Country

Liberia

Explore historical and projected climate data, climate data by sector, impacts, key vulnerabilities and what adaptation measures are being taken. Explore the overview for a general context of how climate change is affecting Liberia.

Country Context

Liberia is situated in the center of the Upper Guinea Rainforest Region along the West Coast of Africa.  This region is one of the most biologically diverse originally covered by continuous, dense tropical rainforest. Liberia has made significant economic and development progress since the end of its civil war in 2003. However, the country remains fragile and highly vulnerable due to high levels of inequality, unemployment and poverty, with limited access to basic services such as water, sanitation and energy.   Liberia has a population of 4.7 million people with a current population growth rate at of 2.5% (2017). The country has a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $2.16 billion, growing at a rate of 2.5% in 2017.  The country has experienced highly volatile, yet positive growth rates since the early 2000s. Liberia’s GDP is dominated by the agriculture sector (inclusive of fishing and forestry), which accounts for 34.2% of GDP and the industry sector (including mining, construction, electricity, water and gas), which contributes 12.2% of GDP.

Liberia has a predominantly equatorial climate, with three distinct topographical belts. The low coastal belt is about 40 km wide, and constitutes tidal creeks, shallow lagoons, and mangrove marshes. Moving inward, the second belt includes rolling hills that reach elevations of 60–150m (200–500 ft.). The third belt, comprises the bulk of Liberia, is marked by abrupt changes of elevation in a series of low mountains and plateaus, which are less densely forested. Liberia submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the UNFCCC in 2015.  The country has identified urban and coastal development, sea level rise, and potential salinization of coastal areas as key areas for climate change adaptation portfolios.

Country level data at a glance

Climate Data

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Historical Trends

The section provides access to historical climate datasets for both temperature and precipitation from 1900 to 2016.

Drier and rainier periods have characterized precipitation in Liberia since the 1960s; the 1960s and late 1970s were particularly wet, while the early 1970s and 1980s were very dry. Gradual change in the wet and dry seasons has been observed over the past 30 years.

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Projected Trends

The section provides access to future climate datasets for both temperature and precipitation and their statistical derivatives for various timeframes and emission scenarios from 2020 to 2099.

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The section provides access to future climate datasets for both temperature and precipitation and their statistical derivatives for various timeframes and emission scenarios from 2020 to 2099.

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Climate by Sector

This section contains information from multiple climate indicators and indices relevant for key economic sectors. Simple narratives can help you interpret and extract summaries of potential climate change impacts at the sector level.

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Vulnerability

This section allows you to explore the susceptibility of livelihoods and natural systems to impacts from climate variability and change and facilitate the exploration of socioeconomic and development data and its relationships with natural hazards vulnerable areas.

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Impacts

This section allows you to explore the climate information from multiple climate indicators and present them with simple, embedded interpretation for an informative, high-level summary of the potential for future climate change impacts on key socioeconomic sectors.

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Adaptation

This section helps you grasp key national adaptation policies and reports, explore options for key sectors, and understand current adaptation gaps and needs for enhanced climate smart planning.

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