2003 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.5% (male 2,363,829; female 2,317,610) 15-64 years: 53.7% (male 2,941,999; female 2,842,923) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 134,330; female 165,780) (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

243 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 5

total

32

under 914 m

1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

over 3,047 m

2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 95

total

211

under 914 m

80 (2002) Military Angola

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

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. The death of insurgent leader Jonas SAVIMBI in 2002 and a subsequent cease-fire with UNITA may bode well for the country. Geography Angola

Birth rate

45.57 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures

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

revenues

$928 million

Capital

Luanda

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

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

Currency

kwanza (AOA)

Currency code

AOA

Death rate

25.83 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$9.9 billion (2002 est.)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Christopher William DELL

embassy

number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda

mailing address

international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;

pouch

American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550

telephone

[244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI

Disputes - international

gives shelter to thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo while thousands of Angolan refugees still remain in neighboring states as a consequence of the protracted civil wars in both states

Economic aid - recipient

$383.5 million (1999)

Economy - overview

Angola has been an economy in disarray because of a quarter century of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI on February 22, 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue including the impact of wide-spread land mines. 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 more than half of exports. Much of the country's food must still be imported. To fully take advantage of its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to continue reforming government policies. While Angola made progress in bringing inflation down further, from 325% in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the government has failed to make sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as increasing foreign exchange reserves and promoting greater transparency in government spending. Increased oil production should bring about 6% GDP growth in 2003.

Electricity - consumption

1.348 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.45 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

36.4%

hydro

63.6%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

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, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

kwanza per US dollar - 43.53 (2002), 22.06 (2001), 10.04 (2000), 2.79 (1999), 0.39 (1998); note - in December 1999 the kwanza was revalued with six zeroes dropped off the old value

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 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; 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 elected by universal ballot for a NA-year term; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held NA)

head of government

President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a position of real power

Exports

$8.6 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

US 41.2%, China 13.7%, France 8%, Belgium 6.3%, Taiwan 6.3%, Japan 4.9%, Spain 4.3% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 785-1258

[244] (2) 446-924

chancery

2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

consulate(s) general

Houston and New York

telephone

[1] (202) 785-1156

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Angola

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) Economy Angola

GDP

purchasing power parity - $18.36 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

8%

industry

67%

services

25% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

9.4% (2002 est.)

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 People Angola

Government type

republic, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

Highways

paved

5,349 km

total

51,429 km

unpaved

46,080 km (1999)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

5.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

24,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

350,000 (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Imports

$4.1 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

Portugal 20.2%, US 13.9%, South Africa 12.4%, France 6.7%, Brazil 5.8%, Belgium 5.3%, Netherlands 4% (2002)

Independence

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Industrial production growth rate

1%

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

female

180.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

male

206.26 deaths/1,000 live births

total

193.82 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

106% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Internet country code

.ao

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

60,000 (2002) Transportation Angola

Irrigated land

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

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

Labor force

5 million (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)

Land boundaries

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

total

5,198 km

Land use

arable land

2.41%

other

97.19% (1998 est.)

permanent crops

0.4%

Languages

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

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)

Life expectancy at birth

female

37.83 years (2003 est.)

male

36.13 years

total population

36.96 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

28% (1998 est.) Government Angola

male

56%

total population

42%

Location

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

Map references

Africa

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 NM

exclusive economic zone

200 NM

territorial sea

12 NM

Median age

female

18.2 years (2002)

male

18.2 years

total

18.2 years

Merchant marine

ships by type

cargo 7, petroleum tanker 1 (2002 est.)

total

8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,311 GRT/48,924 DWT

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$222.7 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.4% (FY02) Transnational Issues Angola

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

2,568,082 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

1,290,884 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

109,752 (2003 est.)

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Nationality

adjective

Angolan

noun

Angolan(s)

Natural gas - consumption

530 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

530 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

79.57 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Natural resources

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

742,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

5.691 billion bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30 km; oil 845 km; refined products 56 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed

leadership

Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [interim leader: PAULO Lukamba "Gato"], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], 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 only won a 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

Population

10,766,471 (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.97% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

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

Radio broadcast stations

AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)

Radios

815,000 (2000)

Railways

narrow gauge

2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2002)

total

2,761 km

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.02 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Telephone system

domestic

limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter

general assessment

telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Telephones - main lines in use

72,000 (1998)

Telephones - mobile cellular

25,800 (2000)

Television broadcast stations

6 (2000)

Televisions

196,000 (2000)

Terrain

narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Total fertility rate

6.38 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)

Waterways

1,295 km