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This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


Map of Angola



Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Angola Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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 UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. 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 has announced legislative elections will be held in September 2008, with presidential elections planned for sometime in 2009.
   Geography    Angola Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Africa
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 5,198 km
border countries: 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 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
1,600 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 97.12% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
800 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
184 cu km (1987)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
total: 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%)
per capita: 22 cu m/yr (2000)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
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
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
Definition Field Listing
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
   People    Angola Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12,531,357 (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 43.6% (male 2,760,264/female 2,707,665)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 3,416,914/female 3,302,552)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 151,609/female 192,353) (2008 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.136% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
44.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
24.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/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 (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 182.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 194.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 169.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 37.92 years
male: 36.99 years
female: 38.9 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
6.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
240,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
21,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
Definition Field Listing
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 (2008)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.4%
male: 82.9%
female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Education expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.4% of GDP (2005)
   Government    Angola Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution:
Definition Field Listing
adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
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
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
chief 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 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 originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held because SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president
Legislative branch:
Definition Field Listing
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, ND 2, FNLA 3
Judicial branch:
Definition Field Listing
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed between Ngola KABANGU and Lucas NGONDA]; 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: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats; they and more than 100 other smaller parties have little influence in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Dan MOZENA
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
FAX: [244] (222) 64-1232
Flag description:
Definition Field Listing
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    Angola Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. 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 2007, 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$95.46 billion (2007 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$61.36 billion (2007 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
16.7% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7,800 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 9.5%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2007 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
7.148 million (2007 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Investment (gross fixed):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.1% of GDP (2007 est.)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $20.18 billion
expenditures: $15.53 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12% of GDP (2007 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
12.2% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19.57% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
17.7% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$4.153 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$7.216 billion (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$1.385 billion (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
23.9% (2007 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.513 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.084 billion kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2007 est.)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.91 million bbl/day (2008 est.)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
55,640 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.23 million bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
19,550 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
9.035 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
680 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
680 million cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
269.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)
Current account balance:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$13.58 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$45.03 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
US 32.1%, China 32%, France 5.9%, Taiwan 5.3%, South Africa 4.5% (2007)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$12.29 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Portugal 19.7%, US 10.9%, China 10.5%, Brazil 10.3%, South Africa 6.6%, France 6.3%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4.3% (2007)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$11.2 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$8.357 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$17.23 billion (2007 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$227 million (2006 est.)
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
kwanza (AOA)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003)
   Communications    Angola Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
98,200 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.307 million (2007)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
general assessment: system inadequate; fewer than one fixed-line per 100 persons; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeded 25 telephones per 100 persons in 2007
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 (2007)
Radio broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
6 (2000)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.ao
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3,562 (2008)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
100,000 (2007)
   Transportation    Angola Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
232 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 201
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 69 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 234 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 896 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2007)
Railways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1,300 km (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 6
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:
Definition Field Listing
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
   Military    Angola Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 2,856,492
females age 16-49: 2,755,864 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 16-49: 1,430,658
females age 16-49: 1,371,689 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
Definition Field Listing
male: 142,791
female: 139,539 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
5.7% of GDP (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Angola Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
refugees (country of origin): 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:
Definition Field Listing
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa

This page was last updated on 18 December 2008


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