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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.
Estimated per capita GDP:
2007 $6,500 (Ranks 123rd)
2006 $4,400
2005 $3,800
2004 $2,100
2003 $1,900
1999 $1,000
GDP annual growth rate estimated for 2007: 16.3 percent. (Ranks 4th.)
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.
CIA Factbook: "Angola's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about half of GDP and 90% of exports. Increased oil production supported 12% growth in 2004 and 19% growth in 2005."
Real Growth rate estimated for 2006 is 15 percent. The inflation rate for 2006 is estimated at 13.2 percent.
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.
Deaths: 24.44. Births: 44.09.
Estimated for July 2008: 12.531 million. Growth rate: 2.136 percent per year.
More arriving than leaving, a net gain of 1.72 persons per 1,000 population.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 182.31, down from 191.19 for 2005. (Deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births.)
Average life expectancy estimated for 2008: 37.92, down from 38.62 years for 2006, the second worst in the world, after Swaziland.
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 © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.