Liberia People - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Population: 2,307,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 3.3%

Nationality: noun—Liberian(s); adjective— Liberian

Ethnic divisions: 95% indigenous African tribes, including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, and Bella; 5% descendants of repatriated slaves known as Americo-Liberians

Beligion: 75% traditional, 15% Muslim, 10% Christian

Language: English (official); more than 20 local languages of the Niger-Congo language group; English used by about 20%

Infant mortality rate: 153/1,000(1984)

Life expectancy: 54

Literacy: 24%

Labor force: 510,000, of which 220,000 are in monetary economy; non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management and engineering jobs; 70.5% agriculture, 10.8% services, 4.5% industry and commerce, 14.2% other

Organized labor: 2% of labor force

NOTE: The information regarding Liberia on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Liberia 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Liberia 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.