Countries of the World - Angola

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ANGOLA Angola is a Portuguese-speaking country in southern Africa, officially known as the Republic of Angola. Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. It is the second largest Portuguese speaking country by population and area, and the seventh largest country in Africa. Angola has an exclave province – Cabinda that borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Angola Capital – Luanda Official language – Portuguese Religion – 92.9% Christianity 5.1% Traditional faiths 1.1% Islam .9% Other Formation – 11 November 1975 United Nations full membership – 22 November 1976 Current Constitution – 21 January 2010 Area – 1,246,700 km2, 481,400 sq. mi. Population – 2023 estimate - 37,290,193 Currency – Angolan kwanza Portuguese settlement started with coastal settlements and trading posts in the sixteenth century. European settlers gradually settled in the interior in the nineteenth century. Its present borders came about in the early twentieth century. Angola achieved independence in 1975 and then descended into a devasting war in the same year between the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the militant organization National Liberation Front of Angola. Following the end of the war in 2002, the country emerged as a stable constitutional republic. Angola has numerous mineral and petroleum reserves. Its economy is among the fastest growing in the world. Yet its standard of living remains low. Life expectancy in Angola is among the lowest in the world while infant mortality is among the highest. Located in the tropics, Angola experiences two alternating seasons, rainy and dry. In the north the rainy season lasts seven months from September to April and slacks off slightly in January and February. In the south the rainy season is from November to February. The dry season is characterized by heavy morning mist. Generally, northern Angola has more precipitation, but at any altitude, it is greater in the interior than along the coast. After the Civil War, Angola had the fastest growing economy in Africa and is one of the fastest growing in the world with an average GDP growth of 20% between 2005-2007. During 2001-2010, Angola had the highest average GDP growth in the world at 11.1% China is Angola’s largest trade partner. Its main imports are crude oil and diamonds. As of 2021 the biggest import partners were the European Union, followed by China, the US and Brazil. More than half of Angola’s exports go to China, followed by a significantly smaller amount to India, the EU and UAE. Diamonds and oil make up 60% of Anglo’s economy. Angola has four main sports: Basketball, football, handball, and roller hockey. The basketball national team has won the AfroBasket eleven times and holds the record for most titles. It’s a regular competitor at the Summer Olympics and FIBA World Cup. In football, Angola hosted the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. The national football team qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They won three COSAFA cups and finished runner up in 2011 African Nations Championship. Angola also participates in the World Women’s Handball Championships and has appeared in the Summer Olympics. They also hosted the FIRS Roller Hockey World Cup. The image is the Angolan Flag public domain.