Angola

in transition from a one-party Marxist state to a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential systemIndependence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Angola as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 70 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalLuanda

Area1,246,700 km2

Populationas each edition published it

8.67 million July 1991 · 8.53m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 45.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.7 children per woman 1991 · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

151 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 158 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $950 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 1.7% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

1,246,700km2

land area: 1,246,700 km2Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries

5,198km total

Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline

1,600 km Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm; Territorial sea: 20 nm

Disputes

civil war since independence on 11 November 1975;
on 31 May 1991 Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS and Jonas SAVIMBI, leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), signed a peace treaty that calls for multiparty elections between September and November 1992, an internationally monitored cease-fire, and termination of outside military assistance

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

Natural resources

petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use

arable land 2%;
permanent crops NEGL%;
meadows and pastures 23%;
forest and woodland 43%;
other 32%

Environment

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on plateau; desertification

Note

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

People

14 fields

Population

8,668,281

(July 1991), growth rate 2.7% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

47Death

Ethnic divisions

Ovimbundu 37%Kimbundu 25%Bakongo 13%Mestico 2%European 1%other 22%

Religion

indigenous beliefs 47%Roman Catholic 38%Protestant 15% (est.)

Labor force

2,783,000economically active

agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)

Literacy

42%

(male 56%, female 28%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

Language

Portuguese (official); various Bantu dialects

Government

In transition from a one-party Marxist state to a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

17 fields

Type

in transition from a one-party Marxist state to a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, and 6 March 1991

Legal system

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate multipartyism and increased use of free markets

Executive branch

president, chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly (Assembleia do Povo)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao) Chief of State and Head of Government--President Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)

Political parties and leaders

only one party exists--the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola-Labor Party (MPLA), Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS--although others are expected to form as legalization of a multiparty system proceeds;
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) lost to the MPLA and Cuban military support forces in the immediate postindependence struggle, but is to receive recognition as a legal party

Elections

first nationwide, multiparty elections to be held between September and November 1992

Member of

ACP, AfDB, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, FLS, G-77, ICAO, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, SADCC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Flag

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

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$7.9billion

per capita $925; real growth rate 2.0% (1990 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

23.2%

(1988)

External debt

$7.0billion

(1990)

Budget

Revenues

$2.6 billionExpenditures

$4.4 billion

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1990 est.)

Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80 to 90% of the population, but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production is the most lucrative sector of the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. In recent years, however, the impact of fighting an internal war has severely affected the nonoil economy, and food has to be imported.

For the long run, Angola has the advantage of rich natural resources, notably gold, diamonds, and arable land. To realize its economic potential Angola not only must secure domestic peace but also must reform government policies that have led to distortions and imbalances throughout the economy.

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$3.8 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities--oil,liquified petroleum gas, diamonds, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton;
partners--US, USSR, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil, France

Imports

$1.5 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.);
commodities--capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines;
substantial military deliveries;
partners--US, USSR, Cuba, Portugal, Brazil

Industrial production

growth rate NA%; accounts for about 60% of GDP, including petroleum output

Electricity

506,000 kW capacity; 770 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

petroleum, diamonds, mining, fish processing, food processing, brewing, tobacco, sugar, textiles, cement, basic metal products

Agriculture

cash crops--coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, sugar, manioc, tobacco;
food crops--cassava, corn, vegetables, plantains, bananas;
livestock production accounts for 20%, fishing 4%, forestry 2% of total agricultural output;
disruptions caused by civil war and marketing deficiencies require food imports

Economic aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $265 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $1,005 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion

Currency

kwanza (plural--kwanza); 1 kwanza (Kz) = 100 lwei

Exchange rates

kwanza (Kz) per US$1--29.62 (fixed rate since 1976)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

9 fields

Merchant marine, 12 ships by typeone square, one ship

cargo 11petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) tanker 112 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 66,348 GRT/102,825 DWT

Airports, 315 total, 183 usable

permanent-surface runways

28runways over 3,659 m

1runways 2,440-3,659 m

13runways 1,220-2,439 m

Networkskm

Highways

73,828Railroads

3,189Inland waterways

1,295

Highways: ; 8,577 km bituminous-surface treatment, 29,350 km crushed stone, gravel, or improved earth, remainder unimproved earth · Railroads: ; 2,879 km 1.067-meter gauge, 310 km 0.600-meter gauge; limited trackage in use because of insurgent attacks; sections of the Benguela Railroad closed because of insurgency