Angola, officially the Republic of Angola, is a country on the west-central coast of Southern Africa. The capital of Angola is Luanda, which is also the country's primary port and major industrial, cultural, and urban centre. Luanda is the largest city in Angola and is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It has a population of about 6 million, accounting for around a third of Angola's population. The city was founded in 1575 or 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais and became the centre of the slave trade to Brazil before the institution was prohibited. When Angola gained independence in 1975, Luanda was designated as its capital.
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Luanda is the capital of Angola
Luanda is located on the western coast of Southern Africa, on the Atlantic coast of Angola. It is the country's administrative and economic hub, and its chief seaport. It is also Angola's primary industrial, cultural, and urban centre.
Luanda is the largest city in Angola, with a population of about 6 million, and is the world's most populous Portuguese-speaking capital city. It is one of the most populated cities in Africa, with an estimated population of 8.88 million in 2021. The city is diverse, with the majority of its inhabitants being of African ethnicity, particularly the Ovimbundu, Ambundu, and Bakongo groups. Portuguese is the official and most commonly spoken language, with Bantu languages also widely spoken.
Luanda has a heavily oil-dependent economy. Petroleum refineries are located in the city, and it houses industries such as textile manufacturing, cement production, and beverage manufacturing. Luanda is also a major exporter of diamonds, salt, iron, and cotton, among other products.
The city has undergone major urban transformation and construction in recent years, with Angola investing heavily in the construction of luxurious and stylish buildings. Luanda has also been ranked as one of the most expensive cities in the world for expatriates.
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Luanda is the largest city in Angola
Luanda was founded in January 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais. It is one of the oldest colonial cities in Africa. The city was the centre of the slave trade to Brazil until the institution was prohibited.
Luanda has a heavily oil-dependent economy. Petroleum refineries are located in the city, and it serves as an important port of export for diamonds, salt, iron, cotton, and other goods. Luanda also has a thriving building industry.
Luanda is divided into two parts: the Baixa de Luanda (lower Luanda, the old city) and the Cidade Alta (upper city or the new part). The Baixa de Luanda is situated next to the port and has narrow streets and old colonial buildings. The city is spread across six urban districts: Ingombota, Angola Quiluanje, Maianga, Rangel, Samba, and Sambizanga.
Luanda is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop and is home to most of Angola's educational institutions, including the Catholic University of Angola and the public University of Agostinho Neto. It is also the location of the colonial Governor's Palace and the Estádio da Cidadela, Angola's main stadium, with a seating capacity of 60,000.
Luanda has a hot semi-desert climate, influenced by the cool Benguela Current, which prevents moisture from condensing into rain. The climate is warm to hot throughout the year, and fog prevents temperatures from falling at night. Luanda has an annual rainfall of 405 millimetres, but this varies significantly from year to year.
The inhabitants of Luanda are primarily members of African ethnic groups, mainly Ambundu, Ovimbundu, and Bakongo. The official and most widely used language is Portuguese, although several Bantu languages are also used, including Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo.
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Luanda is a port city
Luanda was founded in 1575 or 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais. It was initially a fortress and small settlement known as São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda. From its earliest days, Luanda served as a key port for the Portuguese slave trade, particularly with Brazil and the Caribbean. The slave trade in Angola was banned in the 19th century, after which Luanda became a major commercial centre for industries such as fishing and marketing commodities like palm and peanut oil.
Today, Luanda remains an important economic hub, with industries such as agricultural product processing, beverage production, textiles, and construction. The city is also a centre for oil, with a refinery located within it. Luanda has a population of over 8 million people and is one of the most populous cities in Africa. It is characterised by its coastal plain, which extends inland to rolling hills and plateaus. The climate is tropical, with a cool, dry season and a hot, rainy season.
As the economic and political centre of Angola, Luanda is undergoing significant urban transformation and development. The city showcases a blend of old and new, with colonial Portuguese architecture alongside modern high-rise buildings. Luanda is also a cultural hub, home to various museums, festivals, and educational institutions. It is one of the world's most expensive cities for expatriates, with high costs of goods and security.
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Luanda is an industrial and cultural hub
Luanda is the capital of Angola, and it is also the country's largest city. Founded in 1575 or 1576, it has been the capital since Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975. The city is located on the western coast of Southern Africa, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is characterised by its coastal plain, which extends inland to rolling hills and plateaus.
Luanda is the administrative and economic hub of Angola. It is the third most populous city in the world among Portuguese-speaking sites. The city is undergoing a major urban transformation, with Angola investing heavily in the construction of luxurious and stylish buildings. The economy of Luanda is the largest in Angola and one of the largest in Southern Africa. It relies heavily on the oil sector, which has spurred significant growth in the city. Other key industries include diamond mining, fisheries, manufacturing, and construction.
As an industrial hub, Luanda is home to the Viana Industrial Development Hub (PDIV) and the Luanda-Bengo Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The PDIV is a development zone for industrial projects, occupying a total area of 2,350 hectares. The SEZ, located in Viana, is the largest industrial centre in Angola. It is mainly intended for industrial projects but also includes a commercial zone and is developing housing, services, and other investment projects.
Luanda has a rich cultural history that dates back to the pre-colonial era. The mixture of Portuguese and African culture has made the city more reminiscent of Latin America than the rest of Africa. This blend of influences is noticeable in the city's architecture, cuisine, festivals, and artistic traditions. Luanda was a key port for the Portuguese slave trade, and it rapidly grew as a centre of slave trafficking to Brazil and the Caribbean. The National Museum of Slavery in Luanda is located at the site of a former slave market, offering a poignant exploration of the history of the slave trade in Angola.
The city also boasts other cultural attractions, such as the Fortaleza de São Miguel, a Portuguese fortress built in 1576 that houses the Museum of the Armed Forces. The Viewpoint of the Moon, just outside Luanda, offers extraordinary views of the eroded landscape. The Currency Museum, housed in a colonial-era building, showcases the history of currency in Angola. Luanda is also known for its vibrant nightlife, with restaurants, bars, and clubs, as well as beautiful beaches.
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Luanda is located on the Atlantic coast of Angola
Luanda, the capital of Angola, is located on the Atlantic coast of the country. It is the largest city in Angola and is the administrative and economic hub of the country. It is also the third most populous city in the world among Portuguese-speaking sites.
Luanda was founded in 1575 or 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais and was initially a fortress and small settlement known as São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda. From its earliest days, Luanda served as a key port for the Portuguese slave trade. After Angola gained independence from Portugal in 1975, Luanda became the new nation's capital.
Luanda is undergoing a major urban transformation, with the construction of luxurious and stylish buildings. The city is characterised by its coastal plain, which extends inland to rolling hills and a series of plateaus. It has a tropical climate, with a cool, dry season and a hot, rainy season.
Luanda is one of the most populated cities in Africa, with an estimated population of 8.88 million people in 2021. The city is diverse, with the majority of its inhabitants being of African ethnicity, particularly the Ovimbundu, Ambundu, and Bakongo groups. Portuguese is the official and most commonly spoken language, with Bantu languages also widely spoken.
Luanda is Angola's primary port and major industrial, cultural, and urban centre. The city has a thriving building industry, with large investments and strong economic growth driving construction in all economic sectors. Luanda is also a significant economic centre for oil, with a refinery located in the city.
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Frequently asked questions
Luanda is the capital of Angola.
Luanda is located on the northern coast of Angola, on the Atlantic Ocean.
Luanda's population is estimated to be over 8.3 million, about a third of Angola's total population.
Luanda is mainly inhabited by African ethnic groups, including the Ambundu, Ovimbundu, and Bakongo. There is also a significant population of ethnic Portuguese, Latin Americans (especially Brazilians), and a growing Chinese community.
Portuguese is the official and most commonly spoken language in Luanda. However, some indigenous Bantu languages, such as Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo, are also spoken.