Government & politics — Liberia
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Government & politics at a glance
Government structure, legal system, citizenship, and international relations. Key figure for Liberia: Republic of Liberia
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Identity & names
- Full Country Name
Republic of Liberia
- Country Name
Liberia
- Etymology- history of name
name derives from the Latin word "liber" meaning "free"; so named because the nation was created as a homeland for liberated African-American slaves
- Independence
26 July 1847
- National Holiday
Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
Political system
- Government Type
presidential republic
- Constitution
- Legal System:
mixed legal system of common law, based on Anglo-American law, and customary law
- Executive Branch:
- Legislative Branch:
- Judicial Branch:
- Regions or States:
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe
- Political Parties and Leaders:
- Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
- Citizenship Criteria:
Capital & time
- Capital Name
Monrovia
- Capital - geographic coordinate
6 18 N, 10 48 W
- Capital Time Difference
UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
International role
- International Organization Participation:
- International Law Organization Participation:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
- Diplomatic Representation from US:
- Diplomatic Representation in the US:
