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Southern Africa bordering the South Atlantic Ocean
Republic of Angola, won its independence from Portugal in 1975.
The BBC reports in May 2007 that "The constitution provides for freedom of expression but the government does not always respect this and private media outlets are liable to harassment. Anti-defamation statutes protect officials from reporting deemed 'offensive'."
Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.
Factbook: "Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, which has taken advantage of high international oil prices. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85% of GDP. "
2009: $8,900 (rates 114th)
2008: $9,200
2007: $8,300
2009 -0.6%
2008: 13.2%
2007: 21.1.6%
February 28, 2006: According to the BBC, Angola has a "burgeoning middle class."
Angola has been slowly rebuilding its country since the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002.
Some gain in per capita GDP for 2003 can be attributed to an end of Angola's 27-year civil war.
In 2004 Angola benefited from an increase in oil production, at 980,000 barrels per day -- about one-ninth that of Saudi Arabia. Oil production estimated for 2005: 1.6 billion barrels per day.
Figures for 2003 have 85 five percent of the population depending on agriculture for their livelihood. But according to the BBC, on February 28, 2006, about one-quarter of Angola's population lives in Luanda, most of them in the city's slums.
Economic problems created by population pressures and overuse of pastures creating soil erosion. International demand for tropical timber and Domestic for woods for fuel and in diminishing tropical rain forest.
Export/import ratio was positive: 97/40.
But Angola has inadequate supplies of drinking water.
Inflation estimated for 2005: 23 percent. In 2000 it was 325 percent, 106 percent in 2002, meaning that if you have cash you wanted to spend it immediately.
Living in an urban area: 57% (2008)
July 2009: 12.799 million. Growth rate: 2.095% (ranks 50th)
July 2008: 12.531 million.
2009: More arriving than leaving. A net gain of 1.72 persons per 1,000 population.
2009: 180.21 (ranks 1st -- the worst)
2008: 182.31
2005: 191.19
2009: 38.2 years
2008: 37.92
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: 3.9 percent (2003 estimate).
Ovimbundu 37 percent, Kimbundu 25 percent, Bakongo 13 percent, mixed European and African, 2 percent, European 1 percent, Roman Catholic 38 percent, Protestant 15 percent (the latter two 1998 estimates).
SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
Copyright © 2010 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.