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• GEOGRAPHY


Area: 1,246,700 sq. km. (481,400 sq. mi).
Cities: Capital --Luanda (pop. 4.0 million); Huambo (750,000); Benguela (600,000).
Terrain: A narrow, dry coastal strip extending from Luanda to Namibia; well-watered agricultural highlands; savanna in the far east and south; and rain forest in the north and Cabinda.
Climate: Tropical and tropical highland

Angola is located on the South Atlantic Coast of West Africa between Namibia and the Republic of the Congo. It also is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to the east. The country is divided into an arid coastal strip stretching from Namibia to Luanda; a wet, interior highland; a dry savanna in the interior south and southeast; and rain forest in the north and in Cabinda. The Zambezi River and several tributaries of the Congo River have their sources in Angola. The coastal strip is tempered by the cool Benguela current, resulting in a climate similar to coastal Peru or Baja California. There is a short rainy season lasting from February to April. Summers are hot and dry, while winters are mild. The interior highlands have a mild climate with a rainy season from November through April followed by a cool dry season from May to October. Elevations generally range from 3,000 to 6,000 feet. The far north and Cabinda enjoy rain throughout much of the year.

• PEOPLE

Angola has three main ethnic groups, each speaking a Bantu language: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, and Bakongo 13%. Other groups include Chokwe, Lunda, Ganguela, Nhaneca-Humbe, Ambo, Herero, and Xindunga. In addition, mixed racial (African and European) people amount to about 2%, with a small (1%) population of whites, mainly ethnically Portuguese. Portuguese make up the largest non-Angolan population, with at least 30,000 (though many native-born Angolans can claim Portuguese nationality under Portuguese law). Portuguese is both the official and predominant language.

Economy
GDP (2004 est. using purchasing power parity): $35.1 billion.
GDP (2004 est. using Atlas method): $14.3 billion.
Annual real GDP growth rate (2004 est.): 11.4%.
Per capita GDP (2004 est. using purchasing power parity): $2,525.
Per capita GDP (2004 est. using Atlas method): $951.
Avg. inflation rate (2003): 95.2%
Natural resources: Petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, bauxite, uranium, gold, granite, copper, feldspar.
Agriculture: Products --bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc, tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fisheries products.
Industry: Types --petroleum drilling and refining, mining, cement, basic metal products, fish processing, food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar refining, textiles.
Trade: Exports (2003 est.)--$9.8 billion: crude oil (90.3%), diamonds (8.4%), refined petroleum products (1.0%), gas (0.2%), coffee, sisal, fish and fisheries products, timber, cotton. Major markets (2002)--U.S. (35.8%), China (11.6%), France (6.9%), Belgium (5.4%), South Korea. Imports (2003 est.)--$4.1 billion, machinery, electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts, medicines, food, textiles. Major sources (2002)--Portugal (26%), U.S. (17.9%), South Africa (15.9%), France (8.6%), South Korea, Brazil.

 
 
 
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