The Republic of Angola is one of Africa's major oil producers, and one of the world's poorest countries, with many Angolans relying on food aid. Angola is struggling to tackle the physical, social and political legacy of a 27-year civil war that ravaged the country after independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975. Angola is currently rebuilding its infrastructure, retrieving weapons from its heavily-armed civilian population and resettling tens of thousands of refugees who fled the fighting. The country consists of 18 provinces and four major languages are spoken - Portuguese (the official language), Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo. President Dos Santos held legislative elections at then end of last year (2008) and presidential elections will take place in 2010.

Leader: President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. (since 1979)
Capital city: Luanda.

Economic profile

Monetary unit: Kwanza
GDP per capita: $8 200 (2010) (CIA)
GDP composition by sector:
Agriculture: 9.9% (2008) (World Bank)
Industry: 67.8% (2008) (World Bank)
Services: 25.7% (2008) (World Bank)
GDP growth rate: 1.6% (2010) (CIA)
Budget:
Government revenue, excluding grants: $40.41-billion (2010) (CIA)
Government expenditure: $37.38-billion (2010) (CIA)
Consumer price inflation: 13.3% (2010) (CIA)
Industries: Petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; and ship repair.
Exports of goods and services: $51.65-billion (2010) (World Bank)
Imports of goods and services: $18.1-billion (2010) (World Bank)
Export commodities: Crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, and cotton.
Import commodities: Machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, and military goods.
Trade balance: 47,5% of GDP (2007) (IMF)
Reserves: $16.89-billion (2010) (CIA)
Total investment: 12% of GDP (2007) (IMF)

Social profile

Population: 18-million (2009) (World Bank)
Population growth: 2.6% (2009) (World Bank)
Life expectancy at birth: 47 years (2009) (World Bank)
Adult literacy: 70% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment secondary: 15% (2009) (World Bank)
School enrolment tertiary: 3% (2006) (World Bank)
Number of people living with HIV/Aids: 200 000 (2007) (Unicef)