Facts about Angola

Interesting Facts for Kids

Here are some interesting facts about Angola for kids which were chosen and researched by kids especially for kids.

Impressions of Angola: Epupa Falls, Muhacaona people, Luanda

What you will find on our Angola Facts for Kids page:

Snapshot
Basic Facts
Where is Angola?
What is Cabinda?
Angola Geography
Geo Superlatives
Climate

Landmarks
People
Culture
Economy
Food
Animals
Resources

First let's have a quick glance at the most important basic facts about Angola:

Angola Facts - Snapshot

Name: Republic of Angola
Location: Southern Africa
Border countries: Namibia, DRC, Zambia and Rebublic of Congo
Area: 1,246,700 km² or 481,400 sq miles
Capital city: Luanda
Population: 38 million
Official language: Portuguese
National colours: black, red and yellow

Economy: oil, diamonds, gold, copper
Highest peak: Mount Moco
Longest river: Kwanza
Coastline: South Atlantic Ocean
Currency: Angolan kwanza (AOA
Time zone: West Africa Time (UTC+1)
Calling code: +244
Internet code: .ao

Seventh largest country in Africa - and about double the size of France or Texas/ USA
Cultural Traditions: funge, kizomba, Chokwe art, basketball and soccer-loving

Last updated: 09.02.2026

Basic Facts about Angola

Continent: Africa
Population: about 38 million people (2026)
Capital city: Luanda with about 10 million people
Name: Republic of Angola (República de Angola)
Nickname: "Land of Kings" referring to the traditional African kingdoms

Angola Flag

Government: presidential republic
Languages: Portuguese (the only official language) and widely spoken languages Umbundu, Kikongo, Kimbundu and Chokwe
Literacy: 71% of all over 15 years of age can read and write
Religion: mainly Christians (80%) of these 41% are Roman Catholics
Currency: 1 Angolan kwanza (AOA) = 100 cêntimos

Listen to the Anthem

National Animal: giant sable antelope
National Colours: red, black and yellow
National Day: 11 November (Independence Day)
National Anthem: "Angola Avante" (Angola Forwards)
Motto: virtus unitas fortior ("Virtue is stronger when united")
History: Angola has been already settled by about 25,000 BCE. San people lived in the region before other Bantu-speaking people moved into the area. Angola housed some of the largest African kingdoms and for many years the area was referred to as the "Kongo Kingdom", which was the largest kingdom in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Portuguese explored and colonised the region and founded the colony of Luanda in 1575. In 1914, the Portuguese abolished the Kongo kingdom and Angola became a colony of Portugal. Angola became independent from Portugal only in 1975. After independence a 27-year-long civil war raged in the country until 2002. Today, Angola has a growing tourism sector and is one of the most expensive cities for living due to the steep housing costs.
President: João Lourenço (head of government since 2017), served as the chairman of the African Union since February 2025 (elected for one year)

Facts about Angola | Geography
Where is Angola?

Angola is a large country located in southwestern Africa along the South Atlantic Ocean. The country lies south of the Equator.

Angola borders four countries: The Democratic Republic of Congo in the North and the Republic of Congo and the exclave Cabinda in the Northeast, Zambia is to the East and South and Namibia to the South. The South Atlantic Ocean lies to the West of the country. The longest border is shared with the DRC over 867km/ 539 miles.

Angola has an exclave called Cabinda within the Republic of Congo.

What is Cabinda?

Cabinda is an exclave of Angola. This small part of Angola is separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Because this part is cut off from the mainland, it is called an exclave.

Cabinda lies on the Atlantic Ocean along the west coast of Africa, north of mainland Angola. Cabinda is important for its rainforests, wildlife and oil resources. Even though it is separate, Cabinda is still fully part of Angola.

Angola Geography

Size and Location

Angola is the seventh largest country on the African continent and the second largest country south of the Sahara - after the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC is about double the size of Angola!

Angola has an Atlantic Ocean coastline that is 1650 km/ 1,025 miles long.

Angola is slightly smaller than Peru and about twice the size of France. Angola is also slightly less than twice as big as the U.S. state of Texas/ USA.

Name

The name "Angola" comes from the word 'ngola', which is the title of the local Ndongo king. The Ndongo kingdom was one of the largest kingdoms in the area.

Landscape

Angola topographic map

The coastal lowlands have low cliffs made of red sandstone. There are rolling hills and high plains in the inland and steeper mountains in the South. The high plateau dominates almost all the country.

There are dense rainforests in the northern parts of the country and in the exclave Cabinda.

Facts about Angola
Geography Superlatives

The longest river in Angola is the Kwanza River which is about 960 km/ 597 miles long. This is the only river of Angola that is navigable for much of its length.
The largest city in Angola is the capital city Luanda. Luanda is also the oldest city in the country.

Luanda - capital city of Angola

The largest lake in Angola is Lago Dilolo, near Cameia National Park. This is a bird watcher's paradise.
Angola's highest mountain is Mount Moco at 2,620 m/ 8,595 ft. The mountain is located in western central Angola.
The Kalandula waterfalls are the largest waterfalls in Angola and they are amongst the most powerful waterfalls in Africa. The drop is about 105 m/ 344 ft high and the waterfalls are about 400 m/ 1,200 ft wide.

Kalandula waterfalls

Iona National Park is the largest national park of Angola. The park is known for its unique rock formations as well as for its rich wildlife, although poaching has affected biodiversity.

Facts about Angola | Climate

Angola has a tropical climate along the coast and a temperate climate on the plateau and highlands. The coldest months are July and August. The rainy season usually lasts from October to April.

The Benguela current off the Angolan coast is a cool current, so the climate along the coast is mild and similar to the coastal climate in Peru or Mexico's Baja California.

Landmarks and Attractions
Facts about Angola

Angola is home to many amazing natural and historic landmarks. Kalandula Falls is Africa’s second largest waterfall and one of the most powerful with the largest volume of water. Just south of the capital city, the Miradouro da Lua ("View of the Moon") is known for its unusual rock shapes as are the unique Pungo Andongo, black monolithic rock formations.

Amongst the most famous man-made landmarks are the Fortaleza de São Miguel in Luanda which is an old fort from colonial times or the Palácio de Ferro (Iron Palace), probably designed by Gustave Eiffel and the Memorial de António Agostinho Neto (mausoleum), Angola's first president. In the city of Lubango, the Christ the King statue which stands high on a hill and looks over the surrounding area.

Black rocks - Pungo Andongo

Miradouro da Lua - Viewpoint of the Moon

Cunene river landscape

Lake Arco unique rock formations

Fortaleza de São Miguel in Luanda

Memorial Agostinho Neto - image by Miguel Almeida

Christ the King Statue of Angola

Luanda's Memorial of the Unknown Soldiers - image by ssacala

Beach on Mussulo island near Luanda

Atlantic beach in Angola

More Facts about Angola
People & Culture

Most Angolans live in the western part of the country, where there are also the largest urban centres. The biggest cities are Luanda, Lubango, Cabinda, Benguela and Malanje.

Angola is one of the countries in Africa with the youngest population. Almost half its people are under 14 years old!

Angola has one of the highest birth rates in the world and in 2024, the country had the third lowest average age of the population with less than 17 years! Compare this to the estimates from 2024, where the median age in South Africa is 30 years, in Brazil 33 years, in the USA 39 years, in the UK 41 years and in Germany 47 years!

Children in Angola - image by Fabian Plock

There are about 100 ethnic groups in Angola, all with different languages and customs.

There are nine main Bantu tribes and some few San people in Angola. Most of the Angolan people belong to the Ovimbundu and Kimbundu ethnic groups, which together make up about 62% of the population. The Bakongo people are the third largest ethnic group.

The Mucawana, also called Mucahaona people, are traditionally nomadic people that live in Southern Angola near the Namibian border where they live alongside the Himba people. They are known for their elaborate hairstyles and jewellery.

mucawana girl by Eric Lafforgue atlasofhumanity

Mucawana girl - image by Eric Lafforgue/ atlasofhumanity

Most of the Angolans are Christians (80%). The Cathedral of the Holy Saviour, called São Salvador, in M'banza Congo is considered the oldest colonial church in Southern Africa.

Church ruins in M'banza

However, the church has been abandoned for many years. The church ruins from the 15th century are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Angola was once ruled by kingdoms. The 'Land of the Kings' is still home to several kings from the Ndongo kingdom, the Kongo kingdom, the Mbalundu, the Assante and the Mbunda kingdom.

Angolan Culture

Music and dance are very important to Angolans. Kizomba is a popular music and dance style that began in Angola in the 1970s and 1980s and is now enjoyed around the world. The word kizomba means "party" in one of Angola’s local languages. The music has a slow and steady beat, while the dance is smooth, close and gentle. It is often danced at celebrations, festivals, and family events.

Learn how to do the Kizomba

Angola is also known for Chokwe art, especially detailed wooden masks and carvings. O pensador, which means "the thinker" in Portuguese, is a famous sculpture and symbol of Choke heritage and Angolan pride. The statue is often linked to Angolan identity and resilience, especially after Angola’s long struggle for independence and peace.

O pensador - the thinker - image by Jean Pierre Carre/ shutterstock.com

Sport plays a big role in everyday life. Many Angolans are passionate basketball and soccer fans.

The Angolan Carnival celebrations are held every year around mid February. This is a colourful and fun festival and very famous in the capital city, Luanda.

People wear bright costumes, play drums and dance in the streets. Groups called blocos perform together and present popular music and dances from Angola’s different cultures.

Facts about Angola | Economy

Angola is the second strongest economy in Southern Africa - after South Africa. The country is rich in mineral resources such as petroleum, gold, copper, diamonds, phosphates and manganese.

One of Africa's strongest oil leaders, Angola is among the world's most important oil and gas producers. Income from oil and gas accounts for more than half of the country's national income.

Angola oil platform off the coast

Crude oil is Angola's biggest export product while diamonds and iron ore are also important resources.

Although officially only 10% of all Angolans work in the agricultural sector, subsistence farming is common in rural areas. Over 80% of the Angolan farms are small or medium-sized.

The main agricultural produce are: cassava, rice, coffee, beans as well as bananas, citrus fruits, pineapples, mango and avocado.

The main trading partners of Angola are China, India and Portugal.

Facts about Angola
Food in Angola

The Angolan cuisine is often seen as a fusion of Portuguese, Mozambican and Brazilian traditions. Angolan staple foods include cassava, corn, millet, sorghum as well as beans, okra, vegetables and fruit.

Fresh fish and seafood is abundant in coastal regions of Angola. Prawns, lobster and cacusso are commonly prepared fish, while chicken, lamb and beef are popular meat options.

Moamba de galinha is commonly considered as the national dish of Angola and a hearty stew.

Moamba de galinha

Typical food in Angola:

Moamba de galinha: The traditional Angolan meal is a hearty stew made with chicken, palm oil and palm paste, okra and a variety of vegetable and chilli peppers. This dish is mostly served with funge or rice.

Funge: Traditional porridge made with cassava flour, millet or sorghum accompanies most meals
Pirão: Savoury stew made with chicken or fish or both is a common meal in Angolan households.

Cocada amarela: sweet pudding made with shredded coconut, egg yolks and sugar - and very different to the Brazilian dessert with the same name
Feijão com óleo de palma: beans and garlic cooked in palm oil is a common side dish

Facts about Angola for Kids Wildlife and Animals

The national animals is the giant sable antelope. This is the largest of the antelope species and is only found in Angola.

The sable antelope sadly is a critically endangered species.

There is rich wildlife in Angola. Although the biodiversity has suffered due to the many years of war and illegal poaching, there are still almost 300 species of mammals and over 980 species of birds. Common birds are herons, flamingoes, ostriches and even albatrosses.

The Big Five animals, the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, buffalo and elephant all can be found in Angola.

Wildlife in Angola

The Angolan Colobus monkey, a black monkey with black face and white long hair around the face, and the Angolan genet, a cat-like mammal, both are rare sights but are species that only live in Southern Africa.

We hope you enjoyed our Facts about Angola. We will add more info about this stunning country soon. Now enjoy our other pages with facts about other African countries...

Popular Pages

Resources
Facts about Angola

Angola Tourism. "Nature and Wildlife." VisitAngola. Last accessed 9 February 2026
Marcus Lu. "Mapped. The Median Age in Every Country." VisualCapitalist. Last accessed 9 February 2026
SAHO. "Angola." South African History Online. Last accessed 9 February 2026
Welcome to Angola. "Provinces." TechAfrica. Last accessed 9 February 2026
Eric Lafforgue. "Angola Mucawana" Atlas of Humanity. Last accessed 9 February 2026

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