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 despite promising to hold presidential elections in 2009 has since pushed through a new constitution that calls for elections in 2012.

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 (2008)

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

Population: 13,338,541 (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 70
Growth rate: 2.034% (2011 est.)
Growth rate rank: 47
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.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 43.2%
15-64 years: 54.1% (male 3,663,400/female 3,549,896)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 157,778/female 199,959) (2011 est.)

Median age
Total: 18.1 years
Male: 18.1 years
Female: 18.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.034% (2011 est.)
Rank: 47

Birth rate: 42.91 births/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 7

Death rate: 23.4 deaths/1000 population (July 2011 est.)
Rank: 1

Net migration rate: 0.82 migrant(s)/1000 population (2011 est.)
Rank: 57

Urbanization
Urban population: 59% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

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

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 (2011 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 175.9 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 1
Male: 187.86 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 163.34 deaths/1000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 38.76 years
Rank: 221
Male: 37.74 years
Female: 39.83 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.97 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Rank: 9

Drinking water source:

Physicians density: 0.08 physicians/1000 population (2004)
Rank: 169

Hospital bed density: 0.8 beds/1000 population (2005)
Rank: 155

Sanitation facility access:

Hivaids
Adult prevalence rate: 2% (2009 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 30
People living with hivaids: 200,000 (2009 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 27
Deaths: 11,000 (2009 est.)
Deaths rank: 26

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)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 27.5% (2001)
Rank: 23

Education expenditures: 2.6% of GDP (2006)
Rank: 147

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
Total: 9 years

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

Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday: Independence Day 11 November (1975)

Constitution: adopted by National Assembly 5 February 2010

Legal system: civil legal system based on Portuguese civi

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdic

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS ; Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS (since 2 February 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS (since 2 February 2010)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
Elections: president indirectly elected by National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 2010 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 on 29-30 September 1992 (next were to be held in September 2009 but were 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 on 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: Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional; Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo; Court of Auditions or Tribunal de Contas; Supreme Military Court or Supremo Tribunal Militar; judges for all courts 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 [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party); New Democracy Electoral Union or ND [Quintino de MOREIRA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] (ruling party in power since 1975); Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
Note: nine other parties participated in the legislative election in September 2008 but won no seats

International organization participation: ACP AfDB AU CPLP FAO G-77 IAEA IBRD ICAO 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 Alberto do Carmo BENTO RIBEIRO
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 Christopher J. MCMULLEN
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: sable antelope

National anthem
Name: 'Angola Avante'
Lyricsmusic: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
Note: adopted 1975

Economy overview: Angola's high growth rate in recent years was driven by high international prices for its oil. 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 (bbl/day) somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl/day Angola's government had wanted. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Diamond exports contribute an additional 5%. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people but half of the country's food is still imported. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2008. 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. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside even though peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Since 2005 the government has used billions of dollars in credit lines from China Brazil Portugal Germany Spain and the EU to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. The global recession temporarily stalled economic growth. Lower prices for oil and diamonds during the global recession led to a contraction in GDP in 2009 and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued $9 billion in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell in 2008 and 2009. Angola abandoned its currency peg in 2009 and in November 2009 signed onto an IMF Stand-By Arrangement loan of $1.4 billion to rebuild international reserves. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 14% in 2010 Luanda has been unable to reduce inflation below 10%. The Angolan kwanza depreciated again in mid 2010 which along with higher oil prices should boost economic growth in all sectors. Corruption especially in the extractive sectors also is a major challenge.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:
Rank: 68
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Real gdp growth rate:
Rank: 157

Real gdp per capita:
Rank: 120
Note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 9.6%
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: 5% (2010 est.)
Rank: 82

Labor force: 8.014 million (2010 est.)
Rank: 57
By occupation agriculture: 85%
By occupation industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate: NA

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

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 0.6%
Highest 10: 44.7% (2000)

Budget
Revenues: $35.54 billion
Expenditures: $29.5 billion (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit: 7.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 9

Taxes and other revenues: 41.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
Rank: 35

Public debt: 24.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Rank: 106

Inflation rate consumer prices: 13.9% (2009 est.)
Rank: 215

Central bank discount rate: 30% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 4

Commercial bank prime lending rate: 15.68% (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 41

Stock of narrow money: $18.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 67

Stock of broad money: $25.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 76

Stock of domestic credit: $19.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 81

Current account balance: -$7.572 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 28

Exports: $40.83 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 55
Commodities: crude oil diamonds refined petroleum products coffee sisal fish and fish products timber cotton
Partners: China 42.8% US 23% India 9.5% France 4% (2010)

Imports: $22.66 billion (2009 est.)
Rank: 74
Commodities: machinery and electrical equipment vehicles and spare parts; medicines food textiles military goods
Partners: Portugal 17.4% China 14% US 9% Brazil 6.6% South Africa 6% France 5.8% India 5.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $13.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 59

Debt external: $16.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 77

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $78.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 35

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $3.933 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Rank: 61

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 3.944 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Production rank: 120
Consumption: 3.365 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Consumption rank: 125
Exports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2009 est.)

Natural gas
Production: 690 million m³ (2009 est.)
Production rank: 65
Consumption: 690 million m³ (2009 est.)
Consumption rank: 92
Exports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Exports rank: 52
Imports: 0 m³ (2009 est.)
Imports rank: 80
Proven reserves: 309.8 billion m³ (1 January 2011 est.)
Proven reserves rank: 39

Telephones
Main lines in use: 303,200 (2010)
Main lines in use rank: 115
Mobile cellular: 8.909 million (2010)
Mobile cellular rank: 76

Telephone system
General assessment: limited system; 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; by 2010 the number of fixed-line providers had expanded to 5; 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
Domestic: only about two fixed-lines per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2010
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 (2009)

Broadcast media: state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach; state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial TV service on 2 channels; a third TPA channel is available via cable and satellite; TV subscription services are available; state-owned Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations; about a half dozen private radio stations broadcast locally (2008)

Internet
Country code: .ao
Hosts: 3,717 (2010)
Hosts rank: 142
Users: 606,700 (2009)
Users rank: 114

Military expenditures: 3.6% of GDP (2009)
Rank: 32

Military service age and obligation: 20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service; Angolan citizenship required; the Marinha de Guerra Angola (Navy MgA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2011)

Airports: 193 (2010)
Rank: 32
With paved runways total: 31
With paved runways over 3047 m: 5
With paved runways 2438 to 3047 m: 9
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 13
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 4 (2010)
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: 31
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 78
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 47 (2010)

Pipelines: gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2010)

Railways
Total: 2,764 km
Rank: 59
Narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2010)

Roadways
Total: 51,429 km
Rank: 79
Paved: 5,349 km
Unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Waterways: 1300 km (2010)
Rank: 56

Merchant marine
Total: 7
Rank: 126
By type: cargo 1 passenger/cargo 2 petroleum tanker 3 roll on/roll off 1
Foreign owned: 1 (Spain 1)
Registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 5 Liberia 1 Malta 7 former Netherlands Antilles 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals: Cabinda Lobito Luanda Namibe

Disputes international: DROC accuses Angola of shifting monuments

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