People and Society of Angola

More than two decades after the end of Angola's 27-year civil war, the country still faces a variety of socioeconomic problems, including poverty, high maternal and child mortality, and illiteracy. Despite the country's rapid post-war economic growth based on oil production, about 30 percent of Angolans live below the poverty line and unemployment is widespread, especially among the large young-adult population. Only about 70% of the population is literate, and the rate drops to around 60% for women. The youthful population - about 48% are under the age of 15 as of 2022 - is expected to continue growing rapidly with a fertility rate of more than 5 children per woman and a low rate of contraceptive use. Fewer than half of women deliver their babies with the assistance of trained health care personnel, which contributes to Angola's high maternal mortality rate. Of the estimated 550,000 Angolans who fled their homeland during its civil war, most have returned home since 2002. In 2012, the UN assessed that conditions in Angola had been stable for several years and invoked a cessation of refugee status for Angolans. Following the cessation clause, some of those still in exile returned home voluntarily through UN repatriation programs, and others integrated into host countries.

Nationality

noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan

Ethnic Groups

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

Population

13,068,161

Population (Male / Female)

male: 18,196,058 female: 19,006,003

Population Distribution

most people live in the western half of the country; urban areas account for the highest concentrations of people, particularly the capital of Luanda

Urban Population

urban population: 68.7% of total population rate of urbanization: 4.04% annual rate of change

Population in Major Urban Areas

9.292 million LUANDA (capital), 959,000 Lubango, 905,000 Cabinda, 809,000 Benguela, 783,000 Malanje

Age Structure

0-14 years: 46.9% (male 8,752,419/female 8,701,422) 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 9,076,080/female 9,795,035) 65 years and over: 2.4% (2024 est.) (male 367,559/female 509,546)

Median Age

total: 16.3 years male: 15.8 years female: 16.8 years

Sex Ratio at Birth

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female

Life Expectancy at Birth

total population: 62.9 years male: 60.8 years female: 65.1 years

Infant Mortality Rate

total: 55.6 deaths/1,000 live births male: 60.7 deaths/1,000 live births female: 50.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Major Infectious Diseases

degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria water contact diseases: schistosomiasis animal contact diseases: rabies

Drinking Water Source

improved: urban: 81.3% of population rural: 36.5% of population total: 66.5% of population unimproved: urban: 18.7% of population rural: 63.5% of population total: 33.5% of population

Sanitation Facility Access

improved: urban: 93.7% of population rural: 30.3% of population total: 72.7% of population unimproved: urban: 6.3% of population rural: 69.7% of population total: 27.3% of population

Alcohol Consumption

total: 5.84 liters of pure alcohol beer: 3.78 liters of pure alcohol wine: 0.72 liters of pure alcohol spirits: 1.27 liters of pure alcohol other alcohols: 0.08 liters of pure alcohol

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Culture

In times past all students were taught in Portuguese. This put a burden on many students since few of them lived where they heard people speaking Portuguese.  Currently, more education is taught in local languages.  The prolonged civil conflict left the Angolan educational sector in a state of disarray consequently Angola has a low literacy rate. Additional causes include a lack of adequate school infrastructures, including poor water and sanitation facilities; a lack of teachers, in particular in remote and rural areas;  overcrowded and multi-age classroom groups. Education is now being firmly endorsed as the engine for restoration and renewal. Recently the head of the Education department in Bailundo district, some 80 kilometers to the north of Huambo city (central Angola), appealed to local teachers to provide an education of quality as the only guarantee for the country's future.  In addition to government schools, there are also schools run by missions.  Many of the Angolans who go on to secondary education obtain scholarships abroad after studying at a mission-run school. Primary education is for four years and secondary for seven years.  Education for children roughly between the ages of 7 and 15 years is compulsory and free but only for four years and less than 50 percent of the youth attend.   Most children will not attend school after the fourth grade unless they live in one of the larger towns. Schools can have up to three sessions a day with the first one starting at 7 am, the second one starting at 11 am and the third one starting at 3 pm. The third session is usually for adults and goes till 7 pm. Education between 7 and 15 years of age is provided free of charge by the government. Youth make up a large percentage of Angola’s population. Around 50 percent of Angolans are under the age of 13.  Angola has signed and ratified the "Convention on the Rights of the Child" and has affirmed its commitment and intention to achieve the Education for All (EFA) goal that states that by 2015 all children will “have access to and complete free compulsory primary education of good quality”

• indigenous beliefs47.0%
• Roman Catholic38.0%
• Protestant15.0%

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African 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

• Bantu
• Portuguese