Angola :: Africa
Introduction
Background:
From the late 14th to the mid 19th century a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. By the 19th century, Portuguese settlement had spread to the interior; in 1914, Portugal abolished the last vestiges of the Kongo Kingdom and Angola became a Portuguese colony. ++ Angola scores low on human development indexes despite using its large oil reserves to rebuild 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. DOS SANTOS stepped down from the presidency in 2017, having led the country since 1979. He pushed through a new constitution in 2010. Joao LOURENCO was elected president in August 2017 and became president of the MPLA in September 2018.
Geography
Location:
Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Geographic coordinates:
12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references:
Africa
Area:
total:
1,246,700 sq km
land:
1,246,700 sq km
water:
0 sq km
country comparison to the world: 24
Area - comparative:
about eight times the size of Georgia; slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total:
5,369 km
border countries (4):
Democratic Republic of the Congo 2646 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 231 km, Namibia 1427 km, Zambia 1065 km
Coastline:
1,600 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea:
12
nm
exclusive economic zone:
200
nm
contiguous zone:
24
nm
Climate:
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Elevation:
mean elevation:
1,112 m
lowest point:
Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point:
Moca 2,620 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium
Land use:
agricultural land:
47.5%
(2016 est.)
arable land:
3.9%
(2016 est.)
/
permanent crops:
0.3%
(2016 est.)
/
permanent pasture:
43.3%
(2016 est.)
forest:
46.3%
(2016 est.)
other:
6.2%
(2016 est.)
Irrigated land:
860 sq km
(2014)
Population distribution:
most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda as shown in this population distribution map
Natural hazards:
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
Environment - current issues:
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
Environment - international agreements:
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:
the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo
People and Society
Population:
32,522,339
(July 2020 est.)
note: Angola's national statistical agency projects the country's 2017 population to be 28.4 million
country comparison to the world: 43
Nationality:
noun:
Angolan(s)
adjective:
Angolan
Ethnic groups:
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Languages:
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%
(2014 est.)
note: most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
Religions:
Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3%
(2014 est.)
Demographic profile:
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, about 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 than 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.
Age structure:
0-14 years:
47.83%
(male 7,758,636/female 7,797,869)
15-24 years:
18.64%
(male 2,950,999/female 3,109,741)
25-54 years:
27.8%
(male 4,301,618/female 4,740,463)
55-64 years:
3.43%
(male 523,517/female 591,249)
65 years and over:
2.3%
(male 312,197/female 436,050)
(2020 est.)
Dependency ratios:
total dependency ratio:
94.5
youth dependency ratio:
90.2
elderly dependency ratio:
4.3
potential support ratio:
23.5
(2020 est.)
Median age:
total:
15.9 years
male:
15.4 years
female:
16.4 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 225
Population growth rate:
3.43%
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3
Birth rate:
42.7 births/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Death rate:
8.5 deaths/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Net migration rate:
-0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 104
Population distribution:
most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda as shown in this population distribution map
Urbanization:
urban population:
66.8% of total population
(2020)
rate of urbanization:
4.32% annual rate of change
(2015-20 est.)
Major urban areas - population:
8.330 million LUANDA (capital), 828,000 Lubango, 778,000 Cabinda
(2020)
Sex ratio:
at birth:
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
15-24 years:
0.95 male(s)/female
25-54 years:
0.91 male(s)/female
55-64 years:
0.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.72 male(s)/female
total population:
0.95 male(s)/female
(2020 est.)
Mother's mean age at first birth:
19.4 years
(2015/16 est.)
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29
Maternal mortality rate:
241 deaths/100,000 live births
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Infant mortality rate:
total:
62.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male:
67.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
56.8 deaths/1,000 live births
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 11
Life expectancy at birth:
total population:
61.3 years
male:
59.3 years
female:
63.4 years
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 212
Total fertility rate:
5.96 children born/woman
(2020 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2
Contraceptive prevalence rate:
13.7%
(2015/16)
Drinking water source:
improved:
urban:
81.7% of population
rural:
36.6% of population
total:
65.8% of population
unimproved:
urban:
18.3% of population
rural:
63.4% of population
total:
34.2% of population
(2017 est.)
Current Health Expenditure:
2.8%
(2017)
Physicians density:
0.21 physicians/1,000 population
(2017)
Sanitation facility access:
improved:
urban:
92.2% of population
rural:
29.2% of population
total:
70.1% of population
unimproved:
urban:
7.8% of population
rural:
70.8% of population
(2 est.)
total:
29.9% of population
(2017 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
1.8%
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
340,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
13,000
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk:
very high
(2020)
food or waterborne diseases:
bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:
dengue fever, malaria
water contact diseases:
schistosomiasis
animal contact diseases:
rabies
Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
8.2%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 154
Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
19%
(2016)
country comparison to the world: 27
Education expenditures:
3.4% of GDP
(2010)
country comparison to the world: 119
Literacy:
definition:
age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
71.1%
male:
82%
female:
60.7%
(2015)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total:
10 years
male:
12 years
female:
7 years
(2011)
Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
total:
39.4%
male:
39%
female:
39.8%
(2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
Government
Country name:
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
etymology:
name derived by the Portuguese from the title "ngola" held by kings of the Ndongo (Ndongo was a kingdom in what is now northern Angola)
Government type:
presidential republic
Capital:
name:
Luanda
geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 13 13 E
time difference:
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time:
does not observe daylight savings time
etymology: originally named "Sao Paulo da Assuncao de Loanda" (Saint Paul of the Assumption of Loanda), which over time was shortened and corrupted to just Luanda
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution:
history:
previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010
amendments:
proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic
Legal system:
civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation
International law organization participation:
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth:
no
citizenship by descent only:
at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola
dual citizenship recognized:
no
residency requirement for naturalization:
10 years
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government:
President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Bornito De Sousa Baltazar DIOGO (since 26 September 2017)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections/appointments:
the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term); last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in 2022)
election results:
Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by the winning party following the 23 August 2017 general election
Legislative branch:
description:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members directly elected in a single national constituency and in multi-seat constituencies by closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
elections:
last held on 23 August 2017 (next to be held in August 2022)
election results:
percent of vote by party - MPLA 61.1%, UNITA 26.7%, CASA-CE 9.5%, PRS 1.4%, FNLA 0.9%, other 0.5%; seats by party - MPLA 150, UNITA 51, CASA-CE 16, PRS 2, FNLA 1; composition - men 136, women 84, percent of women 38.2%
Judicial branch:
highest courts:
Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges)
judge selection and term of office:
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms
subordinate courts:
provincial and municipal courts
Political parties and leaders:
Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Andre Mendes de CARVALHO] ++ National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - party has two factions; one led by Lucas NGONDA; the other 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 [Joao LOURENCO]; note - Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS stepped down 8 Sept 2018 ruling party in power since 1975 ++ Social Renewal Party or PRS [Benedito DANIEL]
International organization participation:
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, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, Union Latina, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joaquim do Espirito SANTO (since 16 September 2019)
chancery:
2100-2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone:
[1] (202) 785-1156
FAX:
[1] (202) 822-9049
consulate(s) general:
Houston, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nina Maria FITE (since 14 February 2018)
telephone:
[244] 946440977
embassy:
32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda, C.P. 6468
mailing address:
international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: US Embassy Luanda, US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
FAX:
[244] (222) 64-1000
Flag description:
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 and black the African continent; the symbols characterize workers and peasants
National symbol(s):
Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope); national colors: red, black, yellow
National anthem:
name:
"Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
lyrics/music:
Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
note: adopted 1975
Economy
Economic overview:
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; Angola is an OPEC member and subject to its direction regarding oil production levels. 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 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 (1975-2002). However, the government since 2005 has used billions of dollars in credit 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 Angola's economic growth and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued billions in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell. Lower prices for oil and diamonds also resulted in GDP falling 0.7% in 2016. Angola formally abandoned its currency peg in 2009 but reinstituted it in April 2016 and maintains an overvalued exchange rate. In late 2016, Angola lost the last of its correspondent relationships with foreign banks, further exacerbating hard currency problems. Since 2013 the central bank has consistently spent down reserves to defend the kwanza, gradually allowing a 40% depreciation since late 2014. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014, before rising again to above 30% from 2015-2017.
++ Continued low oil prices, the depreciation of the kwanza, and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects, although several major international oil companies remain in Angola. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge that poses an additional threat to the economy.
GDP real growth rate:
-2.5%
(2017 est.)
-2.6%
(2016 est.)
0.9%
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
17.2%
(2019 est.)
20.3%
(2018 est.)
32.1%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
Credit ratings:
Fitch rating:
CCC
(2020)
Moody's rating:
Caa1
(2020)
Standard & Poors rating:
CCC+
(2020)
GDP (purchasing power parity) - real:
$181.359 billion
(2019 est.)
$182.949 billion
(2018 est.)
$186.69 billion
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$97.261 billion
(2019 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$3,097
(2019 est.)
$3,227
(2018 est.)
$3,403
(2017 est.)
note: data are in 2010 dollars
country comparison to the world: 178
Gross national saving:
28.6% of GDP
(2017 est.)
24.5% of GDP
(2016 est.)
28.5% of GDP
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
agriculture:
10.2%
(2011 est.)
industry:
61.4%
(2011 est.)
services:
28.4%
(2011 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use:
household consumption:
80.6%
(2017 est.)
government consumption:
15.6%
(2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital:
10.3%
(2017 est.)
investment in inventories:
-1.2%
(2017 est.)
exports of goods and services:
25.4%
(2017 est.)
imports of goods and services:
-30.7%
(2017 est.)
Ease of Doing Business Index scores:
28.1
(2020)
Agriculture - products:
bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (manioc, tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish
Industries:
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
Industrial production growth rate:
2.5%
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
Labor force:
12.51 million
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture:
85%
industry:
15%
(2015 est.)
industry and services:
15%
(2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
6.6%
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
Population below poverty line:
36.6%
(2008 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%:
0.6%
highest 10%:
44.7%
(2000)
Budget:
revenues:
37.02 billion
(2017 est.)
expenditures:
45.44 billion
(2017 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
29.3% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
-6.7% (of GDP)
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 189
Public debt:
65% of GDP
(2017 est.)
75.3% of GDP
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59
Fiscal year:
calendar year
Current account balance:
-$1.254 billion
(2017 est.)
-$4.834 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
Exports:
$33.07 billion
(2017 est.)
$31.03 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 67
Exports - partners:
China 61.2%, India 13%, US 4.2%
(2017)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton
Imports:
$19.5 billion
(2017 est.)
$13.04 billion
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods
Imports - partners:
Portugal 17.8%, China 13.5%, US 7.4%, South Africa 6.2%, Brazil 6.1%, UK 4%
(2017)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$17.29 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$23.74 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
Debt - external:
$42.08 billion
(31 December 2017 est.)
$27.14 billion
(31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
Exchange rates:
kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -
172.6
(2017 est.)
163.656
(2016 est.)
163.656
(2015 est.)
120.061
(2014 est.)
98.303
(2013 est.)
Energy
Electricity access:
population without electricity:
18 million
(2019)
electrification - total population:
43%
(2019)
electrification - urban areas:
61%
(2019)
electrification - rural areas:
6%
(2019)
Electricity - production:
10.2 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
Electricity - consumption:
9.036 billion kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 119
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
2.613 million kW
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
34% of total installed capacity
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
64% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
2% of total installed capacity
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
Crude oil - production:
1.593 million bbl/day
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14
Crude oil - exports:
1.782 million bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 7
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 88
Crude oil - proved reserves:
9.523 billion bbl
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
Refined petroleum products - production:
53,480 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
130,000 bbl/day
(2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
Refined petroleum products - exports:
30,340 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 62
Refined petroleum products - imports:
111,600 bbl/day
(2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50
Natural gas - production:
3.115 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
Natural gas - consumption:
821.2 million cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95
Natural gas - exports:
3.993 billion cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
Natural gas - proved reserves:
308.1 billion cu m
(1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
20.95 million Mt
(2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
Communications
Telephones - fixed lines:
total subscriptions:
122,566
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
less than 1
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134
Telephones - mobile cellular:
total subscriptions:
14,645,106
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
46.6
(2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69
Telecommunication systems:
general assessment:
progress in opening up the telecom sector to new competitors, while still retaining a 45% govt. portion of the share; slow progress in LTE network development, with only about 12% of the country covered by network infrastructure; regulator offers 4th service license to be issued for competition, cracks down on informal SIM card sales, and auctions 800MHz spectrum; M-commerce services launch pending
(2020)
domestic:
only about one fixed-line per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 47 telephones per 100 persons
(2019)
international:
country code - 244; landing points for the SAT-3/WASC, WACS, ACE and SACS fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to other countries in west Africa, Brazil, Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29, Angosat-2 satellite expected by 2021
(2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
Broadcast media:
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
Internet country code:
.ao
Internet users:
total:
4,353,033
percent of population:
14.34%
(July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90
Broadband - fixed subscriptions:
total:
109,561
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants:
less than 1
(2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
Transportation
National air transport system:
number of registered air carriers:
10
(2020)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers:
55
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers:
1,516,628
(2018)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers:
78.16 million
mt-km
(2018)
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix:
D2
(2016)
Airports:
102
(2020)
country comparison to the world: 54
Airports - with paved runways:
total:
32
(2020)
over 3,047 m:
8
2,438 to 3,047 m:
8
1,524 to 2,437 m:
10
914 to 1,523 m:
6
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total:
70
(2020)
over 3,047 m:
2
2,438 to 3,047 m:
2
1,524 to 2,437 m:
17
914 to 1,523 m:
27
under 914 m:
22
Heliports:
1
(2013)
Pipelines:
352 km gas, 85 km liquid petroleum gas, 1065 km oil, 5 km oil/gas/water
(2013)
Railways:
total:
2,852 km
(2014)
narrow gauge:
2,729 km
1.067-m gauge
(2014)
123 km 0.600-m gauge
country comparison to the world: 63
Roadways:
total:
26,000 km
(2018)
paved:
13,600 km
(2018)
unpaved:
12,400 km
(2018)
country comparison to the world: 103
Waterways:
1,300 km
(2011)
country comparison to the world: 53
Merchant marine:
total:
55
by type:
general cargo 14, oil tanker 8, other 33
(2019)
country comparison to the world: 113
Ports and terminals:
major seaport(s):
Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Namibe
LNG terminal(s) (export):
Angola Soyo
Military and Security
Military and security forces:
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); Rapid Reaction Police (paramilitary)
(2019)
Military expenditures:
1.6% of GDP
(2019)
1.8% of GDP
(2018)
2.4% of GDP
(2017)
3% of GDP
(2016)
3.5% of GDP
(2015)
country comparison to the world: 69
Military and security service personnel strengths:
the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) are comprised of approximately 107,000 active troops (100,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 6,000 Air Force); est. 10,000 Rapid Reaction Police
(2019)
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions:
most Angolan Armed Forces weapons and equipment are of Russian, Soviet, or Warsaw Pact origin; Russia remains Angola's top supplier of military hardware, followed by Belarus and China
(2019)
Military service age and obligation:
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
(2019)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:
Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Angola of shifting monuments
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin):
23,395 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) (refugees and asylum seekers) (2020)
Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states, particularly South Africa
