Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Geographic coordinates:
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12 30 S, 18 30 E
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Map references:
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Africa
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Area:
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total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Land boundaries:
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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
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Coastline:
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1,600 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
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Climate:
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semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 97.12% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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800 sq km (2003)
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Natural hazards:
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locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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Geography - note:
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the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Population:
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12,127,071 (July 2006 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,678,185/female 2,625,933)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 3,291,954/female 3,195,688)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 148,944/female 186,367) (2006 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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2.45% (2006 est.)
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Birth rate:
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45.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Death rate:
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24.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 185.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 197.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 172.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 38.62 years
male: 37.47 years
female: 39.83 years (2006 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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6.35 children born/woman (2006 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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3.9% (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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240,000 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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21,000 (2003 est.)
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Major infectious diseases:
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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)
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Nationality:
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noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan
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Ethnic groups:
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Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
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Languages:
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Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 82.1%
female: 53.8% (2001 est.)
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Country name:
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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
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Government type:
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republic; multiparty presidential regime
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Capital:
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name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 48 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
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Constitution:
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adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992
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Legal system:
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based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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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
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Legislative branch:
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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 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
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)
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Political parties and leaders:
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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 [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 [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
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPEC, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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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
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Flag description:
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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 - overview:
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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 17% 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 half of the population, 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, a policy that was more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings, and has significantly reduced inflation. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to about 13% in 2006, but the stabilization policy places 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 continue reforming government policies 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.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$51.95 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$28.37 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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14% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$4,300 (2006 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 65.8%
services: 24.6% (2005 est.)
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Labor force:
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6.393 million (2006 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 85%
industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2003 est.)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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13.2% (2006 est.)
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Investment (gross fixed):
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14.6% of GDP (2006 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $10.98 billion
expenditures: $9.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $963 million (2006 est.)
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Public debt:
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32.7% of GDP (2006 est.)
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
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Industries:
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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
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Industrial production growth rate:
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13.5% (2004)
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Electricity - production:
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2.194 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.04 billion kWh (2004)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2004)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2004)
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Oil - production:
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1.6 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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48,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA bbl/day
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Oil - imports:
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NA bbl/day
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Oil - proved reserves:
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25 billion bbl (2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production:
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750 million cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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750 million cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2004 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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45.87 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
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Current account balance:
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$7.7 billion (2006 est.)
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Exports:
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$35.53 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
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Exports - partners:
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US 39.8%, China 29.6%, France 7.8%, Chile 5.4%, Taiwan 4.4% (2005)
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Imports:
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$10.21 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
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Imports - partners:
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South Korea 20.5%, Portugal 13.4%, US 12.5%, South Africa 7.4%, Brazil 7%, France 5.1%, China 5% (2005)
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$6.75 billion (2006 est.)
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Debt - external:
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$11.24 billion (2006 est.)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$383.5 million (1999)
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Currency (code):
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kwanza (AOA)
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Exchange rates:
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kwanza per US dollar - 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003), 43.53 (2002)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Airports:
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244 (2006)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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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 (2006)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 213
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: 81 (2006)
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Pipelines:
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gas 235 km; liquid petroleum gas 122 km; oil 867 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2006)
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Railways:
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total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2005)
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Roadways:
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total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)
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Waterways:
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1,300 km (2005)
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Merchant marine:
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total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,343 GRT/4,643 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 5) (2006)
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Ports and terminals:
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Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo
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Military branches:
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Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense Forces (FANA) (2006)
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Military service age and obligation:
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17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - two years plus time for training (2001)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 17-49: 2,548,455
females age 17-49: 2,462,601 (2005 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 17-49: 1,282,195
females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males age 18-49: 126,694
females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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6.6% (2006 est.)
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This page was last updated on 8 March, 2007
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