Angola

Republic of AngolaRepublica de Angola

transitional government, nominally a multipartyIndependence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Angola as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 107 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

Position12 30 S, 18 30 E

Area1,246,700 sq km

LocationSouthern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,

Populationas each edition published it

11.18 million July 1999 est. · 8.53m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.84% 1999 est. · 2.67% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 18.2 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

48.39 years 1999 est. · 45.26 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

6.12 children per woman 1999 est. · 6.7 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

129.19 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 158 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,000 1998 est. · $950 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

0.5% 1998 est. · 1.7% in 1993

Geography

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, | between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

18 fields

Land useshare of 1,246,700 sq km

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 23%forests and woodland 43%other 32% (1993 est.)irrigated 750 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

1,246,700sq km

land: 1,246,700 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmslightly less than twice the size of Texas

Coastline

1,600km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nmterritorial sea: 12 nm

Highest point

2,620m

Morro de Mocolowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Land boundaries

5,198km

border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km of which 220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province, Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

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

Natural hazards

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Environment--current issues

the 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

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified:: Climate Change

Geography--note

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

People

15 fields

Population

11,177,537

(July 1999 est.)growth rate: 2.84% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

43.11Death

16.35Net migration

1.6

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)48.39

46.08 · 50.82

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1998 est.)42%

56% · 28%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Ovimbundu 37%Kimbundu 25%Bakongo 13%mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%European 1%other 22%

Religions(1998 est.)

indigenous beliefs 47%Roman Catholic 38%Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 45% (male 2,545,006; female 2,473,732)
15-64 years:: 52% (male 2,938,178; female 2,909,844)
65 years and over:: 3% (male 143,074; female 167,703) (1999 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

129.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Angolan(s)
adjective:: Angolan

Languages

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Government

Transitional government, nominally a multiparty; President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999)

19 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

54%

-MPLA 54%UNITA 34%others 12%last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)

Legislature, 220 seats, elected 29-30 September 1992one dot, one seat

-MPLA 129UNITA 70PRS 6FNLA 5PLD 3others 7

Percent of vote

-MPLA 54%UNITA 34%others 12%

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 type

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); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held (next to be held NA)
election results:: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place finisher Jonas SAVIMBI;
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

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)

elections:: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)
election results:: percent of vote by party--MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party--MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president

Popular Movement for the in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of years of armed resistance before joining the current unity note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders

Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, 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, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"
chancery:: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy:: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda
mailing address:: international mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda;
pouch:: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550

Flag description

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 because of | more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare.

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,000

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

0.5%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: NA%

Inflation, consumer prices

90%

(1998 est.)

Labor force

5million

(1997 est.)

GDP--composition by sector(1998 est.)

agriculture 13%industry 53%services 34% (1998 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$928 millionExpenditures

$2.5 billion (1992 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $963 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 24.73%hydro 75.27%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

1.86 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

1.86 billion (1996)

Economy--overview

Angola is an economy in disarray because of more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are 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--gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits--Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. The increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998 dims economic prospects for 1999 especially if the oil sector were to be damaged.

GDP

purchasing power parity--$11 billion (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force--by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate

extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)

Industries

petroleum;
diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold;
cement;
basic metal products;
fish processing;
food processing;
brewing;
tobacco products;
sugar;
textiles

Agriculture--products

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains;
livestock;
forest products;
fish

Exports

$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Exports--commodities

crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton (1998)

Exports--partners

US 65%, EU, China (1997)

Imports

$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)

Imports--commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles and clothing;
substantial military goods

Imports--partners

Portugal 21%, US 15%, France 14%, South Africa (1997)

Debt--external

$13 billion (1998 est.)

Economic aid--recipient

$493.1 million (1995)

Currency

1 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

Exchange rates

kwanza (NKz) per US$1--350,000 (February 1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995), 59,515 (1994);
note--readjusted Kwanzas per US$1,000 through 1994, per US$1 thereafter

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

6 fields

Fixed lines

78,000

(1991 est.)

Telephone 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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 8 (1998)

Radios

Television broadcast stations

7 (1997)

Televisions

50,000 (1993 est.)

Transportation

9 fields

Merchant marine, 10 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1998 est.)

cargo 9oil tanker 1

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 6

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

under 914 m

over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 100

Networkskm

Highways

76,626Railways

2,952 (1997 est.)Waterways

1,295

Highways: paved: 19,156 km · unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 est.) · Railways: (limited trackage in use because of land mines still in place from the civil war) · narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

Railways

total:: 2,952 km (limited trackage in use because of land mines still in place from the civil war) (1997 est.)
narrow gauge:: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge