Angola

country on the west coast of Southern Africa

Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country in southern Africa. It shares borders with Namibia in the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the north, and Zambia in the east. Its west border touches the Atlantic Ocean. Its coastline is 1600 kilometers. Angola's capital is Luanda. The country has many natural resources.[1][2] Angola is the seventh largest country in Africa. The capital and most populated city of Angola is Luanda.

Republic of Angola
República de Angola  (Portuguese)
Motto: 
  • Virtus Unita Fortior  (Latin)
  • (English: "Virtue is stronger when united")
Anthem: "Angola Avante"
(English: "Onwards Angola")
Capital
and largest city
Luanda
8°50′S 13°20′E / 8.833°S 13.333°E / -8.833; 13.333
Official languagesPortuguese
National languages
Ethnic groups
(2000)
37% Ovimbundu
25% Ambundu
13% Bakongo
21% Other African
2% Mestiço (mixed European and African)
1% Chinese
1% European
Religion
(2015)[3]
Demonym(s)
  • Angolan
GovernmentUnitary dominant-party presidential constitutional republic
• President
João Lourenço
Bornito de Sousa
LegislatureNational Assembly
Formation
11 November 1975
• United Nations full membership
22 November 1976
• Current constitution
21 January 2010
Area
• Total
1,246,700 km2 (481,400 sq mi) (22nd)
• Water (%)
negligible
Population
• 2020 estimate
31,127,674[4] (46th)
• 2014 census
25,789,024[5]
• Density
24.97/km2 (64.7/sq mi) (157th)
GDP (PPP)2019 estimate
• Total
$208.034 billion[6] (64th)
• Per capita
$6,850[6] (107th)
GDP (nominal)2019 estimate
• Total
$124.600 billion[6] (61st)
• Per capita
$4,101[6] (91st)
Gini (2018)51.3[7]
high
HDI (2019)Increase 0.581[8]
medium · 148th
CurrencyKwanza (AOA)
Time zoneUTC+1 (WAT)
Driving sideright
Calling code+244
ISO 3166 codeAO
Internet TLD.ao

Angola is a member state of the African Union, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Latin Union, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone and the Southern African Development Community.

History

Portugal built up its power in Angola from the late 15th to the middle 20th century.

After independence there was a civil war from 1975 to 2002. Cuba and the Soviet Bloc supported the ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA). South Africa supported the insurgent National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) until the end of apartheid. The war ended after the rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was killed.

Geography

Angola is the world's twenty-third largest country. Angola is bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north-east, the Republic of the Congo via the exclave of Cabinda, and the South Atlantic Ocean to the west.

Climate

Angola's average temperature on the coast is 16 °C (61 °F) in the winter and 21 °C (70 °F) in the summer. It has two seasons; dry (May to October) and hot rainy (November to April).

Demographics

Map of Angola

Angola had a population of 25,789,024 in 2014.[9]

Provinces

Angola is divided into eighteen provinces.

Map keyProvinceCapital
1BengoCaxito
2BenguelaBenguela
3BiéKuito
4CabindaCabinda
5Cuando CubangoMenongue
6Cuanza NorteN'dalatando
7Cuanza SulSumbe
8CuneneOndjiva
9HuamboHuambo
10HuílaLubango
11LuandaLuanda
12Lunda NorteLucapa
13Lunda SulSaurimo
14MalanjeMalanje
15MoxicoLuena
16NamibeNamibe
17UígeUíge
18ZaireM'banza-Kongo

See List of settlements in Angola for the cities and towns in the country.

Related pages

References

Other websites

  • Media related to Angola at Wikimedia Commons
  • Angola travel guide from Wikivoyage