Map of Angola | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) led by Jonas SAVIMBI followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections but fighting picked up again by 1996. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. President DOS SANTOS held legislative elections in September 2008 and announced plans to hold presidential elections in 2009.


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Location: 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: Africa

Area
Total: 1,246,700 km²
Rank: 23
Land: 1,246,700 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries
Total: 5,198 km
Border countries: (4) Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km; (of which 225 km; is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province) Republic of the Congo 201 km; Namibia 1376 km; Zambia 1110 km

Coastline: 1600 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 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
Extremes 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 use
Arable land: 2.65%
Permanent crops: 0.23%
Other: 97.12% (2005)

Irrigated land: 800 km² (2003)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources: 184 km³ (1987)

Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Geography
Note: the province of Cabinda is an exclave separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo


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Population: 12,799,293 (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 69
Growth rate: 2.095% (2009 est.)
Growth rate rank: 51
Below poverty line: 40.5% (2006 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Angolan
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 profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.5%
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 3,496,726/female 3,382,440)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 153,678/female 195,043) (2009 est.)

Dependency ratios

Median age
Total: 18 years
Male: 18 years
Female: 18 years (2009 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.095% (2009 est.)
Rank: 51

Birth rate: 43.69 births/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 8

Death rate: 24.08 deaths/1000 population (July 2009 est.)
Rank: 2

Net migration rate: 1.34 migrant(s)/1000 population (2009 est.)
Rank: 51

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 57% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 4.4% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Major urban areas

Environment
Current issues: 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 Climate Change Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification Law of the Sea Marine Dumping Ozone Layer Protection Ship Pollution
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 180.21 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 1
Male: 192.24 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 167.58 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 38.2 years
Rank: 223
Male: 37.24 years
Female: 39.22 years (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.12 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Rank: 10

Contraceptive prevalence rate

Drinking water source

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 2.1% (2007 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 29
People living with hivaids: 190,000 (2007 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 32
Deaths: 11,000 (2007 est.)
Deaths rank: 27

Major infectious diseases
Degree of risk: very high
Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea hepatitis A typhoid fever
Vectorborne diseases: malaria African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
Water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2009)

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

Education expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2005)
Rank: 159

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 67.4%
Male: 82.9%
Female: 54.2% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment


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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: republic; multiparty presidential regime

Capital
Name: Luanda
Geographic coordinates: 8 50 S 13 14 E
Time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington DC during Standard Time)

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: adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International law organization participation

Citizenship

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS ; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by MPLA on 26 September 2008
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 1992 constitution; President DOS SANTOS was selected by the party to take over after the death of former President Augustino NETO(1979) under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next were to be held in September 2009 but have been postponed)
Election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6% Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1% making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was never held leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
Elections: last held 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6% UNITA 10.4% PRS 3.2% ND 1.2% FNLA 1.1% other 2.5%; seats by party - MPLA 191 UNITA 16 PRS 8 FNLA 3 ND 2

Judicial branch: Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders: National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Ngola KABANGU]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) [Isaias SAMAKUVA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS]; Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
Note: nine other parties participated in the legislative election in September but won no seats

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU CPLP FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO ICCt (signatory) ICRM IDA IFAD IFC IFRCS ILO IMF IMO Interpol IOC IOM IPU ISO (correspondent) ITSO ITU ITUC MIGA NAM OAS (observer) OPEC SADC UN UNCTAD UNESCO UNIDO Union Latina UNWTO UPU WCO WFTU WHO WIPO WMO WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE
In the us chancery: 2,108 16th Street NW Washington DC 20,009
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
In the us fax: [1] (202) 785-1258
In the us consulate general: Houston New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Dan MOZENA
From the us embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda) Luanda
From the us mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6,468 Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda US Department of State 2,550 Luanda Place Washington DC 20,521-2,550
From the us telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
From the us fax: [244] (222) 64-1232

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); red represents liberty black the African continent the symbols characterize workers and peasants

National symbols

National anthem

National heritage


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Economy overview: Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector which has taken advantage of high international oil prices. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2007. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Much of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people but half of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005 the government started using a $2 billion line of credit since increased to $7 billion from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure and several large-scale projects were completed in 2006. Angola also has large credit lines from Brazil Portugal Germany Spain and the EU. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation. This policy became more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings; it has significantly reduced inflation. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2008 the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. Angola became a member of OPEC in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1.9 million barrels a day somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold diamonds extensive forests Atlantic fisheries and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement government reforms increase transparency and reduce corruption. The government has rejected a formal IMF monitored program although it continues Article IV consultations and ad hoc cooperation. Corruption especially in the extractive sectors and the negative effects of large inflows of foreign exchange are major challenges facing Angola.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 63
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 5

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 112
Note: data are in 2008 US dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.2%
Industry: 65.8%
Services: 24.6% (2008 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; ship repair

Industrial production growth rate: 14.3% (2008 est.)
Rank: 1

Labor force: 7.569 million (2008 est.)
Rank: 58
By occupation agriculture: 85%
By occupation industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 40.5% (2006 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: NA%
Highest 10: NA%

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $28.99 billion
Expenditures: $21.44 billion (2008 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

Public debt: 12% of GDP (2007 est.)
Rank: 103

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 12.2% (2007 est.)
Rank: 173

Central bank discount rate: 19.57% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 8

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 17.7% (31 December 2007)
Rank: 25

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit: $1.166 billion (31 December 2007)
Rank: 76

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $9.402 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 21

Exports: $44.4 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 49
Commodities: crude oil diamonds refined petroleum products coffee sisal fish and fish products timber cotton
Partners: China 33% US 28.7% France 6% South Africa 4.6% Canada 4.1% (2008)

Imports: $13.66 billion (2007 est.)
Rank: 75
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment vehicles and spare parts; medicines food textiles military goods
Partners: Portugal 17.6% China 15.7% US 11.3% Brazil 7.6% South Korea 6.8% South Africa 4.8% (2008)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $11.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 54

Debt external: $8.357 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 78

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $14.51 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Rank: 68

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $2.477 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Rank: 62

Exchange rates: kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 75.023 (2008 est.) 76.6 (2007) 80.4 (2006) 88.6 (2005) 83.541 (2004)


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Electricity
Production: 3.722 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Production rank: 120
Consumption: 3.173 billion kWh (2007 est.)
Consumption rank: 125
Exports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2008 est.)

Coal

Petroleum

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 680 million m³ (2008 est.)
Production rank: 65
Consumption: 680 million m³ (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 92
Exports: 0 m³ (2008)
Exports rank: 204
Imports: 0 m³ (2008 est.)
Imports rank: 203
Proven reserves: 269.8 billion m³ (1 January 2009 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 41

Carbon dioxide emissions

Energy consumption per capita


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Telephones
Main lines in use: 114,300 (2008)
Main lines in use rank: 141
Mobile cellular: 6.773 million (2008)
Mobile cellular rank: 74

Telephone system
General assessment: system inadequate; fewer than one fixed-line per 100 persons; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeded 50 telephones per 100 persons in 2008
Domestic: state-owned telecom had monopoly for fixed-lines until 2005; demand outstripped capacity prices were high and services poor; Telecom Namibia through an Angolan company became the first private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network; Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been extended to larger towns; a privately-owned mobile-cellular service provider began operations in 2001
International: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2008)

Broadcast media

Internet
Country code: .ao
Hosts: 3,508 (2009)
Hosts rank: 139
Users: 550,000 (2008)
Users rank: 105

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 5.7% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 13

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 22-24 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; Angolan citizenship required (2009)

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 192 (2009)
Rank: 32
With paved runways total: 30
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 9
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 12
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (2009)
With unpaved runways total: 162
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 2
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 32
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 78
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 46 (2009)

Heliports

Pipelines: gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2008)

Railways
Total: 2,764 km
Rank: 61
Narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008)

Roadways
Total: 51,429 km
Rank: 78
Paved: 5,349 km
Unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Waterways: 1300 km (2008)
Rank: 55

Merchant marine
Total: 6
Rank: 128
By type: cargo 1 passenger/cargo 2 petroleum tanker 2 roll on/roll off 1
Foreign owned: 1 (Spain 1)
Registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 6) (2008)

Ports and terminals: Cabinda Lobito Luanda Namibe


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Disputes international: Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan exclave from exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006 ceasefire and peace agreement

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 12,615 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Idps: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2007)

Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states particularly South Africa