Liberia 
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. A new president was elected in 1997 after an eight-year-long civil war. He was never able to fully eliminate rebel groups that sought to oust him by force. Rebel attacks on Monrovia, coupled with two years of UN-imposed sanctions, finally prompted the presidents abdication from power in August 2003. A transitional government composed of rebel, government, and civil society groups - assumed control in October 2003. After two years of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late 2005 brought a new president to power.
Population (1): 3,334,587 (July 2008 estimate)
Religions (1): Christian 40%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 40%
HIV/AIDS 2003 estimates (1):
Adult prevalence rate: 5.9%
People living with HIV/AIDS: 100,000
HIV/AIDS deaths: 7,200
Life expectancy in years (2): 42
Annual per capita GNI U.S. dollars (3): $140.00
Total number of orphans (4): 250,000
Education:
Children enrolled in secondary school (5): Male – 37%; Female – 27%
Number of physicians per 100,000 people (7): 3
(1) CIA – The World Factbook
(2) (5) Source: State of the World Population 2007
(3) Source: World Bank World Development Indicator Database, 1 July 2007, 2006 estimates
(4) Sources: UNICEF Africa’s OVCs affected by AIDS 2005
(7) WHO Human Resources for Health
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Residents and staff of Rafiki Village Liberia