Background
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[ Geography ] [ People ] [ Government ] [ Economy ] [ Communications ] [ Transportation ] [ Military ]

Geography

Background: Civil war has been the norm since independence from Portugal on 11 November 1975. A cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections and fighting resumed throughout much of the countryside. The two sides signed another peace accord on 20 November 1994 and the cease-fire is generally holding, but military tensions persist and banditry is increasing.

In order to bring armed insurgents under government control the peace accord of 20 November 1994 provided for the integration of former UNITA insurgents into the Angolan armed forces.

Military integration began in June 1996 and a Government of National Unity and Reconciliation was installed in April 1997. Efforts which began in May 1997 to extend government into UNITA-occupied areas are proceeding slowly. The original 7,200-man UN peacekeeping force began a phased drawdown in late 1996. 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.

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

Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E

Area:
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land : 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Coastline: 1,600 km

Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 20 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: oleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 23%
forests and woodland: 43%
other : 32% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 750 sq km (1993 est.)

Natural hazards: locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

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

Geography - note: inda is separated from rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

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People

Population: 10,145,267 (July 2000 est.); 10,593,171 ( July 2002 est.); 12,531,357 (July 2008 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43% (male 2,215,706; female 2,172,106) (2000 est.); 43.3% (male 2,318,326; female 2,272,726) (2002 est.); 43.6% (male 2,760,264/female 2,707,665) (2008 est.)
15-64 years: 54% (male 2,792,313; female 2,692,790) (2000 est.); 53.9% (male 2,904,595; female 2,806,430) (2002 est.); 53.6% (male 3,416,914/female 3,302,552) (2008 est.)
65 years and over: 3% (male 124,404; female 147,948) (2000 est.); 2.8% (male 131,316; female 159,778) (2002 est.); 2.7% (male 151,609/female 192,353) (2008 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.15% (2000 est.); 2.18% (2002 est.); 2.136% (2008 est.)

Birth rate: 46.89 births/1,000 population (2000 est.); 46.18 births/1,000 population (2002 est.); 44.09 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 25.01 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.); 24.35 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.); 24.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Net migration rate: -0.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.); 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.); 1.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

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 (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 195.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.); 191.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.); 182.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 37.92 years
male: 36.99 years
female: 38.9 years (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate: 6.2 children born/woman (2008 est.)

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%

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

Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

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

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

National capital: Luanda

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

Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

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 (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)
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

Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (223 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

Judicial branch: Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president

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 [Jonas SAVIMBI], 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 [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]

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

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)

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Economy

Standard Bank Market Watch Report - Click Here to view.

Economy - overview: Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15% per year from 2004 to 2007. 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. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government started using a $2 billion line of credit, since increased to $7 billion, from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects were completed in 2006. Angola also has large credit lines from Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU. The central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation. This policy became more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings; it has significantly reduced inflation. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2007, the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. 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, somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted. To fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to implement government reforms, increase transparency, and reduce corruption. The government has rejected a formal IMF monitored program, although it continues Article IV consultations and ad hoc cooperation. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, and the negative effects of large inflows of foreign exchange, are major challenges facing Angola.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $11.6 billion (1999 est.); $13.3 billion (2001 est.); $80.95 billion (2007 est.)

GDP - 4% (1999 est.); 5.4% (2001 est.); 16.3% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,030 (1999 est.); $1,330 (2001 est.); $6,500 (2007 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line: 70% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate - consumer prices: 270% (1999 est.), 110% (2001 est.); 12.5% (2007 est.)

Labor force: total: 5 million (1997 est.); 6.573 million (2007 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate: extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (1999 est.)- extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $18.58 billion
expenditures: $15.7 billion (2007 est.)

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

Industrial production growth rate: 24.4% (2007 est.)

Electricity - production: 1.886 billion kWh (1998); 1.19 billion kWh (2000); 2.585 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - consumption: 1.754 billion kWh (1998); 1.107 billion kWh (2000); 2.201 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (1998)

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

Exports:
total value: $5 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.); $7 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.); $43.23 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
commodities: crude oil 90%, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
partners: US 38%, China 34.2%, Taiwan 5.8%, France 4.9%, Chile 4.1% (2006)

Imports:
total value: $3 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.); $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.); $11.41 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
commodities: machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
partners: US 15.3%, Portugal 15%, South Korea 10.1%, China 8.8%, Brazil 8.2%, South Africa 6.7%, France 6.2% (2006)

Debt - external: $10.5 billion (1999 est.); $10.4 billion (2001 est.); $8.835 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic aid:
recipient: $493.1 million (1995); $383.5 million (1999); $441.8 million (2005)

Currency: 1 new kwanza (NKz) = 100 lwei

Exchange rates: kwanza (NKz) per US$1 - kwanza per US dollar - 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003)

Fiscal year: calendar year

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Communications

Telephones: 60,000 (1995); 69,700 (1997); 98,200 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular: 1,994 (1995); 25,800 (2000); 2.264 million (2006)

Telephone system: system inadequate; fewer than one fixed-line per 100 persons; combined fixed line and mobile telephone density approached 20 telephones per 100 persons in 2006
domestic: state-owned telecom had monopoly for fixed-lines until 2005; demand outstripped capacity, prices were high, and services poor; Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan company, became the first private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network; Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been extended to larger towns; a privately-owned, mobile-cellular service provider began operations in 2001
international: 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 34, FM 7, shortwave 9 (1999); AM 36, FM 7, shortwave 9 (2000); AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)

Radios: 630,000 (1997) , 815,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations: 7 (1999) , 7 (2000)

Televisions: 150,000 (1997) ,196,000 (2000)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (1999) , 1 (2000)

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Transportation

Railways: total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)

Highways:
total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Waterways: 1,300 km (2007)

Ports and harbors: Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malogo, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo

Merchant Marine:
total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 6,865 GRT/8,825 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 6) (2007)

Airports: 249 (1999 est.); 244 (2001); 232 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2007)

Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 201
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 69 (2007)

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Military

Military branches: Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 16-49: 2,429,842 (2000 est.); 2,532,469 (2002 est.); 2,856,492 (2008 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males: 101,434 (2000 est.); 1,272,509 (2002 est.); 1,430,658 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5.7% (2006)

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