Transport, information and communication, and agriculture drive expansion. Oil records a contraction for the fifth consecutive quarter.
The Angolan economy grew by 5.32% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period of the previous year, with the non-oil sector consolidating itself as the main driver of growth, while oil activity continues to contract for the fifth consecutive quarter. The data were presented this Friday by the National Statistics Institute (INE).
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reached 29.8 billion euros during the period under review. According to INE’s Board Chairman Joel Futi, the non-oil sector grew by 6.22% year-on-year, offsetting the 0.21% contraction recorded in oil extraction and refining. “Non-oil activities continue to support Angola’s economic performance,” he said during the presentation of the Quarterly National Accounts.
In the GDP structure, agriculture and forestry remain the largest sector, accounting for 20.52% of the economy, followed by trade (18.76%) and oil extraction and refining (15.78%). Public administration, defence and social security contributed 11.63%.
The fastest-growing sectors were information and communication, with an expansion of 27.63%, and transport and storage, with 16.12%. Fisheries and aquaculture grew by 8.73%, while electricity, water supply and sanitation increased by 8.15%. In terms of direct contribution to GDP growth, transport and storage led with an impact of 1.80 percentage points, followed by information and communication (0.71 pp) and manufacturing (0.48 pp).
On a quarterly basis, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025, GDP expanded by 1.37%, signalling a gradual recovery in economic activity.
The figures point to a progressive diversification of the Angolan economy, although structural challenges persist, including fiscal dependence on oil and the need to strengthen the domestic private sector.
