Area comparison map:

slightly larger than Virginia

Land boundaries:
total: 1,667 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (3): Guinea 590 km, Cote d'Ivoire 778 km, Sierra Leone 299 km

Coastline:
579 km
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 200 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]

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

Elevation:
mean elevation: 243 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,447 m

Natural resources:
iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use:
agricultural land: 28.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 5.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 2.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 20.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 44.6% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 27.3% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
more than half of the population lives in urban areas, with approximately one-third living within an 80-km radius of Monrovia

Natural hazards:
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

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

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

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