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. Military integration began in June 1996 and a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997. Efforts which began in May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996. All UN peacekeepers are scheduled to depart by September 1997.

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map reference: Africa

Area
Total: 1,246,700 km²
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: (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 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
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%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 23%
Forests and woodland: 43%
Other: 32% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 750 km² (1993 est.)

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

Geography
Note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Congo (Kinshasa)

Population: 10,548,847 (July 1997 est.)
Growth rate: 3.06% (1997 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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,393,009; female 2,327,186)
15-64 years: 52% (male 2,793,038; female 2,753,624)
65 years and over: 3% (male 131,720; female 150,270) (July 1997 est.)

Population growth rate: 3.06% (1997 est.)

Birth rate: 44.11 births/1000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate: 17.24 deaths/1000 population (1997 est.)

Net migration rate: 3.69 migrant(s)/1000 population (1997 est.)

Environment
Current 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

Sex ratio
At 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 135.7 deaths/1000 live births (1997 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 47.32 years
Male: 45.12 years
Female: 49.64 years (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.27 children born/woman (1997 est.)

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

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

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

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 Fernando Jose de Franca Vieira Dias VAN DUNEM (since 8 June 1996)
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); prime minister appointed by the president and answerable to the Assembly
Election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) disputed the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (223 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 - NA

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), 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 representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA 'N'dalu'
In the us chancery: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 760, 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 Donald K. STEINBERG
From the us embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
From the us mailing address: C.P. 6,484, Luanda; American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20,521-2,550 (pouch)
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)

Economy overview: Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for about 12% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% 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 - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies. Despite the high inflation and political difficulties, total output grew an estimated 9% in 1996, largely due to increased oil production.

Real gdp growth rate: 9% (1996 est.)

Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity - $800 (1996 est.)

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 12%
Industry: 56%
Services: 32% (1994 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
Total: 2.783 million economically active
By occupation agriculture: 85%
By occupation industry: 15% (1985est.)

Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1994 est.)

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

Fiscal year: calendar year

Exports
Total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
Commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Partners: US 70%, EU

Imports
Total value: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
Commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military supplies
Partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

Debt external: $12.5 billion (1996 est.)

Exchange rates: new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 201,994 (November 1996), 900,000 (25 April 1995), 600,000 (10 January 1995), 90,000 (1 June 1994), 7,000 (16 December 1993), 3.884 (July 1993), 550 (April 1992)
Note: black market rates - new Kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 1,900,000 (6 April 1995), 180,000 (1 June 1994), 50,000 (16 December 1993)

Electricity
Capacity: 620,000 kW (1994)
Production: 1.82 billion kWh (1994)
Consumption per capita: 171 kWh (1995 est.)

Telephones: 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)

Military expenditures
Dollar figure: $1.1 billion (1993)
Percent of gdp: 31% (1993)

Airports: 144 (1996 est.)
With paved runways total: 67
With paved runways over 3047 m: 3
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 9
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 11
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4
With paved runways under 914 m: 40 (1996 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 77
With unpaved runways over 3047 m: 1
With unpaved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 4
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 24
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 48 (1996 est.)

Pipelines: crude oil 179 km

Railways
Total: 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

Waterways: 1,295 km navigable

Merchant marine
Total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 55,255 GRT/86,886 DWT
Ships by type: cargo 10, oil tanker 1 (1996 est.)

Disputes international: none

Illicit drugs: increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states