Angola Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Angola, State of South West Africa; 1.3 million km², 30.8 million residents (2019).Angola, located on the west coast of Africa, borders north to Congo (Kinshasa), east to Congo (Kinshasa) and Zambia and south to Namibia. The capital is Luanda (2.8 million residents, 2011).

Country facts

Republic of Angola / Republic of Angola
Country abbreviation: AO
Area: 1.3 million km²
Population (2019): 30.8 million residents
Capital: Luanda
Main languages: Portuguese, Bantu languages
State: Republic
Head of State and Head of Government: João Lourenço (President)
Per capita GDP (2017): US $ 3,111
GNI per capita (2017): US $ 3,432
Coin unit: 1 quanza = 100 lwei
Currency code: AOA
Country number (telephony): 244
Internet Domain Name: ao
Time difference compared to Sweden: 0
National Day: November 11 (Liberation Day, 1975)

Nature

Land use: forest (40%), agricultural land (3%), other (57%)
Highest mountain: Môco (2,620 m above sea level)

Population

Population density (2019): 24 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 3.5%; birth number 44 ‰, death number 9 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (48%), 15-64 (50%), 65- (2%)
Life expectancy (2019): men 58 years, women 62 years
Infant mortality (2019): 68 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 82 million residents
HDI (2017): 0.581 (place 147 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 63%
Most populous city (2011): Luanda (2.8 million residents)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2011): agriculture (10%), industry (61%), service (29%)
Exports (2017): US $ 33,070 million
Main export products: oil, gas, diamonds
Main exporting countries: China, India, USA
Imports (2017): US $ 19,500 million
Main import products: machinery, vehicles, spare parts, food
Main importing countries: Portugal, China, USA
Railway network (2014): 2 850 km

Angola is located on a high plateau in southwestern Africa. The country has a tropical climate, but it varies greatly with the height above the sea.

The country formally has a multi-party system with a parliament elected for five years, and a president, who is also elected for five years. The President has the ultimate executive power. the Prime Minister, the members of the Supreme Court and the governors of the provinces.

First the War of Liberation and then the subsequent Civil War made it really resourceful Angola to be one of the world’s poorest countries.

The civil war also caused a large proportion of the rural population to go to the cities, mainly the capital. Angola is completely dependent on offshore oil resources. The oil industry and related operations account for about 85% of GDP and 90% of the country’s export revenue. During the 2000s, oil revenues have increased, but inefficient administration and widespread corruption have meant that income is distributed very unevenly. The lack of highly educated manpower gave birth to many well-educated people from Europe, mainly from Portugal. Foreign investment among wealthy Angolans has risen sharply in recent years, primarily in Portugal.