World Factbook
Liberia
Republic of Liberia
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white; a five-pointed white star sits on a blue square in the upper-left corner meaning: the stripes stand for the signatories of the Liberian Declaration of Independence, the blue square for the African mainland, and the star for the freedom granted to ex-slaves; the blue stands for liberty, justice, and fidelity; the white for purity, cleanliness, and guilelessness; the red for steadfastness, valor, and fervor
note: the design is based on the US flag
Capital
name
Monrovia
etymology
named after James MONROE (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States and supporter of Liberia's colonization by freed slaves
time difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
6 18 N, 10 48 W
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Liberia
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
2 years
Constitution
history
previous 1847 (at independence); latest drafted 19 October 1983, revision adopted by referendum 3 July 1984, effective 6 January 1986
amendment process
proposed by agreement of at least two thirds of both National Assembly houses or by petition of at least 10,000 citizens; passage requires at least two-thirds majority approval of both houses and approval in a referendum by at least two-thirds majority of registered voters
Country name
etymology
name derives from the Latin word liber, meaning "free;" so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves
conventional long form
Republic of Liberia
conventional short form
Liberia
Independence
26 July 1847
Legal system
mixed system of common law, based on Anglo-American law and customary law
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
note
note: the Supreme Court has jurisdiction for all constitutional cases
highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of a chief justice and 4 associate justices)
subordinate courts
judicial circuit courts; special courts, including criminal, civil, labor, traffic; magistrate and traditional or customary courts
judge selection and term of office
chief justice and associate justices appointed by the president of Liberia with consent of the Senate; judges can serve until age 70
Executive branch
note
note: the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president, confirmed by the Senate
chief of state
President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
election results
2023: Joseph BOAKAI elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (CDC) 43.8%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 43.4%, Edward APPLETON (GDM) 2.2%, Lusinee KAMARA (ALCOP) 2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS, Jr. (CPP) 1.6%, Tiawan Saye GONGLOE (LPP) 1.4%, other 5.6%; percentage of vote in second round - Joseph BOAKAI 50.6%, George WEAH 49.4% 2017: George WEAH elected president in second round; percent of vote in first round - George WEAH (Coalition for Democratic Change) 38.4%, Joseph BOAKAI (UP) 28.8%, Charles BRUMSKINE (LP) 9.6%, Prince JOHNSON (MDR) 8.2%, Alexander B. CUMMINGS (ANC) 7.2%, other 7.8%; percentage of vote in second round - George WEAH 61.5%, Joseph BOAKAI 38.5%
head of government
President Joseph BOAKAI (since 22 January 2024)
most recent election date
10 October 2023, with a runoff on 14 November 2023
election/appointment process
president directly elected by absolute-majority popular vote in 2 rounds, if needed, for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term)
expected date of next election
October 2029
National holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
National color(s)
red, white, blue
Political parties
All Liberian Party or ALP Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD Alternative National Congress or ANC Coalition for Democratic Change (includes CDC, NPP, and LPDP) Collaborating Political Parties or CPP (coalition includes ANC, LP; CPP dissolved in April 2024) Congress for Democratic Change or CDC Liberia Destiny Party or LDP Liberia National Union or LINU Liberia Transformation Party or LTP Liberian People Democratic Party or LPDP Liberian People's Party or LPP Liberian Restoration Party or LRP Liberty Party or LP Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction or MDR Movement for Economic Empowerment Movement for Progressive Change or MPC National Democratic Coalition or NDC National Democratic Party of Liberia or NDPL National Patriotic Party or NPP National Reformist Party or NRP National Union for Democratic Progress or NUDP People's Unification Party or PUP Unity Party or UP United People's Party Victory for Change Party or VCP
Legislative branch
legislature name
Legislature
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"All Hail, Liberia, Hail!"
history
lyrics adopted 1847, music adopted 1860; the anthem's author later became the third president of Liberia
lyrics/music
Daniel Bashiel WARNER/Olmstead LUCA
National symbol(s)
white star
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
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
House of Representatives
term in office
6 years
number of seats
73 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
10/10/2023
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
11%
parties elected and seats per party
Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (25); Unity Party (UP) (11); Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) (6); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (4); Independents (19); Other (8)
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
The Liberian Senate
term in office
9 years
number of seats
30 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
partial renewal
most recent election date
10/10/2023
expected date of next election
October 2029
percentage of women in chamber
10%
parties elected and seats per party
Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) (6); Unity Party (UP) (1); Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) (1); Liberia Restoration Party (LRP) (1); Independents (6)
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 723-0436
chancery
5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone
[1] (202) 723-0437
chief of mission
Ambassador Al-Hassan CONTEH (since 24 July 2025)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
info@liberianembassyus.org http://www.liberianembassyus.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[231] 77-677-7370
embassy
502 Benson Street, Monrovia
telephone
[231] 77-677-7000
mailing address
8800 Monrovia Place, Washington DC 20521-8800
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Joseph ZADROZNY (since August 2025)
email address and website
ACSMonrovia@state.gov https://lr.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, EITI (compliant country), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction