The Human Truth Foundation

Liberia (Republic of Liberia)

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

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

Liberia
Republic of Liberia
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index172nd best
CapitalMonrovia
Land Area 96 320km21
LocationAfrica
Population4.8m2
Life Expectancy60.75yrs (2017)3
GNI$1 289 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesLR, LBR, 4305
Internet Domain.lr6
CurrencyDollar (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

Book CoverFounded 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
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
175Ethiopia0.498
176Eritrea0.492
177Guinea-Bissau0.483
178Liberia0.481
179Congo, DR0.479
180Afghanistan0.478
181Sierra Leone0.477
182Guinea0.465
Africa Avg0.56
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
183Malawi$1 466
184Chad$1 364
185Yemen$1 314
186Liberia$1 289
187Niger$1 240
188Mozambique$1 198
189Congo, DR$1 076
190Somalia$1 018
Africa Avg$5 339
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.0
2Norway29.9
3Sweden31.8
...
169Swaziland117.8
170Burundi118.2
171Guinea118.6
172Liberia118.8
173Syria119.1
174Niger119.1
175Congo, (Brazzaville)119.7
176Haiti119.8
Africa Avg119.0
World Avg88.6
q=199.

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:

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. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
119Costa Rica5.0m
120Palestine4.9m
121Oman4.8m
122Liberia4.8m
123Ireland4.8m
124New Zealand4.7m
125Central African Rep.4.7m
126Mauritania4.4m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
172Kenya61.4
173Zambia61.2
174Botswana61.1
175Liberia60.7
176Equatorial Guinea60.6
177Cameroon60.3
178Sierra Leone60.1
179Benin59.8
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
177Comoros3.91
178=Solomon Islands3.93
178=Guinea-Bissau3.93
180Liberia4.02
181Ethiopia4.06
182Congo, (Brazzaville)4.10
183Equatorial Guinea4.17
184Togo4.20
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
22Congo, DR05.8
23=Benin05.8
24Burundi05.9
25=Liberia05.9
26Iraq06.0
27=Guinea06.1
27=Guinea-Bissau06.1
27=Lesotho06.1
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
124Bulgaria2.2%
125Kenya2.2%
126Angola2.1%
127Liberia2.1%
128Mali2.1%
129Georgia2.0%
130Guyana2.0%
131Central African Rep.1.9%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
62Greece10.8%
63Mexico10.7%
64Andorra10.7%
65Liberia10.5%
66Uruguay10.5%
67Hong Kong10.2%
68Dominican Rep.10.1%
69Zimbabwe9.9%
World Avg11.5%
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)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Mauritius63.7
2S. Africa64.3
3Cape Verde68.0
...
28Niger117.3
29Rwanda117.3
30Egypt118.4
31Liberia119.5
32Algeria119.6
33Malawi122.0
34Togo125.1
35Comoros126.8
36Guinea-Bissau127.3
Africa Avg110.04
q=54.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden6.1
2Denmark8.6
3Norway9.0
...
155Rwanda117.3
156Egypt118.4
157Cuba119.1
158Liberia119.5
159Algeria119.6
160Uzbekistan121.1
161Qatar121.7
162Malawi122.0
World Avg86.55
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway19. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, N. Korea and Afghanistan19.

21 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, eliminating 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 Europe19, whereas the worst are Africa, The Middle East and Asia19.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Press Freedom
Higher is better
20
Pos.202520
1Norway92.31
2Estonia89.46
3Netherlands88.64
...
50Mauritius67.31
51Ghana67.13
52Panama66.75
53Liberia66.61
54Romania66.42
55Sierra Leone66.36
56USA65.49
57Gambia65.49
Africa Avg52.30
World Avg54.65
q=179.
Slavery
Lower is better
21
Pos.2018
% Victims21
1Japan0.03
2=Canada0.05
2=Taiwan0.05
...
128Djibouti0.71
129Angola0.72
130Syria0.73
131Liberia0.74
132=Guinea-Bissau0.75
132=Madagascar0.75
132=Malawi0.75
135Uganda0.76
Africa Avg0.96
World Avg0.65
q=167.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
22
Pos.2014
Rank22
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
91Jordan91
92Cape Verde92
93Botswana93
94=Liberia94
94=Lesotho94
96Kazakhstan96
97Ecuador97
98Kyrgyzstan98
Africa Avg114.2
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
83Namibia2.5
84=Brazil2.5
84=Bhutan2.5
86Liberia3.0
87=Peru3.0
87=Paraguay3.0
87=Malawi3.0
87=Moldova3.0
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg3.7
q=205.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
23
Pos.2009
Treaties23
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
102Chad15
103=Tanzania15
103=St Vincent & Grenadines15
103=Liberia15
103=Libya15
103=Maldives15
103=Andorra15
103=Cape Verde15
Africa Avg14.8
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
24
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
160Oman13.46
161Uzbekistan13.53
162Mauritania13.56
163Liberia13.61
164San Marino13.63
165Saudi Arabia13.73
166Timor-Leste (E. Timor)13.73
167Grenada13.86
Africa Avg9.88
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Gender Equality:

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 better
25
Pos.202225
1Denmark0.01
2Norway0.01
3Switzerland0.02
...
157Guinea0.63
158Guinea-Bissau0.63
159Benin0.65
160Liberia0.66
161Afghanistan0.66
162Somalia0.67
163Chad0.68
164Nigeria0.68
Africa Avg0.53
World Avg0.34
q=166.

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
1New Zealand1893
2Australia1902
3Finland1906
...
56=Japan1945
56=Togo1945
58N. Korea1946
59=Liberia1946
59=Romania1946
59=Panama1946
59=Cameroon1946
59=Macedonia1946
Africa Avg1961
World Avg1930
q=189.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
26
Pos.2017
Score26
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
155=Gambia-19
155=Maldives-19
155=Afghanistan-19
158Liberia-20
159=Bhutan-20
159=Burundi-20
161Nigeria-22
162=Malawi-22
Africa Avg-10.4
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
27
Pos.202127
1=Belgium1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
...
126Ghana3.3
127=Italy3.3
127=Macedonia3.3
127=Liberia3.3
127=Malawi3.3
127=Madagascar3.3
132Burundi3.5
133=Guinea3.5
Africa Avg3.1
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Liberia's Health

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

Compared to Africa (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Tunisia69.2
2Mauritius69.2
3Seychelles84.8
...
36Congo, DR151.7
37Ethiopia151.7
38Sierra Leone153.1
39Liberia153.5
40Malawi154.3
41Central African Rep.155.4
42Mozambique155.8
43Zambia157.1
44Equatorial Guinea157.4
Africa Avg111.13
q=54.
Health (2025)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco14.3
2Liechtenstein30.1
3Isle of Man32.1
...
192Congo, DR151.7
193Ethiopia151.7
194Sierra Leone153.1
195Liberia153.5
196Malawi154.3
197Afghanistan155.0
198Central African Rep.155.4
199Mozambique155.8
World Avg96.74
q=212.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and The Isle of Man29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, Angola and Nigeria29.

21 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, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Balkans29, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia29.

For more, see:

Health:

Liberia is a pretty unhealthy country. Liberia does better than average in terms of its smoking rate30, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance31 and in its alcohol consumption rate32 (but bad for Africa). But, there's bad news too. Liberia does worse than average in its immunizations take-up33, its average life expectancy11 and in its fertility rate14. And finally, it falls into the worst-performing 20 in its adolescent birth rate34. The number of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 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 better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
172Kenya61.4
173Zambia61.2
174Botswana61.1
175Liberia60.7
176Equatorial Guinea60.6
177Cameroon60.3
178Sierra Leone60.1
179Benin59.8
Africa Avg62.79
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
Per Capita32
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
86=Sierra Leone5.7
86=India5.7
86=Cape Verde5.7
89Liberia5.8
90=Haiti5.8
90=Colombia5.8
92Nauru6.0
93Cuba6.1
Africa Avg4.8
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
177Comoros3.91
178=Solomon Islands3.93
178=Guinea-Bissau3.93
180Liberia4.02
181Ethiopia4.06
182Congo, (Brazzaville)4.10
183Equatorial Guinea4.17
184Togo4.20
Africa Avg3.97
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
30
Pos.201430
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
18Trinidad & Tobago 97
19Burundi 98
20Tanzania 101
21Liberia 104
22Niger 105
23Sao Tome & Principe 111
24India 111
25Eritrea 114
Africa Avg 340
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
68Brunei68
69Paraguay69
70Latvia70
71Liberia71
72Kazakhstan72
73Egypt73
74=Burundi74
74=Cameroon74
Africa Avg117.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
35
Pos.2016
%35
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
45S. Korea30.3
46Maldives30.6
47=Congo, (Brazzaville)30.9
47=Liberia30.9
49Ivory Coast31.6
50Singapore31.8
51Gambia31.9
52Ghana32.0
Africa Avg33.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
34
Pos.2022
Per 100034
1Hong Kong1.6
2Denmark1.8
3S. Korea2.1
...
184Zambia116.1
185Malawi117.2
186Madagascar118.1
187Liberia122.0
188Tanzania123.4
189Chad135.7
190Angola135.8
191Equatorial Guinea136.4
Africa Avg84.6
World Avg43.8
q=195.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
33
Pos.2015
Avg %33
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
171India75.1
172Ethiopia73.9
173Pakistan73.0
174Liberia72.6
175S. Africa72.5
176=Angola71.9
176=Madagascar71.9
178Iraq70.7
Africa Avg81.7
World Avg88.3
q=194.

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)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Morocco46.5
2Burundi47.8
3Mali51.0
...
41S. Africa92.2
42Sao Tome & Principe92.7
43Mozambique93.9
44Liberia94.2
45Sudan97.8
46Comoros99.1
47Mauritania101.2
48Seychelles103.4
49Angola109.5
Africa Avg80.07
q=53.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Sri Lanka34.9
2Uruguay43.2
3Switzerland45.0
...
133Vanuatu93.0
134Mozambique93.9
135Qatar94.1
136Liberia94.2
137Trinidad & Tobago94.5
138Ukraine94.8
139Saudi Arabia94.9
140Israel95.8
World Avg84.93
q=199.

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:

Liberia comes 136th in the world with regard to its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 6 data sets. Liberia does better than average in terms of reducing annual meat consumption per person37. However Liberia performs less well in most areas. It does worse than average for energy to GDP efficiency38, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population39, its environmental performance40 and in its forested percent change 2000-202041.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
41
Pos.Total41
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
182Equatorial Guinea-6.5%
183N. Korea-6.7%
184Mauritius-7.5%
185Liberia-7.5%
186Bolivia-7.9%
187Singapore-7.9%
188Guinea-Bissau-8.0%
189Ethiopia-8.0%
Africa Avg-8.7%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
40
Pos.201840
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
157Congo, (Brazzaville)42.4
158Bosnia & Herzegovina41.8
159Togo41.8
160Liberia41.6
161Cameroon40.8
162Swaziland40.3
163Djibouti40.0
164Papua New Guinea39.4
Africa Avg46.4
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Lower is better
38
Pos.2022
Avg38
1Rwanda0.25
2Chad0.26
3Tanzania0.31
...
114Sweden1.30
115USA1.36
116Czechia1.36
117Liberia1.37
118Armenia1.42
119Finland1.44
120Qatar1.46
121Belgium1.49
Africa Avg0.83
World Avg1.23
q=165.
International Accords on the Environment
Higher is better
Pos.Total
Avg Rate
1Sweden83%
2Canada82%
3Norway81%
...
115Malta55%
116Rwanda55%
117Mongolia55%
118Liberia55%
119Chad55%
120Ethiopia55%
121Ivory Coast55%
122Syria54%
Africa Avg56.4%
World Avg57.5%
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better
39
Pos.2011
%39
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
118Russia23.5%
119Algeria23.5%
120Pakistan23.2%
121Liberia23.1%
122Netherlands23.0%
123Finland22.9%
124Congo, DR22.8%
125UK22.6%
Africa Avg38.3%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
37
Pos.2021
kg37
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
41=Myanmar (Burma)20.0
41=Angola20.0
43S. Sudan20.2
44Liberia20.3
45Ghana20.9
46Haiti21.6
47Lesotho21.7
48Thailand26.0
Africa Avg24.9
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Liberia's Modernity and Learning

#capitalism #corruption #economics #education #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #intelligence #life_expectancy #modernity #peace #politics #poverty #religion #religiosity #religious_violence #secularisation #social_development #technology #terrorism #the_internet

Compared to Africa (2020)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1S. Africa56.9
2Tunisia70.8
3=Mauritius79.6
...
30Angola133.8
31Congo, (Brazzaville)135.5
32Burkina Faso136.5
33Liberia136.6
34Benin138.3
35Sudan139.0
36Mali139.1
37Tanzania140.1
38Congo, DR141.3
Africa Avg120.19
q=53.
Modernity & Learning (2020)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Finland7.1
2Belgium12.9
3Denmark13.6
...
159Angola133.8
160Congo, (Brazzaville)135.5
161Burkina Faso136.5
162Liberia136.6
163Myanmar (Burma)137.3
164Tuvalu138.2
165Benin138.3
166Sudan139.0
World Avg86.31
q=190.

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 Finland, Belgium and Denmark43. The worst countries are Eritrea, S. Sudan and Sierra Leone43. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots44.

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)45

15 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Intellectual Endeavours, Maths, Science & Reading, Religiosity, IQ, 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 Europe43, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia43.

For more, see:

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
46
Pos.201846
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
142Angola30.2%
143Lesotho30.0%
144Cape Verde29.9%
145Liberia29.0%
146Yemen28.0%
147Benin26.5%
148Sierra Leone26.3%
149Ivory Coast26.1%
Africa Avg34.4%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
47
Pos.2021
Years47
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
157Jordan10.6
158Guinea-Bissau10.6
159Guatemala10.6
160Liberia10.4
161Papua New Guinea10.4
162Solomon Islands10.3
163Afghanistan10.3
164Marshall Islands10.2
Africa Avg11.0
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
76Costa Rica76
77Jamaica77
78Colombia78
79Liberia79
80Kyrgyzstan80
81Saudi Arabia81
82Uganda82
83Mauritius83
Africa Avg106.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Religiosity
Lower is better
48
Pos.2018
%48
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
91=Honduras90
91=Cameroon90
91=Rwanda90
91=Liberia90
95Morocco91
96=Guinea-Bissau91
96=Philippines91
96=Zambia91
Africa Avg87.0
World Avg54.3
q=106.
IQ
Higher is better49
Pos.200649
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
125=Somalia68
125=Angola68
127Guinea67
128=Liberia67
128=Haiti67
130Gambia66
131=Zimbabwe66
131=Senegal66
Africa Avg70.6
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
50
Pos.201650
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
176Gabon10%
177Burkina Faso10%
178Solomon Islands10%
179Liberia9%
180Congo, (Brazzaville)8%
181=Togo7%
181=Comoros7%
183Afghanistan7%
Africa Avg18.4%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.

8. Liberia's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#capitalism #charitability #corruption #culture #economics #equality #extremism #happiness #health #human_development #inequality #life_expectancy #peace #politics #poverty #religious_violence #social_development #terrorism

Compared to Africa (2020)51
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank51
1Mauritius48.3
2Sao Tome & Principe67.7
3Tunisia74.9
...
18Sierra Leone93.4
19Egypt93.6
20Mauritania95.5
21Liberia95.9
22Lesotho96.4
23Togo97.0
24Kenya97.8
25Uganda97.9
26Gabon100.3
Africa Avg101.84
q=53.
Culture, Peace & Inequality (2020)51
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank51
1Denmark11.2
2Norway13.9
3Netherlands14.4
...
126Laos95.5
127Mauritania95.5
128Paraguay95.5
129Liberia95.9
130Bangladesh95.9
131Honduras96.1
132Lesotho96.4
133Turkmenistan96.7
World Avg78.12
q=180.

This is the final pillar of the Social and Moral Development Index; it has 22 datasets, including multiple decades of data on World Giving Index, resisting corruption, overall happiness, Creativity and Culture, Open Trading, Aid and Development, its Global Peace Index rating, Peacekeeping and Security, Refugees and UN Treaties, the impact of terrorism, Inequality in Life Expectancy, Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient) and Multidimensional Poverty.

For more, see:

National Culture:

Corruption
Higher is better
52
Pos.2022
Points52
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
139Mali28.0
140Pakistan27.0
141=Kyrgyzstan27.0
142Liberia26.0
143=Mozambique26.0
143=Madagascar26.0
143=Cameroon26.0
143=Uganda26.0
Africa Avg32.31
World Avg42.98
q=180.

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 better
53
Pos.2024
Score53
1Finland7.7
2Denmark7.5
3Iceland7.5
...
126Myanmar (Burma)4.3
127Togo4.3
128Jordan4.3
129Liberia4.3
130Madagascar4.2
131Zambia3.9
132Ethiopia3.9
133Sri Lanka3.9
Africa Avg4.42
World Avg5.58
q=147.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
150Pakistan150
151Guinea-Bissau151
152Syria152
153Liberia153
154Venezuela154
155Yemen155
156Iraq156
157Iran157
Africa Avg117.8
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
125St Lucia125
126Chad126
127Bahamas127
128Liberia128
129Sierra Leone129
130Kenya130
131Kazakhstan131
132Bangladesh132
Africa Avg96.7
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Peace Versus Instability:

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
54
Pos.2023
Score54
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
67France1.94
68Panama1.94
69Paraguay1.94
70=Liberia1.95
70=Trinidad & Tobago1.95
70=Kosovo1.95
73Cambodia1.95
74Malawi1.97
Africa Avg2.29
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
151Sierra Leone151
152Afghanistan152
153Lebanon153
154Liberia154
155Mali155
156Swaziland156
157Yemen157
158Iraq158
Africa Avg83.6
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
31
Pos.2017
Rank31
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
35Bosnia & Herzegovina35
36Romania36
37Uruguay37
38Liberia38
39Turkey39
40Malaysia40
41Montenegro41
42Iceland42
Africa Avg104.5
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
55
Pos.2019
Score55
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
22Slovakia0.06
23Norway0.08
24Lesotho0.10
25Liberia0.11
26=Moldova0.12
26=Serbia0.12
26=Estonia0.12
29New Zealand0.14
Africa Avg3.41
World Avg2.78
q=150.

Economic Inequality and Poverty:

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better56
Pos.201956
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
158Gambia28.50
159=Burundi28.50
160Comoros28.90
161=Liberia29.80
161=Mozambique29.80
163Pakistan29.90
164Mauritania30.00
165Togo30.50
Africa Avg26.10
World Avg14.59
q=184.
Income Inequality (Gini Coefficient)
Lower is better
57
Pos.2023
%57
1Slovakia24.1%58
2Slovenia24.3%58
3Belarus24.4%59
...
84=Russia35.1%58
84=Nigeria35.1%60
84=Qatar35.1%61
87Liberia35.3%62
88=Ivory Coast35.3%58
89Marshall Islands35.5%63
90=China35.7%58
90=Sierra Leone35.7%60
Africa Avg40.7%
World Avg36.5%
q=167.

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

Multidimensional Poverty
Lower is better
64
Pos.2018
Severity64
1Armenia.001
2Ukraine.001
3Serbia.001
...
84Senegal.288
85Nigeria.291
86Sierra Leone.297
87Liberia.320
88Guinea.336
89Benin.368
90Guinea-Bissau.372
91Congo, DR.389
Africa Avg.264
World Avg.154
q=101.

9. Religion and Beliefs

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

Religiosity (2018)48
Pos.Lower is better
%48
1China3
2Estonia6
3Czechia7
...
91=Honduras90
91=Cameroon90
91=Rwanda90
91=Liberia90
95Morocco91
96=Guinea-Bissau91
96=Philippines91
96=Zambia91
99Afghanistan92
100=Burkina Faso93
100=Tanzania93
100=Indonesia93
103Mali94
104=Pakistan94
105Ethiopia98
106=Senegal98
World Avg54.3
q=106.
Disbelief In God (2007)65
Pos.Higher is better
%65
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
115=Ethiopia0
115=Afghanistan0
115=Egypt0
115=Liberia0
115=Libya0
115=Ivory Coast0
115=Pakistan0
115=Niger0
115=Saudi Arabia0
115=Rwanda0
115=Cameroon0
115=Philippines0
115=Kuwait0
115=Madagascar0
115=Nigeria0
115=Malawi0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below66:

Christian85.9%
Muslim12%
Hindu0.1%
Buddhist0.1%
Folk Religion0.5%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated1.4%

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)67.

Links: