by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)
Geography————
Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean,
between Namibia and Zaire
Geographic coordinates: 12 30 S, 18 30 E
Map references: Africa
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
border countries: 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
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Moro de Moco 2,620 m
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 sq km
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; inadequate
supplies 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, Desertification
Geographic note: Cabinda is separated from rest of country by Zaire
People———
Population: 10,342,899 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0–14 years: 45% (male 2,340,804; female 2,275,689)
15–64 years: 53% (male 2,748,417; female 2,706,295)
65 years and over: 2% (male 128,067; female 143,627) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.68% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 44.58 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 17.66 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: −0.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15–64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.02 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 138.9 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 46.8 years male: 44.65 years female: 49.06 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 6.35 children born/woman (1996 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%
Government—————
Name of country: 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
Data code: AO
Type of government: 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
