Liberia (Republic of Liberia)

https://www.humantruth.info/liberia.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2025

Liberia Republic of Liberia
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	188th best
Capital	Monrovia
Land Area	96 320km²₁
Location	Africa
Population	4.8m₂
Life Expectancy	60.75yrs (2017)₃
GNI	$1 289 (2017)₄
ISO3166-1 Codes	LR, LBR, 430₅
Internet Domain	.lr₆
Currency	Dollar (LRD)₇
Telephone	+231₈

1. Overview

“Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendants of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who faces war crimes charges in The Hague related to his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. She subsequently won reelection in 2011 in a second round vote that was boycotted by the opposition and remains challenged to build Liberia's economy and reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. The United Nations Security Council in September 2012 passed Resolution 2066 which calls for a reduction of UN troops in Liberia by half by 2015, bringing the troop total down to fewer than 4000, and challenging Liberia's security sector to fill the gaps.”
CIA's The World Factbook (2013)₉

“Founded by freed slaves and emerging from the devastation of civil war, Liberia is a country rich with natural beauty that is getting back on its feet. Long a byword for child soldiers and civil war, Liberia is emerging from the ashes. This is a country getting back on its feet, but one thing hasn´t changed: Liberia is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty, its coast lined with splendid beaches and its interior awash in rainforest. Founded by freed slaves from America in the 19th century and inhabited by traditional groups famous for their artistic traditions and secret societies, Liberia´s complicated cultural mix hasn´t always worked.It wasn´t long ago that Liberians talked with nostalgia of `normal days´. Now, over a decade since the war ended, `normal days´ are back in this gorgeous green land.
Today you can visit Monrovia, exploring the relics of Liberia´s rich history and the American influence that still shapes it. Sapo National Park is one of the most stunning patches of rainforest in West Africa, while the sands of pretty Robertsport are shingled with fishing canoes and huge granite gems.”
"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)₁₀

2. Liberia National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better Value₁₁
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
175	Ethiopia	0.498
176	Eritrea	0.492
177	Guinea-Bissau	0.483
178	Liberia	0.481
179	Congo, DR	0.479
180	Afghanistan	0.478
181	Sierra Leone	0.477
182	Guinea	0.465
	Africa Avg	0.56
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)₁₁
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $₁₁
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
	...
183	Malawi	$1 466
184	Chad	$1 364
185	Yemen	$1 314
186	Liberia	$1 289
187	Niger	$1 240
188	Mozambique	$1 198
189	Congo, DR	$1 076
190	Somalia	$1 018
	Africa Avg	$5 339
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index₁₂
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₂
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
185	Papua New Guinea	124.1
186	Mauritania	125.1
187	Myanmar	126.5
188	Liberia	126.6
189	Central African Rep.	126.7
190	Chad	129.8
191	Congo, DR	130.6
192	Yemen	130.8
	Africa Avg	119.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Liberia's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population Datasets:

Liberia's population is predicted to rise to 6.533 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 4.02. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population₂
Pos.		2018 Population₂
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
119	Costa Rica	5.0m
120	Palestine	4.9m
121	Oman	4.8m
122	Liberia	4.8m
123	Ireland	4.8m
124	New Zealand	4.7m
125	Central African Rep.	4.7m
126	Mauritania	4.4m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
172	Kenya	61.4
173	Zambia	61.2
174	Botswana	61.1
175	Liberia	60.7
176	Equatorial Guinea	60.6
177	Cameroon	60.3
178	Sierra Leone	60.1
179	Benin	59.8
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
177	Comoros	3.91
178=	Solomon Islands	3.93
178=	Guinea-Bissau	3.93
180	Liberia	4.02
181	Ethiopia	4.06
182	Congo, (Brazzaville)	4.10
183	Equatorial Guinea	4.17
184	Togo	4.20
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better₁₆
Pos.		2016 Per 100₁₆
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
22=	Congo, DR	05.8
22=	Benin	05.8
24=	Burundi	05.9
24=	Liberia	05.9
26	Iraq	06.0
27=	Guinea	06.1
27=	Guinea-Bissau	06.1
27=	Lesotho	06.1
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants₁₇
Pos.		2017 %₁₇
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
124	Bulgaria	2.2%
125	Kenya	2.2%
126	Angola	2.1%
127	Liberia	2.1%
128	Mali	2.1%
129	Georgia	2.0%
130	Guyana	2.0%
131	Central African Rep.	1.9%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants₁₈
Pos.		2010 %₁₈
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
62	Greece	10.8%
63	Mexico	10.7%
64	Andorra	10.7%
65	Liberia	10.5%
66	Uruguay	10.5%
67	Hong Kong	10.2%
68	Dominican Rep.	10.1%
69	Zimbabwe	9.9%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Liberia's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance #women

Compared to Africa (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Cape Verde	66.3
2	S. Africa	70.7
3	Mauritius	74.9
	...
26	Gambia	115.0
27	Guinea-Bissau	115.8
28	Uganda	119.2
29	Liberia	119.3
30	Niger	119.6
31	Togo	120.5
32	Algeria	124.0
33	Comoros	124.3
34	Swaziland	124.5
	Africa Avg	110.04
q=54.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)₁₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₁₉
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
149	Jordan	118.6
150	Solomon Islands	119.1
151	Uganda	119.2
152	Liberia	119.3
153	Niger	119.6
154	Togo	120.5
155	Belarus	121.5
156	Azerbaijan	123.2
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

" Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics #slavery

Press Freedom Higher is better₂₁
Pos.		2025₂₁
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
50	Mauritius	67.31
51	Ghana	67.13
52	Panama	66.75
53	Liberia	66.61
54	Romania	66.42
55	Sierra Leone	66.36
56	USA	65.49
57	Gambia	65.49
	Africa Avg	52.30
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Slavery in the 2020s Lower is better₂₂
Pos.		Total Per 1000₂₂
1=	Switzerland	0.50
1=	Norway	0.50
3=	Germany	0.60
	...
32=	Ghana	2.90
33=	Benin	3.00
33=	Mozambique	3.00
35	Liberia	3.10
36=	Chile	3.20
36=	Costa Rica	3.20
38=	Nepal	3.30
38=	Togo	3.30
	Africa Avg	6.90
	World Avg	7.15
q=160. Also scored for 2010s-2020s.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better₂₃
Pos.		2014 Rank₂₃
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
91	Jordan	91
92	Cape Verde	92
93	Botswana	93
94=	Liberia	94
94=	Lesotho	94
96	Kazakhstan	96
97	Ecuador	97
98	Kyrgyzstan	98
	Africa Avg	114.2
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
83=	Namibia	2.5
83=	Brazil	2.5
83=	Bhutan	2.5
86=	Liberia	3.0
86=	Peru	3.0
86=	Paraguay	3.0
86=	Malawi	3.0
86=	Moldova	3.0
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better₂₄
Pos.		2009 Treaties₂₄
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
102=	Chad	15
102=	Tanzania	15
102=	St Vincent & Grenadines	15
102=	Liberia	15
102=	Libya	15
102=	Maldives	15
102=	Andorra	15
102=	Cape Verde	15
	Africa Avg	14.8
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better₂₅
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty₂₅
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
160	Oman	13.46
161	Uzbekistan	13.53
162	Mauritania	13.56
163	Liberia	13.61
164	San Marino	13.63
165	Saudi Arabia	13.73
166	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	13.73
167	Grenada	13.86
	Africa Avg	9.88
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #politics #women

Liberia culture has a severe problem with gender equality, with male rights dominating those of women. Things need to change.

See:

Gender Inequality Lower is better₂₆
Pos.		2022₂₆
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
157	Guinea	0.63
158	Guinea-Bissau	0.63
159	Benin	0.65
160	Liberia	0.66
161	Afghanistan	0.66
162	Somalia	0.67
163	Chad	0.68
164	Nigeria	0.68
	Africa Avg	0.53
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

From the 2000s to the 2010s, Liberia was one of only 12 countries where Gender Inequality got worse; it became one of the worst 10 countries for Gender Inequality in the 2010s.

Year Women Can Vote Lower is better
Pos.		Total Year
1	New Zealand	1893
2	Australia	1902
3	Finland	1906
	...
56=	Japan	1945
56=	Togo	1945
58=	N. Korea	1946
58=	Liberia	1946
58=	Romania	1946
58=	Panama	1946
58=	Cameroon	1946
58=	Macedonia	1946
	Africa Avg	1961
	World Avg	1930
q=189.

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better₂₇
Pos.		Total Score₂₇
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
167	Mali	-4.19
168	Grenada	-4.83
169=	Sri Lanka	-4.87
169=	Liberia	-4.87
169=	Kenya	-4.87
169=	St Vincent & Grenadines	-4.87
169=	Jamaica	-4.87
174	Solomon Islands	-4.88
	Africa Avg	-3.78
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

It has been illegal to be a male homosexual in Liberia since the 1914 Criminal Code; but the Penal Code of 1978 extended this to males and females, punishable by a year in prison or fines. Enforcement is sporadic, but the law remains a tool for harassment and intimidation. Historically, male homosexuality was criminalized in 1914, briefly legal in 1900-1914, and female homosexuality was only explicitly criminalized from 1978 onward. Same-sex marriage has been banned since 1973. ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Liberia had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better₂₈
Pos.		2021₂₈
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
126=	Ghana	3.3
126=	Italy	3.3
126=	Macedonia	3.3
126=	Liberia	3.3
126=	Malawi	3.3
126=	Madagascar	3.3
132=	Burundi	3.5
132=	Guinea	3.5
	Africa Avg	3.1
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Liberia's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #liberia #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #rwanda #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Africa (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Mauritius	71.1
2	Tunisia	75.3
3	Seychelles	77.4
	...
39	Congo, DR	141.1
40	Madagascar	141.9
41	Sierra Leone	143.2
42	Liberia	143.8
43	Ivory Coast	144.7
44	Niger	145.4
45	Chad	145.6
46	Mali	147.6
47	Nigeria	149.0
	Africa Avg	111.13
q=54.

Health (2025)₂₉
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₂₉
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
191	Marshall Islands	141.2
192	Madagascar	141.9
193	Sierra Leone	143.2
194	Liberia	143.8
195	Ivory Coast	144.7
196	Niger	145.4
197	Chad	145.6
198	Mali	147.6
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₃₀. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₃₀.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₃₀, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₃₀.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #liberia #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #smoking

Liberia is a pretty unhealthy country. Liberia comes in the best 20 in its smoking rate₃₁. It does better than average when it comes to the prevalence of overweight adults₃₂ (but high for Africa), its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₃ and in its alcohol consumption rate₃₄ (but bad for Africa). Liberia still has work to do. Liberia does worse than average for delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₅, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₆, its average life expectancy₁₁ and in its fertility rate₁₅. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 for childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₇ and in its adolescent birth rate₃₈. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the past 40 years. Life expectancy in Liberia in 1990 was the second lowest in the world, at 36.7yrs. But it improved greatly, by +24.4yrs, in the 30 years from then, the second best long-term improvement in the world, and triple the global average improvement of +7.9yrs. Liberia's peak fertility rate was 6.92 in 1979.

Life Expectancy Higher is better₁₁
Pos.		2021 Years₁₁
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
172	Kenya	61.4
173	Zambia	61.2
174	Botswana	61.1
175	Liberia	60.7
176	Equatorial Guinea	60.6
177	Cameroon	60.3
178	Sierra Leone	60.1
179	Benin	59.8
	Africa Avg	62.79
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better₃₄
Pos.		2016 Per Capita₃₄
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
86=	Sierra Leone	5.7
86=	India	5.7
86=	Cape Verde	5.7
89=	Liberia	5.8
89=	Haiti	5.8
89=	Colombia	5.8
92	Nauru	6.0
93	Cuba	6.1
	Africa Avg	4.8
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best₁₅
Pos.		2022₁₅
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
177	Comoros	3.91
178=	Solomon Islands	3.93
178=	Guinea-Bissau	3.93
180	Liberia	4.02
181	Ethiopia	4.06
182	Congo, (Brazzaville)	4.10
183	Equatorial Guinea	4.17
184	Togo	4.20
	Africa Avg	3.97
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better₃₁
Pos.		Total %₃₁
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
16	Mali	8.0%
17	Haiti	8.1%
18	Colombia	8.2%
19=	Liberia	8.3%
19=	Guinea-Bissau	8.3%
21	Oman	8.4%
22	Belize	8.8%
23	Ivory Coast	8.8%
	Africa Avg	12.4%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₃
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
68	Brunei	68
69	Paraguay	69
70	Latvia	70
71	Liberia	71
72	Kazakhstan	72
73	Egypt	73
74=	Burundi	74
74=	Cameroon	74
	Africa Avg	117.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better₃₂
Pos.		1976 %₃₂
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
46	Somalia	10.9
47	Senegal	11.1
48=	Cameroon	11.2
48=	Liberia	11.2
50	Ghana	11.4
51=	Ivory Coast	11.5
51=	Sudan	11.5
53	Sao Tome & Principe	11.7
	Africa Avg	13.4
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better₃₉
Pos.		2022 %₃₉
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
60	Namibia	15.3%
61	Sudan	15.5%
62	Comoros	15.5%
63	Liberia	16.2%
64	Sweden	16.4%
65	Netherlands	16.9%
66	Austria	17.0%
67	Equatorial Guinea	17.2%
	Africa Avg	13.7%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #rwanda #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better₃₈
Pos.		2022 Per 1000₃₈
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
184	Zambia	116.1
185	Malawi	117.2
186	Madagascar	118.1
187	Liberia	122.0
188	Tanzania	123.4
189	Chad	135.7
190	Angola	135.8
191	Equatorial Guinea	136.4
	Africa Avg	84.6
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better₃₅
Pos.		Total Avg %₃₅
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
	...
163=	Gambia	83.1
164	Brazil	83.0
165	Mexico	82.1
166	Liberia	81.6
167	Bosnia & Herzegovina	81.4
168=	Philippines	81.3
168=	Indonesia	81.3
170	Argentina	79.4
	Africa Avg	82.9
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better₃₆
Pos.		2015 Avg %₃₆
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
171	India	75.1
172	Ethiopia	73.9
173	Pakistan	73.0
174	Liberia	72.6
175	S. Africa	72.5
176=	Angola	71.9
176=	Madagascar	71.9
178	Iraq	70.7
	Africa Avg	81.7
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better₃₇
Pos.		Total Per 1000₃₇
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
177	Mozambique	78.97
178	Ivory Coast	88.44
179	Cameroon	92.19
180	Liberia	92.51
181	Angola	93.23
182	Guinea-Bissau	94.79
183	Equatorial Guinea	95.42
184	Congo, DR	97.76
	Africa Avg	71.63
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

From the 2000s to the 2010s, Liberia's infant mortality rate improved by more than any other country except Rwanda₃₇, although many serious health challenges for infants remain.

Liberia was amongst 49 countries in the 1990s who had an adolescent birth rate of over 100 (per 1000 girls aged 15-19); in the 2010s it was still amongst only 27 countries that fell into the same grouping.

6. Liberia's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #environmentalism #food #internationalism #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Morocco	46.5
2	Burundi	47.8
3	Mali	51.0
	...
41	S. Africa	92.2
42	Sao Tome & Principe	92.7
43	Mozambique	93.9
44	Liberia	94.2
45	Sudan	97.8
46	Comoros	99.1
47	Mauritania	101.2
48	Seychelles	103.4
49	Angola	109.5
	Africa Avg	80.07
q=53.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)₄₀
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₀
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
133	Vanuatu	93.0
134	Mozambique	93.9
135	Qatar	94.1
136	Liberia	94.2
137	Trinidad & Tobago	94.5
138	Ukraine	94.8
139	Saudi Arabia	94.9
140	Israel	95.8
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₁. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

"Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

Regarding its responsibility towards the environment, Liberia is 136th in the world. This rank is formulated from 21 data sets. Liberia does better than average for reducing annual meat consumption per person₄₂. When it comes to most other metrics, Liberia does not do well. It does worse than average when it comes to energy to GDP efficiency₄₃, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population₄₄, its environmental performance₄₅ and in its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₆.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better₄₆
Pos.		Total₄₆
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
182	Equatorial Guinea	-6.5%
183	N. Korea	-6.7%
184	Mauritius	-7.5%
185	Liberia	-7.5%
186	Bolivia	-7.9%
187	Singapore	-7.9%
188	Guinea-Bissau	-8.0%
189	Ethiopia	-8.0%
	Africa Avg	-8.7%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better₄₅
Pos.		2018₄₅
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
157	Congo, (Brazzaville)	42.4
158	Bosnia & Herzegovina	41.8
159	Togo	41.8
160	Liberia	41.6
161	Cameroon	40.8
162	Swaziland	40.3
163	Djibouti	40.0
164	Papua New Guinea	39.4
	Africa Avg	46.4
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

Energy to GDP Efficiency Lower is better₄₃
Pos.		2022 Avg₄₃
1	Rwanda	0.25
2	Chad	0.26
3	Tanzania	0.31
	...
114	Sweden	1.30
115	USA	1.36
116	Czechia	1.36
117	Liberia	1.37
118	Armenia	1.42
119	Finland	1.44
120	Qatar	1.46
121	Belgium	1.49
	Africa Avg	0.83
	World Avg	1.23
q=165. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
115	Malta	55%
116	Rwanda	55%
117	Mongolia	55%
118	Liberia	55%
119	Chad	55%
120	Ethiopia	55%
121	Ivory Coast	55%
122	Syria	54%
	Africa Avg	56.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Rational Beliefs on the Environment Higher is better₄₄
Pos.		2011 %₄₄
1	Argentina	78.3%
2	Greece	77.6%
3	Brazil	77.1%
	...
118	Russia	23.5%
119	Algeria	23.5%
120	Pakistan	23.2%
121	Liberia	23.1%
122	Netherlands	23.0%
123	Finland	22.9%
124	Congo, DR	22.8%
125	UK	22.6%
	Africa Avg	38.3%
	World Avg	39.9%
q=145.

Meat Consumption Lower is better₄₂
Pos.		2021 kg₄₂
1	Congo, DR	03.0
2	Burundi	03.5
3	Bangladesh	04.3
	...
41=	Myanmar	20.0
41=	Angola	20.0
43	S. Sudan	20.2
44	Liberia	20.3
45	Ghana	20.9
46	Haiti	21.6
47	Lesotho	21.7
48	Thailand	26.0
	Africa Avg	24.9
	World Avg	52.5
q=185. Also scored for 2010s.

7. Liberia's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #metric #modernity #religion #religiosity #secularisation #technology #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2025)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	S. Africa	58.2
2	Tunisia	63.4
3	Seychelles	64.9
	...
46	Mauritania	143.9
47	Burundi	144.5
48	Gambia	147.8
49	Chad	150.8
50	Sierra Leone	153.8
51	Liberia	160.4
52	Somalia	170.1
53	Eritrea	174.3
54	S. Sudan	176.4
	Africa Avg	119.28
q=54.

Modernity & Learning (2025)₄₇
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank₄₇
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
187	Yemen	155.0
188	Papua New Guinea	158.4
189	Afghanistan	158.6
190	Liberia	160.4
191	Myanmar	163.3
192	Somalia	170.1
193	Eritrea	174.3
194	S. Sudan	176.4
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₈. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₈. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₉.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”
Bill Emmott (2017)₅₀

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₈, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₈.

For more, see:

" Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₃
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
76	Costa Rica	76
77	Jamaica	77
78	Colombia	78
79	Liberia	79
80	Kyrgyzstan	80
81	Saudi Arabia	81
82	Uganda	82
83	Mauritius	83
	Africa Avg	106.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better₅₁
Pos.		2025 %₅₁
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
180=	Yemen	85
180=	Laos	85
182	S. Sudan	80
183=	Myanmar	50
183=	Myanmar	50
183=	Puerto Rico	50
186	Liberia	40
187	USA	30
	Africa Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Largely still uses a non-Metric system₅₂. Progression:

1960 (10%): US customary influence; metric limited to science.
1970 (15%): Incremental metric in education/commerce.
1980 (20%): Limited dual use; everyday life customary units.
2000 (30%): Science/medicine metric; commerce mixed.
2025 (40%): Metric presence growing; everyday customary still strong.

Religiosity Lower is better₅₃
Pos.		2018 %₅₃
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95=	Morocco	91
95=	Guinea-Bissau	91
95=	Philippines	91
95=	Zambia	91
	Africa Avg	87.0
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

IQ Higher is better₅₄
Pos.		2006₅₄
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
125=	Somalia	68
125=	Angola	68
127=	Guinea	67
127=	Liberia	67
127=	Haiti	67
130=	Gambia	66
130=	Zimbabwe	66
130=	Senegal	66
	Africa Avg	70.6
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better₅₅
Pos.		2018₅₅
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
142	Angola	30.2%
143	Lesotho	30.0%
144	Cape Verde	29.9%
145	Liberia	29.0%
146	Yemen	28.0%
147	Benin	26.5%
148	Sierra Leone	26.3%
149	Ivory Coast	26.1%
	Africa Avg	34.4%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better₅₆
Pos.		2021 Years₅₆
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
157	Jordan	10.6
158	Guinea-Bissau	10.6
159	Guatemala	10.6
160	Liberia	10.4
161	Papua New Guinea	10.4
162	Solomon Islands	10.3
163	Afghanistan	10.3
164	Marshall Islands	10.2
	Africa Avg	11.0
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better₅₇
Pos.		2016₅₇
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
176	Gabon	10%
177	Burkina Faso	10%
178	Solomon Islands	10%
179	Liberia	9%
180	Congo, (Brazzaville)	8%
181=	Togo	7%
181=	Comoros	7%
183	Afghanistan	7%
	Africa Avg	18.4%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

8. Liberia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #corruption #economics #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #internationalism #liberia #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#corruption #happiness #internationalism #liberia #politics

Corruption Higher is better₅₈
Pos.		2022 Points₅₈
1	Denmark	90.0
2=	Finland	87.0
2=	New Zealand	87.0
	...
139=	Mali	28.0
140=	Pakistan	27.0
140=	Kyrgyzstan	27.0
142=	Liberia	26.0
142=	Mozambique	26.0
142=	Madagascar	26.0
142=	Cameroon	26.0
142=	Uganda	26.0
	Africa Avg	32.31
	World Avg	42.98
q=180. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Thoughout the 2010s, Liberia's score on the Corruption Perception Index declined drastically; it had the 3rd-worst increase in perceived corruption of all countries that decade.

Happiness Higher is better₅₉
Pos.		2024 Score₅₉
1	Finland	7.7
2	Denmark	7.5
3	Iceland	7.5
	...
126	Myanmar	4.3
127	Togo	4.3
128	Jordan	4.3
129	Liberia	4.3
130	Madagascar	4.2
131	Zambia	3.9
132	Ethiopia	3.9
133	Sri Lanka	3.9
	Africa Avg	4.42
	World Avg	5.58
q=147. Also scored for 2010s.

Creativity & Culture Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₃
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
150	Pakistan	150
151	Guinea-Bissau	151
152	Syria	152
153	Liberia	153
154	Venezuela	154
155	Yemen	155
156	Iraq	156
157	Iran	157
	Africa Avg	117.8
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better₆₀
Pos.		Total Q₆₀
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
170=	Cameroon	50.3
171	Haiti	50.2
172=	Laos	49.7
172=	Liberia	49.7
174	Congo, (Brazzaville)	49.0
175	Djibouti	47.7
176	Myanmar	46.5
177=	Ethiopia	45.3
	Africa Avg	62.9
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₃
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
125	St Lucia	125
126	Chad	126
127	Bahamas	127
128	Liberia	128
129	Sierra Leone	129
130	Kenya	130
131	Kazakhstan	131
132	Bangladesh	132
	Africa Avg	96.7
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index Lower is better₆₁
Pos.		2023 Score₆₁
1	Iceland	1.12
2	Denmark	1.31
3	Ireland	1.31
	...
67	France	1.94
68	Panama	1.94
69	Paraguay	1.94
70=	Liberia	1.95
70=	Trinidad & Tobago	1.95
70=	Kosovo	1.95
73	Cambodia	1.95
74	Malawi	1.97
	Africa Avg	2.29
	World Avg	2.07
q=163. Also scored for 2010s.

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₃
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
	...
151	Sierra Leone	151
152	Afghanistan	152
153	Lebanon	153
154	Liberia	154
155	Mali	155
156	Swaziland	156
157	Yemen	157
158	Iraq	158
	Africa Avg	83.6
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better₃₃
Pos.		2017 Rank₃₃
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
35	Bosnia & Herzegovina	35
36	Romania	36
37	Uruguay	37
38	Liberia	38
39	Turkey	39
40	Malaysia	40
41	Montenegro	41
42	Iceland	42
	Africa Avg	104.5
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Impact of Terrorism Lower is better₆₂
Pos.		2019 Score₆₂
1	Togo	0.00
2	Mongolia	0.00
3	Swaziland	0.00
	...
22	Slovakia	0.06
23	Norway	0.08
24	Lesotho	0.10
25	Liberia	0.11
26=	Moldova	0.12
26=	Serbia	0.12
26=	Estonia	0.12
29	New Zealand	0.14
	Africa Avg	3.41
	World Avg	2.78
q=150.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#capitalism #economics #health #inequality #life_expectancy #poverty #social_development

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better₆₃
Pos.		2019₆₃
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
158=	Gambia	28.50
158=	Burundi	28.50
160	Comoros	28.90
161=	Liberia	29.80
161=	Mozambique	29.80
163	Pakistan	29.90
164	Mauritania	30.00
165	Togo	30.50
	Africa Avg	26.10
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) Lower is better₆₄
Pos.		2023 %₆₄
1	Slovakia	24.1%₆₅
2	Slovenia	24.3%₆₅
3	Belarus	24.4%₆₆
	...
84=	Russia	35.1%₆₅
84=	Nigeria	35.1%₆₇
84=	Qatar	35.1%₆₈
87=	Liberia	35.3%₆₉
87=	Ivory Coast	35.3%₆₅
89	Marshall Islands	35.5%₇₀
90=	China	35.7%₆₅
90=	Sierra Leone	35.7%₆₇
	Africa Avg	40.7%
	World Avg	36.5%
q=167. Also scored for 1980s-2010s.

Income inequality data is rarely available for Liberia - only for 3 years between 1980 and 2019.

Multidimensional Poverty Lower is better₇₁
Pos.		2018 Severity₇₁
1	Armenia	.001
2	Ukraine	.001
3	Serbia	.001
	...
84	Senegal	.288
85	Nigeria	.291
86	Sierra Leone	.297
87	Liberia	.320
88	Guinea	.336
89	Benin	.368
90	Guinea-Bissau	.372
91	Congo, DR	.389
	Africa Avg	.264
	World Avg	.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion #religiosity #secularisation

Religiosity (2018)₅₃
Pos.		Lower is better %₅₃
1	China	3
2	Estonia	6
3	Czechia	7
	...
91=	Honduras	90
91=	Cameroon	90
91=	Rwanda	90
91=	Liberia	90
95=	Morocco	91
95=	Guinea-Bissau	91
95=	Philippines	91
95=	Zambia	91
99	Afghanistan	92
100=	Burkina Faso	93
100=	Tanzania	93
100=	Indonesia	93
103=	Mali	94
103=	Pakistan	94
105=	Ethiopia	98
105=	Senegal	98
	World Avg	54.3
q=106.

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₇₂:

	2010	2020
Christian	85.7%	85.2%
Muslim	12.1%	12.7%
Unaffiliated	1.45%	1.07%
Other	0.743%	1.04%
Hindu	<0.1%	<0.1%
Jewish	None	None
Buddhist	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Christian 85.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Traditional 0.6%, other 0.2%, none 1.4% (2008 Census)₇₃.

Links: