Transport in Liberia facts for kids
Getting around in Liberia, a country in West Africa, involves many different ways to travel! This includes railways, roads, seaports, and airports. In the capital city, Monrovia, people often use buses and taxis to get around. You can even find special boats for hire!
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Train Travel in Liberia
Trains in Liberia were first built to help move important materials like iron ore from mines to the coast for export. Sadly, these railways were damaged during a time of civil war in the country.
By 2010, only one railway, the Bong mine railway, was working. However, another important railway, the Lamco Railway, was partly fixed up by a company called ArcelorMittal and started working again in 2011. Liberia's railways don't connect to other countries right now, but there's been an idea to extend the Bong mine railway into Guinea to serve a mine there.
How Long are the Railways?
- Total length: 429 kilometers (about 267 miles) (as of 2008)
- Standard size tracks: 345 kilometers (about 214 miles)
- Narrow size tracks: 84 kilometers (about 52 miles)
Roads and Highways
Liberia has a large network of roads, but many of them are not paved. Heavy rains and a lack of upkeep can make them difficult to use.
Road Lengths
- Total length: 10,600 kilometers (about 6,586 miles)
- Paved roads: 657 kilometers (about 408 miles)
- Unpaved roads: 9,943 kilometers (about 6,178 miles) (as of 2018)
Future Road Connections
When road building and repairs are finished, a big highway project called the Trans–West African Coastal Highway will pass through Liberia. This will connect Liberia to cities like Freetown in Sierra Leone and Abidjan in Ivory Coast. Eventually, this highway will link Liberia to 11 other countries that are part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Seaports and Harbors
Liberia has several important seaports where ships can dock to load and unload goods. These ports are vital for trade and connecting Liberia to the rest of the world.
- Buchanan - This port is connected to a railway that used to serve an iron mine in Nimba County.
- Greenville
- Harper
- Monrovia - This is the main port in the capital city.
Merchant Ships
Liberia is known internationally as a "flag of convenience" for freight shipping. This means many ships from different countries choose to register in Liberia, even if they don't operate there.
Number of Ships
- Total ships registered: 3,942 (as of 2021)
- Types of ships:
- Barge carriers: 1,487
- Container ships: 878
- General cargo ships: 131
- Oil tankers: 851
- Other types: 595
Airports
Liberia has a total of 20 airports (as of 2017). The main international airport, where most flights from other countries arrive, is Roberts International Airport.
Airports with Paved Runways
- Total: 2 airports
- Very long runways (over 3,047 meters or 10,000 feet): 1 airport
- Medium-long runways (1,524 to 2,437 meters or 5,000 to 8,000 feet): 1 airport (as of 2017)
Airports with Unpaved Runways
- Total: 27 airports
- Medium-long runways (1,524 to 2,437 meters or 5,000 to 8,000 feet): 5 airports
- Medium runways (914 to 1,523 meters or 3,000 to 4,999 feet): 8 airports
- Short runways (under 914 meters or 3,000 feet): 14 airports (as of 2013)
See also
- Economy of Liberia
