Angola
Republic of AngolaRepublica de Angola
transitional government nominally a multipartyIndependence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Angola as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 89 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, | between Namibia and Zaire
15 fieldsLand useshare of 1,246,700 sq km
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
- lowest point:
- Atlantic Ocean 0 m
- highest point:
- Moro de Moco 2,620 m
Natural resources
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Environment
- current issues:
- population pressures contributing to overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion;
- desertification;
- deforestation of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel;
- deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity;
- soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams;
- inadequate supplies of potable water
- natural hazards:
- locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
- international agreements:
- party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 45% (male 2,340,804; female 2,275,689)
- 15-64 years:
- 53% (male 2,748,417; female 2,706,295)
- 65 years and over:
- 2% (male 128,067; female 143,627) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.89 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Transitional government nominally a multiparty; President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979) was originally elected without opposition under a one party system and stood for election in Angola's first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992; Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992) was appointed by the president and is answerable to the Assembly
22 fieldsName of country
- 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
Type of government
transitional government nominally 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, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979) was originally elected without opposition under a one party system and stood for election in Angola's first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992;
- DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place Jonas SAVIMBI;
- the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) disputed the results of the first election;
- the civil war was resumed
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992) was appointed by the president and is answerable to the Assembly
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers was appointed by the president
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)
- elections last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA);
- results (disputed) - percentage of vote by party NA;
- seats (223 total) - seats by party NA
Judicial branch
Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao), judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders
- Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975;
- National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal party despite its history of armed resistance to the government;
- five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly
Other political or pressure groups
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest faction (FLEC-FAC) note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
- embassy:
- 1819 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 785-1156
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG
- embassy:
- No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
- mailing address:
- C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch)
- telephone:
- [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
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
Angola is an economy in disarray.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1994 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 620,000 kW
Economic overview
Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the Angola Government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting continues and many farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields.
As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and arable land, in addition to its large oil deposits - Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies.
Labor force
2.783 million economically active; by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
Industries
- petroleum;
- diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold;
- fish processing;
- food processing;
- brewing;
- tobacco;
- sugar;
- textiles;
- cement;
- basic metal products
Agriculture
- bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains;
- livestock;
- forest products;
- fish
Illicit drugs
increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states
Exports
$3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
- commodities:
- oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
- partners:
- US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil
Imports
$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)
- commodities:
- capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines, substantial military deliveries
- partners:
- Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain
Exchange rates
- new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25 April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000 (official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994), 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994);
- 7,000 (official rate 16 December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993);
- 3,884 (July 1993);
- 550 (April 1992);
- 90 (November 1991);
- 60 (October 1990)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 143 in all
Networkskm
Railways
- total:
- 2,952 km (1995 est.); note - limited trackage in use because of landmines still in place from the civil war
- narrow gauge:
- 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge
Merchant marine
- total:
- 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT
- ships by type:
- cargo 11, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)
Communications
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police | Force
9 fieldsTelephone system
telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links
- domestic:
- limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
- international:
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Manpower availability
- males age 15-49:
- 2,373,087
- males fit for military service:
- 1,195,176
- males reach military age (18) annually:
- 106,456 (1996 est.)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Angola.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/angola/1996.