Republic of Liberia
CAPITAL: Monrovia
FLAG: The national flag, dating from 1847, consists of 11 horizontal stripes, alternately red (6) and white (5), with a single five-pointed white star on a square blue field 5 stripes deep in the upper left corner.
ANTHEM: All Hail, Liberia, Hail.
MONETARY UNIT: The Liberian dollar (L$) of 100 cents was linked to the US dollar until January 1998, when it switched to a floating market determined rate. There are no Liberian notes. US notes in the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 dollars are in circulation and are legal tender. Both US and Liberian coins of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 cents, and 1 dollar are in circulation; in 1982, a $5 Liberian coin was issued. L1 = $0.0222 (or $1 = L45).
WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: US and UK weights and measures are used.
HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Armed Forces Day, 11 February; Decoration Day, 2d Wednesday in March; Birthday of J. J. Roberts (first president), 15 March; Fast and Prayer Day, 2d Friday in April; National Redemption Day, 12 April; Unification Day, 14 May; Independence Day, 26 July; Flag Day, 24 August; Thanksgiving Day, 1st Thursday in November; Anniversary of 1985 Coup Attempt, 12 November; President Tubman's Birthday, 29 November; Christmas, 25 December. Good Friday and Easter Monday are movable religious holidays.
TIME: GMT.
The fishing industry is dominated by the oceangoing trawlers of the Mesurado Fishing Co. The company also maintains a domestic distribution system that supplies a substantial amount of fish to the interior areas of the country. The total Liberian catch in 2000 was estimated at 11,726 tons.
There is no information available on insurance.
Continued civil unrest has had an adverse effect on tourism. Visitors must obtain a visa, and cholera, tetanus, and yellow fever vaccinations are required. Several hotels in or near Monrovia are suitable for tourists, and although there are few hotels in the interior, several missionary organizations accommodate visitors.
In 2002 the US government estimated the cost of staying in Monrovia at $184 per day.
Liberia has no territories or colonies.