1998 Edition

Area

total: 1,246,700 sq km 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

the 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, Desertification, Law of the Sea signed, but not ratified: Climate Change

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Geography-note

Cabinda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Irrigated land

750 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 5,198 km border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km of which 220 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% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 23% forests and woodland: 43% other: 32% (1993 est.)

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 20 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

Age structure

0-14 years: 45% (male 2,471,108; female 2,401,631) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,864,152; female 2,831,209) 65 years and over: 3% (male 137,432; female 158,980) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

43.58 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

16.79 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

132.44 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 47.86 years male: 45.6 years female: 50.23 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42% male: 56% female: 28% (1998 est.)

Nationality

noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan

Net migration rate

1.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

10,864,512 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.84% (1998 est.)

Religions

indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.2 children born/woman (1998 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

Constitution

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

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

Data code

AO

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979) head of government: Prime Minister Fernando Franca VAN DUNEM (since 8 June 1996) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: President DOS SANTOS originally elected without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections in 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held, (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president and answerable to the Assembly election results: DOS SANTOS received 49.6% of the total vote, making a run-off election necessary between him and second-place finisher Jonas SAVIMBI; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war was resumed

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1258 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald K. STEINBERG embassy: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda mailing address: International mail: Caixa Postal 6484, Luanda; Pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550 telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418

[244] (2) 346-924

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)

Government type

transitional government, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

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, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu" chancery: 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 760, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president Political parties and leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], is the ruling party and has been in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Jonas SAVIMBI], is the largest opposition party and engaged in years of armed resistance before joining the current unity government in April 1997 note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but won few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly Political pressure groups and leaders: Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

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 National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms) elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party-MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party-NA

National capital

Luanda

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture-products

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

Budget

revenues: $928 million expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (1992 est.)

Currency

1 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

Debt-external

$12.5 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid

recipient: ODA, $451 million (1994)

Economy-overview

Angola is an economy in disarray because of more than 20 years of nearly continuous warfare. Despite its abundant natural resources, output per capita is among the world's lowest. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 50% to GDP. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, sporadic violence continues, millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are 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-gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, arable land, and large oil deposits-Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. Despite the high inflation and political difficulties, total output grew an estimated 9% in 1996, largely due to increased oil production and higher oil prices.

Electricity-capacity

617,000 kW (1995)

Electricity-consumption per capita

185 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

18.62 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

kwanza (NKz) per US$1-265,000 (August 1997), 201,994 (November 1996) note: the exchange rate is set by the National Bank of Angola (BNA); adjusted by BNA on 19 July 1997 at 265,000 kwanzas per US$1; black market rate was then 360,000 kwanzas per US$1

Exports

total value: $4 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton partners: US 70%, EU

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$8.2 billion (1996 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 12% industry: 56% services: 32% (1994 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$800 (1996 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

9% (1996 est.)

Imports

total value: $1.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: capital equipment (machinery and electrical equipment), vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military supplies partners: Portugal, Brazil, US, France, Spain

Industrial production growth rate

NA%

Industries

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

Inflation rate-consumer price index

92% (mid-1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 2.783 million economically active by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 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.)

Unemployment rate

extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)

Airports

252 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 220 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 101 under 914 m: 82 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 72,626 km paved: 18,157 km unpaved: 54,469 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 10 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 48,384 GRT/78,357 DWT ships by type: cargo 9, oil tanker 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 179 km Ports and harbors: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo

Railways

total: 2,952 km limited trackage in use because of land mines still in place from the civil war (1997 est.) narrow gauge: 2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge

Waterways

1,295 km navigable

Military branches

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

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$1.2 billion (1998 est.)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

31% (1993)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 2,476,766 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 1,246,349 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 105,283 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

none

Illicit drugs

increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states (dependent territory of the UK)