Angola

Angola is a large, developing country in southwest Africa. The capital city is Luanda. Portuguese is the official language; English is not commonly used. Despite its extensive oil and mineral reserves and arable land suitable for large-scale production of numerous crops, Angola has some of the world’s lowest social development indicators. Development was severely restricted by a 13-year war for independence and a 27-year civil war that broke out upon independence in 1975 and destroyed most of the country’s infrastructure.

The economy has grown at a double-digit annual rate since the war ended in 2002, until the global financial crisis and subsequent price fluctuations undercut oil revenue. Although the government continues to pursue extensive infrastructure reconstruction and development projects, Angola still faces challenges with its infrastructure and with providing government services, especially in basic social services, aviation and travel safety, accommodations, and communications. Tourism facilities outside the capital of Luanda are often rudimentary, and costs for hotels and tourism facilities within Luanda are among the highest in the world. Read the Department of State Fact Sheet on Angola for additional information on U.S. – Angola relations.