and Zaire
Map references:
Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
total area:
1,246,700 sq km
land area:
1,246,700 sq km
comparative area:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
total 5,198 km, Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zaire 2,511 km, Zambia
1,110 km
Coastline:
1,600 km
Maritime claims:
exclusive fishing zone:
200 nm
territorial sea:
20 nm
International disputes:
none
Climate:
semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry
season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
Terrain:
narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
Natural resources:
petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold,
bauxite, uranium
Land use:
arable land:
2%
permanent crops:
0%
meadows and pastures:
23%
forest and woodland:
43%
other:
32%
Irrigated land:
NA km2
Environment:
current issues:
population pressures contributing to overuse of pastures and
subsequent soil erosion; desertification; deforestation of tropical
rain forest attributable to the international demand for tropical
timber and domestic use as a fuel; deforestation contributing to loss
of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and
siltation of rivers and dams; scarcity of potable water
natural hazards:
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
international agreements:
party to - Law of the Sea; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity,
Climate Change
Note:
Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire
@Angola, People
Population: 9,803,576 (July 1994 est.) Population growth rate: 2.67% (1994 est.) Birth rate: 45.43 births/1,000 population (1994 est.) Death rate: 18.55 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.) Net migration rate: −0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.) Infant mortality rate: 145.4 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 45.77 years male: 43.72 years female: 47.92 years (1994 est.) Total fertility rate: 6.48 children born/woman (1994 est.) Nationality: noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan Ethnic divisions: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22% Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (est.) Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.) total population: 42% male: 56% female: 28% Labor force: 2.783 million economically active by occupation: agriculture 85%, industry 15% (1985 est.)
@Angola, Government
Note:
Civil war has been the norm since independence on 11 November 1975; a
cease-fire lasted from 31 May 1991 until October 1992 when the
insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)
refused to accept its defeat in internationally monitored elections;
fighting has since resumed throughout much of the countryside.
Nevertheless, the two sides are negotiating the details for holding
the second round of presidential elections.
Names:
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
Digraph:
AO
Type:
transitional government nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong
presidential system
Capital:
Luanda
Administrative divisions:
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
Independence:
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
Constitution:
11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March
1991, and 26 August 1992
Legal system:
based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently
modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free
markets
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979)
head of government:
Prime Minister Marcolino Jose Carlos MOCO (since 2 December 1992)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
National Assembly (Assembleia Nacional):
first nationwide, multiparty elections were held 29–30 September 1992
with disputed results; further elections are being discussed
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (Tribunal da Relacao)
Political parties and leaders:
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose
Eduardo DOS SANTOS, is the ruling party and has been