ARCHIVE // AO // 2007
Angola
2007 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Internet country code
[time series]
.ao
Internet users
(Internet hosts)
[time series]
3,337 (2007)
Internet users
[time series]
85,000 (2005)
Broadcast media
(Radio broadcast stations)
[time series]
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)
Telecommunication systems
(Telephone system)
[time series]
general assessment: 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 and 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: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29 (2007)
Telephones - fixed lines
(Telephones - main lines in use)
[time series]
98,200 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular
[time series]
2.264 million (2006)
Broadcast media
(Television broadcast stations)
[time series]
6 (2000)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture - products)
[time series]
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Budget
[time series]
revenues: $14.07 billion expenditures: $10.78 billion (2006 est.)
Exchange rates
(Currency (code))
[time series]
kwanza (AOA)
Current account balance
[time series]
$6.328 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external
[time series]
$10.66 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid
(Economic aid - recipient)
[time series]
$441.8 million (2005)
Economic overview
(Economy - overview)
[time series]
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 half of GDP and 90% of exports. Increased oil production supported 12% growth in 2004, 19% growth in 2005, and nearly 14% growth in 2006. 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 from China to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects were completed in 2006. 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 about 13% in 2006, the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. 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 and to reduce corruption. The government has made little progress on reforms recommended by the IMF, such as promoting greater transparency in government spending, and continues to be without a formal monitoring agreement with the institution. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major challenge facing Angola.
Electricity - consumption
[time series]
2.201 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports
[time series]
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports
[time series]
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - production
[time series]
2.585 billion kWh (2005)
Exchange rates
[time series]
kwanza per US dollar - 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003), 43.53 (2002)
Exports
[time series]
$31.34 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities
[time series]
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Exports - partners
[time series]
US 38%, China 34.2%, Taiwan 5.8%, France 4.9%, Chile 4.1% (2006)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
GDP (official exchange rate)
[time series]
$28.88 billion (2006 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(GDP (purchasing power parity))
[time series]
$54.65 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
(GDP - composition by sector)
[time series]
agriculture: 9.6% industry: 65.8% services: 24.6% (2005 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(GDP - per capita (PPP))
[time series]
$4,500 (2006 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(GDP - real growth rate)
[time series]
16.1% (2006 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
[time series]
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
[time series]
$11.28 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities
[time series]
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners
[time series]
US 15.3%, Portugal 15%, South Korea 10.1%, China 8.8%, Brazil 8.2%, South Africa 6.7%, France 6.2% (2006)
Industrial production growth rate
[time series]
13.5% (2004)
Industries
[time series]
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
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
13.3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
[time series]
9.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
6.444 million (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
[time series]
agriculture: 85% industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
Natural gas - consumption
[time series]
767.3 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports
[time series]
0 cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports
[time series]
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - production
[time series]
767.3 million cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
[time series]
44 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Oil - consumption
[time series]
48,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports
[time series]
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports
[time series]
NA bbl/day
Oil - production
[time series]
1.6 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
[time series]
5.412 billion bbl (1 January 2006)
Population below poverty line
[time series]
70% (2003 est.)
Public debt
[time series]
26.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
[time series]
$8.599 billion (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
[time series]
$227 million (2006 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
[time series]
$17.6 billion (2006 est.)
Unemployment rate
[time series]
extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total: 1,246,700 sq km land: 1,246,700 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
[time series]
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Climate
[time series]
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Coastline
[time series]
1,600 km
Elevation
(Elevation extremes)
[time series]
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
Environment - current issues
[time series]
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
International environmental agreements
(Environment - international agreements)
[time series]
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geographic coordinates
[time series]
12 30 S, 18 30 E
Geography - note
[time series]
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Irrigated land
[time series]
800 sq km (2003)
Land boundaries
[time series]
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
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 97.12% (2005)
Location
[time series]
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Map references
[time series]
Africa
Maritime claims
[time series]
territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
Natural hazards
[time series]
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Natural resources
[time series]
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Terrain
[time series]
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
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
Capital
[time series]
name: Luanda geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
[time series]
adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992
Country name
[time series]
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
Diplomatic representation from the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFIRD 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
Diplomatic representation in the US
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKITI chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258 consulate(s) general: Houston, New York
Executive branch
[time series]
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); Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed prime minister on 6 December 2002 cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under the 1992 constitution; 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 in 2009) election results: Jose Eduardo 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 leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president
Flag
(Flag description)
[time series]
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)
Government type
[time series]
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Independence
[time series]
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
International organization participation
[time series]
ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), 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
Judicial branch
[time series]
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)
Legal system
[time series]
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
Legislative branch
[time series]
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 in September 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, other 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, other 7
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) [Isaias SAMAKUVA]; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA (ruling party in power since 1975) [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS]; Social Renewal Party or PRS [Antonio MUACHICUNGO] note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats; they and the other 115 smaller parties have little influence in the National Assembly
Political parties
(Political pressure groups and leaders)
[time series]
Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE] note: FLEC's small-scale, highly factionalized armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province ended after BEMBE's faction signed a peace accord in August 2006; other factions have since demobilized under provisions of the accord, although the two main faction leaders have not acceded to the accord
Suffrage
[time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background
[time series]
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 UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. 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. While President DOS SANTOS had pledged to hold legislative elections in 2007, he has since announced that legislative elections will be held in 2008, with Presidential elections planned for 2009. A specific election timetable has yet to be established.
Military
Manpower available for military service
[time series]
males age 17-49: 2,548,455 females age 17-49: 2,462,601 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
[time series]
males age 17-49: 1,282,195 females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
[time series]
males age 18-49: 126,694 females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)
Military and security forces
(Military branches)
[time series]
Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Angolan National Air Force (FANA) (2007)
Military expenditures
(Military expenditures - percent of GDP)
[time series]
5.7% (2006)
Military service age and obligation
[time series]
17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)
People
Age structure
[time series]
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,706,276/female 2,654,338) 15-64 years: 53.5% (male 3,339,114/female 3,225,121) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 149,414/female 189,333) (2007 est.)
Birth rate
[time series]
44.51 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
24.81 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Ethnic groups
[time series]
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
[time series]
3.9% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
[time series]
21,000 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
[time series]
240,000 (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
total: 184.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 196.55 deaths/1,000 live births female: 171.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Languages
[time series]
Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 37.63 years male: 36.73 years female: 38.57 years (2007 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 67.4% male: 82.9% female: 54.2% (2001 est.)
Major infectious diseases
[time series]
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2007)
Median age
[time series]
total: 17.9 years male: 17.9 years female: 17.9 years (2007 est.)
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan
Net migration rate
[time series]
2.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Population
[time series]
12,263,596 (July 2007 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
2.184% (2007 est.)
Religions
[time series]
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
Sex ratio
[time series]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.035 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.789 male(s)/female total population: 1.021 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
[time series]
6.27 children born/woman (2007 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
[time series]
many Cabindan separatists have returned to the province from exile since the 2006 ceasefire and peace agreement; concerns from international experts and local populations over the Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls) along the Angola-Namibia border
Illicit drugs
[time series]
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
Refugees and internally displaced persons
[time series]
refugees (country of origin): 13,464 (Democratic Republic of Congo) IDPs: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2006)
Transportation
Airports
[time series]
232 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways
[time series]
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
[time series]
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)
Merchant marine
[time series]
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)
Pipelines
[time series]
gas 235 km; liquid petroleum gas 122 km; oil 867 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2006)
Ports
(Ports and terminals)
[time series]
Cabinda, Luanda, Namibe
Railways
[time series]
total: 2,761 km narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2006)
Roadways
[time series]
total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
Waterways
[time series]
1,300 km (2007)