Statistical information Angola 1999

Angola in the World
top of pageBackground: Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 1997 but serious fighting resumed in late 1998 rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century.
top of pageLocation: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map reference:
AfricaAreaTotal: 1,246,700 km²
Land: 1,246,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundariesTotal: 5,198 km
Border countries: (5) Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km;
of which 220 km;
is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province, Republic of the Congo 201 km;
, Namibia 1,376 km;
, Zambia 1,110 kmCoastline: 1,600 km
Maritime claimsExclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Territorial sea: 12 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Extremes highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 23%
Forests and woodland: 43%
Other: 32% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 750 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
GeographyNote: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
top of pagePopulation: 11,177,537 (July 1999 est.)
Growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: 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% (1998 est.)
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 years: 45% (male 2,545,006; female 2,473,732)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,938,178; female 2,909,844)
65 years and over: 3% (male 143,074; female 167,703) (1999 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 43.11 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 16.35 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 1.6 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: the overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
International agreements signed but not ratified: Climate Change
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 129.19 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 48.39 years
Male: 46.08 years
Female: 50.82 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.12 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 42%
Male: 56%
Female: 28% (1998 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional 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 areasIndependence: 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 participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branchChief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note_the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999); note_the president is both chief of state and head of government
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held (next to be held NA)
Election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place finisher Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
Election results: percent of vote by party_MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party_MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7
Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, 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, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
In the us chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20,036
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
In the us FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
From the us embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
From the us mailing address: international mail:Caixa Postal 6,484, Luanda; pouch:American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-2,550
From the us telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
From the us FAX: [244] (2) 346-924
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 symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Angola is an economy in disarray because of more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources_gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits_Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. The increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998 dims economic prospects for 1999 especially if the oil sector were to be damaged.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 0.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,000 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 13%
Industry: 53%
Services: 34% (1998 est.)
Agriculture products: bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Industries: petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles
Industrial production growth rate: NA%
Labor force: 5 million (1997 est.)
By occupation agriculture: 85%
By occupation industry and services: 15% (1997est.)
Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $928 million
Expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton (1998)
Partners: US 65%, EU, China (1997)
Imports: $2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military goods
Partners: Portugal 21%, US 15%, France 14%, South Africa (1997)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $13 billion (1998 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1_350,000 (February 1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995), 59,515 (1994; note_readjusted Kwanzas per US$1,000 through 1994, per US$1 thereafter
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Production by source fossil fuel: 24.73%
Production by source hydro: 75.27%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Exports: 0 kWh (1996)
Imports: 0 kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 78,000 (1991 est.)
Telephone system: telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links
Domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
International: satellite earth stations_2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $1 billion (FY97/98)
Percent of gdp: 25% (FY97/98)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 252 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 32
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: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 220
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 5
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 32
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 100
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 82 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 179 km
RailwaysTotal: 2,952 km (limited trackage in use because of land mines still in place from the civil war) (1997 est.)
Narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge
RoadwaysWaterways: 1,295 km navigable
Merchant marineTotal: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,384 GRT/78,357 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 9, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Ports and terminalsAngola - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: none
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states