to
deforestation

_*_People
_#_Population: 2,730,446 (July 1991), growth rate 3.4% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 45 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 13 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 2 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 124 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 54 years male, 59 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 6.5 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Liberian(s); adjective--Liberian

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

_#_Religion: traditional 70%, Muslim 20%, Christian 10%

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

_#_Literacy: 40% (male 50%, female 29%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 510,000, including 220,000 in the monetary economy;
agriculture 70.5%, services 10.8%, industry and commerce 4.5%, other
14.2%; non-African foreigners hold about 95% of the top-level management
and engineering jobs; 52% of population of working age

_#_Organized labor: 2% of labor force

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Republic of Liberia

_#_Type: republic

_#_Capital: Monrovia

_#_Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Jide, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, Rivercess, Sino

_#_Independence: 26 July 1847

_#_Constitution: 6 January 1986

_#_Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American
common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten
tribal practices for indigenous sector

_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: bicameral National Assembly consists of an
upper house or Senate and a lower house or House of Representatives

_#_Judicial branch: People's Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--interim President Dr.
Amos SAWYER (since 15 November 1990); interim Vice President Ronald DIGGS
(since 15 November 1990); note--this is an interim government appointed
by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that will be