Montserrado

Montserrado concentrates Liberia's urban population and economic activity in a pattern typical of post-conflict African states. Monrovia, the capital and county seat, dominates as the commercial, educational, and governmental center. The county hosts the country's main port and most formal employment opportunities, drawing rural migrants despite limited infrastructure capacity.

Liberia's economy depends heavily on rubber, iron ore, and timber exports, with the service sector growing around Monrovia. The post-civil war reconstruction attracted international investment, though infrastructure deficits persist. The free port of Monrovia handles most international trade, connecting the extractive interior to global markets.

Montserrado's population concentration creates both opportunities and challenges: the county provides access to services unavailable in rural Liberia while straining housing, water, and sanitation systems. Economic activity remains informal for most residents, with street trading and small-scale commerce predominating outside the formal employment sectors of government, NGOs, and larger enterprises.