A: Angola lies on the geographical coordinates of 12° 30' 0" S, 18° 30' 0" E.

Latitude and Longitude of Angola in other units:

More detail about Angola

Angola: Africa's Kuwait

Even though the country has been crippled by a nearly thirty year long civil war, Angola is on the rebound and currently has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Rich in natural resources, as well as drama, Angola is shaping up to be one of the most dynamic and important countries in all of Africa.

When Angola was first released from its Portuguese colonial rule in 1974, a panic ensued. Although the Portuguese had discovered Angola's vast fields of oil and diamonds and had built up a complex infrastructure for manufacture, export, and government, the African natives quickly found themselves overwhelmed by the sheer complexity and size of it all. Factions formed, each declaring itself the best to handle the burgeoning infrastructure and massive stockpiles of natural resources, which led to a bloody civil war. When an uneasy peace returned to the Angola in 2002, a lot of work needed to be done.

The first thing the new president did was increase oil and diamond production. In the last eight years, production has more than doubled for both resources. Currently, Angola is the largest producer of both oil and diamonds in all of Africa. Revenue from petroleum sales make up the majority of the government's budget, with diamonds and iron making up most of the rest. Millions of people flocked to the cities leaving behind the war-torn countryside and its many hidden land mines. Currently much of Angola lives in its cities as the cities have far lower poverty rates than the countryside currently does and more people are moving to the cities every year.

Although things are getting better in Angola, massive poverty and the old scars of war still loom heavily. Expect to see many dramatic changes in Africa's Kuwait in the years to come.