Map of Angola | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide19891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023 | More stats

top of page


Background: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions persist and banditry is increasing. In order to bring armed insurgents under government control the peace accord of 20 November 1994 provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces.


top of page


Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

Geographic coordinates

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total area total: 1,246,700 km²
Land: 1,246,700 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries: total 5,198 km, Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline: 1,600 km

Maritime claims
Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 20 nm

Climate: semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain: narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 23%
Forest and woodland: 43%
Other: 32%

Irrigated land: NA km²

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

Natural hazards

Geography
Note: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975; a cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994; the cease-fire is generally holding but most provisions of the accord remain to be implemented.


top of page


Population: 10,069,501 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.68% (1995 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Angolan(s)
Adjective: Angolan

Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 45% (female 2,208,307; male 2,274,533)
15-64 years: 53% (female 2,641,259; male 2,685,543)
65 years and over: 2% (female 136,573; male 123,286) (July 1995 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age

Population growth rate: 2.68% (1995 est.)

Birth rate: 45.05 births/1000 population (1995 est.)

Death rate: 18.1 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.15 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: population pressures contributing to overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
Current issues natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Current issues international agreements: party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

Air pollutants

Sex ratio

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate: 142.1 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 46.28 years
Male: 44.18 years
Female: 48.49 years (1995 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.42 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
Total population: 42%
Male: 56%
Female: 28%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


top of page


Country name
Conventional long form: Republic of Angola
Conventional short form: Angola
Local long form: Republica de Angola
Local short form: Angola
Former: People's Republic of Angola

Government type: transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

Capital: Luanda

Administrative divisions: 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia; Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Dependent areas

Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
Head of government: Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers; appointed by the president

Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly Assembleia Nacional: first nationwide, multiparty elections were held 29-30 September 1992 with disputed results

Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Goncalves Martins PATRICIO
In the us embassy: 1819 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20,036, Suite 400
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Edmund T. DE JARNETTE
From the us embassy: 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
From the us mailing address: C.P. 6,484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20,521-2,550 (pouch)
From the us telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
From the us FAX: [244] (2) 347-884

Flag description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


top of page


Economy overview: Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production is vital to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP. Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the Angola government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting continues and many farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food requirements must still be imported. Angola has rich natural resources - notably gold, diamonds, and arable land, in addition to large oil deposits - but will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies if it is to achieve its potential.

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: -1% (1994 est.)

Real gdp per capita ppp

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Agriculture products: cash crops - bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cane, manioc, tobacco; food crops - cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains; livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry 2% of total agricultural output

Industries: petroleum; mining - diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco; sugar; textiles; cement; basic metal products

Industrial production growth rate: NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP, including petroleum output

Labor force: 2.783 million economically active
By occupation agriculture: 85%
By occupation industry: 15% (1985est.)

Unemployment rate: 15% with considerable underemployment (1993 est.)

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $928 million
Expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)

Public debt

Taxes and other revenues

Revenue

Fiscal year: calendar year

Current account balance

Inflation rate consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance

Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Partners: US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil

Imports: $1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
Commodoties: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines, substantial military deliveries
Partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external: $11.7 billion (1994 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25 April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000 (official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994), 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994; 7,000 (official rate 16 December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993; 3,884 (July 1993; 550 (April 1992; 90 (November 1991; 60 (October 1990)


top of page


Electricity access

Electricity production: 1.9 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 189 kWh (1993)

Electricity consumption

Electricity exports

Electricity imports

Electricity installed generating capacity

Electricity transmission distribution losses

Electricity generation sources

Petroleum

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


top of page


Telephones fixed lines

Telephones mobile cellular

Telephone system: 40,300 telephones; 4.1 telephones/1000 persons; high frequency radio used extensively for military links; telephone service limited mostly to government and business use
Local: NA
Intercity: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and troposcatter routes
International: 2 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth stations

Broadcast media

Internet country code

Internet users

Broadband fixed subscriptions


top of page


Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $1.1 billion, 31% of GDP (1993)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


top of page


National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 289
With paved runways over 3047 m: 4
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 9
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 93
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 33
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 126

Airports with paved runways
Over 3047 m: 4
2438 to 3047 m: 9
15-24 to 2437 m: 12
914 to 1523 m: 6
Under 914 m: 93

Airports with unpaved runways
Over 3047 m: 1
2438 to 3047 m: 5
15-24 to 2438 m: 33
914 to 1523 m: 126

Heliports

Pipelines: crude oil 179 km

Railways

Roadways

Waterways: 1,295 km navigable

Merchant marine
Total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 11, oil tanker 1

Ports and terminals


top of page


Disputes international: none

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe