15 Must-Know Facts About Angola

Angola, officially known as the Republic of Angola (República de Angola in Portuguese) is a west-coast country of south-central Africa, and is the seventh-largest country in Africa. Angola is bordered by the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the North, Namibia to the South, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and Zambia to the east. Luanda Angola's capital, and largest city. Angola has a population of 25.8 million people. Portuguese is Angola's official language. Co-official languages in Angola are: Kikongo, Kimbundu and Umbundu. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is the Angolan president, and has Bornito de Sousa as vice.

When you think of Angola, the following facts should immediately come to your mind:

1. Angola is the birthplace of the dreadlocks hair style.

2. According to a list by the World Health Organization (2015), Angola has the second lowest life expectancy in the world (45.8 years).

3. Based on CIA World Factbook 2014 estimates, Angola has a death rate of 11.67%, which was the 29th highest death rate in the world.

4. Luanda, the capital of Angola, is known as the "Paris of Africa" due to city's sophisticated culture and atmosphere.

5. The fin whale, also called common rorqual, finback whale or razorback (the second largest animal on Earth and second largest whale after the blue whale) is a rare and endangered animal found in Angola.

6. Angola went through a long period of civil war from 1975 to 2002 (27 years), which was very costly in terms of lives. The war has also caused a steep imbalance in the male-to-female ratio in the country. A severe shortage of men in Angola has made it common for married men to have several mistresses.

7. Angola is the second largest diamond and oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa.

8. Leila Luliana da Costa Vieira Lopes, Miss Universe 2011, is Angolan model, actress, TV host and beauty queen.

9. Luanda has been ranked the world's most expensive city for expatriates in the 23rd edition of Mercer's annual cost-of-living survey.

10. Giving tips is not a standard practice in Angola. In Angola, tips should not be more than 15% of your bill, and must not necessarily be in cash. Cigarettes, for instance, are a very acceptable tip.

11. Angola is the 22nd largest country in the world area-wise, with an area of 1,246,700 km² (481,400 sq mi).

12. Angola's infant mortality rate is among the highest in the world, with about 67.6 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2017 (as per the CIA World Factbook), making Angola the country with the 7th highest infant mortality rate.

13. Angola has one of Africa's largest waterfalls, the Ruacana Falls. Ruacana Falls is an incredible 2,300 feet wide and 390 feet high.

 

14. The standard of living for many in Angola is low, as depicted by its low Human Development Index of 0.533, ranked 147th out of 188 countries.

15. Until 2012, it was illegal to take any Kwanzas (the Angolan currency) out of the country.