Angola
Republic of AngolaRepublica de Angola
republicIndependence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Angola as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 135 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls.
Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. President DOS SANTOS has announced legislative elections will be held in September 2008, with presidential elections planned for sometime in 2009.
Geography
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
20 fieldsLand useshare of 1,246,700 sq 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)
Natural resources
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%)
- per capita:
- 22 cu m/yr (2000)
Environment - current issues
- 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, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
Geography - note
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
People
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Religions(1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.79 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Major infectious diseases
- degree of risk:
- very high
- food or waterborne diseases:
- bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
- vectorborne diseases:
- malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
- water contact disease:
- schistosomiasis (2008)
Government
Republic; President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional, 220 seats, elected 5-6 September 2008one dot, one seat
Percent of vote
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
Capital
- name:
- Luanda
- geographic coordinates:
- 8 50 S, 13 14 E
- time difference:
- UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Legal system
- based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law;
- modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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 21 September 1979); Antonio Paulo KASSOMA was named prime minister by MPLA on 26 September 2008
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president
- elections:
- president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 1992 constitution;
- 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 in 2009)
- election results:
- Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary;
- the run-off was not held because SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election;
- the civil war resumed leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2012)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - MPLA 81.6%, UNITA 10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%; seats by party - MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, ND 2, FNLA 3
Political parties and leaders
- Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
- National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed between Ngola KABANGU and Lucas NGONDA];
- National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) [Isaias SAMAKUVA];
- Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS];
- Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats; they and more than 100 other smaller parties have little influence in the National Assembly
Political pressure groups and leaders
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITE
- chancery:
- 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 785-1156
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 785-1258
- consulate(s) general:
- Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Dan MOZENA
- embassy:
- number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda
- mailing address:
- international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
- telephone:
- [244] (222) 64-1000
- FAX:
- [244] (222) 64-1232
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's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production.
49 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2007 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2007. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well.
Much of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002.
Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit, since increased to $7 billion, from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects were completed in 2006.
Angola also has large credit lines from Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation. This policy became more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings;
it has significantly reduced inflation. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2007, the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. Angola became a member of OPEC in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1.9 million barrels a day, somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted.
To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement government reforms, increase transparency, and reduce corruption. The government has rejected a formal IMF monitored program, although it continues Article IV consultations and ad hoc cooperation.
Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, and the negative effects of large inflows of foreign exchange, are major challenges facing Angola.
Unemployment rate
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)
Agriculture - products
- bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains;
- livestock;
- forest products;
- fish
Industries
- petroleum;
- diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold;
- cement;
- basic metal products;
- fish processing;
- food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar;
- textiles;
- ship repair
Exports - commodities
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Imports - commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Exchange rates
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- system inadequate;
- fewer than one fixed-line per 100 persons;
- combined fixed line and mobile telephone density exceeded 25 telephones per 100 persons in 2007
- domestic:
- state-owned telecom had monopoly for fixed-lines until 2005;
- demand outstripped capacity, prices were high, and services poor;
- Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan company, became the first private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network;
- Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been extended to larger towns;
- a privately-owned, mobile-cellular service provider began operations in 2001
- international:
- country code - 244;
- landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia;
- satellite earth stations - 29 (2007)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right
Networkskm
Merchant marine
- total:
- 6
- by type:
- cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
- foreign-owned:
- 1 (Spain 1)
- registered in other countries:
- 6 (Bahamas 6) (2008)
Military
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)
Military service age and obligation
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)
Manpower available for military service
- males age 16-49:
- 2,856,492
- females age 16-49:
- 2,755,864 (2008 est.)
Transnational Issues
3 fieldsDisputes - international
Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan exclave from exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006 ceasefire and peace agreement
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- refugees (country of origin):
- 12,615 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- IDPs:
- 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2007)
Illicit drugs
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Angola.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/angola/2008.