Angola
Republic of Angola
Capital: Luanda
History
Angola is still rebuilding its country 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. President DOS SANTOS pushed through a new constitution in 2010; elections held in 2012 saw him installed as president.
Geography
Metric Units
|
Total Area
|
1,246,700
sq km
|
| Land Boundaries |
5,198
km
|
| Border Countries |
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 |
| Coastline |
1,600
km
|
| Terrain |
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau |
| Minimum Elevation |
0
m
|
| Maximum Elevation |
2,620
m
|
| Climate |
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April) |
| Natural Resources |
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium |
| Arable Land |
3.29% |
| Permanent Crops |
0.23% |
Economy
Budget & Debt
Trade
| Exports |
$71.95 billion |
| Export Items |
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton |
| Export Partners |
China 36.3%, US 18.5%, India 10.6%, Taiwan 8%, Canada 6.9% (2012 est.) |
| Imports |
$22.32 billion |
| Import Items |
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts |
| Import Partners |
China 36.3%, Portugal 16.5%, South Korea 11.3%, Netherlands 9%, China 8.8%, US 8.1%, South Africa 4.9%, Brazil 4.5%, France 4.2% (2012 est.) |
People
| Population |
18,565,269 |
| Population Growth |
2.78% |
| Ethnic Groups |
Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% |
| Religion |
indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.) |
| Life Expectancy |
54.95 years |
| Infant Mortality |
1.02 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Maternal Mortality |
4 deaths/100,000 live births |
Energy
