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Angola Profile |
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Quick Facts About Angola
Capital
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name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 50 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Country Name
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conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People"s Republic of Angola
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Dependency Status
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*
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Type of Government
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republic; multiparty presidential regime
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Background
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Angola is rebuilding its country after the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but fighting picked up again by 1996. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI"s death in 2002 ended UNITA"s insurgency and strengthened the MPLA"s hold on power. President DOS SANTOS held legislative elections in September 2008 and, despite promising to hold presidential elections in 2009, has since made a presidential poll contingent on the drafting of a new constitution.
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Branches
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Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra Angola, MGA), Angolan National Air Force (Forca Aerea Nacional Angolana, FANA) (2009)
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Age Structure
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0-14 years: 43.4% (male 2,862,178/female 2,808,266)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 3,579,202/female 3,465,240)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 155,738/female 197,537) (2010 est.)
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Languages
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Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages
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Population
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13,068,161 (July 2010 est.)
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Religions
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indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)
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Internet Users
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550,000 (2008)
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Area - Comparative
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slightly less than twice the size of Texas
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Area
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total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km
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Terrain
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narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau
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Climate
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semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)
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Natural Hazards
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locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau
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| Angola |
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Source:
CIA World Factbook |
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