Largest Ethnic Groups In Angola

More than one-third of Angolans are Ovimbundu, while around one-fourth are Ambundu. The Bakongo people comprise the third largest Angolan ethnic group.

Angola is a west African nation bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. It has a population of approximately 24.3 million that is made up of many diverse ethnicities. These groups include native tribes, immigrants, and refugees. With its fast-growing economy, the number of immigrants is likely to continue increasing as more job opportunities become available. Women in this country have one of the highest fertility rates in the world, over 5 children per woman. Nearly half of the population is under 15 years old. The country has a long history of tribal kingdoms, empires, and foreign colonization that have resulted in its present-day diversity. This article takes a look at some of the largest ethnic groups living in Angola today.




The Ambundu are represented by 25% of the population of Angola, and are also descended from Bantu tribes. Historically, they occupy the northwest region of Angola. Although the Ambundu speak the official language, Portuguese, they also speak their native language, Kimbundu. When they came to the area, they build permanent communities and began trading with local tribes. Although they share some similarities with the Ovimbundu group, the Ambundu is distinct in that they traditionally practice matrilineal land inheritance. In the 1550’s, the Ambundu won independence from the king of the Kongo tribe, also known as Bakongo ethnic group. This independence allowed them to begin trading independently with the Portuguese colonizers. Eventually, however, the Portuguese pursued these individuals to sell into the slave trade which caused many of them to seek refuge in inland regions of the nation. They lost the vast majority of their land to Portuguese control.



Other Ethnic Groups


Largest Ethnic Groups In Angola

RankEthnic GroupShare of Angolan Population Today
3Other African Ethnicity21%
5Mestizo and/or Multiracial2%
6White European2%

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