

Topic: Introduction
Background: Beginning in the 16th century, Portugal established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975. A 27-year civil war ended in 2002.Beginning in the 16th century, Portugal established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity. Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975. A 27-year civil war ended in 2002.

Topic: Geography
Area: total: 1,246,700 sq km

land: 1,246,700 sq km

water: 0 sq km
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

Topic: People and Society
Population: 34,795,287 (2022 est.)
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%; note - data represent most widely spoken languages; shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census (2014 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 3.36% (2022 est.)

Topic: Government
Government type: presidential republic
Capital: name: Luanda
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)
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)

Topic: Economy
Economic overview: African oil leader and OPEC member; fairly stable currency; widespread poverty; emerging African finance and investment capital; systemic public corruption and lack of oversight; massive foreign direct investment recipientAfrican oil leader and OPEC member; fairly stable currency; widespread poverty; emerging African finance and investment capital; systemic public corruption and lack of oversight; massive foreign direct investment recipient
Real GDP (purchasing power parity): $203.71 billion (2020 est.)
Real GDP per capita: $6,200 (2020 est.)
Agricultural products: cassava, bananas, maize, sweet potatoes, pineapples, sugar cane, potatoes, citrus fruit, vegetables, cabbage
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
Exports: $21 billion (2020 est.)
Exports - partners: China 62%, India 10%, United Arab Emirates 4%, Portugal 3%, Spain 3% (2019)
Exports - commodities: crude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, refined petroleum, ships (2019)
Imports: $15.12 billion (2020 est.)
Imports - partners: China 22%, Portugal 15%, Nigeria 6%, Belgium 6%, United States 5%, South Africa 5%, Brazil 5% (2019)
Imports - commodities: refined petroleum, scrap vessels, meat, rice, palm oil (2019)Page last updated: Thursday, May 12, 2022