Where is Angola located?

What countries border Angola?

Angola Weather

What is the current weather in Angola?


Angola Facts and Culture

What is Angola famous for?

  • Cultural Attributes: In Angola, a regional or tribal sense of identity is often more important than the national sense. Angola's people are... More
  • Family: Most of the people in Angola live in simple wooden or clay houses. In the towns and villages, modern... More
  • Personal Apperance: Angolans express their artistic sense by creating beautiful hairstyles and headdresses. Western-style of clothing is common although in the villages... More
  • Recreation: The most popular sport in Angola is soccer. Boys of all ages play soccer in the streets, often with... More
  • Diet: The traditional diet in Angola is influenced by its diverse cultural heritage and availability of local ingredients. The country's cuisine... More
  • Food and Recipes: Cassava is the most important food in Angola. It can be made into flour, bread, tapioca, or even alcohol. Fuba... More
  • Visiting: When visiting Angola and interacting with the local people, it's helpful to keep the following points in mind to ensure... More
  • Dating: In the countryside, it is not uncommon for Angolan parents to suggest a possible partner for their son or daughter.... More

Angola Facts

What is the capital of Angola?

Capital Luanda
Government Type presidential republic
Currency Angola Kwanza (AOA)
Total Area 481,351 Square Miles
1,246,700 Square Kilometers
Location Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Language Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
GDP - per capita (PPP) $6,800.00 (USD)

Angola Demographics

What is the population of Angola?

Ethnic Groups Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, Mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%
Language - note Portuguese is the official language used in government business and in major cities. Portuguese as a second language after the language of their native tribe or ethnic group.  “Umbundu” is the language most commonly used and understood in central and southern Angola.  In Northwest Angola “Kikongo” is spoken.
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%; note - data represent most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census
Nationality Noun noun: Angolan(s)

adjective: Angolan
Population 37,202,061
Population Growth Rate 3.33%
Population in Major Urban Areas 9.292 million LUANDA (capital), 959,000 Lubango, 905,000 Cabinda, 809,000 Benguela, 783,000 Malanje
Urban Population urban population: 68.7% of total population

rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change
Population: Male/Female male: 18,196,058

female: 19,006,003

Angola Government

What type of government does Angola have?

Executive Branch chief of state: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Esperanca Francisco DA COSTA (since 15 September 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government

head of government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 15 September 2022); Vice President Esperanca Francisco DA COSTA (since 15 September 2022)

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 24 August 2022 (next to be held in 2027)

election results: Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by then winning party following the 24 August 2022 general election
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
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
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
Independence 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Angola Video

YouTube: Christie Cherian Overview of Angola - Economy, Tourism & More

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Angola Geography

What environmental issues does Angola have?

Overview Angola is located on the southwestern coast of Africa (South Atlantic Ocean). The coastline extends a distance of nearly 1,000 miles from Angola’s oil-rich enclave of Cabinda north of the mouth of the Zaire River and is separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the border of Namibia. The country stretches inland for some 950 miles, a third of the way across Africa. The terrain features a narrow coastal plain, which rises abruptly to a vast inland plateau. Angola’s interior elevations range from 3,000–7,000 feet, with the upland region forming one of Africa’s largest watersheds.
Climate The climate is semiarid in the south and along the coast of Luanda. The north has a cool dry season (May to October) and a hot rainy season (November to April). Natural hazards are locally heavy rainfall, which causes periodic flooding.

In Luanda during the January to April hot season, the temperature is often in the upper 90s; the sun is quite intense, and the humidity is very high. During the winter months, June through September, the days are pleasant, with high temperatures around 80°F, with mild evenings. Skies are often hazy, a condition called "cacimbo." Generally, there are light rains during November and December, with heavy rains falling in March and April.
Border Countries The 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
Environment - Current Issues Overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of the tropical rain forests, 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, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Terrain A narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to a vast interior plateau

Angola Economy

How big is the Angola 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 is subject to its direction regarding oil production levels. Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most 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, since 2005 the government 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.
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
Currency Name and Code Angola Kwanza (AOA)
Export Partners China 43.8%, India 9.6%, United States 7.7%, Spain 6.2%, South Africa 4.8%, France 4.4%
Import Partners China 22.1%, Portugal 13.8%, South Korea 11%, United States 6.9%, South Africa 5%, UK 4.1%, France 4%

Angola News and Current Events

What current events are happening in Angola?
Source: Google News

Angola Travel Information

What makes Angola a unique country to travel to?

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%; note - data represent most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

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