Facts and Figures

IOM Member State since 1991 Capital: Luanda Population (2011): 19.6 million Area: 1,246,700 km sq Language: Portuguese Currency: Kwanza (AOA) GDP per Capita PPP (2010): USD 6,120 HDI Rank (2011): 148 of 187 Remittances (2011 estimate): not available Net Migration Rate (2010-2015): 0.8 migrants / 1,000 population Immigrants (2010): 0.3% Women as a Percentage of Immigrants (2010): 53% Population under 15 (2011): 46.2% Adult HIV Prevalence (2009): 2%

Additional Resources International Migration Law Database National Instruments: Angola Sources and Definitions

Latest News

• IOM Resumes Voluntary Repatriation of Angolan Refugees
• Funding Needed as IOM Assists Thousands of Angolan Refugees to Return Home
• Joint IOM-UNHCR Appeal to Help Tens of Thousands of Angolan Refugees Return Home
• Report Examines the Impact of Remittances from Portugal and South Africa
• IOM Angola Conducts Training on Document Fraud

Overview

The 30 years of war in Angola brought misery and suffering on the people of the country. The absence of communications networks, destroyed road infrastructure, weak governance, proliferation of mines, and abject poverty remain major obstacles to socioeconomic advancement, thereby leaving much of the country's population yet to feel the “peace dividends.” The war also disrupted the agro-economy that was the foundation of subsistence and the dominant cultural lifestyle for the majority of Angolans. Left with few choices, it is hardly surprising that large numbers of rural inhabitants are migrating to urban areas. Rapid urbanization has had a negative impact on cities, as many migrants could not be absorbed into the urban economies. As a result, urban employment continues to be scarce, as the demand for labour cannot keep pace with the migration flow. In addition, urban migration has placed intense pressure on social infrastructure, especially schools and housing, and led to the mushrooming of urban slums.

Rural-urban migration of vulnerable populations also increases the risk of youth being trafficked internally or externally. Full statistics on the extent of trafficking in persons in Angola do not exist, however it is evident that poverty and lack of opportunities in the country make it easy for traffickers to lure girls, boys, and women with false promises of employment opportunities. High population mobility has been found to be one of the drivers behind the fast spread of HIV in the sub-region, and the Government of Angola has acknowledged this fact by putting HIV and AIDS high on the national agenda.

Movement, Emergency and Post-crisis Migration Management

The Republic of Angola became a Member State of IOM through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 26 November 1991 with the Ministry of External Relations (MIREX) and further signed an Agreement with MIREX on 7th December 1997, thereby permitting IOM to operate in Angola with the same status as the UN specialized agencies. IOM also works directly with the Ministry of Assistance and Social Reinsertion (MINARS) and the Ministry of Interior (MINIT).

IOM has been operating in Angola since 1994, focusing on assistance to vulnerable displaced populations, including IDPs, the demobilization of Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) troops and the implementation of multi-sectoral reintegration projects to war affected communities. The Organization is recognized as a key partner of the UN agencies, NGOs and the Government of Angola. Since 2003, IOM Angola supported the voluntary return of nearly 100,000 refugees, the majority of whom were women and children. Through its community revitalization programme, which started in 2003, IOM Angola has supported thousands of vulnerable returnees, IDPs and ex-combatants to reintegrate into society.

Projects

• Improved Food Security in Huambo – Through Community Revitalization Programme (CRP) Approach
• Improved Food Security in Huambo – Through Community Revitalization Programme (CRP) – Approach Phase II – Huambo and Moxico
• Hanga Rehabilitation of Social Infrastructures, Huambo Province
• Mungo Rehabilitation of Social Infrastructures, Huambo Province
• Governance of Water and Sanitation in Angola's Poor Neighborhoods
• Enhance Income Generation through Micro-enterprise Development in Moxico, Kuando. Kubango and Huambo Provinces
• Migration Emergency Rresponse in Menongue and Kuando-Kubango
• Reintegration Support to Ex-combatants and their Dependents
• Rehabilitation and/or Reconstruction of Schools Project in partnership with UNICEF

Migration Health

The importance of population mobility within the AIDS epidemic is increasingly recognized; migrants include some of the world's most vulnerable populations at risk of HIV infection. The link between migration and HIV/AIDS is related to the conditions and structure of the migration process, poverty, exploitation, separation from families and partners, and separation from the socio-cultural norms that guide behaviours in stable communities. IOM has been working closely with UNAIDS and with a number of other partners since 1997.

In the Republic of Angola, IOM included HIV/AIDS awareness in the VolRep programme. The participants of the different return and reintegration programmes also received HIV/AIDS awareness information.

Capitalising on its presence at the community level, especially in areas of return, IOM will continue to engage resources to support malaria awareness raising, specifically targeting returnees and receiving communities. This will be achieved through capacity building of selected local NGOs, teachers, nurses, community activists, and local administrations. Topics will include improving knowledge on hygiene and water-care to eliminate water-borne diseases, as well as the supply of mosquito nets, especially to pregnant women and children under five years old.

Projects

• Capacity Building in Implementing MINARS Community Agents Teams in Huambo
• Responding to HIV and AIDS in Communities of Return and Absorption in Angola
• HIV/AIDS an Malaria prevention in Kuando Kubango
• Partnership on HIV and Mobility in Southern Africa (PHAMSA)
• Preventing Malaria Infection in the return areas of Huambo, Kuando Kubango and Moxico
• Increase knowledge about nutrition and HIV/AIDS and its impact on agricultural production and food security, in migration corridors and areas of return (Huambo, Kuando Kubango, Moxico and Cunene Provinces)

Migration and Development

Maximizing the positive relationship between migration and development has long been a strategic focus of IOM's work. The return and socio-economic reinsertion of skilled and qualified nationals from abroad can benefit the national development or rehabilitation and reconstruction processes of developing countries, countries in economic transition, or recovering from conflict.

IOM aims to support the development of the health sector in Angola by tapping into resources available among the Angolan diaspora residing in Europe. Specific shortcomings of the health system in Angola, such as lack of training, lack of qualified staff, brain drain of health professionals, lack of basic equipment and need for restructuring will be addressed through specific actions involving the diaspora living in Europe and benefiting from their skills and knowledge.

IOM is carrying out a research study on remittance flow to Angola from the diaspora in Portugal and South Africa. The study focuses on estimating the size of remittance flows, as well as their frequency, transfer channels, and transaction costs, among other things. It also documents the ways in which remittances are used and the impact they have on recipient households. This is a unique opportunity for IOM to develop a new methodological framework for diaspora mapping, which can be shared with other missions undertaking similar projects in the future.

Projects

• Research of Study of Remittance Flows to Angola from the Diaspora in Portugal and South Africa, and their Current Use and Impact on Migrant-sending communities
• Temporary Return of Qualified Health Workers

Regulating Migration

In today's mobile world, migration has become an increasingly complex area of governance, inextricably interlinked with other key policy areas including economic and social development, national security, respect for human rights, regional stability and interstate cooperation. Migration Management therefore covers a wide range of activities most of which are crucial to the emergence of a strong and stable state.

Angola, an IOM member state, has a territory of 1,246,700 sq km, with a total of 5,198 km land boundaries. The countries bordering Angola are: Democratic Republic of the Congo (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontinuous Cabinda Province) (2511 km border), Republic of the Congo (201 km border), Namibia (1376 km border) and Zambia (1110 km border).

Angola's natural resources and economy– which is growing at one the world's highest rates – has generated migration flows of asylum seekers, irregular workers and trafficked persons to and from Angola. A new immigration law has been passed recently by Parliament and will be implemented following presidential decree. With the booming economy serving as a pull factor, preventing irregular migration is on the top of the agenda of the GoA. In this regard, IOM will support the GoA with Capacity Building in Migration Management activities.

Projects

• Capacity Building in Migration Management – Angola
• Protection within Broader Migration Flows
• Research, Prevention and Awareness Raising Campaign on Trafficking in Human Beings in Angola
• Media Training to support the Awareness Raising Campaign on TiP in Angola
• SACTAP programme
• Training of Law Enforcement Officials on Trafficking in Human Beings and Human Rights in Angola
• Prevent trafficking in persons and protect victims of the trade in Angola

Facilitating Migration

Maximizing the positive relationship between migration and development has long been a strategic focus of IOM's work. In an era of unprecedented levels of human mobility, the need to develop a fuller understanding of the linkages between migration and development is particularly urgent, as is the need to act in practical ways to enhance the benefits that migration has for development, and to elaborate sustainable solutions for problematic migration situations.

The return and socio-economic reinsertion of skilled and qualified nationals from abroad can benefit the national development or rehabilitation and reconstruction processes of developing countries, countries in economic transition, or recovering from conflict.

Projects

• Assisted Voluntary Return and Reinsertion / Reintegration

Last updated:
Main text: April 2009
Facts and figures: April 2012