Angola

• 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

party to:

Biodiversity, Desertification, Law of the Sea

signed, but not ratified:

Climate Change

0-14 years:

43% (male 2,215,706; female 2,172,106)

15-64 years:

54% (male 2,792,313; female 2,692,790)

65 years and over:

3% (male 124,404; female 147,948) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.02 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.84 male(s)/female

total population:

1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Angolan(s)

adjective:

Angolan

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

• 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

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 (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 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 (40.1% of the vote);
• 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

• Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
• National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO];
• National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Jonas SAVIMBI], largest opposition party engaged in years of armed resistance before joining the current unity government in April 1997;
• 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 won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

chief of mission:

Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"

chancery:

1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036

telephone:

[1] (202) 785-1156

FAX:

[1] (202) 785-1258

consulate(s) general:

New York

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

telephone:

[244] (2) 345-481, 346-418

FAX:

[244] (2) 346-924

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

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

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

• kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 577,304 (January 2000), 2,790,706 (1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995);
• note - beginning in June 1998, the official rate is determined weekly in accordance with a crawling peg scheme

total:

2,952 km (inland, much of the track is unusable 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 (1997)

total:

76,626 km

paved:

19,156 km

unpaved:

57,470 km (1997 est.)

total:

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 39,305 GRT/63,067 DWT

ships by type:

cargo 8, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)