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Background:
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Angola is
slowly rebuilding its country after 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 UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten
by the MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may
have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the
quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002
ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's
hold on power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold
legislative elections in 2006. |
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Location:
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Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Geographic coordinates:
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12 30 S, 18 30 E |
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 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 |
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Coastline:
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1,600 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate:
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semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has
cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season
(November to April) |
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Terrain:
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narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior
plateau |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper,
feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.41%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 97.35% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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750 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the
plateau |
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Environment - current issues:
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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 |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from
the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of
the Congo |
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Population:
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11,190,786 (July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 43.4% (male 2,454,209/female 2,407,083)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 3,059,339/female
2,955,060)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 139,961/female
175,134) (2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
18.12 years
male: 18.12 years
female: 18.11 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.9%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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44.64
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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25.9
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.28
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
191.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 203.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 178.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 38.43 years
male: 37.28 years
female: 39.64 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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6.27
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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3.9%
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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240,000
(2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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21,000
(2003 est.) |
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Major infectious diseases:
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degree
of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, African
trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in
some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
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Nationality:
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noun:
Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan |
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Ethnic groups:
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Ovimbundu
37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European
and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% |
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Religions:
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indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant
15% (1998 est.) |
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Languages:
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Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 82.1%
female: 53.8% (2001 est.) |
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Country name:
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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 |
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Government type:
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republic,
nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong
presidential system |
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Capital:
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Luanda
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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11
November 1975 (from Portugal) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 11 November (1975) |
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Constitution:
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11
November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6
March 1991, and 26 August 1992; note - new constitution
has not yet been approved |
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Legal system:
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based on
Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently
modified to accommodate political pluralism and
increased use of free markets |
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Suffrage:
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18 years
of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since
21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief
of state and head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS
SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president
is both chief of state and head of government; Fernando
de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister
on 6 December 2002, but this is not a position of real
power
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the
president
elections: president elected by universal ballot
for a five-year term; President DOS SANTOS originally
elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party
system and stood for reelection in Angola's first
multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be
held September 2006)
election results: DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI
40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off
was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of
the first election; the civil war resumed |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220
seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next
to be held September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA
54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129,
UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by
the president) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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Liberal
Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA];
National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA
[disputed leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO];
National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or
UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largest opposition party has
engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular Movement
for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS
SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social
Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo
KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in
the 1992 elections but only won a few seats and have
little influence in the National Assembly |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Front for
the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita
Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly
factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of
Cabinda Province |
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International organization participation:
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ACP, AfDB,
AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra
DIAKIDI
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC
20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston and New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFFIRD
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the
Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal
6468, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department
of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224
FAX: [244] (2) 446-924 |
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Flag description:
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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) |
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Economy - overview:
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Angola's
high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, but record
oil prices and rising petroleum production have occurred
without improved performance in other parts of the
economy. Oil production and its supporting activities,
contribute about 45% to GDP and more than half of
exports, and much of the country's infrastructure is
still damaged or undeveloped from the 22 year-long civil
war. Remnants of the conflict such as widespread land
mines still mar the countryside even though an
apparently durable peace has been established after the
death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002.
Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for
85% of the population, but much of the country's food
must still be imported. In 2005, the government started
using a $2 billion line of credit from China to rebuild
Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale
projects are scheduled for completion by 2006. The
central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate
stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to
buy kwanzas out of circulation, a policy that was more
sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export
earnings, and has significantly reduced inflation.
Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to about
18% in 2005, but the stabilization policy places
pressure on international net liquidity. To fully take
advantage of its rich national resources - gold,
diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and
large oil deposits - Angola will need to continue
reforming government policies and to reduce corruption.
The government has made sufficient progress on reforms
recommended by the IMF, such as promoting greater
transparency in government spending, and continues to be
without a formal monitoring agreement with the
institution. Increased oil production supported 12%
growth in 2004 and 14% growth in 2005. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$27.66
billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$24.13
billion (2005 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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14.1%
(2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $2,500 (2005 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 8%
industry: 67%
services: 25% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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5.58
million (2005 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (2003 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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extensive
unemployment and underemployment affecting more than
half the population (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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70% (2003
est.) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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17.7%
(2005 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed):
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30.6% of
GDP (2005 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $8.5 billion
expenditures: $10 billion, including capital
expenditures of $963 million (2005 est.) |
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Public debt:
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40.9% of
GDP (2005 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas,
sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc
(tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock;
forest products; fish |
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Industries:
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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 |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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1% (2000)
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Electricity - production:
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1.916
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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1.782
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2003) |
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Oil - production:
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1.6
million bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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46,000
bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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A (2001)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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25
billion bbl (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - production:
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530
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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530
million cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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79.57
billion cu m (2005) |
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Current account balance:
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$4.484
billion (2005 est.) |
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Exports:
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$26.8
billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Exports - partners:
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US 37.7%,
China 35.6%, Taiwan 6.7%, France 6.4% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$8.165
billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
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Imports - partners:
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South
Korea 28.3%, Portugal 13.1%, US 9.3%, South Africa 7.4%,
Brazil 5.6%, Japan 4.8%, France 4.4% (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
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$2.425
billion (2005 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$9.879
billion (2005 est.) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$383.5
million (1999) |
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Currency (code):
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kwanza (AOA)
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Exchange rates:
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kwanza
per US dollar - 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004), 74.606
(2003), 43.53 (2002), 22.058 (2001) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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96,300
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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130,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: telephone service limited mostly
to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used
extensively for military links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio
relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 244; satellite
earth stations - 29; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC)
provides connectivity to Europe and Asia (2005) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 21, FM
6, shortwave 7 (2000) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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6 (2000)
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Internet country code:
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.ao |
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Internet hosts:
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17 (2003)
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Internet users:
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41,000
(2002) |
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Airports:
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243 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
212
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 80 (2005 est.) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 214
km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30
km; oil 837 km; refined products 56 km (2004) |
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Railways:
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total:
2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km
0.600-m gauge (2004) |
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Roadways:
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total:
51,429 km
paved: 5,349 km
unpaved: 46,080 km (2001) |
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Waterways:
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1,300 km
(2004) |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 26,123 GRT/42,879 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum
tanker 1
registered in other countries: 4 (2005) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Cabinda,
Luanda, Soyo |
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Military branches:
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Army,
Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense
Forces (FANA) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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17 years
of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years plus time for training
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 2,423,221 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 17-49: 1,174,548 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
121,254 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$183.58
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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10.6%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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90,000
Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004, the remaining
refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and
Zambia are expected to return in 2005; many Cabinda
exclave secessionists have sought shelter in neighboring
states |
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Refugees and internally displaced persons:
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IDPs:
40,000-60,000 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4
million IDPs already have returned) (2004) |
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Illicit drugs:
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used as a
transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western
Europe and other African states |
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