Angola - Economic Indicators

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Africa

about eight times the size of Georgia; 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

highest point: Moca 2,620 m

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

arable land 8.3%; permanent crops 0.5%; permanent pasture 91.23%

860 sq km (2014)

most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly Luanda

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

29,310,273 (July 2017 est.)

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

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%

Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.)

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, more than 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 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.

3.52% (2017 est.)

44.2 births/1,000 population (2017 est.)

9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.)

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)

most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly Luanda

LUANDA (capital) 5.506 million; Huambo 1.269 million (2015)

19.4 years

477 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

6.16 children born/woman (2017 est.)

13.7% (2015/16)

3.3% of GDP (2014)

0.14 physicians/1,000 population (2009)

urban: 75.4% of population

rural: 28.2% of population

total: 49% of population

urban: 24.6% of population

rural: 71.8% of population

total: 51% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 88.6% of population

rural: 22.5% of population

total: 51.6% of population

urban: 11.4% of population

rural: 77.5% of population

total: 48.4% of population (2015 est.)

1.9% (2016 est.)

280,000 (2016 est.)

11,000 (2016 est.)

8.2% (2016)

19% (2016)

3.5% of GDP (2010)

presidential republic

18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Kwando Kubango, Kwanza Norte, Kwanza Sul, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Abel CHIVUKUVUKU]

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 [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS] (ruling party in power since 1975)

Social Renewal Party or PRS [Benedito DANIEL]

Angolan Revolutionary Movement or ARM

Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda - Armed Forces of Cabinda or FLEC-FAC [Emmanuel NZITA]

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

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a 5-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

Palanca Negra Gigante (giant black sable antelope); national colors: red, black, yellow

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. 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 dollar-clearing international correspondent banking relationships, 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.

$192 billion (2017 est.)

$189.2 billion (2016 est.)

$190.5 billion (2015 est.)

$124 billion (2017 est.)

1.5% (2017 est.)

-0.7% (2016 est.)

3% (2015 est.)

$6,800 (2017 est.)

$6,900 (2016 est.)

$7,200 (2015 est.)

3.1% of GDP (2017 est.)

3.3% of GDP (2016 est.)

-0.4% of GDP (2015 est.)

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (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

1.9% (2017 est.)

12.51 million (2017 est.)

6.6% (2016 est.)

40.5% (2008 est.)

42.7 (2008 est.)

28.7% of GDP (2017 est.)

-7.3% of GDP (2017 est.)

87.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

77.2% of GDP (2016 est.)

calendar year

30.9% (2017 est.)

32.4% (2016 est.)

9% (31 December 2014 est.)

25% (31 December 2010 est.)

20% (31 December 2017 est.)

15.71% (31 December 2016 est.)

$30.04 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.17 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$48.82 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$39.28 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$14.51 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$14.25 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$-5.922 billion (2017 est.)

$-4.904 billion (2016 est.)

$33.82 billion (2017 est.)

$31.03 billion (2016 est.)

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

China 53.7%, India 7.6%, US 5.6%, South Africa 5.3%, France 4.4% (2016)

$23 billion (2017 est.)

$19.25 billion (2016 est.)

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

Portugal 15.9%, US 12.5%, China 12.2%, South Africa 6.8%, Belgium 6.3%, Brazil 5.5%, UK 4.3% (2016)

$18.1 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.74 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$27.34 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$27.14 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$15.8 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$9.16 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

$23.66 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

$23.02 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -

172.6 (2017 est.)

163.66 (2016 est.)

163.66 (2015 est.)

120.06 (2014 est.)

98.3 (2013 est.)

9.438 billion kWh (2015 est.)

8.338 billion kWh (2015 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

0 kWh (2016 est.)

1.704 million kW (2015 est.)

45.2% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

54% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

0.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.)

1.77 million bbl/day (2016 est.)

1.7 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

8.273 billion bbl (1 January 2017 est.)

46,680 bbl/day (2014 est.)

142,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

23,980 bbl/day (2014 est.)

118,000 bbl/day (2014 est.)

773 million cu m (2015 est.)

1.094 billion cu m (2015 est.)

500 million cu m (2014 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

308.1 billion cu m (1 January 2017 est.)

33 million Mt (2013 est.)

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 (2009)

.ao

D2 (2016)

176 (2013)

1 (2013)

gas 352 km; liquid petroleum gas 85 km; oil 1,065 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2013)

1,300 km (2011)

2.95% of GDP (2016)

3.52% of GDP (2015)

5.4% of GDP (2014)

4.88% of GDP (2013)

3.59% of GDP (2012)

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) (2012)

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 (2013)

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