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Angola

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Media

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TV ownership medium

Partial political censorship exists in national media

Daily newspaper circulation 11 per 1000 people

Publishing and broadcast media

  • Main national newspapers: There is 1 daily newspaper, O Jornal de Angola. Diário da República is a daily government bulletin
  • Television stations: 2 services: 1 state-controlled, 1 independent
  • Radio stations: 5 services: 1 state-owned, 4 independent

The news agency and O Jornal de Angola are state-owned. Independent media are critical but can face harassment.

People

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  • Main languages spoken: Portuguese, Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo
  • Population density: 11/km2 (29/mi2) (Population density low)

The urban/rural population split

This graph represents the proportion of the population living in urban areas (gray) and rural areas (green).

Religious persuasion

The pie chart proportions show the religious affiliations of those who profess a belief.

Ethnic makeup

This pie chart illustrates the ethnic origin of the country's population.

Population age breakdown

This chart shows the breakdown of the population by age groupings, providing an interesting insight into the country's demography.

The predominantly rural-dwelling Ovimbundu and the mainly urban-based Kimbundu are the main ethnic groups; they generally supported UNITA or the MPLA respectively. The small mixed-race (Portuguese–African) community enjoys the highest standard of living. Christianity (mostly Roman Catholicism) is practiced alongside indigenous beliefs.

Politics

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In transition

  • Dates of last and next legislative elections: 1992/1998 (postponed)
  • Head of state: President José Eduardo dos Santos

A graphic representation of the political makeup of the country's government, based on each party's showing at the last election. Where there are two houses, the more important elected body is shown first.

In power since 1975, the MPLA in 1991 abandoned one-party rule and, under President José Eduardo dos Santos, won the first multiparty polls in 1992. Jonas Savimbi's defeated UNITA responded by restarting the civil war. A 1994 peace accord signed in Lusaka (Zambia) resulted in UNITA's joining a national unity government in 1997, but they left the government as fighting escalated once more in 1998. Savimbi's death in 2002 led to a renewed peace initiative and the transformation of UNITA from a guerrilla group into a political party, but elections due in 1998 are still to be held.