Angola

The main languages spoken in Angola are:
Portuguese - the official language, spoken by ~71.2% of the population.
Umbundu (~23%), Kikongo (~8.2%), Kimbundu (~7.8%), Chokwe (~6.5%), and other Bantu languages are also widely spoken (percentages sum to over 100% as many respondents speak more than one language).
Portuguese is the sole official language of Angola.

Geography

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Republic of the Congo

Map references: Africa

Area:
total: 1,246,700 sq km

Land boundaries:
border countries: Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zambia

People

Population: 36,604,681-38,984,796 (2024-2025 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population 64.6 years (World Bank, 2025)

Nationality:
noun/adjective: Angolan(s)

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

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

Languages: Portuguese (official) 71.2%, Umbundu 23%, Kikongo 8.2%, Kimbundu 7.8%, Chokwe 6.5%, Nhaneca 3.4%, Nganguela 3.1%, Fiote 2.4%, Kwanhama 2.3%, other 3.6% (2014 est.)

Literacy: total population 66.2% (male 83.8%, female 51.9%) (2015 est.)

Government

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola

Data code: AO

Government type: presidential republic

National capital: Luanda

Background: Bantu-speaking peoples settled the area from the 6th century AD; by the 10th century Bantu kingdoms had formed, of which Kongo became the most powerful; Portuguese traders arrived in the 16th century, establishing coastal colonies and making Angola a major hub of the transatlantic slave trade, which is estimated to have cost the region as many as 4 million people; more than a decade after the end of Angola's 27-year civil war, the country still faces widespread poverty, high maternal/child mortality, and illiteracy despite rapid oil-driven economic growth

Economy

Economy - overview: lower-middle-income, least-developed economy heavily dependent on oil production; despite rapid post-war growth, roughly 40% of the population lives below the poverty line

GDP (purchasing power parity): $402.16-417.19 billion (2025-2026 est.)

GDP - real growth rate: 2.1% (2025)

GDP - per capita: $10,230-10,260 PPP (2025-2026 est.)

Inflation rate: 28% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate: 14.1% (2025 est.)

Population below poverty line: 32.3% (2018 est.)

Currency: Angolan kwanza (AOA)

Military

Military branches: Angolan Armed Forces (FAA): Army, Navy, Angolan National Air Force; Ministry of Interior: National Police, Border Guard Police (2025)