Page last updated on December 17, 2013
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.
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
total: 1,246,700 sq km
country comparison to the world: 23
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
arable land: 3.29%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 96.48% (2011)
total: 0.71 cu km/yr (45%/34%/21%)
per capita: 40.27 cu m/yr (2005)
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
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
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
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
18,565,269 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
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.)
total dependency ratio: 99.6 %
youth dependency ratio: 94.8 %
elderly dependency ratio: 4.8 %
potential support ratio: 20.9 (2013)
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.5 years
female: 17.9 years (2013 est.)
2.78% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 19
39.16 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
11.86 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
urban population: 59.2% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.97% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
LUANDA (capital) 5.068 million; Huambo 979,000 (2011)
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: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
450 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 25
total: 81.75 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 8
male: 85.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 77.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 54.95 years
country comparison to the world: 203
male: 53.83 years
female: 56.11 years (2013 est.)
5.49 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
3.5% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 176
0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)
2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
200,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
11,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2013)
6.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 147
15.6% (2007)
country comparison to the world: 50
3.5% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 127
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 82.6%
female: 58.6% (2011 est.)
total number: 832,895
percentage: 24 % (2001 est.)
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
republic; multiparty presidential regime
name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 13 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
previous 1975, 1992; latest adopted 5 February 2010 (2013)
civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
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 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
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
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
Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Abel CHIVUKUVUKU]
note: 4 other parties qualified to participate in the national election in August 2012
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
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
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
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
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
Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope)
name: "Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
lyrics/music: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
note: adopted 1975
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.
$123.1 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$113.7 billion (2012 est.)
5.2% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
$6,100 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
23.8% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56
household consumption: 48.7%
government consumption: 20.3%
investment in fixed capital: 11.7%
investment in inventories: 0%
exports of goods and services: 62.6%
imports of goods and services: -43.3%
agriculture: 10.2%
industry: 61.4%
services: 28.4% (2011 est.)
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (manioc), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
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
8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
8.745 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)
revenues: $51.24 billion
expenditures: $44.23 billion (2012 est.)
45.1% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
6.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
17.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135
10.3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
16.81% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
$13.31 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$44.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
$20.45 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$13.85 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
$71.09 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
China 46.3%, US 13.9%, India 10.1%, South Africa 4.2% (2012)
$23.72 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
China 20.9%, Portugal 19.5%, US 7.7%, South Africa 7.1%, Brazil 5.9% (2012)
$33.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
$21.85 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
$17.15 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$9.877 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 53
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -
5.118 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
4.592 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
1.155 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
56.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
43.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 151
1.872 million bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17
1.928 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
10.47 billion bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 17
38,760 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
79,430 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
17,750 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
55,740 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
752 million cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
733 million cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 58
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
366 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 37
26.97 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
303,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 116
9.8 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 80
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)
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)
20,703 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 116
606,700 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 114
176 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 32
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)
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:
gas 352 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 1,065 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2013)
total: 2,764 km
country comparison to the world: 59
narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2008)
total: 51,429 km
country comparison to the world: 76
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
1,300 km (2011)
country comparison to the world: 54
total: 7
country 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)
major seaport(s): Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
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)
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)
males age 16-49: 3,062,438
females age 16-49: 2,964,262 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 1,546,781
females age 16-49: 1,492,308 (2010 est.)
male: 155,476
female: 152,054 (2010 est.)
3% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 40
Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Angola of shifting monuments
refugees (country of origin): 20,740 (Democratic Republic of Congo) (2012)
IDPs: 19,500 (27-year civil war ending in 2002) (2005)
current situation: Angola is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor in agriculture, construction, domestic service, and diamond mines; some Angolan girls are forced into domestic prostitution, while some Angolan boys are taken to Namibia as forced laborers or are forced to be cross-border couriers; women and children are also forced into domestic service in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and European countries; Vietnamese, Brazilian, and Chinese women are trafficked to Angola for prostitution, while Chinese, Southeast Asian, Namibian, and possibly Congolese migrants are subjected to forced labor in Angola's construction industry
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Angola does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; authorities opened one internal labor trafficking investigation but have not initiated the prosecution of any trafficking offenders, has never convicted a trafficking offender, and does not have a law specifically prohibiting all forms of trafficking; the government has not adopted amendments to the penal code reflecting the 2010 constitutional provision prohibiting human trafficking and has not finalized draft anti-trafficking legislation; the government has made minimal efforts to protect trafficking victims but continues to lack a systematic process for identifying trafficking victims and providing legal remedies to victims (2013)
