Angola’s natural resources include oil, natural gas, diamonds, iron, copper and gold, along with vast forests and freshwater. What are Angola’s most important natural resources? The country has 148 km³ of renewable freshwater resources and forest covering 53.43% of its land (666,073 km², 10th in the world), as well as 11.0 TWh of hydroelectric generation in 2024 and 915 bird species.
Angola is a country rich in natural resources, with a wide range of minerals, oil, natural gas, freshwater and abundant biodiversity. Its location on the Atlantic coast gives it a strategic advantage for fishing and maritime trade.
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The exploitation of Angola’s natural resources has been an important source of revenue for the country, although it has also created challenges in terms of equity, sustainability and environmental conservation.
What are Angola’s most important natural resources? What natural wealth does the country have? Which minerals are found there, and how does it rank globally? How much water is available, and which resources are used to generate energy?
Natural resources
Natural resources are materials or energy sources provided by or found on Earth that are useful to humans. Every product we manufacture is made up of natural resources.
- Renewable resources: these can be restored by natural processes faster than the rate at which they are consumed. Examples include solar radiation, wind, hydroelectric power, water when used properly, and plant and animal life.
- Non-renewable resources: once extracted, these are depleted and cannot regenerate. Examples include hydrocarbons, metals and minerals.
Examples of Angola’s main natural resources
Angola in figures: environmental indicators
The most recent official figures available on the state of Angola’s environment.
| Forest cover | 52.1% of land area2023 |
|---|---|
| Protected land area | 10.8% of land area2025 |
| Annual change in forest area | −5,551 km² per year (2018–2023) |
| Renewable freshwater per capita | 4,153 m³ per year2022 |
| Threatened species | 207 mammals, birds, fish and plants2022 |
| Agricultural land | 36.9% of land area2023 |
Gas resources in Angola
Despite its relatively low annual natural gas production, Angola has some natural gas resources. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, between 2014 and 2023 Angola produced an average of about 166 billion cubic feet (around 4.7 billion cubic meters) of dry natural gas a year, driven largely by the Angola LNG plant (Angola analysis (EIA)). A significant share of the associated gas is still flared rather than marketed.
There are also large iron ore reserves in the southwest of the country, but they are low grade. Other minerals, such as copper, manganese, gold, phosphates, uranium, feldspar and platinum, are known to exist in commercial quantities in Angola.
Water resources of Angola
Angola had 148 km³ of renewable freshwater resources in 2020, which places it 47th in the world ranking of water reserves. This African country has significant water resources, the most important being the Cuanza (Kwanza) and Zambezi rivers, as well as Angola’s main lake, Lake Dilolo.
These resources are essential to the country’s economic and social development, as well as to the preservation of its biodiversity.
Average rainfall and soils of Angola
Angola has an average annual rainfall of 1,010 mm, which places it 81st in the world for precipitation. Because of this moisture, Angola’s soils are mostly moist and fertile, which favors agriculture and food production.
Renewable electricity and hydropower production in Angola
In 2024, Angola generated 11.5 TWh of electricity from renewable sources — 74% of its total generation of 15.6 TWh — and hydropower alone supplied 11.0 TWh (Ember, 2024). The country’s largest hydroelectric plant is Laúca, on the Kwanza River between Cuanza Norte and Malanje provinces, with an installed capacity of 2,070 MW; the Capanda plant, also on the Kwanza in Malanje province, has 520 MW (four 130 MW Francis turbines) (Capanda Dam).
These plants are key to Angola’s electricity supply and contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Forest resources of Angola
Angola has a large forest area that covers 53.43% of its land area, equivalent to 666,073.8 km². This natural resource is very important to the country’s economy, as it is used to produce timber and other forest products.
Angola ranks 10th in the world for forest area, and the Maiombe (Mayombe) region is the country’s main forest region.
Environmental performance and protection of Angola’s natural resources
Angola is a country with a rich diversity of natural resources. In the Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024, Yale University), the country scored 40.1 and ranked 124th. Protecting land and marine areas is crucial to preserving these resources, and protected areas cover 10.8% of Angola’s land area (World Bank, 2025). To learn more about the Environmental Performance Index, visit Environmental Performance Index (EPI 2024).
Natural parks of Angola: the hidden wealth of natural resources
”Biodiversity: animal and plant resources of Angola
Birds of Angola
Angola has a great diversity of birds, with a total of 915 species in 2018, which places it 19th in the world for number of bird species. It also had 17 endemic bird species in 2020, meaning they are found only in this country.
However, it should also be noted that 32 bird species are endangered, so it is important to take steps to protect this valuable natural resource. Among the most notable species is the red-crested turaco, a bird endemic to western Angola and the country’s national bird.
Fish and amphibians of Angola
In 2019, 103 amphibian species were recorded in the country, placing it 34th in the world for number of species of this kind.
The country also has a total of 926 fish species, the main one being tilapia. However, 53 of these species are threatened.
Even so, Angola remains a country with great wealth in aquatic wildlife.
Mammals of Angola
Angola has a great diversity of mammal species, with a total of 285 species in 2016. However, 18 of them are threatened.
Even so, Angola ranks 20th in the world for number of mammal species. It also has 10 endemic mammal species, which places it 30th in the world ranking for endemic mammals.
The conservation of these species is a valuable resource for the country, and the African elephant is Angola’s flagship mammal.
Reptiles of Angola
Angola has a great diversity of reptile species, with a total of 280 species in 2019, which places it 28th in the world. This natural resource is very important for the country’s biodiversity.
Plants of Angola
Angola has a great diversity of vascular plants, with a total of 2,262 species recorded in 2020, placing it 86th in the world. The country’s flagship plant species is the oil palm, whose cultivation is an important source of income for the Angolan economy.
Organizations that protect or study Angola’s natural resources
- Ministério do Ambiente de Angola (Ministry of Environment, MINAMB): Angolan ministry that defines and implements national environmental policy.
- Instituto Nacional da Biodiversidade e Áreas de Conservação (National Institute for Biodiversity and Conservation Areas, INBAC): public institute that manages Angola’s biodiversity and conservation areas.
- Instituto Nacional de Gestão Ambiental (National Institute for Environmental Management, INGA): Angolan authority responsible for environmental management and governance across the national territory.
- Fundação Kissama (Kissama Foundation): Angolan foundation that protects wildlife, ecosystems and national parks.
- African Parks (Iona National Park): NGO that manages Iona National Park together with the Angolan government.
Angola is the largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa: it overtook Nigeria in 2022, and crude oil accounts for more than 90% of its exports (Petroleum industry in Angola, Wikipedia).
Oil: the pillar of the economy
Crude oil contributes about 45% of GDP and in 2017 generated 64% of government revenue, as well as 90% of exports (Economy of Angola, Wikipedia). Production is concentrated offshore: Block 17, operated by TotalEnergies off Cabinda, is the country’s largest producing asset and is known as the “Golden Block.” Seeking to expand its output free of quotas, Angola left OPEC in December 2023 after 16 years in the cartel (Petroleum industry in Angola, Wikipedia).
Diamonds: Catoca and the world’s fourth-largest mine
Angola is Africa’s third-largest diamond producer and has explored only 40% of its diamond-bearing territory (Mining industry of Angola, Wikipedia). Its main mining asset, the Catoca mine, is the fourth-largest diamond mine in the world, with output of close to 6.5 million carats in 2012. After the exit of Russia’s Alrosa, control was split in 2025 between state-owned Endiama (59%) and Oman’s Taadeen (41%) (Catoca diamond mine, Wikipedia).
Natural gas: the Soyo LNG plant
To monetize the associated gas that used to be flared, Angola built the Angola LNG plant in Soyo, with a capacity of 5.2 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas a year and a cost of close to $12,000 million. Its first cargo sailed on June 16, 2013, supplied with gas from offshore blocks 14, 15, 17 and 18 (Angola LNG, Wikipedia).
Sources used
- Lists of countries by mineral production
- Economic data by country
- Forest area (km²)
- Forest area (% of land area)
- Arable land area (km²)
- Oil reserves
- Coal reserves
- Water and agriculture statistics
- Precipitation (mm)
- Environmental Performance Index
- CO2 emissions (tonnes per capita)
- Bird species
- Amphibian species by country
- Mammal species
- Endemic mammal species
- Plant species
- Reptile species by country
- Endemic bird species by country
Last updated: September 26, 2026
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