The Republic of Angola has an estimated population of 18.9 million (UN, 2010). The capital is Luanda. Angola has an area of 1.25m sq km (481,354 sq miles). The main languages are Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, and Kikongo.
After its independence, Angola was devastated by 27 years of civil war between the popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the total Independence (UNITA). It is estimated that 1.5 million people died and 4 million displaced. The country is still in recovery.
Women are under-represented in the Angolan political institutions and violence against women is widespread in the country with a high level of domestic violence.