Luanda

Angola COUNTRY

8,069,612 CITY POPULATION

City-Council GOVERNMENT TYPE

Luanda is the capital and largest city of Angola, serving as the country's main port and its industrial, cultural, and urban hub. It is located on the northern coast of Angola, facing the Atlantic Ocean, and is also the capital of Luanda Province. Established in January 1576 by Portuguese explorer Paulo Dias de Novais as São Paulo da Assunção de Loanda, Luanda is one of Africa's oldest colonial cities. It was a key centre for the transatlantic slave trade to Brazil until slavery was abolished.

In 1975, when Angola gained independence, the start of the Angolan Civil War led to the exodus of many Portuguese residents. As refugees from other parts of the country fled to Luanda during the war, the city's population surged, but its infrastructure was unable to cope with the rapid growth. Today, Luanda is undergoing major reconstruction, with numerous large-scale developments transforming its cityscape.

The city's economy is diverse, with industries such as agricultural processing, beverage production, textiles, cement, car assembly, construction materials, plastics, metallurgy, cigarettes, and footwear manufacturing. Oil remains a key driver of the economy, with a major oil refinery located in the city. Luanda has consistently ranked as one of the most expensive cities for expatriates, reflecting high costs for goods and services.

The population of Luanda, estimated at over 9 million in 2024, is predominantly from the Ambundu ethnic group. However, the city has seen a rise in the number of Bakongo and Ovimbundu people in recent years, reflecting broader migration patterns within Angola.

Data and Facts

Luanda is one of the most expensive cities in the world for expatriates.
GDP of Angola: US$189.5 billion (estimated as of 2024).
GDP per person: US$7,400 (estimated as of 2024).
Population: 2,831,280 (Luanda city, 2022 census).
Population (Greater Luanda): 9,079,811 (2024 estimate).
Population density: 64,300 people per square mile (24,820 per square kilometre).
Climate: Hot semi-desert climate (Köppen BSh), with average temperatures ranging from 23°C to 30°C and average annual rainfall of 405 mm (16 inches), mostly during March and April.
Official Language: Portuguese, although local Bantu languages such as Kimbundu, Umbundu, and Kikongo are also spoken.
Main Industries: Oil refining, agriculture processing, beverages, textiles, cement, and car assembly.
The city is home to Angola's major universities, including Agostinho Neto University and the Catholic University of Angola.
Luanda’s port is one of the busiest in Africa, playing a key role in trade and export.

Administration

Until 2011, Luanda Province consisted of five municipalities. Since 2017, two new municipalities, Talatona and Kilamba-Kiaxi, have been added to Greater Luanda.

Luanda is divided into six urban districts: Ingombota, Angola Quiluanje, Maianga, Rangel, Samba, and Sambizanga. High-rise developments continue to be planned for Samba and Sambizanga. The city is growing rapidly, often extending beyond the official city limits and into surrounding areas.

Luanda is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop. It is also home to most of Angola's major educational institutions, including the Catholic University of Angola and Agostinho Neto University. The city also houses the colonial Governor's Palace and Estádio da Cidadela, Angola's main stadium, which has a seating capacity of 60,000.

Economy

Petroleum was discovered near Luanda in 1955, and the city has a refinery located at the northern end of Luanda Bay. Along with its port facilities, Luanda is served by an international airport and the Luanda Railway, which extends east to Malanje. Around one-third of Angola’s population lives in Luanda, with 53% of residents still facing poverty. Many people in the city experience poor living conditions, with shortages of safe drinking water, electricity, and significant traffic issues.

Efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil have been ongoing, but oil remains the dominant industry. Other sectors include manufacturing, which produces processed foods, beverages, textiles, cement, building materials, plastics, metalware, cigarettes, and clothing. The city's oil refinery continues to operate, though it was damaged multiple times during the Angolan Civil War (1975–2002).

While oil continues to drive economic growth, recent years have seen increased investment in other sectors. Luanda's construction industry has grown significantly due to large investments and the demand for infrastructure. The city’s first modern shopping centre, Belas Shopping Mall, opened in 2007, and many new developments have followed.

Diversification of the economy is still a key goal, with efforts to strengthen agriculture, industry, and other non-oil sectors in the city.

Business Environment

In 2024, Luanda remains Angola's business hub, with much of the country's economic activity centred around the oil industry. However, the government continues efforts to diversify the economy by encouraging growth in other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. Despite these efforts, businesses in Luanda face challenges, including high operational costs, limited access to infrastructure, and an underdeveloped financial sector.

Foreign investment plays a significant role in the business environment, particularly in oil, construction, and telecommunications. The government has implemented reforms to improve the business climate, focusing on reducing bureaucracy, improving regulatory frameworks, and enhancing digital infrastructure. However, navigating the legal and financial systems can still be complex for both local and international businesses.

High living costs, particularly for expatriates, remain an issue, but Luanda's strategic location, natural resources, and ongoing urban development present opportunities for business growth. Initiatives to improve transport infrastructure, such as new road networks and the expansion of the port, aim to support economic activities and attract further investment.

The business environment is gradually improving, but companies operating in Luanda must be prepared to deal with logistical and regulatory challenges.

Railway
Luanda is the starting point of the Luanda Railway, which extends eastward to Malanje. Although the railway was rendered non-functional during the civil war, it has since been restored, providing service up to Dondo and Malanje.

Airport
Luanda's main airport is Quatro de Fevereiro Airport, the largest in Angola. A new international airport, Angola International Airport, located southeast of the city near Viana, has been under construction for many years. Initially expected to open in 2011, it faced delays due to funding issues. As of 2023, the airport is now operational, enhancing the city’s connectivity to international destinations.

Port
The Port of Luanda is Angola’s largest and one of the busiest ports in Africa. Ongoing expansion aims to improve its capacity for handling goods. Additionally, a new port at Dande, about 30 km north of Luanda, has been developed to further support the country’s shipping and trade needs.

Road Transport
Luanda’s road network has suffered from poor maintenance, but large-scale reconstruction projects are ongoing to ease traffic congestion and improve the condition of the roads. These efforts include new highways and upgraded road infrastructure connecting Luanda with neighbouring areas.

Public Transport
Public transport in Luanda is provided by the suburban services of the Luanda Railway and the public company TCUL. Additionally, a large number of privately owned minibuses, known as "Candongueiros," are widely used. These vehicles are often Toyota Hiace vans, designed to carry 12 passengers but typically transporting more. They are known for not strictly following traffic regulations and charge between 100 and 200 kwanzas per trip.

The city is also working on improving its public transportation systems, with plans for more organised urban mobility.

Technology

Angola’s key research institutions include the Cotton Scientific Research Center in Catete, the Agronomic Research Institute in Huambo, the Institute for Veterinary Research in Lubango, and the Angola Medical Research Institute in Luanda. The Angolan Directorate of Geological and Mining Services is also based in Luanda. The University Agostinho Neto, one of Angola’s major universities, has faculties dedicated to sciences, agriculture, medicine, and engineering, and operates the National Center for Scientific Investigation. The city is home to both the National Museum of Natural History and the National Anthropology Museum.

In recent years, Luanda has taken steps to integrate technology into urban planning, with a focus on becoming a major economic hub in Africa. The government's collaboration with local and national institutions aims to drive innovation and technological development. The strategic master plan for Luanda seeks to modernise infrastructure, improve digital connectivity, and foster a business environment that encourages tech start-ups and innovation.

Efforts to involve the city’s citizens and key stakeholders in the development process have helped shape this vision, to transform Luanda into one of Africa’s most liveable and technologically advanced cities. Initiatives to enhance education and research capabilities continue to play a critical role in supporting these ambitions.

As the political and economic centre of Angola, Luanda plays a key role in the country’s cultural and social landscape. The city is home to several important cultural institutions, including the Sindika Dokolo Foundation, which supports arts and culture.

Luanda’s high cost of living continues to be a significant issue, particularly for the large expatriate community. Angola’s oil wealth attracts foreign workers with high levels of disposable income, making Luanda one of the most expensive cities in the world. However, this contrasts sharply with the majority of the local population, many of whom still face economic hardship. While Angola has Africa’s second-largest oil reserves, the benefits of this wealth have not been equally distributed.

Since the end of the civil war, extreme poverty has decreased, but income inequality has grown. Economic opportunities remain limited for much of the local population, and many are excluded from the wealth generated by foreign investment in the oil sector. Government initiatives aimed at improving social services, healthcare, and education have made some progress, but access to these resources is still limited for a large portion of the population.

The challenge for Luanda is to create a more inclusive economy where the benefits of growth and development reach all residents, helping to improve living conditions and reduce the gap between the wealthy expatriate community and the local population.