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Geographic Location: Western African coast
Area: 1 246 700 km2
Population: 10 766 471 inhabitants (2003)
Capital: Luanda
Other important cities: Huambo, Benguela and Lobito
Independence date: November 11th 975
Government type: Democratic Republic
Currency: Kwanza
Official language: Portuguese
Major religions: Catholicism, Protestantism and indigenous beliefs
Natural or inhabitant: Angolan
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 Geography
Angola is located in south-western Africa, ant its official name is Republic of Angola. Located on the west coast, on the transition between Central Africa and Austral Africa, it covers an area of 1 246 700 km2. It is bordered by The Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the north and east; Zambia, to the east, and Namibia, to the south; to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean.
The enclave of Cabinda is bordered by the Republic of the Congo, to the north, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the east and south, and to the west lies the Atlantic Ocean. The larger city is Luanda, the capital, with 2 783 000 inhabitants (2004), followed by Huambo (173 600 inhabitants), Benguela (134 500 inhabitants) and Lobito (134 400 inhabitants) (2004). The morphology of the territory is characterised by flat coastal strips, followed by intermediate mountains and interior plateaus. Kwanza, Zaire and Congo are the main rivers.
Climate
Given the extension and relief of the territory, Angola presents various climatic
changes. On the coastline and from North to South the climate is successively
equatorial in Cabinda, wet tropical, dry tropical and desert warm in Namibe. In
the plateau regions of the centre of the country, the tropical climate is controlled
by the effects of altitude and therefore temperatures are milder.
Over 40% of the territory is covered by forest, thicker in the Northeast and,
especially in the enclave of Cabinda, there are also savannas and prairie. Less
than 10% of the total area of the country is arable.
Economy
 Angolan economy reflects the state of war which has been almost permanent for
several dozens of years. The main income sources of the country come from oil
exploration and diamonds. Other relevant mineral resources are iron, manganese,
copper and phosphates. The hydroelectric potential of Angola is among the best
in Africa. The main agricultural productions are manioc, sugar cane, bananas,
sweet potato, coffee, peanuts, beans and sorghum. Angola's main commercial partners
are the United States of America, Portugal, Brazil, France and Japan.
Environmental indicator: the value of carbon dioxide emissions, per capita (metric
tones,1999), is 0,8.
Population
The population of Angola is 10 766 471 inhabitants (2003), which corresponds to
a density of 8 hab./km2. The birth rate is 45,57% and the death rate is 25,38%.
The average life expectancy reaches only 36,96 years, one of the lowest figures
in the world. The value of the Human Development Index (HDI) is 0,377 (2001) (GDI
n/a). It has been estimated that by the year 2025 the population of Angola will
be 17 405 000 inhabitants.
The main ethnic group is Ovimbundu, a group which constitutes around 2/5 of the
total population in the country and speaks Umbundu. The Mbunda, which represent
about 1/4 of the total population, speak Kimbundu. Other large ethnic groups are
Kongo, o Lumbe, Humbe, Nyaneka, Chokwe, Luena, Luchasi, Lunda, Nkhumbi and Ngangela.
As regards religion, the predominant beliefs are Catholicism, Protestantism and
indigenous beliefs. Most people speak Bantu, but many other languages and indigenous
dialects are also spoken. The official language is Portuguese.
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Friday 30th July 2010
