After more than two and half decades of civil war, Angola reached a peace agreement in April 2002. Since then the process of demobilization and reintegration of former combatants has successfully been completed, and the government is now focused on the challenges of post-conflict reconstruction. However, with much of both national and local infrastructure destroyed during the civil war, the challenge is enormous.

Head of State: H.E. President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço

Capital: Luanda

Location: Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Population in 2006: 18,565,269 ( July 2013) million

Population growth: 2.78% (2013 est.)

Nationality: noun: Angolan(s) adjective: Angolan

Ethnic groups: Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and Native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Religions: indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

Languages: Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Independence: 11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

Natural resources: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Currency: Kwanza