Western Africa · UN member
Liberia: Travel Guide & Requirements
Republic of Liberia
Liberia is a country in Western Africa with its capital in Monrovia. It has a population of 5.7 million (#116 in the world) and covers 111,369 km². The official language is English. The currency is the Liberian dollar (LRD, $).
Where is Liberia? Map of Liberia
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone.
- Region
- Western Africa
- Coordinates
- 6.5° N, 9.5° W
- Neighbours
- 3 — see list
- Coastline
- 579 km
- Liberia
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Liberia showing Monrovia (capital) and the largest cities: Gbarnga, Buchanan, Ganta, Kakata, Zwedru, Harper, Foya Kamara and New Yekepa.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Liberia
- Passport
The Liberia Immigration Service's visa-on-arrival portal requires a passport valid for at least six months, and the UK says your passport must have at least 6 months' validity remaining when you apply for a visa.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 14 need no visa, 184 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Liberia entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
Liberia's Consulate General in New York asks visa applicants for a copy of a round-trip air ticket or itinerary.
- Proof of funds
No official requirement.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK's travel advice says there is no effective emergency or ambulance service anywhere in the country, and to have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds for treatment, medical evacuation and repatriat…
- Vaccinations
Liberia's Consulate General in New York requires a copy of your yellow fever vaccination record with visa applications, and the UK says you need to provide a yellow fever certificate as part of the visa application.
- Customs allowance
The UK government says to declare cash or travellers' cheques worth USD 10,000 or more, and that you cannot take more than USD 7,500 in cash out of Liberia.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Liberia
- Safety: Liberia is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Liberia Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: November to April — when daytime highs in Monrovia are around 29–31°C.
- Money: the Liberian dollar (LRD) — 1 US dollar is about 170.1999 LRD.
- Plugs: type A and B, 120 V, 60 Hz — low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911.
- Language: English is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 25 mph in built-up areas and 45 mph outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC0 in Monrovia.
- Capital: Monrovia. About 5.7 million people live in Liberia.
- Outdoors: 4 national parks.
Key facts
Liberia at a glance
Languages spoken: English 20% (official) and 27 indigenous languages, including Liberian English variants
Geography & history
About Liberia
With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic. Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Lib…
Read the full history
With 28 ethnic groups and languages, Liberia is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. For hundreds of years, the Mali and Songhai Empires claimed most of Liberia. Beginning in the 15th century, European traders began establishing outposts along the Liberian coast. Unlike its neighbors, however, Liberia did not fall under European colonial rule. In the early 19th century, the US began sending freed enslaved people and other people of color to Liberia to establish settlements. In 1847, these settlers declared independence from the US, writing their own constitution and establishing Africa’s first republic. Early in Liberia’s history, tensions arose between the Americo-Liberian settlers and the indigenous population. In 1980, Samuel DOE, who was from the indigenous population, led a military coup and ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE was killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 permitted an election that brought TAYLOR to power. In 2000, fighting resumed. A 2003 peace agreement ended the war and prompted TAYLOR’s resignation. He was later convicted by the UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague for his involvement in Sierra Leone's civil war. In 2005, Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF became president after two years of transitional governments; she was the first female head of state in Africa. In 2011, JOHNSON SIRLEAF won reelection but struggled to rebuild Liberia's economy -- particularly after the 2014-15 Ebola epidemic -- and to reconcile a nation still recovering from 14 years of fighting. In 2017, former soccer star George WEAH won the presidential runoff election, marking the first successful transfer of power from one democratically elected government to another since the end of Liberia’s civil wars. Like his predecessor, WEAH struggled to improve the country’s economy. In 2023, former Vice President Joseph BOAKAI was elected president, edging out WEAH by a thin margin, the first time since 1927 that an incumbent was not re-elected after one term.
Location
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone
Climate
tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers
Terrain
mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast
Highest point
Mount Wuteve 1,447 m
Natural resources
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower
Natural hazards
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)
National symbols
white star
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Liberia
The default speed limits in Liberia are 25 mph in built-up areas and 45 mph outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 1.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- SPEED
LIMIT2525 mphBuilt-up areasTowns and cities - SPEED
LIMIT4545 mphOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 ViennaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit1.5‰ blood alcohol (0.15% BAC)
- Seat beltsNo national seat-belt law
- Child seatsNo national child-restraint law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)15.3 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Liberia safe to visit?
Liberia is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Liberia Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Addition of information about heightened health screening measures for travellers arriving into Liberia (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 27 May 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Liberia
The best time to visit Liberia is November to April, when daytime highs in Monrovia are around 29–31°C. May and July to September are also a good time to go. January is the warmest month (31°C by day), January the coldest (23°C at night), and August the wettest with about 399 mm of rain.
- Jan31°C23°C
- Feb31°C24°C
- Mar31°C24°C
- Apr31°C25°C
- May30°C25°C
- Jun29°C24°C
- Jul28°C23°C
- Aug27°C23°C
- Sep28°C23°C
- Oct28°C24°C
- Nov29°C24°C
- Dec30°C23°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Liberia
Plugs & sockets
120 V, 60 Hz · Low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
4 national parks in Liberia
- 5,620 km² protected
- oldest from 1977
Largest: Lofa-Mano National Park · Sapo National Park · Grebo-Krahn National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Liberian dollar exchange rates today
Liberia uses the Liberian dollar (LRD, $). One US dollar buys 170.1999 LRD; over the last 30 days the LRD has gained 1.0% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in LRD
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Liberia ranks
How Liberia compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Liberia
19 airports and airfields — 1 large, 2 medium and 16 small, plus 0 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Liberia borders 3 countries along 1,667 km of land borders. Coastline: 579 km.
Military
Liberian armed forces
Liberia ranks #141 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $44 million (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Monrovia (1.7 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
mining (iron ore and gold), rubber processing, palm oil processing, diamonds
Export partners
Switzerland 30%, UK 13%, France 8%, Germany 7%, Lebanon 4% (2023)
Top exports
gold, ships, iron ore, rubber, refined petroleum (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Liberia
Next public holiday
Thanksgiving Day — Thursday, 5 November 2026. Then William V. S. Tubman's Birthday (29 Nov).
Liberian passport
Ranked #160: 24 countries visa-free, 21 with visa on arrival, 2 with an eTA and 44 with an eVisa.
Liberian passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Liberia's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Liberia
Dial +231 before the local number. Internet domain .lr.
Climate footprint
0.9 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.15 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Liberia: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Liberia
Southwest to open 11 tropical nonstop routes from US airports from November
Southwest Airlines is adding 11 nonstop international routes from US airports, starting 1 November with Las Vegas to Puerto Vallarta. Two of the new …
Nigerian passport moves up to 92nd in the 2026 Henley Passport Index
Nigeria has risen from 94th to 92nd place in the 2026 Henley Passport Index, giving Nigerian passport holders visa-free access to 45 destinations ins…
Ghana and Other African Nations Granted 30-Day Visa-Free Entry to Philippines
Ghanaian passport holders can now enter the Philippines for up to 30 days without a visa, along with nationals from 45 other African countries. Speci…
Frequently asked questions about Liberia
What do I need to travel to Liberia?
How long must my passport be valid for Liberia?
Where is Liberia?
What is Liberia known for?
What is the capital of Liberia?
What language is spoken in Liberia?
What currency does Liberia use?
What is the calling code of Liberia?
Which countries border Liberia?
How strong is the Liberian passport?
What is the speed limit in Liberia?
Is Liberia safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Liberia?
What plug type does Liberia use?
How many airports does Liberia have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.