Lilongwe is the capital and largest city of Malawi, situated in the country's Central Region within the district of the same name. The city is located near the borders of Mozambique and Zambia and serves as a primary economic and transportation hub for central Malawi. It derives its name from the Lilongwe River.
The population of Lilongwe has seen significant growth over recent decades. According to the 2018 Census, the city's population was 989,318, an increase from 674,448 in 2008; by 2020, that figure had risen further to 1,122,000.