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, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

43.5% (male 2,410,326; female 2,363,368)

15-64 years:

53.7% (male 2,998,892; female 2,897,837)

65 years and over:

2.8% (male 137,340; female 170,789) (2004 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:

0.8 male(s)/female

total population:

1.02 male(s)/female (2004 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

• 11 November 1975;
• revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992;
• note - new constitution has not yet been approved

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 21 September 1979);
• note - the president is both chief of state and head of government;
• Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a position of real power

cabinet:

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

elections:

• president elected by universal ballot for a NA-year term;
• President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)

election results:

• DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary;
• 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 [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance;
• 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 only won a few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

chief of mission:

Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI

chancery:

2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone:

[1] (202) 785-1156

FAX:

[1] (202) 785-1258

consulate(s) general:

Houston and New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Christopher William DELL

embassy:

number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda

mailing address:

international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550

telephone:

[244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224

FAX:

[244] (2) 446-924

lowest 10%:

NA

highest 10%:

NA

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

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

• kwanza per US dollar - 74.6063 (2003), 43.5302 (2002), 22.0579 (2001), 10.041 (2000), 2.791 (1999), 0.393 (1998);
• note - in December 1999 the kwanza was revalued with six zeroes dropped off the old value

general assessment:

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:

• country code - 244;
• satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean);
• fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

total:

2,761 km

narrow gauge:

2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2003)

total:

51,429 km

paved:

5,349 km

unpaved:

46,080 km (1999)

• gas 214 km;
• liquid natural gas 14 km;
• liquid petroleum gas 30 km;
• oil 837 km;
• refined products 56 km (2004)

total:

7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 26,123 GRT/42,879 DWT

by type:

cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1

registered in other countries:

4 (2004 est.)