Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate William BULL chancery: 5303 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 telephone: (202) 723-0437 FAX: (202) 723-0436 consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Bismarck MYRICK embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, Mamba Point, Monrovia mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: 226-370 through 226-382 FAX: 226-148, 226-147
Flag description: 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag
@Liberia:Economy
Economy - overview: A civil war in 1989-96 destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some returned during 1997. Many will not return. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products, while local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The democratically elected government, installed in August 1997, inherited massive international debts and currently relies on revenues from its maritime registry to provide the bulk of its foreign exchange earnings. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies of the new government, including the encouragement of foreign investment.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.85 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 0.5% (1999 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1999 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 50% industry: 15% services: 35% (1999 est.)
Population below poverty line: 80%