SELECT EDITION
CATEGORIES
◆ COMMUNICATIONS(7 fields)
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 (2008)
Internet country code
.ao
Internet hosts
3,717 (2010) country comparison to the world: 142
Internet users
606,700 (2009) country comparison to the world: 114
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 70 telephones per 100 persons in 2010 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)
Telephones - main lines in use
303,200 (2010) country comparison to the world: 115
Telephones - mobile cellular
8.909 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 76
◆ ECONOMY(51 fields)
Agriculture - products
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Budget
revenues: $35.54 billion expenditures: $29.5 billion (2010 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
7.1% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Central bank discount rate
25% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 4 30% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
22.68% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 41 15.68% (31 December 2009 est.)
Current account balance
$7.202 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 -$7.572 billion (2009 est.)
Debt - external
$18.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 77 $16.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Economy - overview
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.
Electricity - consumption
3.365 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 125
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - imports
0 kWh (2009 est.)
Electricity - production
3.944 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 120
Exchange rates
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 92.08 (2010) 79.33 (2009) 75.023 (2008) 76.6 (2007) 80.4 (2006)
Exports
$50.59 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 55 $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)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$85.31 billion (2010 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$107.3 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 68 $105.6 billion (2009 est.) $103.1 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 9.6% industry: 65.8% services: 24.6% (2008 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$8,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 120 $8,300 (2009 est.) $8,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - real growth rate
1.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 157 2.4% (2009 est.) 13.8% (2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: 0.6% highest 10%: 44.7% (2000)
Imports
$18.34 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $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)
Industrial production growth rate
5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
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
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
14.5% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 215 13.9% (2009 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
13.5% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 172
Labor force
8.014 million (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture: 85% industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
690 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 92
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 80
Natural gas - production
690 million cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - proved reserves
309.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 39
Oil - consumption
74,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 87
Oil - exports
1.851 million bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 14
Oil - imports
38,280 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 96
Oil - production
1.988 million bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 17
Oil - proved reserves
9.5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 18
Population below poverty line
40.5% (2006 est.)
Public debt
21.4% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 24.2% of GDP (2009 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$19.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 $13.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of broad money
$28.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $25.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$5.096 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $3.933 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$88.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35 $78.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of domestic credit
$18.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 81 $19.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$18.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 67 $18.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
41.7% of GDP (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Unemployment rate
NA
◆ GEOGRAPHY(20 fields)
Area
total: 1,246,700 sq km country comparison to the world: 23 land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Climate
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Coastline
1,600 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
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
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
total: 0.35 cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%) per capita: 22 cu m/yr (2000)
Geographic coordinates
12 30 S, 18 30 E
Geography - note
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Irrigated land
800 sq km (2008)
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
Land use
arable land: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 97.12% (2005)
Location
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references
Africa
Maritime claims
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Natural resources
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Terrain
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Total renewable water resources
184 cu km (1987)
◆ GOVERNMENT(21 fields)
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
Capital
name: Luanda geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
adopted by National Assembly 5 February 2010
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
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
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
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 theWorld 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
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, black the African continent, the symbols characterize workers and peasants
Government type
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Independence
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
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
Legal system
civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts
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
National anthem
name: "Angola Avante" (Forward Angola) lyrics/music: Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO note: adopted 1975
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
National symbol(s)
sable antelope
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
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
◆ INTRODUCTION(1 fields)
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.
◆ MILITARY(6 fields)
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.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
male: 155,476 female: 152,054 (2010 est.)
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 expenditures
3.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 32
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)
◆ PEOPLE AND SOCIETY(31 fields)
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.)
Birth rate
42.91 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 7
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
27.5% (2001) country comparison to the world: 23
Death rate
23.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 1
Drinking water source
improved: urban: 60% of population rural: 38% of population total: 50% of population unimproved: urban: 40% of population rural: 62% of population total: 50% of population (2008)
Education expenditures
2.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 147
Ethnic groups
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
2% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 30
HIV/AIDS - deaths
11,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
200,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Health expenditures
4.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 146
Hospital bed density
0.8 beds/1,000 population (2005) country comparison to the world: 155
Infant mortality rate
total: 175.9 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 1 male: 187.86 deaths/1,000 live births female: 163.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 38.76 years country comparison to the world: 221 male: 37.74 years female: 39.83 years (2011 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.4% male: 82.9% female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Major cities - population
LUANDA (capital) 4.511 million; Huambo 979,000 (2009)
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 (2009)
Maternal mortality rate
610 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 17
Median age
total: 18.1 years male: 18.1 years female: 18.1 years (2011 est.)
Nationality
noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan
Net migration rate
0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 57
Physicians density
0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2004) country comparison to the world: 169
Population
13,338,541 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 70
Population growth rate
2.034% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 47
Religions
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: urban: 86% of population rural: 18% of population total: 57% of population unimproved: urban: 14% of population rural: 82% of population total: 43% of population (2008)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
total: 9 years (2006)
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.)
Total fertility rate
5.97 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 9
Urbanization
urban population: 59% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
◆ TRANSNATIONAL ISSUES(4 fields)
Disputes - international
DROC accuses Angola of shifting monuments
Illicit drugs
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
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)
Trafficking in persons
current situation: Angola is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor; internally, trafficking victims reportedly are forced to labor in agriculture, construction, domestic service, and diamond mines; Angolan women and children are subjected to domestic servitude in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Namibia, and some European nations, primarily Portugal; Vietnamese, Chinese, and Brazilian women in prostitution in Angola may also be victims of sex trafficking; reports indicate that Chinese, South East Asian, Namibian, and possibly Congolese migrants are subjected to forced labor in Angola's construction industry tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Government of Angola does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making efforts to do so; the government did not demonstrate an increase in its modest anti-trafficking efforts of the previous year; no efforts were made to improve its minimal protection services provided to victims or to raise awareness of trafficking (2011)
◆ TRANSPORTATION(9 fields)
Airports
193 (2010) country comparison to the world: 32
Airports - with 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 - with 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)
Merchant marine
total: 7 country comparison to the world: 126 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)
Pipelines
gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2010)
Ports and terminals
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
Railways
total: 2,764 km country comparison to the world: 59 narrow gauge: 2,641 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2010)
Roadways
total: 51,429 km country comparison to the world: 79 paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways
1,300 km (2010) country comparison to the world: 56