Angola

in transition from a one-party Marxist state to a multiparty democracy withIndependence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Angola as the 1992 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 73 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

8.9 million July 1992 · 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

6.6 children per woman 1992 · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

152 deaths per 1,000 live births 1992 · 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

13 fields

Total area

1,246,700km2

Comparative area: slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Coastline

1,600km

Exclusive fishing zone: 200 nmTerritorial sea: 20 nm

Land boundaries

5,198km total

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

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 in late September 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

8,902,076

(July 1992), growth rate 2.7% (1992)

Per 1,000 population(1992)

Birth

46Death

Ethnic divisions

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

Religions

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.)

Languages

Portuguese (official); various Bantu dialects

Government

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

18 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, prime minister, chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (cabinet)

Legislative branch

unicameral People's Assembly (Assembleia do Povo)

Leaders

Chief of State:: President Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
Head of Government:: Prime Minister Fernando Jose Franca VAN DUNEM (since 21 July 1991)

the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola - Labor Party (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo dos SANTOS, is the ruling party that has been in power in Angola's one-party system since 1975. The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, has been in insurgency since 1975, but as a result of the peace accords is now a legally recognized political party.

Some 30 other political parties now exist in Angola, but few of them are viable and only a couple have met the requirements to become legally recognized.

Suffrage

universal at age 18

Elections

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

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation

none;
note - US Liaison Office (USLO) established after Peace Accords in May 1991 as a precursor to establishing an embassy after election in 1992;
address - Luanda (USLO), BPA Building, llth floor, telephone [244] (2) 39-02-42;
FAX [244] (2) 39-05-15

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

Inflation, consumer prices

6.1%

(1990 est.)

External debt

$7.0billion

(1990)

Budget

Revenues

$2.6 billionExpenditures

$4.4 billion

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

Overview

Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80-90% of the population, but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production is vital to the economy, contributing about 60% to GDP. In recent years, a bitter 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 in addition to oil, 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.

GDP

exchange rate conversion - $8.3 billion, per capita $950; real growth rate 1.7% (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$3.9 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

commodities:: oil, liquefied 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

510,000 kW capacity; 770 million kWh produced, 90 kWh per capita (1991)

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 (1970-89), $1,105 million;
Communist countries (1970-89), $1.3 billion;
net official disbursements (1985-89), $750 million