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Guide
Introduction
| |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 220 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province),
Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 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%
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: |
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
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography
- note: |
Cabinda is separated from
rest of country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Population: |
10,366,031 (July 2001 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
43.31% (male 2,266,870; female 2,222,262)
15-64 years: 53.98% (male 2,847,089; female 2,748,091)
65 years and over: 2.71% (male 127,798; female 153,921)
(2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.15% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
46.54 births/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
24.68 deaths/1,000 population
(2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
-0.34 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2001 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
193.72 deaths/1,000 live
births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
38.59 years
male: 37.36 years
female: 39.87 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
6.48 children born/woman
(2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
2.78% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
160,000 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
15,000 (1999 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% (1998 est.) |
| Languages: |
Portuguese (official), Bantu
and other African languages |
| Literacy: |
definition: age
15 and over can read and write
total population: 42%
male: 56%
female: 28% (1998 est.) |
| 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 |
| 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 21 September 1979); 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 29-30 September 1992
(next to be held NA)
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 |
| 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 |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court or Tribunal da
Relacao (judges 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 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];
UNITA-Renovada [Eugenio NGOLO "Manuvakola", leader]
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 |
| International
organization participation: |
ACP, AfDB, CCC, CEEAC, ECA,
FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU,
SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI
chancery: 1615 M Street, NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC
20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumeddienne, Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6484,
Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington,
DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (2) 345-481, 346-418
FAX: [244] (2) 346-924 |
| 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
- 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.
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 fully take advantage of its rich
resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and
large oil deposits - Angola will need to end its conflict and continue
reforming government policies. Despite the increase in the pace of civil
warfare in late 1998, the economy grew by an estimated 5% in 2000. The
government introduced new currency denominations in 1999, including 1
and 5 kwanza notes. Internal strife discourages investment outside of
the petroleum sector, which is producing roughly 800,000 barrels of oil
per day. Angola has entered into a Staff Monitored Program (SMP) with
the IMF. Continued growth depends on sharp cuts in inflation, further
economic reform, and a lessening of fighting. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity -
$10.1 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4.9% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity -
$1,000 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 7%
industry: 60%
services: 33% (1999 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
325% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
5 million (1997 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 85%, industry and
services 15% (1997 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
extensive unemployment and
underemployment affecting more than half the population (2000 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $928
million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures
of $963 million (1992 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: |
NA% |
| Electricity
- production: |
1.475 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
32.2%
hydro: 67.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
1.372 billion kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
bananas, sugarcane, coffee,
sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains;
livestock; forest products; fish |
| Exports: |
$7.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
crude oil 90%, diamonds,
refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products,
timber, cotton |
| Exports
- partners: |
US 54%, South Korea 14%,
Benelux 11%, China 7%, Taiwan 6% (1999) |
| Imports: |
$2.5 billion (f.o.b., 2000
est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
machinery and electrical
equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military
goods |
| Imports
- partners: |
South Korea 16%, Portugal
15%, US 13%, South Africa 10%, France 8% (1999) |
| Debt
- external: |
$10.8 billion (2000 est.) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$493.1 million (1995) |
| Exchange
rates: |
kwanza per US dollar -
17,910,800 (January 2001), 10,041,000 (2000), 2,790,706 (1999), 392,824
(1998), 229,040 (1997), 128,029 (1996); note - in December 1999 the
kwanza was revalued with six zeroes dropped off the old value |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
62,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
7,052 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
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) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 34, FM 7, shortwave 9
(1999) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
7 (1999) |
| Televisions: |
150,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.ao |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
12,000 (1999) |
| Railways: |
total: 2,771 km
(inland, much of the track is unusable because of land mines still in
place from the civil war)
narrow gauge: 2,648 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge
(2000) |
| Highways: |
total: 76,626 km
paved: 19,156 km
unpaved: 57,470 km (1997) |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 179 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito,
Luanda, Malongo, Mocamedes, Namibe, Porto Amboim, Soyo |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 9 ships
(1,000 GRT or over) totaling 39,305 GRT/63,067 DWT
ships by type: cargo 8, petroleum tanker 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports: |
247 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 216
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 96
under 914 m: 83 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Army, Navy, Air and Air
Defense Forces, National Police Force |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49:
2,480,016 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49:
1,246,224 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 103,807
(2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$1.2 billion (FY97) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
22% (1999) |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
| Illicit
drugs: |
increasingly used as a
transshipment point for cocaine and heroin destined for Western Europe
and other African states |
|
