Profile
Background and figures as recorded in the CIA World Factbook.
Bantu-speaking people settled in the area now called Angola in 6th century A.D.; by the 10th century various Bantu groups had established kingdoms, of which Kongo became the most powerful. From the late-14th to the mid-19th century, a Kingdom of Kongo stretched across central Africa from present-day northern Angola into the current Congo republics. It traded heavily with the Portuguese who, beginning in the 16th century, established coastal colonies and trading posts and introduced Christianity.
- Capital
- Luanda
- Government
- presidential republic
- Population
- 38,984,796
- Area
- 1,246,700 sq km
- Location
- Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Climate
- semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
- Natural resources
- petroleum; diamonds; iron ore; phosphates; copper; feldspar…
- Languages
- Portuguese 71.2% (official); Umbundu 23%; Kikongo 8.2%; Kimbundu 7.8%…
- Religions
- Roman Catholic 41.1%; Protestant 38.1%; other 8.6%; none 12.3%
- Independence
- 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
- Administrative divisions
- 21 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando, Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Su…
- Currency
- kwanza (AOA)
- Export partners
- China 40%; India 9%; UAE 6%; Spain 6%…
- Import partners
- China 19%; Portugal 10%; UAE 7%; India 6%…
Source: CIA World Factbook — a work of the US government, in the public domain