Country explorer: Liberia

Liberia's economic indicators reflect a challenging journey of recovery and growth from civil unrest, with modest improvements in GDP per capita and inflation rates, but persistently high poverty levels and unemployment rates that underscore ongoing economic vulnerability and the need for systemic strengthening, a scenario common among low-income countries but distinct in its magnitude and context-specific struggles.

Liberia has navigated a significant demographic transformation, characterized by a rebounding population growth despite substantial net migration fluctuations, maintaining a high but gradually declining fertility rate similar to its low-income peers, and a steady improvement in life expectancy, reflective of broader health and development progress within the region.

Liberia has faced significant challenges in improving access to basic needs, with notably slower progress in increasing access to clean cooking fuels and electricity compared to its peers, underscoring the country's struggle to address fundamental infrastructure and public health issues.

Liberia has experienced modest improvements in human development indicators, including a slow but steady rise in the Human Development Index and reductions in child mortality and increases in literacy rates, though its progress, particularly in learning-adjusted years of schooling, remains significantly behind that of its peers, reflecting enduring challenges in educational quality and health outcomes.

Liberia has experienced a significant decline in its forest area amid increasing CO₂ emissions, reflecting environmental challenges common in its peer group, while its vast renewable freshwater resources and modest progress in diversifying energy sources, particularly in bioenergy and solar, highlight both distinct challenges and opportunities in its environmental and energy sectors.

Liberia has shown progressive albeit slow development in technology and innovation, characterized by a steady increase in internet usage and mobile subscriptions, reflecting gradual digital transformation akin to trends seen in many low-income countries, yet with distinct challenges in scientific output and research investment.

Liberia has seen gradual shifts in its demographic structure, marked by a slight decrease in the age dependency ratio, indicative of potential economic resilience, while contending with persistent gender inequalities and modest increases in life satisfaction amidst a somewhat higher foreign-born population compared to its low-income peers, reflecting its unique post-conflict societal rebuilding and integration challenges.

Liberia has demonstrated notable improvements in governance, particularly in rule of law and political civil liberties, albeit from a very low base, indicating a slow but positive trend towards better compliance with legal standards and greater political freedom, which contrasts with the static or deteriorating conditions observed in several of its low-income country peers.