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 fighting picked up again by 1996. 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. President DOS SANTOS held legislative elections in September 2008 and, despite promising to hold presidential elections in 2009, has since made a presidential poll contingent on the drafting of a new constitution.

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

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

800 sq km (2003)

184 cu km (1987)

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

13,068,161 (July 2010 est.)

2.063% (2010 est.)

43.33 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

23.74 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

6.05 children born/woman (2010 est.)

2.1% (2007 est.)

190,000 (2007 est.)

11,000 (2007 est.)

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

indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

2.4% of GDP (2005)

republic; multiparty presidential regime

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

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

18 years of age; universal

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)

Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (judges are appointed by the president)

National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [Ngola KABANGU]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA] (largest opposition party); New Democracy Electoral Union or ND [Quintino de MOREIRA]; 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]

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

ACP, AfDB, AU, 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

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

Angola's high growth rate in recent years was driven by its oil sector, and high international oil prices. 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. The global recession and lower prices led to a contraction in GDP in 2009. 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. Since 2005, the government has used billions of dollars in credit lines from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. Although consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to under 13% in 2008, the stabilization policy proved unsustainable and Angola abandoned its currency peg in 2009. 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 (bbl), somewhat less than the 2-2.5 million bbl Angola's government had wanted. In November 2009 the IMF announced its approval of Luanda's request for a Stand-By Arrangement; the loan of $1.4 billion aims to rebuild Angola's international reserves. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major challenge.

$114.4 billion (2009 est.)

$115.1 billion (2008 est.)

$101.6 billion (2007 est.)

$70.53 billion (2009 est.)

-0.6% (2009 est.)

13.2% (2008 est.)

21.1% (2007 est.)

$8,900 (2009 est.)

$9,200 (2008 est.)

$8,300 (2007 est.)

7.769 million (2009 est.)

NA

40.5% (2006 est.)

15.6% of GDP (2009 est.)

16.8% of GDP (2009 est.)

15.5% of GDP (2008 est.)

13.1% (2009 est.)

12.5% (2008 est.)

19.57% (31 December 2008)

19.57% (31 December 2007)

12.53% (31 December 2008)

17.7% (31 December 2007)

$8.446 billion (31 December 2008)

$4.153 billion (31 December 2007)

$10.41 billion (31 December 2008)

$7.216 billion (31 December 2007)

$7.893 billion (31 December 2008)

$1.166 billion (31 December 2007)

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, 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

-3.6% (2009 est.)

3.722 billion kWh (2007 est.)

3.173 billion kWh (2007 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

0 kWh (2008 est.)

2.015 million bbl/day (2008 est.)

64,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)

1.407 million bbl/day (2007 est.)

28,090 bbl/day (2007 est.)

9.04 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)

680 million cu m (2008 est.)

680 million cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

0 cu m (2008 est.)

269.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)

$4.941 billion (2009 est.)

$17.11 billion (2008 est.)

$40.02 billion (2009 est.)

$66.3 billion (2008 est.)

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

China 32.9%, US 28.7%, France 6%, South Africa 4.5%, Canada 4.1% (2008)

$12.81 billion (2009 est.)

$17.08 billion (2008 est.)

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

Portugal 17.1%, China 15.2%, US 11%, Brazil 10.2%, South Korea 6.6%, South Africa 4.6% (2008)

$13.03 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$18.36 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$12.83 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$14.09 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$17.51 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$16.36 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

$2.857 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

$2.477 billion (31 December 2008 est.)

kwanza (AOA) per US dollar - 77.17 (2009), 75.023 (2008), 76.6 (2007), 80.4 (2006), 88.6 (2005)

114,300 (2008)

6.773 million (2008)

AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2001)

6 (2000)

.ao

3,508 (2009)

550,000 (2008)

192 (2009)

gas 2 km; oil 87 km (2009)

1,300 km (2008)

Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe

Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA) (2009)

20-45 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; Angolan citizenship required; minimum age for volunteers - 18 for men, 20 for women; the MGA is entirely staffed with volunteers (2010)

3.6% of GDP (2009)

Cabindan separatists continue to return to the Angolan exclave from exile in neighboring states and Europe since the 2006 ceasefire and peace agreement

used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa