from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Angola
Introduction
Background: Angola is slowly 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. DOS SANTOS has
pledged to hold legislative elections in 2006.
Geography
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic 12 30 S, 18 30 E
coordinates:
Map Africa
references:
Area: total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - slightly less than twice the size of Texas
comparative:
Land total: 5,198 km
boundaries: 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 territorial sea: 12 nm
claims: 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 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
extremes: highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper,
resources: feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use: arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 97.12% (2005)
Irrigated 800 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the
hazards: plateau
Environment - overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion
current attributable to population pressures; desertification;
issues: 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 - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
international Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
agreements: Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements
Geography - the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from
note: the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of
the Congo
People
Population: 12,127,071 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,678,185/female 2,625,933)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 3,291,954/female 3,195,688)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 148,944/female 186,367)
(2006 est.)
Median age: total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.45% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 45.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 24.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 185.36 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 197.56 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 172.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 38.62 years
expectancy at male: 37.47 years
birth: female: 39.83 years (2006 est.)
Total 6.35 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 3.9% (2003 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - 240,000 (2003 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - 21,000 (2003 est.)
deaths:
Major degree of risk: very high
infectious food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal
diseases: diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis
(sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2005)
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: 66.8%
male: 82.1%
female: 53.8% (2001 est.)
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 republic; multiparty presidential regime
type:
Capital: name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 48 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)
Administrative 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo,
divisions: 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 Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
holiday:
Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August
1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992; note - a new
constitution will likely be passed following the next
legislative election
Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
recently modified to accommodate political pluralism
and increased use of free markets
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS
branch: (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); note - the president is both
chief of state and head of government; Fernando de
Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister on
6 December 2002
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 September 2006 or
2007)
election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas
SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the
run-off was not held and 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 unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional
branch: (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be
held September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%,
UNITA 34%, other 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA
70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, other 7
Judicial Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges
branch: are appointed by the president)
Political Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria
parties and PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola
leaders: or FNLA [disputed leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden
ROBERTO]; 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
[disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio
MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the
1992 elections but only won a few seats; they and the
other 115 smaller parties have little influence in the
National Assembly
Political Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or
pressure FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
groups and note: FLEC's small-scale, highly factionalized armed
leaders: struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province has
largely ended
International ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
organization ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
participation: ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra
representation DIAKITI
in the US: 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 chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFIRD
representation embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the
from the US: 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 two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with
description: 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
Economy - Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector,
overview: with record oil prices and rising petroleum production.
Oil production and its supporting activities contribute
about half of GDP and 90% of exports. Increased oil
production supported 12% growth in 2004 and 19% growth
in 2005. 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 half of the
population, but half of the country's food must still
be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2
billion line of credit from China to rebuild Angola's
public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects
are scheduled for completion by 2006. The central bank
in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization
program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas
out of circulation, a policy that was more sustainable
in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings, and has
significantly reduced inflation. Consumer inflation
declined from 325% in 2000 to about 18% in 2005, but
the stabilization policy places pressure on
international net liquidity. To fully take advantage of
its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive
forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits -
Angola will need to continue reforming government
policies and to reduce corruption. The government has
made sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the
IMF such as promoting greater transparency in
government spending but continues to be without a
formal monitoring agreement with the institution.
GDP $45.32 billion (2005 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $24.35 billion (2005 est.)
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 19.9% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $3,800 (2005 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 9.6%
composition by industry: 65.8%
sector: services: 24.6% (2005 est.)
Labor force: 5.58 million (2005 est.)
Labor force - agriculture: 85%
by occupation: industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Unemployment extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting
rate: more than half the population (2001 est.)
Population 70% (2003 est.)
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 23% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Investment 30.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
(gross fixed):
Budget: revenues: $8.5 billion
expenditures: $10 billion; including capital
expenditures of $963 million (2005 est.)
Public debt: 38.3% of GDP (2005 est.)
Agriculture - bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc
products: (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 13.5% (2004)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 2.24 billion kWh (2004)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 36.4%
production by hydro: 63.6%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 1.9 billion kWh (2004)
consumption:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 0 kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 1.6 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
production:
Oil - 46,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Oil - proved 25 billion bbl (2005 est.)
reserves:
Natural gas - 720 million cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 720 million cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
exports:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2001 est.)
imports:
Natural gas - 45.87 billion cu m (2005)
proved
reserves:
Current $4.054 billion (2005 est.)
account
balance:
Exports: $26.8 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Exports - crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas,
commodities: coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - US 39.8%, China 29.6%, France 7.8%, Chile 5.4%, Taiwan
partners: 4.4% (2005)
Imports: $8.165 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)
Imports - machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare
commodities: parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - South Korea 20.8%, Portugal 13.6%, US 12.7%, South
partners: Africa 7.5%, Brazil 5.6%, France 5.3%, China 5.1%
(2005)
Reserves of $3.197 billion (2005 est.)
foreign
exchange and
gold:
Debt - $9.401 billion (2005 est.)
external:
Economic aid - $383.5 million (1999)
recipient:
Currency kwanza (AOA)
(code):
Currency code: AOA
Exchange kwanza per US dollar - 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004),
rates: 74.606 (2003), 43.53 (2002), 22.058 (2001)
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications
Telephones - 94,300 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 1,094,100 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: telephone service limited mostly to
system: government and business use; HF radiotelephone used
extensively for military links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio
relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 244; satellite earth
stations - 29; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia (2005)
Radio AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 815,000 (2000)
Television 6 (2000)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 196,000 (2000)
Internet .ao
country code:
Internet 2,525 (2006)
hosts:
Internet 1 (2000)
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 172,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 244 (2006)
Airports - total: 31
with paved over 3,047 m: 5
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - total: 213
with unpaved over 3,047 m: 2
runways: 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 81 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 235 km; liquid petroleum gas 122 km; oil 867 km;
oil/gas/water 5 km (2006)
Railways: total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m
gauge (2005)
Roadways: total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways: 1,300 km (2005)
Merchant total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,343 GRT/4,643 DWT
marine: by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 5) (2006)
Ports and Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo
terminals:
Military
Military Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air
branches: Defense Forces (FANA) (2006)
Military 17 years of age for compulsory military service;
service age conscript service obligation - two years plus time for
and training (2001)
obligation:
Manpower males age 17-49: 2,548,455
available for females age 17-49: 2,462,601 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 17-49: 1,282,195
for military females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 126,694
reaching females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $2 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 8.8% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - many Cabinda exclave secessionists have sought shelter
international: in neighboring states
Refugees and refugees (country of origin): 13,510 (Democratic
internally Republic of Congo)
displaced IDPs: 40,000-60,000 (27-year civil war ending in 2002;
persons: 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2005)
Illicit drugs: used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for
Western Europe and other African states