2000 Edition

Background

Civil war has been the norm in Angola since independence from Portugal in 1975. A 1994 peace accord between the government and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the government and armed forces. A national unity government was installed in April of 1997, but serious fighting resumed in late 1998, rendering hundreds of thousands of people homeless. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost in fighting over the past quarter century.

Area

land

1,246,700 sq km

total

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

highest point

Morro de Moco 2,620 m

lowest point

Atlantic Ocean 0 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, 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

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

total

5,198 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forests and woodland

43%

other

32% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

23%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 43% (male 2,215,706; female 2,172,106) 15-64 years: 54% (male 2,792,313; female 2,692,790) 65 years and over: 3% (male 124,404; female 147,948) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

46.89 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

25.01 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

Infant mortality rate

195.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Life expectancy at birth

female

39.56 years (2000 est.)

male

37.11 years

total population

38.31 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

28% (1998 est.)

male

56%

total population

42%

Nationality

adjective

Angolan

noun

Angolan(s)

Net migration rate

-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

10,145,267 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.15% (2000 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: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

6.52 children born/woman (2000 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

Country name

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

Data code

AO

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

telephone

(2) 345-481, 346-418

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036

chief of mission

Ambassador Antonio dos Santos FRANCA "N'dalu"

telephone

(202) 785-1156

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

chief of state

President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

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 (40.1% of the vote); 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

elections

President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 28-29 September 1992, the last elections to be held (next to be held NA)

head of government

President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since January 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

FAX

(202) 785-1258

(2) 346-924

consulate(s) general

New York

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or 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 National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)

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

elections

last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Political parties and leaders

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA ; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA , largest opposition party engaged in years of armed resistance before joining the current unity government in April 1997; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed

leadership

Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]

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 [N'zita Henriques TIAGO; Antonio Bento BEMBE]

note

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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 kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

Debt - external

$10.5 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$493.1 million (1995)

Economy - overview

Angola is an economy in disarray because of a quarter century 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 and 90% of exports. Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994, 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, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement the peace agreement and reform government policies. Despite the increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998, the economy grew by an estimated 4% in 1999. The government introduced new currency denominations in 1999, including a 1 and 5 kwanza note. Expanded oil production brightens prospects for 2000, but internal strife discourages investment outside of the petroleum sector.

Electricity - consumption

1.754 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

1.886 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

24.97%

hydro

75.03%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - 577,304 (January 2000), 2,790,706 (1999), 392,824 (1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996), 2,750 (1995); note - beginning in June 1998, the official rate is determined weekly in accordance with a crawling peg scheme

Exports

$5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Exports - partners

US 63%, Benelux 9%, China, Chile, France (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

13%

industry

53%

services

34% (1998 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,030 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports - partners

Portugal 20%, US 17%, South Africa 10%, Spain, Brazil, France (1998)

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)

270% (1999 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 (1999 est.)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 34, FM 7, shortwave 9 (1999)

Radios

630,000 (1997)

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 - main lines in use

60,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,994 (1995)

Television broadcast stations

7 (1999)

Televisions

150,000 (1997)

Airports

249 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

32 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

217 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 31 914 to 1,523 m: 96 under 914 m: 83 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

19,156 km

total

76,626 km

unpaved

57,470 km (1997 est.)

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 8, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

total

9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 39,305 GRT/63,067 DWT

Pipelines

crude oil 179 km

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

narrow gauge

2,798 km 1.067-m gauge; 154 km 0.600-m gauge (1997)

total

2,952 km (inland, much of the track is unusable because of land mines still in place from the civil war)

Waterways

1,295 km navigable

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$1.2 billion (FY97/98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

25% (FY97/98)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 2,429,842 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 1,221,277 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

101,434 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Illicit drugs

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

ANGUILLA