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Compare Western Sahara (2002) - Liberia (2003)

Compare Western Sahara (2002) z Liberia (2003)

 Western Sahara (2002)Liberia (2003)
 Western SaharaLiberia
Administrative divisions none (under de facto control of Morocco) 15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gparbolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
Age structure 0-14 years: NA%


15-64 years: NA%


65 years and over: NA%
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 724,960; female 716,831)


15-64 years: 53% (male 858,191; female 898,851)


65 years and over: 3.6% (male 59,539; female 58,804) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads) rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber
Airports 11 (2001) 47 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2002)
total: 2


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 8


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 4


under 914 m: 3 (2002)
total: 45


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 7


under 914 m: 34 (2002)
Area total: 266,000 sq km


land: 266,000 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 111,370 sq km


land: 96,320 sq km


water: 15,050 sq km
Area - comparative about the size of Colorado slightly larger than Tennessee
Background Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire; a referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed. Eight years of civil strife were brought to a close in 1997 when free and open presidential and legislative elections were held. President TAYLOR now holds strong executive power with no real political opposition. Years of fighting, coupled with the flight of most businesses, have disrupted formal economic activity. A still unsettled domestic security situation has slowed the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country. In 2001, the UN imposed sanctions on Liberian diamonds, along with an arms embargo and a travel ban on government officials, for Liberia's support of the rebel insurgency in Sierra Leone. Renewed rebel activity has further eroded stability and economic activity. A regional peace initiative commenced in the spring of 2003 but was disrupted by the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) indictment of President TAYLOR on war crimes charges.
Birth rate NA births/1,000 population 45.28 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $NA


expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA
revenues: $85.4 million


expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (2000 est.)
Capital none Monrovia
Climate hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Coastline 1,110 km 579 km
Constitution - 6 January 1986
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Western Sahara


former: Spanish Sahara
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia


conventional short form: Liberia
Currency Moroccan dirham (MAD) Liberian dollar (LRD)
Death rate NA deaths/1,000 population 17.84 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $NA $2.1 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US none chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III


embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia


mailing address: use embassy street address


telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380


FAX: [231] 226-148
Diplomatic representation in the US none chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge D'Affaires Aaron B. KOLLIE


chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437


FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, but sovereignty remains unresolved; UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties reject other proposals rebels and refugees contribute to border instabilities with Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea; the Ivorian Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels
Economic aid - recipient $NA $94 million (1999)
Economy - overview Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. Civil war and misgovernment have destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some have returned; many will not. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The restoration of the infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy depend on the settlement of civil warfare, the implementation of sound macro- and micro-economic policies, including the encouragement of foreign investment, and generous support from donor countries.
Electricity - consumption 83.7 million kWh (2000) 435.9 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 90 million kWh (2000) 468.8 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m


highest point: unnamed location 463 m
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m


highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m
Environment - current issues sparse water and lack of arable land tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage
Environment - international agreements party to: none of the selected agreements


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94


signed, but not ratified: Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation
Ethnic groups Arab, Berber indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)
Exchange rates Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 11.584 (January 2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000), 9.804 (1999), 9.604 (1998), 9.527 (1997) Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2002), 48.58 (2001), 40.95 (2000), 41.9 (1999), 41.51 (1998)


note: until December 1997, rates were based on a fixed relationship with the US dollar; beginning in January 1998, rates are market determined
Executive branch none chief of state: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


head of government: President Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government


cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate


elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2005)


election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - Taylor stepped down in August 2003


note:: a UN-brokered cease fire among waring factions and the Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement, President Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as chairman of the National Transitional Government on 14 October 2003
Exports $NA NA (2001)
Exports - commodities phosphates 62% rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee
Exports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts Germany 54.8%, Poland 8.9%, France 8.5%, China 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
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
GDP purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $3.116 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: NA%


industry: NA%


services: 40%-45% (1996 est.) (1996 est.)
agriculture: 74%


industry: 7%


services: 19% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $NA purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate NA% 2% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 24 30 N, 13 00 W 6 30 N, 9 30 W
Geography - note the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture
Highways total: 6,200 km


paved: 1,350 km


unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est.)
total: 10,600 km


paved: 657 km


unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center
Imports $NA NA (2001)
Imports - commodities fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs
Imports - partners Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts South Korea 30.3%, Japan 19.1%, Germany 15.6%, France 9.1%, Singapore 7.9% (2002)
Independence - 26 July 1847
Industrial production growth rate NA% NA%
Industries phosphate mining, handicrafts rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds
Infant mortality rate NA deaths/1,000 live births total: 132.18 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 139.03 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 125.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) NA% 15% (2002 est.)
International organization participation none ACP, AfDB, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 2 (2001)
Irrigated land NA sq km 30 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - Supreme Court
Labor force 12,000 -
Labor force - by occupation animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50% agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries total: 2,046 km


border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km
total: 1,585 km


border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (1998 est.)
arable land: 1.97%


permanent crops: 2.08%


other: 95.95% (1998 est.)
Languages Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence
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
Legislative branch - bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)


elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2006); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 14 October 2003)


election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 21, UP 3, ALCOP 2; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 49, UP 7, ALCOP 3, Alliance of Political Parties 2, UPP 2, LPP 1
Life expectancy at birth total population: NA years


male: NA years


female: NA years
total population: 48.15 years


male: 47.03 years


female: 49.3 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: NA


total population: NA%


male: NA%


female: NA%
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 57.5%


male: 73.3%


female: 41.6%


note: (2003 est.)
Location Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Map references Africa Africa
Maritime claims contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue territorial sea: 200 NM
Merchant marine - total: 1,432 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 48,700,851 GRT/75,408,994 DWT


ships by type: barge carrier 3, bulk 282, cargo 80, chemical tanker 163, combination bulk 12, combination ore/oil 24, container 357, liquefied gas 82, multi-functional large-load carrier 4, passenger 6, petroleum tanker 286, refrigerated cargo 60, roll on/roll off 19, short-sea passenger 4, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 37


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Argentina 9, Australia 2, Austria 15, Belgium 9, Brazil 5, Canada 4, Cayman Islands 1, Chile 7, China 39, Croatia 11, Denmark 4, Ecuador 1, Estonia 1, Germany 437, Greece 154, Hong Kong 69, India 5, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 90, Latvia 20, Isle of Man 5, Monaco 56, Netherlands 12, NZ 1, Nigeria 1, Norway 103, Pakistan 1, Portugal 5, Russia 66, Saudi Arabia 21, Singapore 20, Slovenia 1, South Africa 1, South Korea 10, Spain 2, Sweden 9, Switzerland 17, Taiwan 29, Turkey 3, Ukraine 4, UAE 12, UK 39, US 113, Uruguay 3, Vietnam 1 (2002 est.)
Military branches - Army, Navy, Air Force
Military expenditures - dollar figure $NA $7.8 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP NA% 1.3% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability - males age 15-49: 735,481 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service - males age 15-49: 396,725 (2003 est.)
National holiday - Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Nationality noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)


adjective: Sahrawian, Sahraouian
noun: Liberian(s)


adjective: Liberian
Natural hazards hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
Natural resources phosphates, iron ore iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Net migration rate - -10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population


note: 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries though slowly returning (2003 est.)
Political parties and leaders - Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party; United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP [Charles CLARKE]
Political pressure groups and leaders none NA
Population 256,177 (July 2002 est.) 3,317,176 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% 80%
Population growth rate NA (2002 est.) 1.67% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun) Buchanan, Greenville, Harper, Monrovia, Robertsport
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)
Radios 56,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 490 km


standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge


narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge


note: none of the railways are in operation (2002)
Religions Muslim indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%
Sex ratio NA at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female


total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: sparse and limited system


domestic: NA


international: tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco
general assessment: telephone and telegraph service via microwave radio relay network; main center is Monrovia


domestic: NA


international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Telephones - main lines in use about 2,000 (1999 est.) 6,700 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 0 (1999) 0 (1998)
Television broadcast stations NA 1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)
Terrain mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Total fertility rate NA children born/woman 6.23 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate NA% NA
Waterways none none
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