1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
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 economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 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
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 45% (male 2,545,006; female 2,473,732) 15-64 years: 52% (male 2,938,178; female 2,909,844) 65 years and over: 3% (male 143,074; female 167,703) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
43.11 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
16.35 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Infant mortality rate
129.19 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 48.39 years male: 46.08 years female: 50.82 years (1999 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
1.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
11,177,537 (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2.84% (1999 est.)
Religions
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
6.12 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
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
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); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999); note--the president is both chief of state and head of government 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) 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 resumed
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, 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: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN embassy: number 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
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 in power since 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of years of armed resistance before joining the current unity 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--MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
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
$13 billion (1998 est.)
Economic aid--recipient
$493.1 million (1995)
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 45% 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. The increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998 dims economic prospects for 1999 especially if the oil sector were to be damaged.
Electricity--consumption
1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
1.86 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 24.73% hydro: 75.27% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
kwanza (NKz) per US$1--350,000 (February 1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995), 59,515 (1994); note--readjusted Kwanzas per US$1,000 through 1994, per US$1 thereafter
Exports
$3.4 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Exports--commodities
crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton (1998)
Exports--partners
US 65%, EU, China (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$11 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 13% industry: 53% services: 34% (1998 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
0.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$2.2 billion (f.o.b., 1998 est.)
Imports--commodities
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles and clothing; substantial military goods
Imports--partners
Portugal 21%, US 15%, France 14%, South Africa (1997)
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 prices)
90% (1998 est.)
Labor force
5 million (1997 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1997 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 8 (1998)
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
7 (1997)
Televisions
50,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
252 (1998 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 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 220 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 100 under 914 m: 82 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 76,626 km paved: 19,156 km unpaved: 57,470 km (1997 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 (1998 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 and Security
Military branches
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$1 billion (FY97/98)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
25% (FY97/98)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 2,544,203 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 1,280,377 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 111,168 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
none
Illicit drugs
increasingly used as a transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe and other African states