# Lilongwe

> capital of Malawi

**Wikidata**: [Q3876](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3876)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilongwe)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lilongwe

## Summary
Lilongwe is the capital and a major city of Malawi, located in the country's Central Region. Founded in 1902 and named after the Lilongwe River, the city became the national capital in 1975. It covers an area of 727.79 square kilometers and had a recorded population of 989,318 in 2018.

## Key Facts
- Lilongwe serves as the capital of Malawi, a status assumed on January 1, 1975.
- The city is the capital of the Central Region and Lilongwe District.
- Geographical coordinates are 13.96692° S, 33.78725° E.
- It covers a total area of 727.79 square kilometers.
- The preferred population figure is 989,318, recorded on September 3, 2018.
- Lilongwe was founded in 1902.
- The city is located at an elevation of 1,050 meters above sea level.
- The local time zone is UTC+02:00.
- Lilongwe is situated on or next to the Lilongwe River.
- It is twinned with Taipei, a relationship that started in 1984.
- The official city website is http://www.llcitycouncil.org/.
- The UN/LOCODE for the city is MWLLW.
- Residents are known by demonyms including Lilongvano, Lilongwais, Lilongwaise, Lilongwéen, and Lilongwéenne.
- It is classified as both a "city" and a "big city."
- The city has a Wikidata sitelink count of 154.

## FAQs
**When did Lilongwe become the capital of Malawi?**
Lilongwe officially became the capital of Malawi on January 1, 1975, succeeding the previous capital city.

**What is the population trend in Lilongwe?**
The population has grown steadily over recent decades, rising from 440,471 in 1998 to 674,448 in 2008, 781,538 in 2012, and reaching 989,318 by 2018.

**Where is Lilongwe located?**
The city is located in Lilongwe District within the Central Region of Malawi, situated adjacent to the Lilongwe River at an elevation of 1,050 meters.

**What are people from Lilongwe called?**
People from Lilongwe are referred to by several demonyms, including Lilongvano, Lilongwais (masculine), Lilongwaise (feminine), Lilongwéen (masculine), and Lilongwéenne (feminine).

## Why It Matters
As the seat of government, Lilongwe is the political and administrative center of Malawi. Its transition to capital status in 1975 marked a significant shift in the nation's governance structure. With a population approaching one million, it is the country's largest demographic center and a primary hub for the Central Region. The city's infrastructure, represented by its official city council and extensive urban planning, supports its role as the primary focal point for national operations and international relations, such as its sister city agreement with Taipei.

## Notable For
- Being named after the Lilongwe River, which flows alongside the city.
- Replacing Zomba as the national capital in 1975.
- Maintaining a twinned relationship with Taipei since 1984.
- Possessing a high degree of global documentation, with Wikipedia entries in over 150 languages.
- Hosting specific administrative categories for people born there (Category:People from Lilongwe) and those who have died there (Category:Deaths in Lilongwe).

## Body

### Geography and Location
Lilongwe is situated in the Central Region of Malawi and serves as the capital of both the region and the Lilongwe District. The city is located at coordinates -13.96692 latitude and 33.78725 longitude. It lies at an elevation of 1,050 meters above sea level and is geographically associated with the Lilongwe River, being located in or next to the body of water from which it takes its name. The city covers a land area of 727.79 square kilometers.

### History and Administration
The city was founded in 1902. It has served as the capital of Malawi since January 1, 1975. Prior to this, it was the capital of the Central Region and Lilongwe District. Administratively, Lilongwe operates under the governance of the Lilongwe City Council, which maintains its official website. The city has established international partnerships, notably a twinned administrative body relationship with Taipei that began in 1984.

### Demographics and Population
The population of Lilongwe has experienced significant growth over the last decades of the 20th and early 21st centuries.
*   1998: 440,471
*   2008: 674,448
*   2012: 781,538
*   2018: 989,318
The city's residents are identified by various demonyms depending on gender and linguistic context, including Lilongvano, Lilongwais, Lilongwaise, Lilongwéen, and Lilongwéenne.

### Identifiers and Classification
Lilongwe is formally classified as an instance of a "city" and a "big city." It is recognized by a wide array of international and library identifiers, including:
*   **Library IDs:** Library of Congress Control Number (n81032100), BNF (via ark), SELIBR (152446), GND ID (4111306-8), and National Library of Israel J9U ID (987007555052905171).
*   **Geographic IDs:** GeoNames ID (927967), Where on Earth ID (1367476), and OpenStreetMap Node ID (6765699485).
*   **Authority Files:** VIAF ID (134874487), FAST ID (1212481), and WorldCat Entities ID (E39PBJcGjKFCrTQRfC4pJtptrq).
*   **Other Identifiers:** MusicBrainz Area ID (bcb6ca5f-9f42-4de1-ab06-57d29f526a6f), UN/LOCODE (MWLLW), and Freebase ID (/m/0fq7l).

### Media and Resources
The city is extensively documented across various digital and academic platforms. It possesses a locator map image and a page banner hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The Wikipedia entry for Lilongwe is available in a vast number of languages, including Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Russian, and Spanish, totaling over 150 language editions. The city is also indexed on platforms such as Quora, BBC Things, and Gynopedia.

### Nomenclature
The official name and native label of the city is "Lilongwe." It is also known by the alias "Lilongue." The city is named after the Lilongwe River, a hydrographic feature that it is located next to.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. MusicBrainz
5. [Source](https://www.citypopulation.de/en/malawi/cities/)
6. Flickr Shapefiles Public Dataset 2.0
7. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/place/Lilongwe)
8. [Source](https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/no_106_janv-mars_2009_cle446315.pdf)
9. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
10. BBC Things
11. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
12. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)