Facing the Atlantic in equatorial West Africa, most of its coastline is characterised by lagoons and mangrove swamps. Inland, a grassland plateau supports limited agriculture -- just one per cent of land is arable. Liberia has the world's largest 'flag of convenience' merchant fleet. CLIMATE

Except in the extreme southeast, Liberia has only one rainy season, from May to October, monthly totals peaking at 100 centimetres in June and July. Temperatures are consistently high. During the October to March dry season, when the dust-laden harmattan wind blows, they rise even higher inland. COMMUNICATIONS

The country's limited road network is mainly unpaved and the railways, built to transport iron ore, still carry little other traffic. The main international airport, Roberts Field, was built by the US during the Second World War. TOURISM

Liberia currently attracts very few tourists and even before the war, it was not a popular destination. PEOPLE

Population density: 29 people per square kilometre Urban/rural population split: 46 per cent/54 percent Ethnic make-up: A key distinction in Liberia has been between Americo-Liberians, the descendants of those freed from slavery (known as 'civilised persons'), and the majority group, indigenous 'tribals'. Early divisions between the two groups have been softened by intermarriage and political assimilation. Inter-tribal tension has been a serious problem in recent years. POLITICS

A military coup in 1980 ended a long period of Americo-Liberian rule and resulted in the execution of the government. A series of armed invasions by neighbouring countries followed, prompting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to send in a peace-keeping force in 1990. These forces later tried to seize territory and Liberian politics effectively collapsed into a chaotic, bloody and many-sided conflict. A peace accord between the six main warring factions were signed in August 1995 and elections are scheduled for August 1996. WORLD AFFAIRS

The US was the main influence in Liberia until the arrival of ECOWAS' aggressive forces, backed chiefly by Nigeria and Ghana. Burkina, Ivory Coast and Libya were suspected of backing the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), the main group fighting with ECOWAS for control of the country. In 1995, United Nation's military observers helped monitor the peace agreement. AID

International donors have pledged humanitarian and logistical aid. The US continued giving support and aid to the military regime until 1990, despite its apparent misuse of funds. DEFENCE

Most of the non-state run or private armies which operated in Liberia, including the official Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), lived by extortion and intimidating local communities. ECONOMICS

GNP: $1.2 billion

GNP per capita: $430

Balance of payments: Formal economy has collapsed

Strengths: Very few. The Firestone rubber plantation and huge LAMCO iron ore mine are under the control of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). Tropical timber, but reserves declining.

Weaknesses: Little commercial activity. Civil war from 1990 to 1995 led to the collapse of the economy. RESOURCES

Electricity generation: 565 million kwh

Oil production: Not an oil producer, but refines 15,000 barrels per day

Livestock: Includes sheep, pigs and cattle

Mineral reserves: Liberia has an estimated one billion tonnes of iron ore reserves at Mount Nimba, but the current state of world demand would not justify exploitation. There are also diamond, gold and manganese reserves. ENVIRONMENT

The NFPL and other armed groups have cut down tropical forests to finance their armies, and only one per cent of land is protected. The civil war made environmental initiatives impossible. MEDIA

Between 1980 and 1991, press criticism of the government was discouraged, but since then has been freer. Generally, though, distribution problems lessen the impact of newspapers. CRIME

Human rights have figured little in Liberian life, and during the war they disappeared altogether. The warring factions regularly massacred civilians, press-ganged armies and displaced thousands into seeking refuge in neighbouring states. Unsurprisingly, no figures are published, although crime was rampant, and there were no enforcing agencies. EDUCATION

Literacy rate: 39 per cent Originally based on the US model, the education system effectively collapsed during the civil war. HEALTH

Doctor/population ratio: 1 per 1,625 people

Only the Americo-Liberian community had ready access to health care before the war, and only the military received adequate care during the conflict. WEALTH

Power and wealth are directly connected in Liberia. All of the recent regimes have seen the state as a source of plunder in the form of well-paid jobs and kick-backs from contracts. Fewer than one per cent of the population have a telephone.

WORLD RANKING

Position in World
(191 countries)

Life expectancy 152 Infant mortality 180 GDP per capita 165 Daily calorie intake 126 Literacy 161 Schooling index 143 Educational rank 163 Human dev. index 161