World Factbook
Angola
Republica de Angola
Last updated: 2026-03-28 (today)
Flag
description: two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem of a five-pointed star inside half a cogwheel, crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle) meaning: red stands for liberty and black for the African continent; the emblem symbolizes workers and peasants
Capital
name
Luanda
etymology
the Portuguese named the city São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda (Saint Paul of the Assumption of Loanda); over time, it was shortened to "Luanda," which may derive from a Bantu word meaning "tax" or "duty," in reference to local people paying their dues to the king of the Congo
time difference
UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
daylight saving time
does not observe daylight savings time
geographic coordinates
8 50 S, 13 13 E
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Citizenship
citizenship by birth
no
citizenship by descent only
at least one parent must be a citizen of Angola
dual citizenship recognized
no
residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Constitution
history
previous 1975, 1992; latest passed by National Assembly 21 January 2010, adopted 5 February 2010
amendment process
proposed by the president of the republic or supported by at least one third of the National Assembly membership; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly subject to prior Constitutional Court review if requested by the president of the republic
Country name
former
People's Republic of Angola
etymology
in the 15th century, Portuguese explorers derived the name from the title "N'gola," which was held by kings of the Ndongo
local long form
Republica de Angola
local short form
Angola
conventional long form
Republic of Angola
conventional short form
Angola
Independence
11 November 1975 (from Portugal)
Legal system
civil legal system based on Portuguese civil law; no judicial review of legislation
Government type
presidential republic
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo (consists of the court president, vice president, and a minimum of 16 judges); Constitutional Court or Tribunal Constitucional (consists of 11 judges)
subordinate courts
provincial and municipal courts
judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court judges appointed by the president on recommendation of the Supreme Judicial Council, an 18-member body chaired by the president; judge tenure NA; Constitutional Court judges - 4 nominated by the president, 4 elected by National Assembly, 2 elected by Supreme National Council, 1 elected by competitive submission of curricula; judges serve single 7-year terms
Executive branch
cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
chief of state
President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017)
election results
Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (MPLA) elected president by then winning party following the 24 August 2022 general election
head of government
President Joao Manuel Goncalves LOURENCO (since 26 September 2017)
most recent election date
24 August 2022
election/appointment process
the candidate of the winning party or coalition in the last legislative election becomes the president; president serves a 5-year term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term)
expected date of next election
2027
National holiday
Independence Day, 11 November (1975)
National color(s)
red, black, yellow
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
1 (cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Mbanza-Kongo
Political parties
Broad Convergence for the Salvation of Angola Electoral Coalition or CASA-CE Humanist Party of Angola or PHI National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA; note - party has two factions National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA (largest opposition party) Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA; note- ruling party in power since 1975 Social Renewal Party or PRS
Legislative branch
term in office
5 years
number of seats
220 (all directly elected)
electoral system
proportional representation
legislature name
National Assembly (Assembleia nacional)
scope of elections
full renewal
legislative structure
unicameral
most recent election date
8/24/2022
expected date of next election
August 2027
percentage of women in chamber
39.1%
parties elected and seats per party
Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) (124); National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) (90); Other (6)
National anthem(s)
title
"Angola Avante" (Forward Angola)
history
adopted 1975
lyrics/music
Manuel Rui Alves MONTEIRO/Rui Alberto Vieira Dias MINGAO
National symbol(s)
giant black sable antelope ( Palanca negra gigante )
Administrative divisions
21 provinces ( provincias , singular - provincia ); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando, Cubango, Cuanza-Norte, Cuanza-Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Icolo e Bengo, Luanda, Lunda-Norte, Lunda-Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Moxico Leste, Namibe, Uige, Zaire
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 822-9049
chancery
2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone
[1] (202) 785-1156
chief of mission
Ambassador Agostinho de Carvalho dos Santos VAN-DÚNEM (since 30 June 2023)
consulate(s) general
Houston, New York
email address and website
info@angola.org https://angola.org/
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[244] (222) 64-1000
embassy
Rua Houari Boumedienne, #32, Luanda
telephone
[244] (222) 64-1000
mailing address
2550 Luanda Place, Washington, DC 20521-2550
chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Shannon Nagy CAZEAU (since 2 October 2025)
email address and website
Consularluanda@state.gov https://ao.usembassy.gov/
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISS, Union Latina, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt