Angola Population: 18,565,269
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| Background | |
| Angola is still rebuilding its country since 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 in 1993. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - during the more than a quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. President DOS SANTOS pushed through a new constitution in 2010; elections held in 2012 saw him installed as president. |
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| Geography | |
| The province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Location: | Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic coordinates: | 12 30 S, 18 30 E |
| Area: | total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
| Land Boundaries: | 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: | 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: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 97.12% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 800 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau |
| Current Environment 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 Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 18,565,269 (July 2013 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 43.5% (male 4,121,500/female 3,961,484) 15-24 years: 20.3% (male 1,922,114/female 1,855,689) 25-54 years: 29.2% (male 2,734,128/female 2,692,449) 55-64 years: 4% (male 358,337/female 378,231) 65 years and over: 2.9% (male 250,388/female 290,949) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 17.7 years male: 17.5 years female: 17.9 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.784% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 39.36 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 12.06 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 83.53 deaths/1,000 live births male: 87.39 deaths/1,000 live births female: 79.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 54.59 years male: 53.49 years female: 55.73 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 5.49 children born/woman (2013 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 2% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 200,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 11,000 (2009 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% |
| Religions: | indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) |
| Languages: | Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.1% male: 82.7% female: 58.1% (2010 est.) |
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| 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: | adopted by National Assembly 5 February 2010 |
| Legal system: | civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation |
| 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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) 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 leader of the party with the most votes becomes 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 0.8%; seats by party - MPLA 175, UNITA 32, CASA-CE 8, PRS 3, FNLA 2 |
| Judicial branch: | Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional; Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo; Fiscal Court or Tribunal de Contas; Supreme Military Court or Supremo Tribunal Militar; judges for all courts appointed by the president |
| 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] note: FLEC's small-scale armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province persists despite the signing of a peace accord with the government in August 2006; Several factions of FLEC have broken off over the past 30 years, including the FLEC-PM [Rodrigues Mingas], which was responsible for a deadly attack on the Togolese soccer team in 2010 |
| 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 chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156 FAX: [1] (202) 822-9049 consulate(s) general: Houston, New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. MCMULLEN 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 |
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| Economy | |
| 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): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $126.2 billion (2012 est.) $118.1 billion (2011 est.) $113.7 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $114.8 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 6.8% (2012 est.) 3.9% (2011 est.) 3.4% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $6,200 (2012 est.) $6,000 (2011 est.) $6,000 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 10.2% industry: 61.4% services: 28.4% (2011 est.) |
| Labor force: | 8.468 million (2012 est.) |
| 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) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10.3% (2012 est.) 13.5% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 13.3% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $56.07 billion expenditures: $42.26 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 17.1% of GDP (2012 est.) 18.1% of GDP (2011 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (manioc), 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.) |
| Electricity - production: | 4.08 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 3.659 billion kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 734 million cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 733 million cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 310 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $17.09 billion (2012 est.) $15.92 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $71.95 billion (2012 est.) $65.8 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton |
| Exports - partners: | China 36.3%, US 18.5%, India 10.6%, Taiwan 8%, Canada 6.9% (2012 est.) |
| Imports: | $22.32 billion (2012 est.) $19.75 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods |
| Imports - partners: | China 36.3%, Portugal 16.5%, South Korea 11.3%, Netherlands 9%, China 8.8%, US 8.1%, South Africa 4.9%, Brazil 4.5%, France 4.2% (2012 est.) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $34.63 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $27.01 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $19.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $18.78 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $115.5 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $101.9 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $8.196 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $6.346 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 95.54 (2012 est.) 93.741 (2011 est.) 91.906 (2010 est.) 79.33 (2009) 75.023 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 303,200 (2011) country comparison to the world: 115 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 9.491 million (2011) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .ao |
| Internet hosts: | 20,703 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 606,700 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 176 (2012) country comparison to the world: 33 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 30 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2012) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 146 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 66 under 914 m: 43 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,764 km narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008) |
| Roadways: | total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001) |
| Waterways: | 1,300 km (2011) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 7 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: | Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe |
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| 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.) |
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