Moving to Angola: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

37,202,061

Population Growth Rate

3.33%

Population Distribution

most people live in the western half of the country

urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda

Urban Population

• population: 68.7% of total population rate of
• urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

9.292 million LUANDA (capital), 959,000 Lubango, 905,000 Cabinda, 809,000 Benguela, 783,000 Malanje

Population: Male/Female

• male: 18,196,058
• female: 19,006,003

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Age Structure

• years: 46.9% (male 8,752,419/female 8,701,422) 15-64
• years: 50.7% (male 9,076,080/female 9,795,035) 65 years and
• over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 367,559/female 509,546)

Median Age

• total: 16.3 years
• male: 15.8 years
• female: 16.8 years

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

41

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

7.6

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

5.7

Gross reproduction rate

3

Child Marriage

women married by age 15: 7.9% women married by age 18: 30.3% men married by age 18: 6%

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

13.7%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

13.7%

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

55.7%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

19.4

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.4

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

• birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14
• years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64
• years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and
• over: 0.72 male(s)/female total
• population: 0.96 male(s)/female

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Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-0.2

Demographic profile

More than two decades after the end of Angola's 27-year civil war, the country still faces a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty, high maternal and child mortality, and illiteracy.

Despite the country's rapid post-war economic growth based on oil production, about 30 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line and unemployment is widespread, especially among the large young-adult population.

Only about 70% of the population is literate, and the rate drops to around 60% for women.

The youthful population - about 48% are under the age of 15 as of 2022 - is expected to continue growing rapidly with a fertility rate of more than 5 children per woman and a low rate of contraceptive use.

Fewer than half of women deliver their babies with the assistance of trained health care personnel, which contributes to Angola's high maternal mortality rate.

Of the estimated 550,000 Angolans who fled their homeland during its civil war, most have returned home since 2002.

In 2012, the UN assessed that conditions in Angola had been stable for several years and invoked a cessation of refugee status for Angolans.

Following the cessation clause, some of those still in exile returned home voluntarily through UN repatriation programs, and others integrated into host countries.

Ethnic Groups

Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, Mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Language Note

• Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, Muhumbi 2.1%, Luvale 1%, other 3.6%
• note - data represent most widely spoken languages
• shares sum to more than 100% because some respondents gave more than one answer on the census

Nationality Noun

• noun: Angolan(s)
• adjective: Angolan

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Literacy - total population

71.1%

Literacy - male

82.6%

Literacy - female

62.4%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.4%

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Life Expectancy at Birth

• population: 62.9 years
• male: 60.8 years
• female: 65.1 years

Infant Mortality Rate

• total: 55.6 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 60.7 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

• total: 55.6 deaths/1,000 live births
• male: 60.7 deaths/1,000 live births
• female: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

222

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.21

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

.8

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

2.9%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

• risk: very high food or waterborne
• diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever vectorborne
• diseases: dengue fever, malaria water contact
• diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact
• diseases: rabies

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

8.2%

Alcohol consumption per capita

• total: 5.84 liters of pure alcohol
• beer: 3.78 liters of pure alcohol
• wine: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol
• spirits: 1.27 liters of pure alcohol other
• alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 81.3% of population
• rural: 36.5% of population
• total: 66.5% of population
• unimproved: urban: 18.7% of population
• rural: 63.5% of population
• total: 33.5% of population

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

• improved: urban: 93.7% of population
• rural: 30.3% of population
• total: 72.7% of population
• unimproved: urban: 6.3% of population
• rural: 69.7% of population
• total: 27.3% of population

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Economic Overview

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector.

Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports; Angola is an OPEC member and is subject to its direction regarding oil production levels.

Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports.

Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most people, but half of the country's food is still imported.

Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 17% per year from 2004 to 2008.

A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well.

Some of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war (1975-2002).

However, since 2005 the government has used billions of dollars in credit from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to help rebuild Angola's public infrastructure.

Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, and as a result, the national military, international partners, and private Angolan firms all continue to remove them.

The global recession that started in 2008 stalled Angola’s economic growth and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued billions in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell.

Lower prices for oil and diamonds also resulted in GDP falling 0.7% in 2016.

Angola formally abandoned its currency peg in 2009 but reinstituted it in April 2016 and maintains an overvalued exchange rate.

In late 2016, Angola lost the last of its correspondent relationships with foreign banks, further exacerbating hard currency problems.

Since 2013 the central bank has consistently spent down reserves to defend the kwanza, gradually allowing a 40% depreciation since late 2014.

Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014, before rising again to above 30% from 2015-2017.

Continued low oil prices, the depreciation of the kwanza, and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects, although several major international oil companies remain in Angola.

Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge that poses an additional threat to the economy.

Industries

• Petroleum
• diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold
• cement
• basic metal products
• fish processing
• food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar
• textiles
• ship repair

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,800.00 (USD)

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$203,710,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$6,800.00 (USD)

GDP - official exchange rate

$91,940,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• Consumption: 72.5% Government
• Consumption: 18.1% Investment in Fixed
• Capital: 10.3% Investment in
• Inventories: 0% Exports of Goods and
• Services: 35.3% Imports of Goods and
• Services: -36.2%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

10.2%

GDP by Sector- Industry

61.4%

GDP by Sector- services

28.4%

Industrial Growth Rate

0.9%

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Inflation Rate

26.9%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

172

Currency Name and Code

Angola Kwanza (AOA)

Fiscal Year

Calendar Year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

30%

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Labor Force

10,850,000

Major Industries

• Petroleum
• diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold
• cement
• basic metal products
• fish processing
• food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar
• textiles
• ship repair

Agriculture Products

• Bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (manioc, tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains
• livestock
• forest products
• fish

Population Below Poverty Line

40.5%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

832,895

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

24%

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Labor Force By Occupation - industry and services

15%

Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

85%

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Annual Budget

$27,270,000,000 (USD)

Public Debt (% of GDP)

57.4%

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-6.8%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

29.7%

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Full Country Name

Republic of Angola

Country Name

Angola

Local - Long

Republica de Angola

Local - Short

Angola

Former Name

People's Republic of Angola

Etymology- history of name

name derived by the Portuguese from the title "ngola" held by kings of the Ndongo (Ndongo was a kingdom in what is now Angola)

Independence

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

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Government Type

presidential republic

Constitution

• history: previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010
• amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic

Legal System:

civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017); Vice President Esperanca Francisco DA COSTA (since 15 September 2022); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
• head of government: President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 15 September 2022); Vice President Esperanca Francisco DA COSTA (since 15 September 2022)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
• elections/appointments: the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term); last held on 24 August 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
• election results: Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by then winning party following the 24 August 2022 general election

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members directly elected in a single national constituency and in multi-seat constituencies by closed list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 24 August 2022 (next to be held in 2027)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 51.1%, UNITA 43.9%, FNLA 1.1%, PHA 1%, PRS 1.1%, other 1.7%; seats by party - MPLA 124, UNITA 90, FNLA 2, PHA 2, PRS 2;
• Composition: men 146, women 74, percent of women 33.6%

Judicial Branch:

• office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president upon recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms
• subordinate courts: provincial and municipal courts

Regions or States:

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

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE [Manuel FERNANDES]
• Humanist Party of Angola or PHI [Florbela MALAQUIAS]
• National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA
• Note: party has two factions; one led by Lucas NGONDA; the other by Ngola KABANGU National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Adalberto Costa JUNIOR] (largest opposition party) Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Joao LOURENCO];

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years

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Capital Name

Luanda

Capital - geographic coordinate

8 50 S, 13 13 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Daylight Savings Time

does not observe daylight savings time

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AfDB
• AU
• CEMAC
• CPLP
• FAO
• G-77
• IAEA
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ISO (correspondent)
• ITSO
• ITU
• ITUC (NGOs)
• MIGA
• NAM
• OAS (observer)
• SADC
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UNMISS
• Union Latina
• UNOOSA
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WFTU (NGOs)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO)
• WHO
• WIPO
• WMO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Tulinabo S. MUSHINGI (since 9 March 2022)
• Embassy: Rua Houari Boumedienne, #32, Luanda
• Mailing Address: 2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
• Telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
• FAX: [244] (222) 64-1000
• Email: Consularluanda@state.gov
• Website: https://ao.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Agostinho de Carvalho dos Santos VAN-DÚNEM (since 30 June 2023)
• Chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
• Telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
• FAX: [1] (202) 822-9049
• Email: info@angola.org
• Website: https://angola.org/
• Consulate(s) General: Houston, New York

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Geographic Location

Africa

Geographic Coordinates

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Total Area

481,351 Square Miles 1,246,700 Square Kilometers

Land Area

481,351 Square Miles 1,246,700 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

3,230 Miles 5,198 Kilometers

Border Countries

The Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline

994 Miles 1,600 Kilometers

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Terrain

A narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to a vast interior plateau

Highest Point

2,620 Meters

Highest Point Location

Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Lowest Point Location

Atlantic Ocean 0 m

Natural Resources

Petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Irrigated Land

330 Square Miles 855 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Daylight saving time

does not observe daylight savings time

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Climate

The climate is semiarid in the south and along the coast of Luanda.

The north has a cool dry season (May to October) and a hot rainy season (November to April).

Natural hazards are locally heavy rainfall, which causes periodic flooding.

In Luanda during the January to April hot season, the temperature is often in the upper 90s; the sun is quite intense, and the humidity is very high.

During the winter months, June through September, the days are pleasant, with high temperatures around 80°F, with mild evenings.

Skies are often hazy, a condition called "cacimbo." Generally, there are light rains during November and December, with heavy rains falling in March and April.

Terrain

A narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to a vast interior plateau

Location

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Total Area

481,351 Square Miles 1,246,700 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

The Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Environment - Current Issues

• Overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures
• desertification
• deforestation of the tropical rain forests, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity
• soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams
• inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - International Agreements

Party To: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$30,040,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$19,670,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

Crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Major Imports

Machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts

medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Top Export Partners

China 43.8%, India 9.6%, United States 7.7%, Spain 6.2%, South Africa 4.8%, France 4.4%

Top Import Partners

China 22.1%, Portugal 13.8%, South Korea 11%, United States 6.9%, South Africa 5%, UK 4.1%, France 4%

Export Partners

China 43.8%, India 9.6%, United States 7.7%, Spain 6.2%, South Africa 4.8%, France 4.4%

Import Partners

China 22.1%, Portugal 13.8%, South Korea 11%, United States 6.9%, South Africa 5%, UK 4.1%, France 4%

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Airports - total

176

Airports with Paved Runways

31

Heliports

1

Roadways- total

31,956 Miles 51,429 Kilometers

Waterways

808 Miles 1,300 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Ambriz, Cabinda, Lobito, Luanda, Malongo, Namibe (Mocamedes), Porto Amboim, Soyo

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Pipelines: Gas

219 Miles 352 Kilometers

Pipelines: Liquid Petroleum Gas

53 Miles 85 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil

662 Miles 1,065 Kilometers

Pipelines: Oil/Gas/Water

3 Miles 5 Kilometers

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Telephones

303,200

Cell Phones

8,109,000

Internet Users

100,000

Internet Country Code

.ao

Internet Hosts

3,717

Broadcast Media

• The state controls all broadcast media with nationwide reach
• state-owned Televisao Popular de Angola (TPA) provides terrestrial TV service on 2 channels
• a third TPA channel is available via cable and satellite
• TV subscription services are available
• state-owned Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasts on 5 stations
• about a half dozen private radio stations broadcast locally

Telephone System

• Assessment: limited system; state-owned telecom had a monopoly for fixed-lines until 2005; demand outstripped capacity, prices were high, and services poor; Telecom Namibia, through an Angolan company, became the first private licensed operator in Angola's fixed-line telephone network; by 2010, the number of fixed-line providers had expanded to 5; Angola Telecom established mobile-cellular service in Luanda in 1993 and the network has been extended to larger towns; a privately owned, mobile-cellular service provider began operations in 2001
• Domestic: only about two fixed-lines per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity about 50 telephones per 100 persons in 2011
• International: country code - 244; landing point for the SAT-3/WASC fiber-optic submarine cable that provides connectivity to Europe and Asia; satellite earth stations - 29

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

3,173,000,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

3,722,000,000

Natural Gas Consumption - Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

733,000,000

Natural Gas Production- Cubic Meters (cu m)

752,000,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

366,000,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

79,430

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,928,000

Oil Production- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,600,000

Oil Reserves- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

10,470,000,000

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Anthem History

"Angola Avante" was adopted upon independence from Portugal

Anthem Lyrics

O Pátria, nunca mais esqueceremos Os heróis do quatro de Fevereio.

O Pátria, nós saudamos os teus filhos Tombados pela nossa Independência.

Honramos o passado e a nossa História, Construindo no Trabalho o Homem novo, Honramos o passado e a nossa História, Construindo no Trabalho o Homem novo.

CHORUS (twice) Angola, avante!

Revolução, pelo Poder Popular!

Pátria Unida, Liberdade, Um só povo, uma só Nação!

Levantemos nossas vozes libertadas Para glóriados povos africanos.

Marchemos, combatentes angolanos, Solidários com os poroso primidos.

Orgulhosos lutaremos Pela Paz Com as forças progressistas do mundo.

Orgulhosos lutaremos Pela Paz Com as forças progressistas do mundo.

CHORUS (twice) Angola, avante!

Revolução, pelo Poder Popular!

Pátria Unida, Liberdade, Um só povo, uma só Nação!

Anthem Lyrics English

O Fatherland, we shall never forget The heroes of the Fourth of February.

O Fatherland, we salute your sons Who died for our Independence.

We honour the past and our history As by our work we build the New Man.

We honour the past and our history As by our work we build the New Man.

CHORUS (twice) Forward, Angola!

Revolution through the power of the People!

A United Country, Freedom, One People, one Nation!

Let us raise our liberated voices To the glory of the peoples of Africa.

We shall march, Angolan fighters, In solidarity with oppressed peoples.

We shall fight proudly for Peace Along with the progressive forces of the world.

We shall fight proudly for Peace Along with the progressive forces of the world.

CHORUS (twice)