Angola is a country located in southwestern Africa, bordered by Namibia to the south, Zambia to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north and east. Angola also has a coastline along the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola, and Portuguese is the official language.

Angola has a population of around 32 million people, and the majority of the population is Bantu-speaking, with small minorities of Europeans, mestizos, and Chinese. The country has a diverse landscape, including a narrow coastal plain, high plateaus, and the Congo Basin rainforest in the north.

Angola has a tropical climate, with temperatures that can exceed 40°C (104°F) during the summer months. The country is known for its natural resources, including diamonds, oil, and other minerals, which account for the majority of the country's export revenues.

The Angolan economy has undergone significant transformation since the end of the civil war in 2002, transitioning from a socialist economy to a market-oriented economy. The country is also known for its agricultural production, particularly of coffee, cotton, and cassava.

Angola is a predominantly Christian country, with a rich cultural heritage influenced by Bantu, Portuguese, and Brazilian traditions. The country has a diverse and flavorful cuisine, with popular dishes such as muamba de galinha (chicken stew) and calulu (a fish stew with okra and palm oil).

Despite progress in areas such as education and healthcare, Angola still faces challenges such as high poverty rates, corruption, and political instability. In recent years, the country has also faced security challenges, including terrorism and cross-border trafficking of arms and drugs.

National holiday
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Telephone Code
244

Local Emergency Phone
emergency response number 112, Ambulance: 118; Fire: 118; Police: 110

Vaccinations
An International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever is required for all travelers. See WHO recommendations.

Climate
Semiarid in south and along the coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (November to April)

Currency (Code)
Kwanza (AOA)

Electricity/Voltage/Plug Type(s)
220 V / 50 Hz / plug types(s): C

Major Languages
Portuguese 71.2% (official), Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, and other minority languages

Major Religions
Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%

Potable Water
Opt for bottled water

International Driving Permit
Suggested

Road Driving Side
Right

Tourist Destinations
Luanda; Kissama National Park; Tundavala Gap; Dilolo Lake; Kalandula Falls; Benguela; Maiombe Forest

Major Sports
Soccer, basketball, handball

Cultural Practices
If you are invited to an Angolan's home, bring fruit, flowers, or chocolates to the host.

Tipping Guidelines
If a service charge is not included in the bill, a tip of 10% is acceptable, though is not officially encouraged.

Souvenirs
Wood carvings, pottery, malachite sculptures; tribal masks, weapons, baskets, and drums; precious stone necklaces, woven rugs, tapestries/textiles

Traditional Cuisine
Moambe chicken — a savory chicken dish made by combining chicken, spices, and palm butter to create a stew-like consistency

Country code top-level domain
.ao

Geography
Area
total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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, gold, bauxite, uranium

People and Society
Population
35,981,281 (2023 est.)

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

Languages
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 (2014 est.)

Religions
Roman Catholic 41.1%, Protestant 38.1%, other 8.6%, none 12.3% (2014 est.)

Population growth rate
3.34% (2023 est.)

Government
Government type
presidential republic

Capital
name: Luanda

Economy
Economic overview
African oil leader and OPEC member; fairly stable currency; widespread poverty; emerging African finance and investment capital; systemic public corruption and lack of oversight; massive foreign direct investment recipient

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$203.868 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$5,900 (2021 est.)

Agricultural products
cassava, bananas, maize, sweet potatoes, pineapples, sugar cane, potatoes, citrus fruit, vegetables, cabbage

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

Exports
$33.675 billion (2021 est.)

Exports - partners
China 62%, India 10%, United Arab Emirates 4%, Portugal 3%, Spain 3% (2019)

Exports - commodities
crude petroleum, diamonds, natural gas, refined petroleum, ships (2019)

Imports
$18.845 billion (2021 est.)

Imports - partners
China 22%, Portugal 15%, Nigeria 6%, Belgium 6%, United States 5%, South Africa 5%, Brazil 5% (2019)

Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, scrap vessels, meat, rice, palm oil (2019)