One of the most expensive cities in the world is part of Angola, which is Luanda. However, it is one with the highest poverty rates in the country. The development from the huge oil investment in Luanda has made things expensive around the city. Nevertheless, the economy of Angola might suffer due to the significantly lower oil prices with the GDP sliding down from the 4.5% in 2014 to 4.2% in 2016.
1. Facts About Angola’s Poverty Rate
The fact that Angola has been one of the top exporters of oil in the continent, it only ranks at number 148 of the 187 countries under the United Nations Human Development Index. Although the pain of the civil war that caused violent conflicts and displaced millions of the population in the country, a lot of people still live in poverty.
Statistically, there was an improved GDP in the country after the war ended in 2002 which showed 12% of growth by 2012. However, this progress has barely made an impact to its poor residents. In fact, 67.4% of the population lives on just a $2 per day. Although this shows a significant decline from the numbers presented in 2002 which reached up to 70.2%, the economy is increasing at a faster rate.
2. Efforts Made in Addressing Poverty in Angola
The national reconstruction program has been funded by foreign investors in order to rebuild the infrastructure that was ruined in the civil war. As a matter of fact, the slums to where many considered their refuge during the war were made over, while the landmines were cleared from the areas at the countryside.
Although the economic development seems to be pushing the country towards a transformation from a wasteland that it once was, the social indicators seem to reveal that poverty still remains an issue that should be addressed.
3. Statistical Reports
The effort made by Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos to protect the image of the country has not entirely gained positive responses. Citizens have seen this as an inappropriate response to poverty as the issue still remains.
Angolan leaders and investors might have been enjoying the material wealth that the country has to offer, but it remained to be one of the most undeveloped states around the world. Moreover, in every five children, one dies before reaching 5 years old. Additionally, nearly 66% of the total population still lives in slums. Statistically, the life expectancy of its citizens is only around 51 years which is not a good sign.
The long-lasting effect of the civil war has brought Angola to its feet as millions of the citizens have continued to pay the price of poverty. So even if the country is becoming an integral part of the world economy, the government is focused more in formulating abstract measures than a concrete solution to making reforms to the economy. Perhaps it is about time that Angola and its leaders will unite to formulate and implement a serious campaign towards the development of a better economy to eradicate poverty once and for all.
Crystal Lombardo is a contributing editor for Vision Launch. Crystal is a seasoned writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience. She has been an editor of three popular blogs that each have had over 500,000 monthly readers.
