Liberia

Slightly larger than the US state of Ohio, Liberia (pop. 3.4 million) is situated on the West Coast of Africa. Its capital city is Monrovia (pop. 1 million). Established by returning slaves from the US in 1847, Liberia was - and still is to some extent - an uneasy mix of "indigenous" Africans and Creole-speaking "returnees". From 1989 to 2003 Liberia endured one of Africa's bloodiest civil wars, which claimed 200,000 Liberian lives and displaced a million others into refugee camps in neighboring countries.

Facts:

  Main ethnic groups: Kpelle (20%), Bassa (16%), Gio (8%), and Kru (7%), with 49% spread over 12 other ethnic groups.

  Religious affiliation: 40% listed as Christian, 20% as Muslim and 40% as animist.

  16 indigenous languages with English as the official language.

  Average life expectancy is 47

  Literacy rate is 20%.

 Work: 70% subsistence agriculture, 15% industry and 2% services.

  Unemployment: 80% in the formal sector.