Angola is still rebuilding its country since 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 in 1993. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - during the more than a quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and cemented the MPLA's hold on power. President DOS SANTOS pushed through a new constitution in 2010 and elections held in 2012 saw him installed as president. Angola assumed a nonpermanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2015-16 term.

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

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Africa

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

1,600 km

semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

highest point: Moca 2,620 m

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

arable land 3.8%; permanent crops 0.2%; permanent pasture 43.3%

860 sq km (2012)

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

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

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

20,172,332

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

Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6%

Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.)

More than a decade after the end of Angola’s 27-year civil war, the country still faces a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty, high maternal and child mortality, and illiteracy. Despite the country’s rapid post-war economic growth based on oil production, more than 40 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line and unemployment is widespread, especially among the large young-adult population. Only about 70% of the population is literate, and the rate drops to around 60% for women. The youthful population – about 45% are under the age of 15 – is expected to continue growing rapidly with a fertility rate of more 5 children per woman and a low rate of contraceptive use. Fewer than half of women deliver their babies with the assistance of trained health care personnel, which contributes to Angola’s high maternal mortality rate.

Of the estimated 550,000 Angolans who fled their homeland during its civil war, most have returned home since 2002. In 2012, the UN assessed that conditions in Angola had been stable for several years and invoked a cessation of refugee status for Angolans. Following the cessation clause, some of those still in exile returned home voluntarily through UN repatriation programs, and others integrated into host countries. As of August 2014, about 73,000 Angolans were still living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Namibia, the Republic of the Congo, and other countries.

2.72% (2016 est.)

38.6 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

11.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

-0.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

LUANDA (capital) 5.506 million; Huambo 1.269 million (2015)

19.4

477 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

5.31 children born/woman (2016 est.)

17.7% (2008/09)

3.3% of GDP (2014)

0.17 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

urban: 75.4% of population

rural: 28.2% of population

total: 49% of population

urban: 24.6% of population

rural: 71.8% of population

total: 51% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 88.6% of population

rural: 22.5% of population

total: 51.6% of population

urban: 11.4% of population

rural: 77.5% of population

total: 48.4% of population (2015 est.)

2.17% (2015 est.)

315,400 (2015 est.)

11,900 (2015 est.)

8.5% (2014)

15.6% (2007)

3.4% of GDP (2010)

presidential republic

18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Kwando Kubango, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010 (2016)

civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Abel CHIVUKUVUKU]

National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - there are two factions of the party; one is led by Lucas NGONDA; the other is led by Ngola KABANGU

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

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]

Angolan Revolutionary Movement or ARM

Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO]

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

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

Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope); national colors: red, black, yellow

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports. Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports. 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 17% 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. Some of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war. However, the government since 2005 has used billions of dollars in credit lines from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to help rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, and as a result, the national military, international partners, and private Angolan firms all continue to remove them. The global recession that started in 2008 stalled economic growth. In particular, lower prices for oil and diamonds during the global recession slowed GDP growth to 2.4% 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 formally 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. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014. Falling oil prices and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects for 2015. Angola has responded by reducing government subsidies and by proposing import quotas and a more restrictive licensing regime. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge.

$184.4 billion (2015 est.)

$179.1 billion (2014 est.)

$170.9 billion (2013 est.)

$103 billion (2015 est.)

3% (2015 est.)

4.8% (2014 est.)

6.8% (2013 est.)

$7,300 (2015 est.)

$7,300 (2014 est.)

$7,200 (2013 est.)

2% of GDP (2015 est.)

12.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

21.4% of GDP (2013 est.)

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

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

1.9% (2015 est.)

10.51 million (2015 est.)

NA%

40.5% (2006 est.)

32.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

-5.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

57.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

34.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

calendar year

10.3% (2015 est.)

7.3% (2014 est.)

9% (31 December 2014)

25% (31 December 2010)

16.88% (31 December 2015 est.)

16.38% (31 December 2014 est.)

$25.27 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$30.11 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$51.71 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$45.06 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$17.18 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$23.12 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

-$8.748 billion (2015 est.)

-$3.722 billion (2014 est.)

$35.55 billion (2015 est.)

$59.17 billion (2014 est.)

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

China 43.8%, India 9.6%, US 7.7%, Spain 6.2%, South Africa 4.8%, France 4.4% (2015)

$21.15 billion (2015 est.)

$28.59 billion (2014 est.)

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

China 22.1%, Portugal 13.8%, South Korea 11%, US 6.9%, South Africa 5%, UK 4.1%, France 4% (2015)

$24.08 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$28.13 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$33.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$28.45 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$13.01 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$10.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$22.2 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$21.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -

120.061 (2015 est.)

98.303 (2014 est.)

98.303 (2013 est.)

95.47 (2012 est.)

93.741 (2011 est.)

9.2 billion kWh (2014 est.)

8.1 billion kWh (2014 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

0 kWh (2013 est.)

1.7 million kW (2014 est.)

50.3% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

49.7% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

1.842 million bbl/day (2015 est.)

1.745 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

8.4 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

46,050 bbl/day (2013 est.)

132,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

33,600 bbl/day (2013 est.)

97,760 bbl/day (2013 est.)

731 million cu m (2014 est.)

231 million cu m (2014 est.)

500 million cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

308 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

33 million Mt (2013 est.)

state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach; state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial TV service on 2 channels; a third TPA channel is available via cable and satellite; TV subscription services are available; state-owned Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations; about a half-dozen private radio stations broadcast locally (2008)

.ao

D2 (2016)

176 (2013)

1 (2013)

gas 352 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 1,065 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2013)

1,300 km (2011)

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) (2012)

20-45 years of age for compulsory male and 18-45 years for voluntary male military service (registration at age 18 is mandatory); 20-45 years of age for voluntary female service; 2-year conscript service obligation; Angolan citizenship required; the Navy (MGA) is entirely staffed with volunteers (2013)

3.63% of GDP (2012)

3.5% of GDP (2011)

3.63% of GDP (2010)