Country Comments

Prior to the 1975-2002 civil war and the disruption of agricultural production along with the displacement of millions of people, Angola was self-sufficient in all food crops except wheat. Angola currently imports more than half of its food.

Angola has had a low deforestation rate relative to its total forest cover, losing only 3 percent of its forests. Some areas are reportedly showing the effects of land clearing, including severe soil erosion, heavy siltation of rivers and dams, and desertification. A 2017 UN report found 48 per cent of the population still lives in poverty and risks being excluded from development processes. Most of the poor were women, and rural women in particular. Of particular concern was access of girls to education. Contraception use is very low. Angola is currently sustainable but trending toward unsustainability with one of the fastest population growth rates in Africa.