4 GeoFroggy

Economy Overview

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 50% of GDP, more than 70% of government revenue, and more than 90% of the country's exports; Angola is an OPEC member and subject to its direction regarding oil production levels. Diamonds contribute an additional 5% to exports. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country's food is still imported.

Increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 17% per year from 2004 to 2008. A postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Some of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27-year-long civil war (1975-2002). However, the government since 2005 has used billions of dollars in credit from China, Brazil, Portugal, Germany, Spain, and the EU to help rebuild Angola's public infrastructure. Land mines left from the war still mar the countryside, and as a result, the national military, international partners, and private Angolan firms all continue to remove them.

The global recession that started in 2008 stalled Angola’s economic growth and many construction projects stopped because Luanda accrued billions in arrears to foreign construction companies when government revenue fell. Lower prices for oil and diamonds also resulted in GDP falling 0.7% in 2016. Angola formally abandoned its currency peg in 2009 but reinstituted it in April 2016 and maintains an overvalued exchange rate. In late 2016, Angola lost the last of its correspondent relationships with foreign banks, further exacerbating hard currency problems. Since 2013 the central bank has consistently spent down reserves to defend the kwanza, gradually allowing a 40% depreciation since late 2014. Consumer inflation declined from 325% in 2000 to less than 9% in 2014, before rising again to above 30% from 2015-2017.

Continued low oil prices, the depreciation of the kwanza, and slower than expected growth in non-oil GDP have reduced growth prospects, although several major international oil companies remain in Angola. Corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, is a major long-term challenge that poses an additional threat to the economy.

Agriculture Products

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, cassava (manioc, tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish

Industries

petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing, brewing, tobacco products, sugar; textiles; ship repair

Industrial Production Growth Rate

2.5% (2017 est.)

Labor Force

12.51 million (2017 est.)

Labor Force by Occupation

Agriculture: 85%

Industry: 15% (2015 est.)

Industry and services: 15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016: 6.6%

Population Below Poverty Line

36.6% (2008 est.)

Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share

Lowest 10: 0.6%

Highest 10: 44.7% (2000)

Distribution of Family Income Gini Index

2008: 42.7

Budget

Revenues: 37.02 billion (2017 est.)

Expenditures: 45.44 billion (2017 est.)

Public Debt

2017: 65% of GDP

2016: 75.3% of GDP

Central Bank Discount Rate

31 December 2014: 9%

31 December 2010: 25%

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2017: 15.82%

31 December 2016: 15.78%

Stock of Narrow Money

31 December 2017: $32.39 billion

31 December 2016: $23.17 billion

Stock of Broad Money

31 December 2017: $32.39 billion

31 December 2016: $23.17 billion

Stock of Domestic Credit

31 December 2017: $16.02 billion

31 December 2016: $14.25 billion

Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

31 December 2017: $17.29 billion

31 December 2016: $23.74 billion

Debt External

31 December 2017: $42.08 billion

31 December 2016: $27.14 billion

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home

31 December 2017: $11.21 billion

31 December 2016: $9.16 billion

Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad

31 December 2017: $28 billion

31 December 2016: $23.02 billion

Exchange Rates

Currency: kwanza (AOA) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:

Year

GDP Official Exchange Rate

  • $126.5 billion 2017 est.

Taxes and Other Revenues

  • 29.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus or Deficit

  • -6.7% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Fiscal Year

  • calendar year

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

  • 2017
    $193.6 billion
  • 2016
    $198.6 billion
  • 2015
    $203.9 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

  • 2017
    -2.5%
  • 2016
    -2.6%
  • 2015
    0.9%

GDP Per Capital

  • 2017
    $6,800
  • 2016
    $7,200
  • 2015
    $7,600

Gross National Saving

  • 2017
    28.6% of GDP
  • 2016
    24.5% of GDP
  • 2015
    28.5% of GDP

GDP Composition by end Use

  • Household consumption
    80.6% (2017 est.)
  • Government consumption
    15.6% (2017 est.)
  • Investment in fixed capital
    10.3% (2017 est.)
  • Investment in inventories
    -1.2% (2017 est.)
  • Exports of goods and services
    25.4% (2017 est.)
  • Imports of goods and services
    -30.7% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition by Sector of Origin

  • Agriculture
    10.2% (2011 est.)
  • Industry
    61.4% (2011 est.)
  • Services
    28.4% (2011 est.)

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

  • 2017
    29.8%
  • 2016
    30.7%

Current Account Balance

  • 2017
    -$1.254 billion
  • 2016
    -$4.834 billion

Exports

  • 2017
    $33.07 billion
  • 2016
    $31.03 billion

Exports Partners

  • China
    61.2%
  • India
    13%
  • US
    4.2%

Exports Commodities

    Crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Imports

  • 2017
    $19.5 billion
  • 2016
    $13.04 billion

Imports Partners

  • Portugal
    17.8%
  • China
    13.5%
  • US
    7.4%
  • South
    Africa
  • Brazil
    6.1%
  • UK
    4%

Imports Commodities

    Machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods