Country Guide

Angola Facts

Geography People and Society Government Economy Communications Transportation Military Transnational Issues

Geography

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 references:
Africa


Area:
total:1,246,700 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 23
land:1,246,700 sq km
water:0 sq km


Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas


Land boundaries:
total:5,369 km
border countries:Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 231 km, Namibia 1,427 km, Zambia 1,065 km


Coastline:
1,600 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
highest point:Morro de Moco 2,620 m


    Natural resources:
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium


Land use:
arable land:3.29%
permanent crops:0.23%
other:96.48% (2011)


Irrigated land:
855.3 sq km (2005)


Total renewable water resources:
148 cu km (2011)


Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
148 cu km (2011)

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


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


Environment - international agreements:
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:
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

People and Society

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% (1998 est.)


Population:
19,088,106 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 59


Age structure:
0-14 years:43.2% (male 4,206,929/female 4,043,618)
15-24 years:20.5% (male 1,992,955/female 1,923,932)
25-54 years:29.3% (male 2,822,164/female 2,777,147)
55-64 years:4% (male 370,181/female 389,885)
65 years and over:2.9% (male 259,637/female 301,658) (2014 est.)


Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:98.7 %
youth dependency ratio:93.9 %
elderly dependency ratio:4.8 %
potential support ratio:21 (2014 est.)


Median age:
total:17.9 years
male:17.7 years
female:18.1 years (2014 est.)


Population growth rate:
2.78% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 19


Birth rate:
38.97 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 9


Death rate:
11.67 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 29


Net migration rate:
0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 70


Urbanization:
urban population:59.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:3.97% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)


Major urban areas - population:
LUANDA (capital) 5.068 million; Huambo 1.098 million (2011)


Sex ratio:
at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years:1.04 male(s)/female
25-54 years:1.02 male(s)/female
55-64 years:1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.86 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2014 est.)


Mother's mean age at first birth:
18 (2008-09 est.)


Maternal mortality rate:
450 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)


Infant mortality rate:
total:79.99 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 8
male:83.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female:76.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)


    Life expectancy at birth:
total population:55.29 yearscountry comparison to the world: 205
male:54.16 years
female:56.47 years (2014 est.)


Total fertility rate:
5.43 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 10


Contraceptive prevalence rate:
17.7% (2009)


Health expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2011)


Physicians density:
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)


Hospital bed density:
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)


Drinking water source:
improved:
urban: 67.6% of population
rural: 34.3% of population
total: 54.3% of population
unimproved:
urban: 32.4% of population
rural: 65.7% of population
total: 45.7% of population (2012 est.)


Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban: 86.8% of population
rural: 20.1% of population
total: 60.1% of population
unimproved:
urban: 13.2% of population
rural: 79.9% of population
total: 39.9% of population (2012 est.)


HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
2.3% (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 26


HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
248,800 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 24


HIV/AIDS - deaths:
12,600 (2012 est.)country comparison to the world: 23


Major infectious diseases:


Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
6.4% (2008)country comparison to the world: 147


Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
15.6% (2007)country comparison to the world: 47


Education expenditures:
3.5% of GDP (2010)country comparison to the world: 127

Literacy:
definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:70.4%
male:82.6%
female:58.6% (2011 est.)


School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:11 years
male:14 years
female:9 years (2011)


Child labor - children ages 5-14:

Government

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 13 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, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Kwando Kubango, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire


Independence:
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)


National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)


Constitution:
previous 1975, 1992; latest adopted 5 February 2010 (2013)


Legal system:
civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation


International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt


Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal


Executive branch:
chief of state:President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Vice President Manuel Domingos VICENTE (since 26 September 2012); 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 Manuel Domingos VICENTE (since 26 September 2012)
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; note - according to the 2010 constitution, ballots are cast for parties rather than candidates, the majority leader is appointed president; following the results of the 2012 legislative elections DOS SANTOS became president (eligible for a second term)
election results:NA; as leader of the MPLA, Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS became pesident following legislative elections on 31 August 2012; DOS SANTOS was inaugurated on 26 September 2012 to serve the first of a possible two terms under the 2010 constitution


Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:last held on 31 August 2012 (next to be held in 2017)
election results:percent of vote by party - MPLA 71.8%, UNITA 18.7%, CASA-CE 6.0%, PRS 1.7%, FNLA 1.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - MPLA 175, UNITA 32, CASA-CE 8, PRS 3, FNLA 2


Judicial branch:
highest court(s):Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (consists of the chief justice and NA judges; Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 members)
judge selection and term of office:Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body presided over by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms
subordinate courts:provincial and municipal courts


    Political parties and leaders:
Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Abel CHIVUKUVUKU]
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Lucas NGONDA]
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party)
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:4 other parties qualified to participate in the national election in August 2012


Political pressure groups and leaders:
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO]


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 (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:Ambassador Alberto do Carmo BENTO RIBEIRO (since 1 September 2011)
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:
chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Heather C. Merritt
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:
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 symbol(s):
Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope)


National anthem:
name:'Angola Avante' (Forward Angola)

lyrics/music:Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
note:adopted 1975

Economy

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 its current assigned a production quota of 1.65 million barrels a day (bbl/day). 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 17% 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 that started in 2008 temporarily stalled economic growth. Lower prices for oil and diamonds during the global recession slowed GDP growth to 2.4% 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. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to about 10% in 2012. Higher oil prices have helped Angola turn a budget deficit of 8.6% of GDP in 2009 into an surplus of 12% of GDP in 2012. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, also is a major challenge.


GDP (purchasing power parity):
$131.8 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
$124.8 billion (2012 est.)
$118.7 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


GDP (official exchange rate):
$124 billion (2013 est.)


GDP - real growth rate:
5.6% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
5.2% (2012 est.)
3.9% (2011 est.)


GDP - per capita (PPP):
$6,300 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$6,200 (2012 est.)
$6,000 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars


Gross national saving:
19.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
23.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
24% of GDP (2011 est.)


GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:49.2%
government consumption:20%
investment in fixed capital:11.4%
investment in inventories:-0.1%
exports of goods and services:59.2%
imports of goods and services:-39.7%
(2013 est.)


GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:10.2%
industry:61.4%
services:28.4% (2011 est.)


Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (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:
5.5% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50

Labor force:
9.018 million (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53


Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:85%
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:$52.75 billion
expenditures:$48.48 billion (2013 est.)


Taxes and other revenues:
42.5% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
3.4% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14


Public debt:
14.7% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)


Fiscal year:
calendar year


Inflation rate (consumer prices):
8.9% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
10.3% (2012 est.)


Central bank discount rate:
$NA (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
30% (31 December 2009 est.)


Commercial bank prime lending rate:
15% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
16.81% (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of narrow money:
$16.95 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$13.31 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of broad money:
$50.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$40.34 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of domestic credit:
NA% (31 December 2013 est.)
$20.45 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Current account balance:
$10.69 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22
$13.85 billion (2012 est.)


Exports:
$70.84 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$71.09 billion (2012 est.)


Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton


Exports - partners:
China 46.3%, US 13.9%, India 10.1%, South Africa 4.2% (2012)


Imports:
$26.09 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
$23.72 billion (2012 est.)


Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods


Imports - partners:
China 20.9%, Portugal 19.5%, US 7.7%, South Africa 7.1%, Brazil 5.9% (2012)


Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$37.94 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$33.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Debt - external:
$22.71 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$21.85 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
$17.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77
$12.15 billion (31 December 2011 est.)


Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
$12.87 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
$9.877 billion (31 December 2012 est.)


Exchange rates:
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -
95.97 (2013 est.)
95.468 (2012 est.)
91.906 (2010 est.)
79.33 (2009)
75.023 (2008)

Energy

Electricity - production:
5.118 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118


Electricity - consumption:
4.592 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116


Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97


Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114


Electricity - installed generating capacity:
1.155 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123


Electricity - from fossil fuels:
56.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139


Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39


Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
43.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55


Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151


Crude oil - production:
1.872 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16


Crude oil - exports:
1.928 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7


Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153


    Crude oil - proved reserves:
10.47 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17


Refined petroleum products - production:
38,760 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85


Refined petroleum products - consumption:
79,430 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85


Refined petroleum products - exports:
17,750 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74


Refined petroleum products - imports:
55,740 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66


Natural gas - production:
752 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68


Natural gas - consumption:
733 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94


Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58


Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153


Natural gas - proved reserves:
366 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37


Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
26.97 million Mt (2011 est.)

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use:
303,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 116


Telephones - mobile cellular:
9.8 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 80


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; mobile-cellular teledensity about 50 telephones per 100 persons in 2011
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


Internet hosts:
20,703 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 116


Internet users:
606,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114

Transportation

Airports
176 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 32


Airports - with paved runways
total:31
over 3,047 m:7
2,438 to 3,047 m:8
1,524 to 2,437 m:12
914 to 1,523 m:4 (2013)


Airports - with unpaved runways
total:145
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:31
914 to 1,523 m:66
under 914 m:
43 (2013)


Heliports
1 (2013)


Pipelines
gas 352 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 1,065 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2013)


Railways
total:2,764 kmcountry comparison to the world: 60
narrow gauge:2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008)


    Roadways
total:51,429 kmcountry comparison to the world: 76
paved:5,349 km
unpaved:46,080 km (2001)


Waterways
1,300 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 54


Merchant marine
total:7country comparison to the world: 123
by type:cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries:17 (Bahamas 6, Curacao 2, Cyprus 1, Liberia 1, Malta 7) (2010)



Ports and terminals
major seaport(s):Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe

Military

Military branches
Angolan Armed Forces (Forcas Armadas Angolanas, FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA; under operational control of the Army) (2012)


Military service age and obligation
20-45 years of age for compulsory male and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service (registration at age 18 is mandatory); 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; Angolan citizenship required; the Navy (MGA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2013)


Manpower available for military service
males age 16-49:3,062,438
females age 16-49:2,964,262 (2010 est.)


Manpower fit for military service
males age 16-49:1,546,781
females age 16-49:1,492,308 (2010 est.)


    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male:155,476
female:152,054 (2010 est.)


Military expenditures
3.63% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 13
3.5% of GDP (2011)
3.63% of GDP (2010)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international
Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Angola of shifting monuments


Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin):21,104 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2013)
IDPs:19,500 (27-year civil war ending in 2002) (2005)



    Trafficking in persons



Illicit drugs
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
 Information/ Data by CIA - The World Factbook