Liberia
The Edmund Rice Mission began in Liberia in 1969. It is currently actively involved in St. Martins High school, which has a strong tradition in providing excellence in education, having graduated a number of prominent Liberian leaders in business, health, politics and social justice. Liberia is Africa’s oldest republic, but it became better known in the 1990s for its long-running, ruinous civil war. The capital remains without mains electricity and running water. Corruption is widespread and unemployment and illiteracy are prevalent.
Population: 4 million
Life Expectancy: 57 years
Infant mortality rate: 70 per 1000
Public Expenditure on health: 11.9% of GDP
HIV/AIDS: 37,000 or 1.5% of population
Public expenditure on education: 2.8% of GDP
Enrolled in primary education: 77%
Primary to Secondary transition: 78%
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24: 5.1%