Like to know a little more about the capital cities of the world? Take a look at these fun facts about Luanda!
1. Where is Luanda?
Luanda is the capital city of Angola.
2. Here’s how to pronounce the name.
Wondering how to say the name of this wonderful city? It’s pronounced Loo-an-dah.
3. It’s absolutely massive!
The total land area of Luanda is 871 square miles (2,257 square kilometres)…that’s almost 1.5 times the size of Greater London.
4. Compared to London, however, it’s much less packed.
Luanda’s population was 2,107,648 in 2014…that’s less than 1/4 of the population of Greater London, and gives it a population density of around 2,420 residents per square mile.
5. It’s not too far from the water.
Luanda is located 20 ft above sea level.
6. It barely rains out here!
Angolans living in Luanda enjoy a hot semi-arid climate with very little rainfall or temperature variation throughout the year and an average annual temperature of 78.4°F. Perfect!
7. Ready the compass…
Looking to fly yourself to Luanda? You’ll need the coordinates of 8.8400° S, 13.2894° E.
8. There are some fantastic sights out here.
Make sure you take a stroll along the bay if you’re in Luanda; it’s the perfect place to experience the wonders that Luanda has to offer during both the day and night. Soak up the sun and beautiful scenery, mingle with the locals, head to a bar for a few drinks and eat delicious food for hours on end – what could be better?
9. What do people speak in Luanda?
The official language of Luanda is Portuguese.
10. High praise indeed!
Thanks to its sophisticated culture, Luanda is often referred to as the ‘Paris of Africa’!
11. Here’s the spending detail.
Angolan Kwanza is the official currency here.
12. Chances are, you’ll need a lot of Kwanza…
Did you know that Luanda was voted the most expensive city for expats in 2013, 2014 and 2015?
13. It’s massive on tourism, however!
Angola welcomed 595,000 tourists into the country in 2014, many of whom visited Luanda for its incredible weather and stunning coastline.
FAQs about Luanda
Is Luanda a rich city?
Luanda is regarded as one of the most expensive cities in the whole of Africa - it’s up there with Lagos!
What is Luanda best known for?
Luanda is perhaps best known for its fantastic urban scene and its luxury living - there’s a reason so many people spend so much to come here.
Is English spoken in Luanda?
Yes - but it’s more likely you will find local people speaking Portuguese - it’s all to do with Angola’s historic connections with Portugal before the country gained independence.
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