Angola Population: 13,338,541
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| Background | |
| 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 fighting picked up again by 1996. 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 held legislative elections in September 2008 and, despite promising to hold presidential elections in 2009, has since pushed through a new constitution that calls for elections in 2012. |
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| Geography | |
| The province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo | |
| Location: | Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Geographic coordinates: | 12 30 S, 18 30 E |
| Area: | total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 5,198 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km |
| Coastline: | 1,600 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
| 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 |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 97.12% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 800 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau |
| Current Environment 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 |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 13,338,541 (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 43.2% (male 2,910,981/female 2,856,527) 15-64 years: 54.1% (male 3,663,400/female 3,549,896) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 157,778/female 199,959) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 18.1 years male: 18.1 years female: 18.1 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.034% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 42.91 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 23.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 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 (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 175.9 deaths/1,000 live births male: 187.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 163.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 38.76 years male: 37.74 years female: 39.83 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 5.97 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 2% (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | 200,000 (2009 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | 11,000 (2009 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan |
| Ethnic groups: | Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% |
| Religions: | indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) |
| Languages: | Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.4% male: 82.9% female: 54.2% (2001 est.) |
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| Government | |
| 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: | republic; multiparty presidential regime |
| 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 |
| Independence: | 11 November 1975 (from Portugal) |
| National holiday: | Independence Day, 11 November (1975) |
| Constitution: | adopted by National Assembly 5 February 2010 |
| Legal system: | civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS (since 2 February 2010); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS (since 2 February 2010) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: president indirectly elected by National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 2010 constitution; President DOS SANTOS was selected by the party to take over after the death of former President Augustino NETO (1979) under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992 (next were to be held in September 2009 but were postponed) election results: Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was never held 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 on 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, FNLA 3, ND 2 |
| Judicial branch: | Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional; Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo; Court of Auditions or Tribunal de Contas; Supreme Military Court or Supremo Tribunal Militar; judges for all courts appointed by the president |
| Political parties and leaders: | National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Ngola KABANGU]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party); New Democracy Electoral Union or ND [Quintino de MOREIRA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] (ruling party in power since 1975); Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA] note: nine other parties participated in the legislative election in September 2008 but won no seats |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE] note: FLEC's small-scale armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province persists despite the signing of a peace accord with the government in August 2006 |
| International organization participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, 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 Alberto do Carmo BENTO RIBEIRO 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 Christopher J. McMullen 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 |
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| Economy | |
| Angola's high growth rate in recent years was driven by high international prices for its oil. 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 (bbl/day), somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl/day Angola's government had wanted. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Diamond exports contribute an additional 5%. 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 15% per year from 2004 to 2008. 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. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, even though peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Since 2005, the government has used billions of dollars in credit lines from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. The global recession temporarily stalled economic growth. Lower prices for oil and diamonds during the global recession led to a contraction in GDP in 2009, and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued $9 billion in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell in 2008 and 2009. Angola abandoned its currency peg in 2009, and in November 2009 signed onto an IMF Stand-By Arrangement loan of $1.4 billion to rebuild international reserves. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 14% in 2010, Luanda has been unable to reduce inflation below 10%. The Angolan kwanza depreciated again in mid 2010, which, along with higher oil prices, should boost economic growth in all sectors. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, also is a major challenge. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $107.3 billion (2010 est.) $105.6 billion (2009 est.) $103.1 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $85.31 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 1.6% (2010 est.) 2.4% (2009 est.) 13.8% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $8,200 (2010 est.) $8,300 (2009 est.) $8,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 9.6% industry: 65.8% services: 24.6% (2008 est.) |
| Labor force: | 8.014 million (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 85% industry and services: 15% (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | NA |
| Population below poverty line: | 40.5% (2006 est.) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 44.7% (2000) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 14.5% (2010 est.) 13.9% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 15.8% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $35.54 billion expenditures: $29.5 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 20.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 24.2% of GDP (2009 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 |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 5% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 3.944 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 3.365 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 1.988 million bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 74,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 1.851 million bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 38,280 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 9.5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 690 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 690 million cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 309.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $7.202 billion (2010 est.) -$7.572 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $50.59 billion (2010 est.) $40.83 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton |
| Exports - partners: | China 42.8%, US 23%, India 9.5%, France 4% (2010) |
| Imports: | $18.34 billion (2010 est.) $22.66 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods |
| Imports - partners: | Portugal 17.4%, China 14%, US 9%, Brazil 6.6%, South Africa 6%, France 5.8%, India 5.3% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $19.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $13.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $18.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $16.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $91.55 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $79.88 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $4.883 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.933 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Exchange rates: | kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 92.08 (2010) 79.33 (2009) 75.023 (2008) 76.6 (2007) 80.4 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 303,200 (2009) country comparison to the world: 113 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 8.109 million (2009) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: limited system; 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; by 2010, the number of fixed-line providers had expanded to 5; 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 domestic: only about two fixed-lines per 100 persons; combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity about 65 telephones per 100 persons in 2009 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 (2009) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .ao |
| Internet hosts: | 3,717 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 606,700 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 193 (2010) country comparison to the world: 32 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 31 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2010) |
| Airports (unpaved runways): | total: 162 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 78 under 914 m: 47 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2010) |
| Railways: | total: 2,764 km narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001) |
| Waterways: | 1,300 km (2010) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 7 by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1 foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1) registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 5, Liberia 1, Malta 7, former Netherlands Antilles 2) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | 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) (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service; Angolan citizenship required; the Marinha de Guerra Angola (Navy, MgA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2011) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 16-49: 3,062,438 females age 16-49: 2,964,262 (2010 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 16-49: 1,546,781 females age 16-49: 1,492,308 (2010 est.) |
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