Angola

Republic of AngolaRepublica de Angola

presidential republicIndependence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Angola as the 2019 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 167 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, UTC+1
Position12 30 S, 18 30 E
Area1,246,700 sq km
LocationSouthern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Populationas each edition published it
30.36 million July 2018 est. · 8.53m in 1990
Population growth% a year
3.49% 2018 est. · 2.67% in 1993
Median ageyears
15.9 years 2018 est. · 18.2 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
60.6 years 2018 est. · 45.26 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
6.09 children per woman 2018 est. · 6.7 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
65.8 deaths per 1,000 live births 2018 est. · 158 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$6,800 2017 est. · $950 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
-2.5% 2017 est. · 1.7% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

Angola scores low on human development indexes despite using its large oil reserves to rebuild since 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 fighting picked up again in 1993.

Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - during the more than a quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS stepped down from the presidency in 2017, having led the country since 1979. He pushed through a new constitution in 2010. Joao LOURENCO was elected president in August 2017 and became president of the MPLA in September 2018.

Geography

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

19 fields

Land useshare of 1,246,700 sq km

arable land 3.9% (2016 est.)permanent crops 0.3% (2016 est.)permanent pasture 43.3% (2016 est.)forest 46.3% (2016 est.)other 6.2% (2016 est.)agricultural land 47.5% (2016 est.) in all · irrigated 860 sq km (2014)
Area
1,246,700sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Coastline
1,600km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nmcontiguous zone: 24 nm
Highest point
2,620m
Mocamean elevation: 1,112 mlowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
Land boundaries
5,369km
border countries (4): Democratic Republic of the Congo 2646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 231 km, Namibia 1427 km, Zambia 1065 km

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 18 30 E

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

Population distribution

most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda

Natural hazards

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

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, Hazardous Wastes, 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 and Society

37 fields
Population
30,355,880
(July 2018 est.)note: Angola's national statistical agency projects the country's 2017 population to be 28.4 milliongrowth rate: 3.49% (2018 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2018 est.)

Birth
43.7Death
9Net migration
0.1

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy60.6
58.5 · 62.7Infant mortality65.8
71.4 · 60.1Literacy (2015)71.1%
82% · 60.7%
TotalMale · femaleMedian age15.9
15.4 · 16.3School life expectancy years (2011)10
13 · 8Youth unemployment ages 15-24 (2014 est.)39.4%
39% · 39.8%
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(2014 est.)

Roman Catholic 41.1%Protestant 38.1%other 8.6%none 12.3% (2014 est.)
Urban population
66.2%of total population
(2019)rate of urbanization: 4.32% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)Major urban areas - population: 8.045 million LUANDA (capital), 787,000 Lubango (2019)
Improved drinking water
49%of population
improved: urban: 75.4% of populationrural: 28.2% of populationunimproved: urban: 24.6% of populationrural: 71.8% of populationtotal: 51% of population (2015 est.)
Improved sanitation
51.6%of population
(2015 est.)improved: urban: 88.6% of population (2015 est.)rural: 22.5% of population (2015 est.)unimproved: urban: 11.4% of population (2015 est.)rural: 77.5% of population (2015 est.)total: 48.4% of population (2015 est.)
Maternal mortality rate
241deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)Mother's mean age at first birth: 19.4 years (2015/16 est.)note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Nationality

noun:
Angolan(s)
adjective:
Angolan

Languages

Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6% (2014 est.) note: most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Demographic profile

More than a decade after the end of Angola's 27-year civil war, the country still faces a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty, high maternal and child mortality, and illiteracy. Despite the country's rapid post-war economic growth based on oil production, about 40 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line and unemployment is widespread, especially among the large young-adult population.

Only about 70% of the population is literate, and the rate drops to around 60% for women. The youthful population - about 45% are under the age of 15 - is expected to continue growing rapidly with a fertility rate of more than 5 children per woman and a low rate of contraceptive use.

Fewer than half of women deliver their babies with the assistance of trained health care personnel, which contributes to Angola's high maternal mortality rate. Of the estimated 550,000 Angolans who fled their homeland during its civil war, most have returned home since 2002. In 2012, the UN assessed that conditions in Angola had been stable for several years and invoked a cessation of refugee status for Angolans.

Following the cessation clause, some of those still in exile returned home voluntarily through UN repatriation programs, and others integrated into host countries.

Age structure

0-14 years:
48.07% (male 7,257,155 /female 7,336,084)
15-24 years:
18.33% (male 2,701,123 /female 2,863,950)
25-54 years:
27.95% (male 4,044,944 /female 4,441,028)
55-64 years:
3.32% (male 466,085 /female 540,452)
65 years and over:
2.32% (male 296,411 /female 408,648) (2018 est.)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio:
97.6 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio:
93 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio:
4.6 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio:
21.9 (2015 est.)

Median age

total:
15.9 years (2018 est.)
male:
15.4 years
female:
16.3 years

Population distribution

most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.94 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.86 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.73 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total:
65.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male:
71.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
60.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population:
60.6 years (2018 est.)
male:
58.5 years
female:
62.7 years

Total fertility rate

6.09 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Physicians density

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2017)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

14,000 (2018 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk:
very high (2019)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever (2019)
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever, malaria (2019)
water contact diseases:
schistosomiasis (2019)
animal contact diseases:
rabies (2019)

Education expenditures

3.4% of GDP (2010)

Government

Presidential republic; President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017)

21 fields

Presidential electionpercent of vote

61.1%
MPLA 61.1%UNITA 26.7%CASA-CE 9.5%PRS 1.4%FNLA 0.9%other 0.5%last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022)

National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional, 220 seats, elected 23 August 2017one dot, one seat

MPLA 150UNITA 51CASA-CE 16PRS 2FNLA 1

Percent of vote

MPLA 61.1%UNITA 26.7%CASA-CE 9.5%PRS 1.4%FNLA 0.9%other 0.5%

Composition: men 136, women 84, percent of women 38.2%

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
etymology:
name derived by the Portuguese from the title "ngola" held by kings of the Ndongo (Ndongo was a kingdom in what is now northern Angola)

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name:
Luanda
geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 13 13 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
does not observe daylight savings time
etymology:
originally named "Sao Paulo da Assuncao de Loanda" (Saint Paul of the Assumption of Loanda), which over time was shortened and corrupted to just Luanda

Administrative divisions

  • 18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia);
  • Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Kwando Kubango, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Independence

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution

history:
previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010
amendments:
  • proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership;
  • passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic (2017)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship

citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola
dual citizenship recognized:
no
residency requirement for naturalization:
10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state:
  • President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017);
  • Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017);
  • note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments:
  • the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president;
  • president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term);
  • last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in 2022)
election results:
Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by the winning party following the 23 August 2017 general election

Legislative branch

description:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members directly elected in a single national constituency and in multi-seat constituencies by closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022)
election results:
  • percent of vote by party - MPLA 61.1%, UNITA 26.7%, CASA-CE 9.5%, PRS 1.4%, FNLA 0.9%, other 0.5%;
  • seats by party - MPLA 150, UNITA 51, CASA-CE 16, PRS 2, FNLA 1;
  • composition - men 136, women 84, percent of women 38.2%

Judicial branch

highest courts:
  • Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges);
  • Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges)
judge selection and term of office:
  • Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president;
  • judge tenure NA;
  • Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula;
  • judges serve single 7-year terms
subordinate courts:
provincial and municipal courts

Political parties and leaders

  • Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Andre Mendes de CARVALHO]
  • National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - party has two factions; one led by Lucas NGONDA; the other by Ngola KABANGU
  • National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party)
  • Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Joao LOURENCO]; note - Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS stepped down 8 Sept 2018 ruling party in power since 1975
  • Social Renewal Party or PRS [Benedito DANIEL]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Agostinho Tavares da Silva NETO (since 18 November 2014)

chancery:
2100-2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 785-1156
FAX:
[1] (202) 822-9049
consulate(s) general:
Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Nina Maria FITE (since 14 February 2018)
telephone:
[244] 946440977
embassy:
number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda, C.P. 6468, Angola
mailing address:
international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
FAX:
[244] (222) 64-1000

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);
  • red represents liberty and black the African continent;
  • the symbols characterize workers and peasants

National symbol(s)

Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope); national colors: red, black, yellow

National anthem

name:
"Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
lyrics/music:
Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO

note: adopted 1975

Economy

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector.

40 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$193.6billion
(2017 est.) · $198.6 billion (2016 est.) · $203.9 billion (2015 est.)note: data are in 2017 dollarsofficial exchange rate: $126.5 billion (2017 est.)
GDP per capita, PPP
$6,800
(2017 est.) · $7,200 (2016 est.) · $7,600 (2015 est.)note: data are in 2017 dollars
Real growth rate
-2.5%
(2017 est.) · -2.6% (2016 est.) · 0.9% (2015 est.)industrial production growth: 2.5% (2017 est.)
Inflation, consumer prices
29.8%
(2017 est.) · 30.7% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin(2011 est.)

agriculture 10.2% (2011 est.)industry 61.4% (2011 est.)services 28.4% (2011 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

61.2%
China
13.5%
Portugal
17.8%
13%
India
4.2%
US
7.4%
South Africa
6.2%
Brazil
6.1%
UK
4%
Exports $33.07 billion (2017 est.)Imports $19.5 billion (2017 est.)(2017)

By end use% of GDP · (2017 est.)

Household consumption
80.6%Government consumption
15.6%Fixed capital
10.3%Inventories
-1.2%Exports
25.4%Imports
-30.7%

Budget(2017 est.)

Revenues
37.02 billionExpenditures
45.44 billion

Economy - overview

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports; Angola is an OPEC member and subject to its direction regarding oil production levels.

Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food is still imported. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 17% per year from 2004 to 2008. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well.

Some of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war (1975-2002). However, the government since 2005 has used billions of dollars in credit from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to help rebuild Angola's public infrastructure.

Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, and as a result, the national military, international partners, and private Angolan firms all continue to remove them. The global recession that started in 2008 stalled Angola’s economic growth and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued billions in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell.

Lower prices for oil and diamonds also resulted in GDP falling 0.7% in 2016. Angola formally abandoned its currency peg in 2009 but reinstituted it in April 2016 and maintains an overvalued exchange rate. In late 2016, Angola lost the last of its correspondent relationships with foreign banks, further exacerbating hard currency problems.

Since 2013 the central bank has consistently spent down reserves to defend the kwanza, gradually allowing a 40% depreciation since late 2014. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014, before rising again to above 30% from 2015-2017. Continued low oil prices, the depreciation of the kwanza, and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects, although several major international oil companies remain in Angola. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge that poses an additional threat to the economy.

Gross national saving

28.6% of GDP (2017 est.) · 24.5% of GDP (2016 est.) · 28.5% of GDP (2015 est.)

Agriculture - products

  • bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (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

Labor force

12.51 million (2017 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture:
85%
industry:
15% (2015 est.)
industry and services:
15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.6% (2016 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%:
0.6%
highest 10%:
44.7% (2000)

Taxes and other revenues

29.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt

65% of GDP (2017 est.) · 75.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Central bank discount rate

9% (31 December 2014) · 25% (31 December 2010)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

15.82% (31 December 2017 est.) · 15.78% (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$32.39 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $23.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of broad money

$32.39 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $23.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$16.02 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $14.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Current account balance

-$1.254 billion (2017 est.) · -$4.834 billion (2016 est.)

Exports

$33.07 billion (2017 est.) · $31.03 billion (2016 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Imports

$19.5 billion (2017 est.) · $13.04 billion (2016 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$17.29 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $23.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external

$42.08 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $27.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$11.21 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $9.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$28 billion (31 December 2017 est.) · $23.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Exchange rates

kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 172.6 (2017 est.) · 163.656 (2016 est.) · 163.656 (2015 est.) · 120.061 (2014 est.) · 98.303 (2013 est.)

Energy

24 fields

Electrification% of population · (2016)

70.7%Urban
16%Rural
40.5%Total
population without electricity: 15 million (2013)

Installed generating capacity, 2.613 million kW(2016 est.)

Fossil fuels 34% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)Hydroelectric plants 64% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)Other renewable sources 2% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)Nuclear fuels 0%
Electricity production
10.2 billion (2016 est.)Electricity consumption
9.036 billion (2016 est.)Refined petroleum imports
111,600 (2015 est.)Refined petroleum consumption
130,000 (2016 est.)Refined petroleum production
53,480 (2015 est.)Refined petroleum exports
30,340 (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

1.593 million bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - exports

1.782 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

9.523 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Natural gas - production

3.115 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

821.2 million cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

3.993 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

308.1 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Communications

7 fields

Per 100 inhabitants(2016–17 est.)

45Mobile cellular
13%Internet users, % of population
1Fixed lines
<1Fixed broadband
Mobile cellular
13,323,952
(2017 est.)
Internet users
2,622,403
(July 2016 est.)
Fixed lines
161,070
(2017 est.)
Fixed broadband
96,919
(2017 est.) · country code .ao

Telephone system

general assessment:
  • in the process of a restructure plan and opening up the telecom sector to new competitors, while still retaining a 45% govt portion of the share;
  • slow progress in LTE network development, with only about 10% of the country covered by network infrastructure at the end of 2017 (2018)
domestic:
only about one fixed-line per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 45 telephones per 100 persons (2018)
international:
  • country code - 244;
  • landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, WACS, ACE and SACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to other countries in west Africa, Brazil, Europe and Asia;
  • satellite earth stations - 29 (2019)

Broadcast media

  • state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach;
  • state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial TV service on 2 channels;
  • a third TPA channel is available via cable and satellite;
  • TV subscription services are available;
  • state-owned Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations;
  • about a half-dozen private radio stations broadcast locally

Military and Security

3 fields
Military expenditures
1.78%of GDP
(2018) · 2.42% of GDP (2017) · 2.95% of GDP (2016) · 3.52% of GDP (2015) · 5.4% of GDP (2014)

Military and security forces

Angolan Armed Forces (Forcas Armadas Angolanas, FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA; under operational control of the Army) (2012)

Military service age and obligation

  • 20-45 years of age for compulsory male and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service (registration at age 18 is mandatory);
  • 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service;
  • 2-year conscript service obligation;
  • Angolan citizenship required;
  • the Navy (MGA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2013)

Transportation

12 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right

7
over 3,047 m
2
8
2,438 to 3,047 m
3
12
1,524 to 2,437 m
31
4
914 to 1,523 m
66
under 914 m
43
Paved 31 (2017)Unpaved 145 (2013)

Networkskm

Roadways
26,000 (2018)Railways
2,852 (2014)Waterways
1,300 (2011)Pipelines
352 (2013)
Roadways: paved: 13,600 km (2018) · unpaved: 12,400 km (2018) · Railways: narrow gauge: 2,729 km 1.067-m gauge (2014); 123 km 0.600-m gauge · Pipelines: , 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1065 km oil, 5 km oil/gas/water

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers:
10 (2015)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 55 (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
1,244,491 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
46.043 million mt-km (2015)

Airports

176 (2013)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Pipelines

352 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1065 km oil, 5 km oil/gas/water (2013)

Railways

total:
2,852 km (2014)
narrow gauge:
2,729 km 1.067-m gauge (2014); 123 km 0.600-m gauge

Roadways

total:
26,000 km (2018)
paved:
13,600 km (2018)
unpaved:
12,400 km (2018)

Merchant marine

total:
55
by type:
general cargo 14, oil tanker 8, other 33 (2018)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s):
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
LNG terminal(s) (export):
Angola Soyo

Transnational Issues

3 fields

Disputes - international

Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Angola of shifting monuments

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 6,448 (Cote d'Ivoire), 5,709 (Mauritania) (2017); 22,463 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2019)

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 2019. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/angola/2019.