Angola

Angola

Introduction

Background

Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but fighting picked up again by 1996. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost – and 4 million people displaced – in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI’s death in 2002 ended UNITA’s insurgency and strengthened the MPLA’s hold on power. President DOS SANTOS held legislative elections in September 2008 and, despite promising to hold presidential elections in 2009, has since pushed through a new constitution that calls for elections in 2012.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references

Africa

Area

total: 1,246,700 sq km
country comparison to the world: 23 land:1,246,700 sq km
water:0 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries

total: 5,198 km
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

Coastline

1,600 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm

Climate

semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda

north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain

narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources

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

Land use

arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops:0.23%
other:97.12% (2005)

Irrigated land

800 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

184 cu km (1987)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.35cu km/yr (23%/17%/60%)
per capita:22cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:none of the selected agreements

Geography – note

the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Angolan(s)
adjective:Angolan

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Religions

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

Population

13,338,541 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70

Age structure

0-14 years: 43.2% (male 2,910,981/female 2,856,527)
15-64 years:54.1% (male 3,663,400/female 3,549,896)
65 years and over:2.7% (male 157,778/female 199,959) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 18.1 years
male:18.1 years
female:18.1 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

2.034% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47

Birth rate

42.91 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7

Death rate

23.4 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 1

Net migration rate

0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Urbanization

urban population: 59% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

LUANDA (capital) 4.511 million

Huambo 979,000 (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.79 male(s)/female
total population:1.02 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

610 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 17

Infant mortality rate

total: 175.9 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 1 male:187.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female:163.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 38.76 years
country comparison to the world: 221 male:37.74 years
female:39.83 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.97 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Health expenditures

4.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 146

Physicians density

0.08 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
country comparison to the world: 169

Hospital bed density

0.8 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 155

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 60% of population
rural: 38% of population
total: 50% of population
unimproved:
urban: 40% of population
rural: 62% of population
total: 50% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 86% of population
rural: 18% of population
total: 57% of population
unimproved:
urban: 14% of population
rural: 82% of population
total: 43% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

2% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 30

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

200,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27

HIV/AIDS – deaths

11,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)
water contact disease:schistosomiasis (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

27.5% (2001)
country comparison to the world: 23

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 147

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:67.4%
male:82.9%
female:54.2% (2001 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 9 years (2006)

Government

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

Government type

republic

multiparty presidential regime

Capital

name: Luanda
geographic coordinates:8 50 S, 13 14 E
time difference:UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Independence

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution

adopted by National Assembly 5 February 2010

Legal system

civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law

no judicial review of legislative acts

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)

Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS (since 2 February 2010)

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

Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS (since 2 February 2010)
cabinet:Council of Ministers appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president indirectly elected by National Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 2010 constitution

President DOS SANTOS was selected by the party to take over after the death of former President Augustino NETO (1979) under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola’s first multiparty elections on 29-30 September 1992 (next were to be held in September 2009 but were postponed)
election results:Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary

the run-off was never held leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats

members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections:last held on 5-6 September 2008 (next to be held in September 2012)
election results:percent of vote by party – MPLA 81.6%, UNITA 10.4%, PRS 3.2%, ND 1.2%, FNLA 1.1%, other 2.5%

seats by party – MPLA 191, UNITA 16, PRS 8, FNLA 3, ND 2

Judicial branch

Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo

Court of Auditions or Tribunal de Contas

Supreme Military Court or Supremo Tribunal Militar

judges for all courts appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders

National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Ngola KABANGU]

National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party)

New Democracy Electoral Union or ND [Quintino de MOREIRA]

Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] (ruling party in power since 1975)

Social Renewal Party or PRS [Eduardo KUANGANA]
note:nine other parties participated in the legislative election in September 2008 but won no seats

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’s small-scale armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province persists despite the signing of a peace accord with the government in August 2006

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alberto do Carmo BENTO RIBEIRO
chancery:2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:[1] (202) 785-1156
FAX:[1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general:Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. MCMULLEN
embassy:number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda
mailing address:international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda

pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone:[244] (222) 64-1000
FAX:[244] (222) 64-1232

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)

red represents liberty, black the African continent, the symbols characterize workers and peasants

National symbol(s)

sable antelope

National anthem

name: “Angola Avante” (Forward Angola)
lyrics/music:Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
note:adopted 1975

Economy

Economy – overview

Angola’s high growth rate in recent years was driven by high international prices for its oil. Angola became a member of OPEC in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1.9 million barrels a day (bbl/day), somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl/day Angola’s government had wanted. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Diamond exports contribute an additional 5%. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country’s food is still imported. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2008. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Much of the country’s infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, even though peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Since 2005, the government has used billions of dollars in credit lines from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to rebuild Angola’s public infrastructure. The global recession temporarily stalled economic growth. Lower prices for oil and diamonds during the global recession led to a contraction in GDP in 2009, and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued $9 billion in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell in 2008 and 2009. Angola abandoned its currency peg in 2009, and in November 2009 signed onto an IMF Stand-By Arrangement loan of $1.4 billion to rebuild international reserves. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 14% in 2010, Luanda has been unable to reduce inflation below 10%. The Angolan kwanza depreciated again in mid 2010, which, along with higher oil prices, should boost economic growth in all sectors. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, also is a major challenge.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$107.3 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68 $105.6 billion (2009 est.)
$103.1 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$85.31 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

1.6% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 2.4% (2009 est.)
13.8% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$8,200 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120 $8,300 (2009 est.)
$8,200 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 9.6%
industry:65.8%
services:24.6% (2008 est.)

Labor force

8.014 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 85%
industry and services:15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA

Population below poverty line

40.5% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%:44.7% (2000)

Investment (gross fixed)

13.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172

Budget

revenues: $35.54 billion
expenditures:$29.5 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

41.7% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

7.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Public debt

21.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106 24.2% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

14.5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 215 13.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

25% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4 30% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

22.68% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41 15.68% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$18.17 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67 $18.29 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$28.14 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76 $25.77 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.95 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81 $19.58 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Agriculture – products

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains

livestock

forest products

fish

Industries

petroleum

diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold

cement

basic metal products

fish processing

food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar

textiles

ship repair

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Electricity – production

3.944 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

Electricity – consumption

3.365 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

1.988 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 17

Oil – consumption

74,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87

Oil – exports

1.851 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14

Oil – imports

38,280 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 96

Oil – proved reserves

9.5 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas – production

690 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Natural gas – consumption

690 million cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80

Natural gas – proved reserves

309.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Current account balance

$7.202 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 -$7.572 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$50.59 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55 $40.83 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

China 42.8%, US 23%, India 9.5%, France 4% (2010)

Imports

$18.34 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74 $22.66 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts

medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports – partners

Portugal 17.4%, China 14%, US 9%, Brazil 6.6%, South Africa 6%, France 5.8%, India 5.3% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$19.66 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59 $13.66 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$18.11 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77 $16.72 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$88.4 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35 $78.45 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$5.096 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61 $3.933 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -
92.08 (2010)
79.33 (2009)
75.023 (2008)
76.6 (2007)
80.4 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

193 (2010)
country comparison to the world:32

Airports – with paved runways

total: 31
over 3,047 m:5
2,438 to 3,047 m:9
1,524 to 2,437 m:13
914 to 1,523 m:4 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 162
over 3,047 m:2
2,438 to 3,047 m:4
1,524 to 2,437 m:31
914 to 1,523 m:78
under 914 m:47 (2010)

Pipelines

gas 2 km

oil 87 km (2010)

Railways

total: 2,764 km
country comparison to the world: 59 narrow gauge:2,641 km 1.067-m gauge

123 km 0.600-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 51,429 km
country comparison to the world: 79 paved:5,349 km
unpaved:46,080 km (2001)

Waterways

1,300 km (2010)
country comparison to the world: 54

Merchant marine

total: 7
country comparison to the world: 126 by type:cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned:1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries:15 (Bahamas 5, Liberia 1, Malta 7, former Netherlands Antilles 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe

Military

Military branches

Angolan Armed Forces (Forcas Armadas Angolanas, FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA

under operational control of the Army) (2011)

Military service age and obligation

20-45 years of age for compulsory and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service

conscript service obligation – 2 years

20-45 years of age for voluntary female service

Angolan citizenship required

the Marinha de Guerra Angola (Navy, MgA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2011)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 3,062,438
females age 16-49:2,964,262 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 1,546,781
females age 16-49:1,492,308 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 155,476
female:152,054 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 32

Transnational Issues

Disputes – international

DROC accuses Angola of shifting monuments

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 12,615 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs:61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002

4 million IDPs already have returned) (2007)

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Angola is a source and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labor

internally, trafficking victims reportedly are forced to labor in agriculture, construction, domestic service, and diamond mines

Angolan women and children are subjected to domestic servitude in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Namibia, and some European nations, primarily Portugal

Vietnamese, Chinese, and Brazilian women in prostitution in Angola may also be victims of sex trafficking

reports indicate that Chinese, South East Asian, Namibian, and possibly Congolese migrants are subjected to forced labor in Angola’s construction industry
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the Government of Angola does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking

however, it is making efforts to do so

the government did not demonstrate an increase in its modest anti-trafficking efforts of the previous year

no efforts were made to improve its minimal protection services provided to victims or to raise awareness of trafficking (2011)

Illicit drugs

used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa