1996 Edition

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)

Location

12 30 S, 18 30 E -- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

land area

1,246,700 sq km

total area

1,246,700 sq km

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

Environment

current issues

population pressures contributing to overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest attributable to the international demand for tropical timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing to loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

international agreements

party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification

natural hazards

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Geographic note

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire

International disputes

none

Irrigated land

NA sq km

Land boundaries

border countries

Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia 1,110 km

total

5,198 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forest and woodland

43%

meadows and pastures

23%

other

32%

permanent crops

0%

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Zaire

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone

200 nm

territorial sea

20 nm

Natural resources

petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Terrain

narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

highest point

Moro de Moco 2,620 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,340,804; female 2,275,689) 15-64 years: 53% (male 2,748,417; female 2,706,295) 65 years and over: 2% (male 128,067; female 143,627) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

44.58 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

17.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Infant mortality rate

138.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

49.06 years (1996 est.)

male

44.65 years

total population

46.8 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)

female

28%

male

56%

total population

42%

Nationality

adjective

Angolan

noun

Angolan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

10,342,899 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.68% (1996 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (est.)

Sex ratio

all ages

1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

6.35 children born/woman (1996 est.)

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

Luanda

Constitution

11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992

Data code

AO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission

Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"

embassy

1819 L Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1156

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers was appointed by the president

chief of state

President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979) was originally elected without opposition under a one party system and stood for election in Angola's first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992; DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) disputed the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed

head of government

Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992) was appointed by the president and is answerable to the Assembly

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1258

[244] (2) 346-924

Flag

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)

Independence

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC (observer), ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao), judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president

Legal system

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets

Legislative branch

unicameral

Name of country

conventional long form

Republic of Angola

conventional short form

Angola

former

People's Republic of Angola

local long form

Republica de Angola

local short form

Angola

National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional)

elections last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA); results (disputed) - percentage of vote by party NA; seats (223 total) - seats by party NA

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Other political or pressure groups

Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), N'ZITA Tiago, leader of largest faction (FLEC-FAC)

note

FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

Political parties and leaders

Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, is a legal party despite its history of armed resistance to the government; five minor parties have small numbers of seats in the National Assembly

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Type of government

transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG

embassy

No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda

mailing address

C.P. 6484, Luanda; American Embassy, Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 (pouch)

telephone

[244] (2) 345-481, 346-418

Agriculture

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

Budget

expenditures

$2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)

revenues

$928 million

Currency

1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

Economic aid

recipient

ODA, $189 million (1993)

Economic overview

Angola is an economy in disarray. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 80%-90% of the population but accounts for less than 15% of GDP. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Despite the signing of a peace accord in November 1994 between the Angola Government and the UNITA insurgents, sporadic fighting continues and many farmers remain reluctant to return to their fields. As a result, much of the country's food must still be imported. To take advantage of its rich resources - notably gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and arable land, in addition to its large oil deposits - Angola will need to observe the cease-fire, implement the peace agreement, and reform government policies.

Electricity

capacity

620,000 kW

consumption per capita

189 kWh (1993)

production

1.9 billion kWh

Exchange rates

new kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 900,000 (official rate 25 April 1995), 1,900,000 (black market rate 6 April 1995), 600,000 (official rate 10 January 1995), 90,000 (official rate 1 June 1994), 180,000 (black market rate 1 June 1994); 7,000 (official rate 16 December 1993), 50,000 (black market rate 16 December 1993); 3,884 (July 1993); 550 (April 1992); 90 (November 1991); 60 (October 1990)

Exports

$3 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)

commodities

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

partners

US, France, Germany, Netherlands, Brazil

External debt

$12 billion (1995 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $7.4 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

12%

industry

56%

services

32% (1994 est.)

GDP per capita

$700 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

4% (1995 est.)

Illicit drugs

increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states

Imports

$1.6 billion (f.o.b., 1992 est.)

commodities

capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), food, vehicles and spare parts, textiles and clothing, medicines, substantial military deliveries

partners

Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

20% monthly average (1994 est.)

Labor force

2.783 million economically active

by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)

Unemployment rate

24% with extensive underemployment (1993 est.)

Branches

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $1.1 billion, 31% of GDP (1993)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

2,373,087

males fit for military service

1,195,176

males reach military age (18) annually

106,456 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 17, FM 13, shortwave 0

Radios

NA

Telephone system

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

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones

78,000 (1991 est.)

Television broadcast stations

6

Televisions

50,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

143

with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

11

with paved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

8

with paved runways 914 to 1 523 m

4

with paved runways over 3 047 m

3

with paved runways under 914 m

40

with unpaved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m

24

with unpaved runways 2 438 to 3 047 m

4

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

48 (1995 est.)

with unpaved runways over 3 047 m

1

Highways

paved

18,157 km

total

72,626 km

unpaved

54,469 km (1992 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 11, oil tanker 1 (1995 est.)

total

12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 63,776 GRT/99,863 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 179 km

Ports

Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malogo, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo

Railways

narrow gauge

2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

total

2,952 km (1995 est.); note - limited trackage in use because of landmines still in place from the civil war

Waterways

1,295 km navigable