MonroviaCapital
Liberia · Country profile
Monrovia is the coastal capital of Liberia, the hot, sprawling city of the Atlantic shore that spreads across the flat peninsula between the waters of the Mesurado river and the open ocean, the historic foundation of the freed American settlers of the nineteenth century. Named for the American president of the settlement era, the first modern republic of Africa grew around the port, the old facades of the Congress and the missionary, blending the American and the African worlds into the dense, vibrant capital of the country. The markets, the great mosque and the cathedral, the oldest university of the continent and the palm-fringed beaches of the ocean anchor the essential visits, while the port, the bridges and the crowded street life of the town carry the everyday commercial energy of the republic. Hot, informal and endlessly energetic, Monrovia is the beating Atlantic heart of the first independent republic of the African continent.
About Monrovia
Monrovia is the capital of Liberia. The city's documented population is around 1,500,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Liberian Dollar (LRD) and English is spoken; the dialling code is +231.
The Great Market and the Mosque of the Capital
Monrovia is a coastal, densely packed capital where the essential circuit moves between the markets, the mosque and the cathedral and the historic monuments of the town, with the university, the museum and the waterfront of the port anchoring the curated days. The enormous markets of the capital, the great Waterside market of the city centre and the colourful food and fabric streets run the vivid daily commerce, and the beaches of the ocean, with their lifeguard-guarded swimming and their palm-lined sand, fill the weekends of the town. The bridges of the rivers, the wetlands and the villages of the lagoon, and the viewpoints of the hills behind the capital, complete the flat, water-bound geography of the Atlantic city.
The Cathedral and the University of the Republic
The climate of the capital is the hot, wet tropical of the West African coast, with the heavy monsoon rains of the long wet season and the drier, breezier months of the northern winter, when the harmattan dust of the interior dims the sun. The dollar of the country is the currency, with the English the language of the capital and the many local tongues of Liberia the everyday speech of the streets. The markets, the monuments and the beach make the core circuit, and the movement of the city, the trips to the regional wonders and the security of the evenings all demand careful local planning. Light cotton clothing, insect protection and a patient, flexible approach complete the realistic essentials of the Atlantic capital.
The Beaches and the Wetlands of the Peninsula
The great mosque of the capital, the largest mosque of the West African coast with its golden dome and its twin minarets rising over the crowded quarters of the city, is one of the great landmarks of the religious landscape of the region, standing beside the cathedral of the capital with its proud cross. The old buildings of the legislative era, the crumbling triumphal arch of the former president and the urban university of the town, the oldest university of the whole continent, preserve the American-African heritage of the republic, and the museum of the country, with its mask, its ceremonial and its regalia of the peoples of Liberia, anchors the cultural story of the nation. The beaches of the ocean, from the Gold Coast golden sands to the fishing coves of the peninsula, and the wetland villages and the pirogues of the Mesurado, complete the essential portrait of the hot, informal, indomitable capital of the first modern republic of Africa.
Report an error or suggest an update
- Country
- Liberia
- Population
- 1,500,000
- Capital
- Monrovia
- Region
- Africa
- Currency
- Liberian Dollar (LRD)
- Languages
- English
- Calling code
- +231
- Country code
- LR
Frequently asked questions
Is Monrovia the capital of Liberia?
Yes — Monrovia is the capital of Liberia.
What currency do I need in Monrovia?
The local currency is the Liberian Dollar (LRD). Languages spoken in Liberia include English.
What is the dialling code for Liberia?
The international dialling code for Liberia is +231.
Flying out of Monrovia? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.