Country Comments

Liberia’s population rate has been increasing rapidly with a current total fertility rate of over four children per woman (down from six as recently as 2000) and although currently sustainable, the country is quickly trending toward unsustainability. Liberia is a country with substantial natural resources. It is the largest rubber producer in the world and exports huge quantities of iron ore and timber. In recent history, fourteen years of civil wars have disrupted the health, safety and productivity of the country driving many citizens from rural areas to the relative safety of its overcrowded capital, Monrovia.

Even with its vast resources Liberia is one of the least developed countries in the world. More than half of the population lives in poverty. Currently, 38.4% of the population is food insecure, 25% of the population does not have access to drinking water, and just 17% have access to basic health services. (1)

The Global Fund for Women reports that while the government has passed laws that support and affirm the sexual and reproductive health rights of girls and women, these laws often directly contradict accepted cultural practices, and implementation of the laws aren’t well enforced. A culture of patriarchy, forced marriages; high rates of teen pregnancy; high incidents of rape, especially statutory rape; and high maternal mortality are prevalent in Liberia and lead to negative outcomes for women, children, public and environmental health. (2) A positive development in women's reproductive rights in June 2022 saw lawmakers in Liberia debating a bill that would legalize abortions in most circumsatnces.

(1) https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/countries/africa/liberia

(2) https://www.globalfundforwomen.org/helping-our-people-excel/