Hydrogeology of Liberia

Africa Groundwater Atlas >> Hydrogeology by country >> Hydrogeology of Liberia

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Compilers

Dr Kirsty Upton and Brighid Ó Dochartaigh, British Geological Survey, UK

Geographical Setting

Map of Liberia (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the geography resources section)

General

Estimated Population in 2013*	4,294,077
Rural Population (% of total) (2013)*	51.1%
Total Surface Area*	96,320 sq km
Agricultural Land (% of total area) (2012)*	28.1%
Capital City	Monrovia
Region	Western Africa
Border Countries	Sierra Leone, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal (2013)*	130.8 Million cubic metres
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Agriculture (2013)*	9.4%
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Domestic Use (2013)*	54.4%
Annual Freshwater Withdrawal for Industry (2013)*	36.2%
Rural Population with Access to Improved Water Source (2012)*	63%
Urban Population with Access to Improved Water Source (2012)*	86.8%

* Source: World Bank

Climate

• 
  Koppen Geiger Climate Zones
• 
  Average Annual Precipitation
• 
  Average Temperature

For further detail on the climate datasets used see the climate resources section.

Surface water

Surface Water Map of Liberia (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the surface water resources section)

Soil

Soil Map of Liberia (For map key and more information on the datasets used in the map see the soil resources section)

Land cover

Land Cover Map of Liberia (For map key and more information on the datasets used in the map see the land cover resources section)

Geology

The geology map shows a simplified version of the geology at a national scale. More information is available in the report UN (1988) (see References section, below).

Simplified Geology of Liberia (For more information on the datasets used in the map see the the Geology resources page)

Hydrogeology

The hydrogeology map below shows a simplified version of the type and productivity of the main aquifers at a national scale (see the Hydrogeology Map resource page for more details).

More information on the hydrogeology of Liberia is available in the report United Nations (1988) (see References section, below).

Groundwater management

Water point databases exist with information on more than 3,000 hand dug wells and more than 600 boreholes in Liberia, although information for some parts of the country is not yet recorded. Only protected (improved) hand dug wells are recorded in the database. No geological log information is available for the groundwater sources, and most have no information on groundwater (rest/static) level.

Transboundary aquifers

For further information about transboundary aquifers, please see the Transboundary aquifers resources page.

References

References with more information on the geology and hydrogeology of Liberia can be accessed through the Africa Groundwater Literature Archive.

United Nations. 1988. Groundwater in North and West Africa: Liberia. United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development and Economic Commission for Africa.

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