Navigator
Liberia
(information)
Population as of 2020: 5.05 million 120 of 193
highest next higher next lower lowest
Region: West Africa
Nominal G.D.P. in 2024: $4.75 billion 160 of 193
highest next higher next lower lowest
Top Exports
Total exports: **~$1.0–1.03 billion (2024)**
**Key structure:** dominated by **gold, iron ore, ships, and rubber**
| Rank | Export Category | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Precious metals (gold)** ⭐ | Largest export (~35%+) |
| 2 | **Iron ore & minerals** | ~15–20%; key mining export |
| 3 | **Ships & boats (registry-related)** | Very large, irregular exports |
| 4 | **Rubber & rubber products** | Major agricultural export |
| 5 | **Special-purpose vessels** | Linked to shipping registry |
| 6 | **Diamonds & gemstones** | Small but valuable |
| 7 | **Cocoa beans** | Key agricultural export |
| 8 | **Palm oil & vegetable oils** | Growing agricultural sector |
| 9 | **Timber & wood products** | Forestry exports |
| 10 | **Fish & seafood** | Coastal exports |
Key individual export products (by value)
| Rank | Product | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| 11 | **Gold bullion** | #1 export by far |
| 12 | **Iron ore (non-agglomerated)** | Core mining export |
| 13 | **Passenger & cargo ships** | High-value but irregular |
| 14 | **Special-purpose ships** | Registry-driven exports |
| 15 | **Natural rubber (TSNR)** | Largest agricultural export |
| 16 | **Diamonds** | Small but high-value |
| 17 | **Cocoa beans** | Export crop |
| 18 | **Palm oil** | Expanding sector |
| 19 | **Sawn timber & logs** | Forestry export |
| 20 | **Fish (fresh/frozen)** | Minor export |
Key Takeaways
* 🥇 **Gold dominates exports**
* Accounts for roughly **one-third or more of total exports**
* ⛏️ **Mining is the backbone of the economy**
* Gold + iron ore together form the **core export base**
* 🚢 **Ships are a unique export category**
* Liberia has one of the world’s largest **ship registries**, which explains large vessel exports
* 🌱 **Agriculture still matters**
* Especially:
* rubber (historically dominant)
* cocoa
* palm oil
* 🌲 **Forestry contributes but is smaller**
* Timber exports remain important but secondary
* ⚠️ **High export concentration risk**
* Economy depends heavily on:
* commodity prices (gold, iron)
* a few key sectors
Top Importers of Liberia’s Exports (2024)
| Rank | Country | Notes |
| ---- | ------------------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| 1 | **Switzerland** | Largest buyer; gold refining hub. |
| 2 | **China** | Major importer of iron ore and minerals. |
| 3 | **United Arab Emirates** | Gold trading hub. |
| 4 | **France** | Rubber and agricultural products. |
| 5 | **Germany** | Industrial inputs (rubber, metals). |
| 6 | **United Kingdom** | Gold and niche exports. |
| 7 | **Netherlands** | EU trade hub; minerals and agriculture. |
| 8 | **India** | Gold and raw materials. |
| 9 | **Turkey** | Gold and commodity imports. |
| 10 | **United States** | Rubber, cocoa, and specialty goods. |
Key Patterns
* 🪙 **Gold drives top partners**
* Countries like **Switzerland and UAE** dominate because of **gold refining and global trading**
* ⛏️ **Mining links to Asia**
* **China and India** import:
* iron ore
* raw materials
* 🌱 **Agriculture shapes European trade**
* **France, Germany, Netherlands** import:
* rubber
* cocoa
* timber
* 🚢 **Shipping registry influences trade flows**
* Some exports (ships) are linked to Liberia’s **global maritime registry**, not domestic production
