11,561,000 (1995).

9.3 per sq km.

Luanda.

2,002,000 (1995).

Angola is bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo to the north, Zambia to the east, Namibia to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Mountains rise from the coast, levelling to a plateau which makes up most of the country. The country is increasingly arid towards the south; the far south is on the edge of the Namib Desert. The northern plateau is thickly vegetated. Cabinda is a small enclave to the north of Angola proper, surrounded by the territories of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congo. The discovery of large oil deposits off the coast of the enclave has led to it becoming the centre of Angola's foreign business interests. The oil industry, based primarily at Malongo, is run jointly by Gulf Oil and Sonangol, the Angolan state oil producer.

Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Head of State: President José Eduardo dos Santos since 1979. Head of Government: Prime Minister Fernando Franca Van-Dúnem since 1992.

The official language is Portuguese. African languages (Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo and Chokwe being the most common) are spoken by the majority of the population.

Mainly Roman Catholic (51%). There are also other Christian minorities. Local Animist beliefs are held by a significant minority.

GMT + 1.

220 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the European-style round 2-pin type.