comrade nikonov Posted February 28, 2009 Report Share Posted February 28, 2009 The Freedmen's Union of Liberia Introduction Liberian Union Background: Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. During his presidency, many colonies such as French West Africa, Portuguese Guinea-Bissau, and the British Gambia and Sierra Leone won their independence. They nominally joined the Freedmen's Union of Liberia, while other colonies in French West Africa nominally remained independent. After the death of William Tubman in 1971, Obiu DAKOR won the presidency-for-life. Geography South Africa Location: Western Africa Geographic coordinates: 0 S, 2 E Map references: Africa Area: total: 1,219,912 sq km land: 1,219,912 sq km water: 0 sq km Area - comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas Land boundaries: total: 4,862 km border countries: Democratic Africa 1,840 km, other nations Coastline: 2,798 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin Climate: mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights Terrain: vast interior desert rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain Elevation extremes: lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Mount Monroe 3,408 m Natural resources: gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas Land use: arable land: 39.1% permanent crops: 0.79% other: 87.11% (2005) Irrigated land: 14,980 sq km (2003) Total renewable water resources: 50 cu km (1990) Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 12.5 cu km/yr (31%/6%/63%) per capita: 264 cu m/yr (2000) Natural hazards: prolonged droughts People Liberian Union Population: 39,722,731 Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.2% (male 7,147,151/female 7,120,183) 15-64 years: 65.5% (male 16,057,340/female 15,889,750) 65 years and over: 5.3% (male 1,050,287/female 1,518,044) (2008 est.) Median age: total: 24.2 years male: 23.8 years female: 24.6 years (2008 est.) Population growth rate: 0.828% (2008 est.) Birth rate: 20.23 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) Death rate: 16.94 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) Net migration rate: 4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2008 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2008 est.) Infant mortality rate: total: 45.11 deaths/1,000 live births male: 49.47 deaths/1,000 live births female: 40.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 48.89 years male: 49.63 years female: 48.15 years (2008 est.) Total fertility rate: 2.43 children born/woman (2008 est.) Nationality: noun: South African(s) adjective: South African Ethnic groups: black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census) Religions: Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, Muslim 1.5%, other Christian 36%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census) Languages: IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census) Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.4% male: 87% female: 85.7% (2003 est.) School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2004) Education expenditures: 5.4% of GDP (2006) Government Liberian Union Country name: conventional long form: Freedmen's Union of Liberia conventional short form: Liberian Union former: various colonial empires abbreviation: FUL Government type: Federal Republic Capital: name: Timboctu (administrative capital) Monrovia (judicial and legislative capital) geographic coordinates: 1 S, 1 W Economy Liberian Union Economy - overview: The Liberian Union is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock exchange that is 17th largest in the world; and modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region. GDP (purchasing power parity): $619,295,748,638 GDP - real growth rate: 3.7% (2008 est.) GDP - per capita (PPP): $15,590 (2008 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.4% industry: 31.3% services: 65.3% (2008 est.) Labor force: 18.22 million economically active (2008 est.) Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9% industry: 26% services: 65% (2007 est.) Unemployment rate: 21.7% (2008 est.) Population below poverty line: 8% (2000 est.) Currency (code): Liberian Lak Currency code: LAK Communications South Africa Telephones - main lines in use: 4.642 million (2007) Telephones - mobile cellular: 42.3 million (2007) Telephone system: general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa Military Liberian Union Military branches: Freedmen's Union of Liberia Army, Freedmen's Union of Liberia Navy, and the Freedmen's Union of Liberia Air Force Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a long history of military service in noncombat roles Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 11,622,507 females age 16-49: 11,501,537 (2008 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 6,042,498 females age 16-49: 5,471,103 (2008 est.) Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 529,201 female: 522,678 (2008 est.) Military expenditures: 8.7% of GDP (2006) This page was last updated on 28 February, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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