Angola

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Interesting Facts

  • Angola is amongst the top twenty oil producing countries in the world, and the second largest oil producer in Africa after Nigeria
  • Angola’s President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, has been President since 1979
  • Angola has a very young population – about 65% of the country’s population is under the age of 24
  • Angola is one of the fastest growing economies in the world

Key Market Alerts

  • Luanda is the most expensive city in the world for expats
  • Rentals in Angola are paid up front, for the entire lease period
  • Malaria is endemic in Luanda
  • Demand far outweighs supply for housing and schooling in Luanda
  • It is difficult to get a work permit

An Overview of Angola

The Republic of Angola emerged from an almost three-decade long civil war in 2002. Since the end of the conflict between UNITA and the MPLA, the country has enjoyed high levels of economic growth and increased investment. Angola is experiencing positive economic growth largely been driven by the country’s oil sector and the reconstruction required after the civil war.

Geographically, Angola is comprised of 18 provinces (or regions). The country’s capital city is a province in itself and is located on the northern part of Angola’s coastline. With a population of just over 5 million people, Luanda is now the fourth largest city in Africa. The city is expected to be home to just over 8 million people by 2025.

Living in Luanda

Luanda is the world’s most expensive city for expatriates. It was famously reported in early 2011 that a foreigner paid $100 for a melon at a local supermarket chain. Outraged, the foreigner sued the supermarket for ‘profiteering’. The case was however thrown out because the foreigner had eaten the melon and there was therefore a lack of evidence.

In terms of getting around, traffic in Luanda is very congested, and commute times are lengthy on roads that are often poorly maintained and with many potholes – this is largely attributable to the country’s infrastructure deficit. For expatriates relocating to Luanda, it is important to understand the transport challenges and to find an acceptable balance between work, home and school locations. Four-wheel drive vehicles and professional drivers are recommended, particularly until one has become accustomed to the challenges of navigation.

Housing in Luanda

Finding good quality housing in Luanda can be challenging. Demand for secure, modern, expatriate-standard accommodation exceeds supply. Finding accommodation can therefore take longer than expected and expatriates can expect extended hotel stays. Areas favoured by expatriates include Downtown Luanda, Luanda Sul (on the outskirts of the city), Miramar (just north of the city), and Talatona (close to Luanda Sul). Property Prices in Angola are exceedingly high and rentals typically need to be paid up front, for the full lease period.

Schooling in Luanda

Placing children in good schools in Luanda is a major concern for relocating families. It is therefore advisable to secure places prior to accepting an assignment to Angola. There are a limited number of international schools in the city, class sizes are restricted and long waiting lists are typical. Schooling options for expatriate children in Luanda include: English, Portuguese, French and International schools.



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