Liberia vs. Sierra Leone
Geography
| Liberia | Sierra Leone | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone | Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia |
| Geographic coordinates | 6 30 N, 9 30 W | 8 30 N, 11 30 W |
| Map references | Africa | Africa |
| Area | total: 111,369 sq km land: 96,320 sq km water: 15,049 sq km | total: 71,740 sq km land: 71,620 sq km water: 120 sq km |
| Area - comparative | slightly larger than Virginia | slightly smaller than South Carolina |
| Land boundaries | total: 1,667 km border countries (3): Guinea 590 km, Cote d'Ivoire 778 km, Sierra Leone 299 km | total: 1,093 km border countries (2): Guinea 794 km, Liberia 299 km |
| Coastline | 579 km | 402 km |
| Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm |
| Climate | tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers | tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April) |
| Terrain | mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast | coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east |
| Elevation extremes | highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 243 m | highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m mean elevation: 279 m |
| Natural resources | iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower | diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite |
| Land use | agricultural land: 28.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 5.2% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 20.8% (2018 est.) forest: 44.6% (2018 est.) other: 27.3% (2018 est.) | agricultural land: 56.2% (2018 est.) arable land: 23.4% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 2.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 30.5% (2018 est.) forest: 37.5% (2018 est.) other: 6.3% (2018 est.) |
| Irrigated land | 30 sq km (2012) | 300 sq km (2012) |
| Natural hazards | dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March) | dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms |
| Environment - current issues | tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; hunting of endangered species for bushmeat; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage; pollution of rivers from industrial run-off; burning and dumping of household waste | rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation, soil exhaustion, and flooding; loss of biodiversity; air pollution; water pollution; overfishing |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 2006, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping-London Convention, Marine Dumping-London Protocol, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
| Geography - note | facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture | rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa |
| Total renewable water resources | 232 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) | 160 billion cubic meters (2017 est.) |
| Population distribution | more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia as shown in this population distribution map | population clusters are found in the lower elevations of the south and west; the northern third of the country is less populated as shown on this population distribution map |
Source: CIA Factbook
