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FACTS ABOUT ANGOLA

Blessed with abundant natural resources, including petroleum, diamonds, agriculture and fishing resources, Angola has the potential to be one of Africa’s brightest stars. Angola has a population of over 11 million people and a territory of about 1.2 million square kilometers (481,350 square miles), which makes it about twice the size of Texas.

Angola is already America’s third largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. has also become Angola’s number one investor. There is no question that the U.S. and Angola share important interest, including economic ties and that U.S. and Angolan companies can contribute to the economic development and stability of Angola.

The U.S.-Angola Chamber Commerce helps companies respond to these opportunities and contribute to Angola’s reconstruction and development. We strongly believe that Angola has the potential to be one Africa’s most prosperous countries, and that conditions are favorable for the private sector to b in the forefront of Angola’s development and reconstruction.

Please Visit Sector Information for the Following Sectors in Angola:

• Agriculture
• Construction and Infrastructure
• Petroleum Exploration
• Financial Services
• Mining
• NGOs
• Telecommunications
• Trade
• Transportation
• Shipping

Geography:

• Location:   southern Africa bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, Congo, Namibia, Zaire and Zambia.
• Total Land Area: 1,246,700 sq. Km (approximately twice the size of Texas).
• Total coastline: 1,600 Km.
• Climate: semiarid in the south and along the coast to Luanda. In the north of the country there is a cool, dry season (May to October) and a hot, rainy season (November to April).
• Natural Resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium.
• Land use: forest and woodland, 43%; meadows and pastures, 23%; arable land, 2%; other, 32%.

To see some images of Angola, please click on pictures.

People:

• Population: 10,864,512 (1998 estimate).
• Population Growth Rate: 2.84% (1998 estimate).
• Birth Rate: 43.58 births/1,000 population (1998 estimate).
• Death Rate: 16.79 deaths/1,000 population (1998 estimate).
• Ethnic Groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, Mestiço 2%, European 1%, other 22%.
• Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 estimate).
• Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and several other African languages.
• Literacy: total population 42%, male 56%, female 28% (1998 estimate).

• Type: transitional multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system.
• Capital City: Luanda
• Administrative Divisions (provinces; capitals in parentheses): Bengo (Caxito), Benguela (Benguela), Bie (Kuito), Cabinda (Cabinda), Cuando Cubango (Menongue), Cuanza Norte (N'Dalatando), Cuanza Sul (N'Gunza), Cunene (Ondjiva), Huambo (Huambo), Huila (Lubango), Luanda (Luanda), Lunda Norte (Lucapa), Lunda Sul (Saurimo), Malanje (Malanje), Moxico (Luena), Namibe (Moçamedes), Uige (Uige), Zaire (M'Banza Congo).
• Constitution: 11 November 1975; revised most recently on August 26, 1992.
• Legal system: based on Portuguese civil law system and customary
  law; undergoing modification to accommodate political pluralism and free markets.
• Suffrage: 18 years; universal
• Executive Branch: Chief of State: José Eduardo dos Santos (since September 1979), Cabinet: Council of Ministers (appointed by the president, last series of appointments January 1999).
• Legislative Branch: National Assembly (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms); elections were last held 29-30 September 1992; percent vote by party--MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%.
• Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president.
• Political Parties & Leaders: Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by José Eduardo dos Santos along with the party's Secretary General João Lorenzo, is the current ruling party in power since independence in 1975; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas Savimbi.
• Diplomatic Representation in the US: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra Diakite;
  Chancery location: 2108 16th Street, NW; Washington, D.C. 20036. Telephone: (202) 785-1156   FAX: (202) 785-1258;
  Consulate location: 2100 16th Street, NW,  Washington, DC 20036. Telephone: (202) 452-1042  Fax: (202) 785-1258.
• Diplomatic Representation from the US: Ambassador Christopher Dell; Embassy location: No. 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne, Miramar, Luanda. Telephone: (244-2) 345-481, 346-418  Fax: (244-2) 346-924.