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Windhoek

2023-12-12T19:54:32Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Namibia}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Windhoek
| official_name = City of Windhoek
| native_name = {{small|ǀAi-ǁGams ([[Khoekhoegowab]])}} {{small|Otjomuise ([[Herero language|Otjiherero]])}} {{small|Windhuk ([[German language|German]])}}
| nickname =
| settlement_type =
| motto = ''Suum Cuique'' ([[Latin]] for "To each his own")
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
|perrow = 1/2/2/2/1
|border = infobox
|total_width = 290
|caption_align = center
|image1 = Windhoek-269058_1920.jpg
|image2 = Eglise luthérienne de Windhoek (1).jpg
|image3 = Windhuk Independence Memorial Museum Blick auf den Tintenpalast 6.jpg
|image4 = Laika ac New State House (8406704947).jpg
|image5 = Bahnhof Windhoek.jpg
|color = white}}
| image_caption = '''Clockwise from top:''' [[Windhoek Central Business District|Windhoek CBD]], [[Tintenpalast|Parliament building]], [[Windhoek railway station]], [[State House, Windhoek|State House]], [[Christ Church, Windhoek|Christ Church]]
| image_flag = Flag of Windhoek.svg
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield = Windhoek COA.svg
| shield_size = 80px
| image_blank_emblem =
| blank_emblem_type =
| blank_emblem_size =
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Namibia#Africa
| pushpin_relief =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Windhoek in Namibia
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flagdeco|NAM}} [[Namibia]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Namibia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Khomas Region]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Mayor-council government]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Queen Kamati ([[South West Africa People's Organisation|SWAPO]])
| leader_title1 = Deputy Mayor
| leader_name1 = Joseph Uapingene ([[National Unity Democratic Organisation|NUDO]])
| established_title1 = First settled
| established_date1 = 1840
| established_title2 = Second founding
| established_date2 = 18 October 1890
| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 5133
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_total_sq_mi =
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/21925/windhoek/population |title=Windhoek, Namibia Population 1950–2020 |website=www.macrotrends.net |access-date=2020-03-14 |archive-date=9 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709092017/https://www.macrotrends.net/cities/21925/windhoek/population |url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_note =
| population_total = 431,000
| population_density_km2 = 62.8
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_urban =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_blank1 =
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]]
| utc_offset = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|22|34|12|S|17|5|1|E|region:NA|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1655
| elevation_ft = 5430
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Namibia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 10005
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Namibia|Area code]]
| area_code = 061
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[BSh]]
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| website = {{URL|www.windhoekcc.org.na}}
}}

'''Windhoek''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|w|ɪ|n|d|h|ʊ|k}}, {{IPA|af|ˈvəntɦuk|lang}}, {{IPA-de|ˈvɪnthʊk|lang}}) is the capital and largest city of [[Namibia]]. It is located in central Namibia in the [[Khomas Highland]] plateau area, at around {{cvt|1700|m}} above sea level, almost exactly at the country's geographical centre. The population of Windhoek in 2020 was 431,000<ref name="auto"/> which is growing continually due to a continued migration from other regions in Namibia.

Windhoek is the social, economic, political, and cultural centre of the country. Nearly every Namibian national enterprise, governmental body, educational and cultural institution is headquartered there.

The city developed at the site of a permanent hot spring known to the local [[pastoral]] tribes. It developed rapidly after [[Jonker Afrikaner]], [[Tribal chief|Captain]] of the [[Orlam]], settled there in 1840 and built a stone church for his community. In the decades following, multiple wars and armed hostilities resulted in the neglect and destruction of the new settlement. Windhoek was founded a second time in 1890 by [[Imperial German Army]] Major [[Curt von François]], when the territory was colonised by the [[German Empire]].

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Windhoek}}

===Etymology===
Theories vary on how the city got its modern name of Windhoek. Most believe it is derived from the [[Afrikaans]] words ''wind'' (meaning wind) and ''hoek'' (meaning corner). Another theory suggests that Captain [[Jonker Afrikaner]] named Windhoek after the [[Winterhoek]] Mountains at [[Tulbagh]] in South Africa, where his ancestors had lived. The first known mention of the name ''Windhoek'' was in a letter from Jonker Afrikaner to Joseph Tindall, dated 12 August 1844.<ref name="DierksK1">{{cite web |url=http://www.klausdierks.com/images/Khauxanas/1introduction.htm |last=Dierks |first=Klaus |author-link=Klaus Dierks |title=The History of ǁKhauxaǃnas. Introduction. |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-date=26 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926132644/http://www.klausdierks.com/images/Khauxanas/1introduction.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Early settlement===
In 1840 [[Jonker Afrikaner]] established an Orlam settlement at Windhoek.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Orlams Afrikaners – the Creole Africans of the Garieb |publisher=Cape Slavery Heritage |url=http://cape-slavery-heritage.iblog.co.za/category/new-creole-identities/page/4/ |access-date=8 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He and his followers stayed near one of the main hot springs, located in the present-day [[Klein Windhoek]] suburb.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tonchi |first1=Victor L |last2=Lindeke |first2=William A |last3=Grotpeter |first3=John J |title=Historical Dictionary of Namibia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mls4H1mnN_0C |edition=2 |series=Historical Dictionaries of Africa, African historical dictionaries |year=2012 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9780810879904 |access-date=4 July 2016 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421060538/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mls4H1mnN_0C |url-status=live}}</ref> He built a stone church that held 500 people; it was also used as a school. Two [[Rhenish Missionary Society|Rhenish]] [[missionaries]], [[Carl Hugo Hahn]] and [[Franz Heinrich Kleinschmidt]], started working there in late 1842. Two years later they were driven out by two Methodist [[Wesleyans]], Richard Haddy and Joseph Tindall.<ref>{{cite book |last=Vedder |first=Heinrich |author-link=Heinrich Vedder |title=Das alte Südwestafrika. Südwestafrikas Geschichte bis zum Tode Mahareros 1890 |trans-title=The Old South West Africa. South West Africa's History until Maharero's death 1890 |language=de |year=1997 |edition=7th |publisher=Namibia Scientific Society |location=Windhoek |isbn=0-949995-33-9}}</ref><ref name="DierkbioA">{{cite web |url=http://www.klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_A.htm |last=Dierks |first=Klaus |author-link=Klaus Dierks |title=Biographies of Namibian Personalities, A (entry for Jonker Afrikaner) |publisher=klausdiers.com |access-date=1 October 2011 |archive-date=4 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804032931/http://www.klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_A.htm |url-status=live}}</ref> Gardens were laid out and for a while Windhoek prospered. A series of wars between the [[Nama people|Nama]] and [[Herero people|Herero]] tribes eventually destroyed the settlement. After a long absence, Hahn visited Windhoek again in 1873 and was dismayed to see that nothing remained of the town's former prosperity. In June 1885, a Swiss [[botanist]] found only [[jackals]] and starving [[guinea fowl]] amongst neglected fruit trees.<ref name="windhoekcc">{{Cite web |url=http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/default.aspx?page=30 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221153905/http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/default.aspx?page=30 |url-status=dead |title=Windhoek City Council: The History of Windhoek |archivedate=21 February 2010}}</ref>

===Colonial era===
[[File:Windhuk.jpg|thumb|Windhoek before 1908]]
[[File:Windhuk stamp.jpg|thumbnail|170px|German South West Africa stamp postmarked ''Windhuk'']]
[[File:Sanderburg.jpg|thumb|Sanderburg, one of the three castles of Windhoek]]
A request by merchants from [[Lüderitzbucht]] resulted in the declaration in 1884 of a German [[protectorate]] over what was called [[German South West Africa]] (''Deutsch-Südwestafrika''), now Namibia. The borders of the German colony were determined in 1890 and Germany sent a protective corps, the ''[[Imperial Schutztruppe for German South West Africa|Schutztruppe]]'' under Major [[Curt von François]], to maintain order.<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 338</ref> Von François stationed his garrison at Windhoek, which was strategically situated as a buffer between the warring [[Nama people|Nama]] and [[Herero people|Herero]] peoples.<ref>{{cite news |title=Verona, the last grandchild of Von François |last1=Mbathera |first1=Ester |last2=Pinehas |first2=Tutaleni |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=17 November 2021 |page=6 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/107420/read/Verona-the-last-grandchild-of-Von-Fran%C3%A7ois |access-date=17 November 2021 |archive-date=17 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117143749/https://www.namibian.com.na/107420/read/Verona-the-last-grandchild-of-Von-Fran%C3%A7ois |url-status=live}}</ref> The twelve strong springs provided water for the cultivation of produce and grains.

Colonial Windhoek was founded on 18 October 1890, when von François fixed the foundation stone of the fort, which is now known as the [[Alte Feste]] (Old Fortress).<ref name="DierkbioV">{{cite web |url=http://www.klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_V.htm |last=Dierks |first=Klaus |author-link=Klaus Dierks |title=Biographies of Namibian Personalities, V (entry for Curt von François) |publisher=klausdiers.com |access-date=1 October 2011 |archive-date=24 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224104612/http://klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_V.htm |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="curtfarewell">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63728105 |language=en-GB |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=23 November 2022 |access-date=2022-11-23 |last=Chothia |first=Farouk |title=Namibia pulls down German colonial officer's statue in Windhoek |archive-date=23 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221123142819/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63728105 |url-status=live}}</ref> After 1907, development accelerated as indigenous people migrated from the countryside to the growing town to seek work. More European settlers arrived from Germany and South Africa. Businesses were erected on Kaiser Street (presently [[Independence Avenue (Windhoek)|Independence Avenue]]), and along the dominant mountain ridge over the city. At this time, Windhoek's three castles, [[Heinitzburg]], [[Sanderburg]], and [[Schwerinsburg]], were built.

===South African administration after World War I===
The German colonial era came to an end after the end of [[World War I]] but [[South West Africa]], and with it Windhoek, had already fallen in 1915.<ref>Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Windhoek Windhoek] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190321190021/https://www.britannica.com/place/Windhoek |date=21 March 2019}}, britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019</ref> Until the end of the war, the city was administered by a South African military government, and no further development occurred.<ref name=CoWnew>{{cite web |title=The History of Windhoek |publisher=City of Windhoek |url=http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/tour_history_heritage.php |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029074218/http://www.windhoekcc.org.na/tour_history_heritage.php |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1920, after the [[Treaty of Versailles]], the territory was placed under a [[League of Nations]] [[League of Nations mandate#Class C mandates|Class C mandate]] and again administered by South Africa.<ref name="geography">Ieuan Griffiths,[https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40572467.pdf Walvis Bay: exclave no more] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303123113/https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/40572467.pdf |date=3 March 2016}} ''Geography'', Vol. 79, No. 4 (October 1994), page 354</ref>

After [[World War II]], more capital became available to improve the area's economy. After 1955, large public projects were undertaken, such as the building of new schools and hospitals, tarring of the city's roads (a project begun in 1928 with Kaiser Street), and the building of dams and pipelines to stabilise the water supply.<ref name="windhoekcc"/> The city introduced the world's first potable re-use plant in 1958, treating recycled sewage and sending it directly into the town's water supply.<ref>[http://ag.arizona.edu/oals/ALN/aln56/dupisani.html "Surviving in an arid land: Direct reclamation of potable water at Windhoek's Goreangab Reclamation Plant"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606065428/http://ag.arizona.edu/oals/ALN/aln56/dupisani.html |date=6 June 2011}} by Petrus Du Pisani</ref> On 1 October 1966, the then Administrator of South West Africa granted Windhoek the coat of arms, which was registered on 2 October 1970 with the South African Bureau of Heraldry. Initially a stylized aloe was the principal emblem, but this was amended to a natural aloe (''[[Aloe littoralis]]'') on 15 September 1972. The Coat of Arms is described as "A Windhoek aloe with a [[raceme]] of three flowers on an island. Crest: A mural crown [[Or (heraldry)|Or]]. Motto: SUUM CUIQUE (''To each their own'')".<ref>{{cite web |last=Berry |first=Bruce |date=12 February 2014 |url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/na-wind.html |title=Windhoek (Namibia) |website=www.crwflags.com |access-date=8 September 2017 |archive-date=7 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141207053954/http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/na-wind.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Windhoek formally received its [[town privileges]] on 18 October 1965 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the second foundation of the town by von François.<ref name=Stadtrecht>{{cite news |title=Windhoek erhielt heute Stadtrechte |trans-title=Windhoek received town privileges today |language=de |newspaper=[[Allgemeine Zeitung (Namibia)|Allgemeine Zeitung]] |date=18 October 1965 |edition=2015 reprint}}</ref>

In 1971, the [[1971–72 Namibian contract workers strike|Namibian general contract workers]] started from Windhoek. With the principle goal of abolishing the contract labour system, opposing [[apartheid]], and promoting Namibia's independence.<ref name="general">{{cite journal |last=Rogers |first=Barbara |date=1972 |title=Namibia's General Strike |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4185227 |journal=Africa Today |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=3–8 |issn=0001-9887 |jstor=4185227}}</ref>

===Since Namibian independence===
Since independence in 1990, Windhoek has remained the national capital, as well as the provincial capital of the central [[Khomas Region]]. Since independence and the end of warfare, the city has had accelerated growth and development.

==Economy ==
The city is the administrative, commercial, and industrial centre of Namibia. A 1992/93 study estimated that Windhoek provides over half of Namibia's non-agricultural employment, with its national share of employment in utilities being 96%, in transport and communication 94%, finance and business services 82%.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polytechnic.edu.na/academics/schools/engine_infotech/civil/lecturing/upd410s_module/(11.4)Windhoek%20Structure%20Plan%20Report.pdf |title=The Windhoek Structure Plan |year=1996 |publisher=City of Windhoek |page=6 |access-date=2 July 2013}}{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Due to its relative size<ref>The second biggest city in Namibia, [[Walvis Bay]], has 43,700 inhabitants: {{cite news |title=ELECTIONS 2010: Erongo regional profile |publisher=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] |url=http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=14109 |date=16 November 2010 |access-date=16 November 2010 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316095900/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=14109 |url-status=live}}</ref> Windhoek is, even more than many other national capital cities, the social, economic, and cultural centre of the country. Nearly every national enterprise is headquartered here. The [[University of Namibia]] is, too, as are the country's only theatre, all ministry head offices, and all major media and financial entities.<ref name=profile>{{cite news |title=ELECTIONS 2010: Khomas Region profile |last=Kapitako |first=Alvine |newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] |date=12 November 2010 |url=http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=14052 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121205005928/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=14052 |archive-date=5 December 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The governmental budget of the city of Windhoek nearly equals those of all other Namibian local authorities combined.<ref name="newera1">{{cite news |url=http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=9515 |last=Heita |first=Desie |title=Owning a house ... a dream deferred |date=11 February 2010 |newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716055306/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=9515 |archive-date=16 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> Of the 3,300 US$-millionaires in Namibia, 1,400 live in Windhoek.<ref>{{cite news |title=Namibians 3rd wealthiest people in Africa |last=Nakashole |first=Ndama |date=24 April 2017 |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |page=13 |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/53749/read/Namibians-3rd-wealthiest-people-in-Africa |access-date=6 May 2017 |archive-date=18 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618005115/http://www.namibian.com.na/53749/read/Namibians-3rd-wealthiest-people-in-Africa |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Road===
[[File:Windhoek-Skyline.jpg|thumb|Windhoek skyline]]
[[File:Independence Avenue Windhoek Namibia.jpg|thumb|[[Independence Avenue (Windhoek)|Independence Avenue]]]]
Windhoek's three main access roads from [[Rehoboth, Namibia|Rehoboth]], [[Gobabis]], and [[Okahandja]] are paved, and are designed to be able to withstand the largest possible flood to be expected in fifty years. Sealed roads can carry traffic moving at {{cvt|120|km/h}} and should last for 20 years.

In 1928, Kaiserstraße, now [[Independence Avenue (Windhoek)|Independence Avenue]], was the first paved road in Windhoek. Ten years later the next one, Gobabis road, now Sam Nujoma Drive, was also paved. Today, out of approximately {{cvt|40000|km}} of Namibia's total road network, about {{cvt|5000|km}} is [[paved road|sealed]].

In 2014, The Roads Authority planned to upgrade the Windhoek-[[Okahandja]] road to a dual carriageway. It would cost about N$1 billion and was expected to be completed in 2021. Later on, they also planned to upgrade the Windhoek and Hosea Kutako International Airport to a dual carriageway. This was expected to be completed in 2022.

As everywhere in Namibia, public transport is scarce and transportation across town is largely done by taxi; there were 6,492 registered taxis in 2013.<ref>{{cite news |title=A glimpse into the taxi industry |last=Shipanga |first=Selma |date=3 April 2013 |work=[[The Namibian]] |pages=6–7}}</ref>

===Air===
Windhoek is served by two airports, with the closest one being [[Eros Airport]], located {{cvt|7|km}} south of the city centre for smaller craft, and the other being [[Hosea Kutako International Airport]], {{cvt|42|km}} east of the city. A number of foreign airlines operate to and from Windhoek. Air charters and helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft rentals are also available.

[[File:Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia (2017).jpg|thumb|left|Airport with [[air traffic control]] tower (2017)]]

Hosea Kutako International Airport handles over 800,000 passengers a year. It has one runway without capacity limitations. The other international airport is located in [[Walvis Bay]], with domestic airports at [[Lüderitz]], [[Oranjemund]] and [[Ondangwa]].

[[Eros Airport]] is the busiest airport in Namibia in terms of takeoffs and landings.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airports.com.na/eros.php |title=Namibia Airports Company |access-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904002500/http://www.airports.com.na/eros.php |archive-date=4 September 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> This city airport handles approximately 150 to 200 movements per day (around 50,000 per year). In 2004, the airport served 141,605 passengers, the majority of which are light aircraft. Primarily, limitations such as runway length, noise, and air space congestion have kept Eros from developing into a larger airport. Most of Namibia's charter operators have Eros as their base.

===Rail===
[[File:Estación de ferrocarril, Windhoek, Namibia, 2018-08-04, DD 13.jpg|thumb|Windhoek Railway Station]]
Windhoek is [[Rail transport in Namibia|connected by rail]] to:

*[[Okahandja]] (north)
*[[Rehoboth, Namibia|Rehoboth]] (south)
*[[Gobabis]] (east)

==Geography==
[[File:Windhoek Luftaufnahme.jpg|thumb|[[Auas Mountains]]]]
[[File:Rainy season clouds outskirt of Windhoek.jpg|thumb|Rainy season]]
Expanding the town area has – apart from financial restrictions – proven to be challenging due to its geographical location. In southern, eastern and western directions, Windhoek is surrounded by rocky, mountainous areas, which make land development costly. The southern side is not suitable for industrial development because of the presence of underground [[aquifers]]. This leaves the vast [[Brakwater]] area north of town the only feasible place for Windhoek's expansion.<ref name="newera2">[http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=9494 "Windhoek's battle for land"] {{Webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20121209032607/http://www.newera.com.na/article.php?articleid=9494 |date=9 December 2012 }}, by Desie Heita; ''New Era,'' 10 Feb 2010</ref>

Windhoek's city council has plans to dramatically expand the city's boundaries such that the town area will cover {{cvt|5133.4|sqkm}}. Windhoek would become the third-largest city in the world by area,{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} after [[Tianjin]] and [[Istanbul]], although its population density is only 63 inhabitants per square kilometre.<ref name=slaan>{{cite news |title=Windhoek slaan Afrika-rekord |trans-title=Windhoek beats Africa record |date=2 July 2013 |last=Retief |first=Christo |newspaper=[[Die Republikein]] |url=http://www.republikein.com.na/regering/windhoek-slaan-afrika-rekord.207163 |access-date=2 July 2013 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324055814/http://www.republikein.com.na/regering/windhoek-slaan-afrika-rekord.207163 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Suburbs===
Windhoek is subdivided into the following suburbs and townships:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.polytechnic.edu.na/academics/schools/engine_infotech/civil/lecturing/upd410s_module/(11.4)Windhoek%20Structure%20Plan%20Report.pdf |title=The Windhoek Structure Plan |year=1996 |publisher=City of Windhoek |pages=11–12 |access-date=2 July 2013}}{{Dead link |date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

{{div col |colwidth=15em}}
*Academia
*Auasblick
*Avis
*[[Cimbebasia (Windhoek suburb)|Cimbebasia]]
*Dorado Park
*Donkerhoek
*[[Elisenheim]]
*Eros
*Eros Park
*Freedom Land
*[[Goreangab]]
*[[Groot Aub]] (since September 2017)<ref>{{cite news |title=Groot Aub incorporated into Windhoek |last=Ngatjiheue |first=Charmaine |date=11 September 2017 |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |page=5 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/59009/read/Groot-Aub-incorporated-into-Windhoek |access-date=12 September 2017 |archive-date=12 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912194314/https://www.namibian.com.na/59009/read/Groot-Aub-incorporated-into-Windhoek |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Greenwell Matongo]]
*[[Hakahana]]
*[[Havana (Windhoek suburb)|Havana]]
*[[Hochland Park]]
*[[Katutura]]
*[[Khomasdal]]
*[[Kleine Kuppe]]
*[[Klein Windhoek]]
*Lafrenz Industrial Area
*Ludwigsdorf
*Luxury Hill (Luxushügel)
*Maxuilili
*Northern Industrial Area
*[[Okuryangava]]
*Olympia
*Ombili
*[[Otjomuise]]
*[[Pionierspark]]
*Prosperita
*Rocky Crest
*Southern Industrial Area
*Suiderhof
*Tauben Glen
*[[Wanaheda]]
*[[Windhoek Central Business District|Windhoek Central]]
*Windhoek North
*[[Windhoek West]]
{{div col end}}

In many of Windhoek's townships residents live in [[shack]]s. In 2020 the city had a total of 41,900 of these informal housing structures, accommodating close to 100,000 inhabitants.<ref>{{cite news |title=Namibia's ghetto life: Half million live in shacks countrywide |last=Nghinomenwa |first=Erastus |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=12 August 2020 |page=1 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/93627/read/Namibias-ghetto-life-Half-million-live-in-shacks-countrywide |access-date=13 August 2020 |archive-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421060538/https://www.namibian.com.na/93627/read/Namibias-ghetto-life-Half-million-live-in-shacks-countrywide |url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Cloudy sky in the capital city of Namibia.jpg|alt=#1Lib1Ref #AfLibWk|thumb|Overcast skies in Windhoek]]

===Climate===
Windhoek has over 300 sunny days per year.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Namibia |title=Climate and average monthly weather in Namibia |website=weather-and-climate.com |access-date=20 July 2017 |archive-date=3 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403145019/https://weather-and-climate.com/average-monthly-Rainfall-Temperature-Sunshine-in-Namibia |url-status=live}}</ref> It experiences a hot [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSh'') according to [[Köppen climate classification]] as the annual average temperature is above {{cvt|18|C}}. The temperature throughout the year would be called mild, due to altitude influence. The annual average high and low temperature range is {{cvt|13.4|C-change}}. The coldest month is July, with an average temperature of {{cvt|13.1|C}}, while the hottest month is December, with average temperature {{cvt|23.5|C}}. Due to its location near the [[Kalahari Desert]], the city receives 3,605 hours of sunshine. Precipitation is abundant during the summer season, and minimal during the winter season. The average annual precipitation is {{cvt|367.4|mm}}, with lows of {{cvt|106.7|mm}} in the 2018/19 rainy season, and {{cvt|97|mm}} in 1929/30.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Khomas faces worst drought in 90 years |last1=Menges |first1=Werner |last2=Oliveira |first2=Yokany |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=23 May 2019 |page=1 |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/78826/read/Khomas-faces-worst-drought-in-90-years |access-date=25 May 2019 |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525090528/https://www.namibian.com.na/78826/read/Khomas-faces-worst-drought-in-90-years |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Windhoek (1728 m), Namibia
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 36.0
|Feb record high C = 35.8
|Mar record high C = 34.9
|Apr record high C = 31.3
|May record high C = 31.8
|Jun record high C = 26.1
|Jul record high C = 25.7
|Aug record high C = 30.0
|Sep record high C = 33.2
|Oct record high C = 35.1
|Nov record high C = 36.5
|Dec record high C = 36.6

|Jan high C = 30.0
|Feb high C = 28.6
|Mar high C = 27.2
|Apr high C = 25.6
|May high C = 22.7
|Jun high C = 20.2
|Jul high C = 20.5
|Aug high C = 23.4
|Sep high C = 26.5
|Oct high C = 29.1
|Nov high C = 29.6
|Dec high C = 30.7
|year high C = 26.1

|Jan mean C = 23.3
|Feb mean C = 22.1
|Mar mean C = 21.0
|Apr mean C = 18.9
|May mean C = 15.8
|Jun mean C = 13.2
|Jul mean C = 13.1
|Aug mean C = 15.8
|Sep mean C = 19.3
|Oct mean C = 21.7
|Nov mean C = 22.5
|Dec mean C = 23.5
|year mean C = 19.1

|Jan low C = 17.2
|Feb low C = 16.5
|Mar low C = 15.4
|Apr low C = 12.8
|May low C = 9.2
|Jun low C = 6.7
|Jul low C = 6.3
|Aug low C = 8.6
|Sep low C = 11.9
|Oct low C = 14.6
|Nov low C = 15.6
|Dec low C = 16.9
|year low C = 12.7

|Jan record low C = 7.5
|Feb record low C = 6.8
|Mar record low C = 3.7
|Apr record low C = 2.4
|May record low C = -1.6
|Jun record low C = -2.8
|Jul record low C = -2.6
|Aug record low C = -3.9
|Sep record low C = -1.1
|Oct record low C = 1.6
|Nov record low C = 0.4
|Dec record low C = 3.3

|Jan precipitation mm = 78.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 80.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 78.7
|Apr precipitation mm = 37.7
|May precipitation mm = 6.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 1.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 2.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 11.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 26.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 41.7

|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.1
|Feb precipitation days = 10.7
|Mar precipitation days = 10.5
|Apr precipitation days = 5.5
|May precipitation days = 1.9
|Jun precipitation days = 0.7
|Jul precipitation days = 0.5
|Aug precipitation days = 0.3
|Sep precipitation days = 0.9
|Oct precipitation days = 2.8
|Nov precipitation days = 5.3
|Dec precipitation days = 7.5

|Jan humidity = 42
|Feb humidity = 56
|Mar humidity = 51
|Apr humidity = 44
|May humidity = 37
|Jun humidity = 32
|Jul humidity = 27
|Aug humidity = 19
|Sep humidity = 17
|Oct humidity = 22
|Nov humidity = 30
|Dec humidity = 34

|Jan sun = 288
|Feb sun = 254
|Mar sun = 282
|Apr sun = 273
|May sun = 310
|Jun sun = 309
|Jul sun = 326
|Aug sun = 341
|Sep sun = 321
|Oct sun = 319
|Nov sun = 297
|Dec sun = 285
| source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_681100_kt.pdf |title=Klimatafel von Windhuk (Windhoek) / Namibia |publisher=Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure |access-date=2 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512035512/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_681100_kt.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]] (sun only)<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |title=Stationsnummer 68110 |publisher=Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate |access-date=2 November 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071752/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 |df=dmy-all}}
</ref>
}}

===Demographics===
In 1971, there were roughly 26,000 whites living in Windhoek, outnumbering the black population of 24,000. About one third of white residents at the time, at least 9,000 individuals, were German speakers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19710718&id=9gorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YJoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2800,3519162 |title=Reading Eagle – Google News Archive Search |website=news.google.com |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-date=17 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117034052/https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=19710718&id=9gorAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YJoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2800,3519162 |url-status=live}}</ref> Windhoek's population {{As of|2010|alt=currently}} stands at over 325,858 (65% black; 18% other; 17% white), and is growing 4% annually in part due to [[informal settlement]]s that have even higher growth rates of nearly 10% a year.<ref name="newera2"/> In public life, [[Afrikaans]], and to a lesser extent [[German language|German]], are still used as lingua francas even though the government only uses English. Currently Windhoek has a population of 431,000 as of 2020.<ref>Thomas Schoch. 2003. [http://www.visitwindhoek.net/component/content/article/113 ''Visit Windhoek, People and languages''] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20130222170645/http://www.visitwindhoek.net/component/content/article/113 |date=22 February 2013 }}</ref>

{{Historical populations|1981|96,057|1991|147,056|2001|233,529|2011|325,858|2016|395,000|2020|431,000|percentages=pagr|align=none|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/en/namibia/cities/ |title=Namibia: Administrative Division population statistics |access-date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031145132/http://citypopulation.de/en/namibia/cities/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

==Politics==
===Local authority elections===
Windhoek is the only self-governed settlement in Khomas Region. It is governed by a multi-party municipal council that has fifteen seats.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Know Your Local Authority |publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research |newspaper=Election Watch |year=2015 |issue=3 |page=4}}</ref> The council meets monthly; its decisions are taken collectively.

[[SWAPO]] won the [[Namibian local and regional elections, 2015|2015 local authority election]] and gained twelve seats, by having 37,533 votes. Three opposition parties gained one seat each: The [[Popular Democratic Movement]] (PDM), formerly DTA, with 4,171 votes, the [[National Unity Democratic Organisation]] (NUDO) with 1,453 votes, and the [[Rally for Democracy and Progress (Namibia)|Rally for Democracy and Progress]] (RDP) with 1,422 votes.<ref>{{cite web |title=Local elections results |publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] |page=4 |url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210194328/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 2015 |date=28 November 2015}}</ref> SWAPO also won the [[2020 Namibian local and regional elections|2020 local authority election]] but lost the majority control over the town council. It obtained 20,250 votes and gained five seats. The [[Independent Patriots for Change]] (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, obtained 14,028 votes and gained four seats. Two seats each went to the local branch of the [[Affirmative Repositioning]] movement (8,501 votes) and the [[Landless People's Movement (Namibia)|Landless People's Movement]] (LPM, a new party registered in 2018, 7,365 votes). PDM (5,411 votes) and NUDO (1,455 votes) obtained one seat each.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats |page=9 |date=29 November 2020 |publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] |url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf |access-date=25 January 2021 |archive-date=24 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124162938/https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Twin towns and sister cities===
{{See also|List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Africa#Namibia|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Namibia}}
Windhoek is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayoral Annual Report 2016 |url=http://documents.windhoekcc.org.na/Content/Documents/Mayoral%20Report%202016.pdf |website=windhoekcc.org.na |publisher=Windhoek |page=34 |date=2016 |access-date=2020-10-21 |archive-date=21 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021215212/http://documents.windhoekcc.org.na/Content/Documents/Mayoral%20Report%202016.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Twinning agreements |url=https://www.joburg.org.za/about_/Pages/About%20the%20City/About%20Joburg/Twinning-Agreements-.aspx |website=joburg.org.za |publisher=City of Johannesburg |access-date=2020-10-21 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026225338/https://www.joburg.org.za/about_/Pages/About%20the%20City/About%20Joburg/Twinning-Agreements-.aspx |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Namibia's Windhoek, Jamaica's Kingston sign twinning agreement |url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/06/c_137803189.htm |website=xinhuanet.com |publisher=Xinhua |date=2019-02-06 |access-date=2020-10-21 |archive-date=13 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213005559/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-02/06/c_137803189.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Berlin]], Germany
*{{flagicon|CUB}} [[Havana]], Cuba
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
*{{flagicon|JAM}} [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]], Jamaica
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Nanjing]], China
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], United States
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[San Antonio]], United States
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Suzhou]], China
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Trossingen]], Germany

{{div col end}}

==Culture==
[[File:Unabhängigkeits-Gedenkmuseum Windhoek, Luftaufnahme (2017).jpg|thumb|[[Independence Memorial Museum (Namibia)|Independence Memorial Museum]], aerial view (2017)]]
Windhoek is known as the art capital of Namibia. The [[National Art Gallery of Namibia|National Art Gallery]], [[National Theatre of Namibia|National Theatre]] and the [[National Museum of Namibia|National Museum]] are all located here. Two locations are part of the National Museum,<ref>https://www.museums.com.na/museums/windhoek/national-museum-of-namibia {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511144231/https://www.museums.com.na/museums/windhoek/national-museum-of-namibia |date=11 May 2019 }} National Museum of Namibia</ref> the [[Alte Feste]] (historical) showcases a range of colonial items such as wagons and domestic items, while the [[Owela Museum]] (scientific; named after [[Owela]], a traditional game played with pebbles) contains displays of minerals, fossils and meteorites and gives an insight into traditional village life. There are also the [[Independence Memorial Museum (Namibia)|Independence Memorial Museum]], the [[National Library of Namibia]] and the [[Windhoek Public Library]], built in 1925, next to the Alte Feste.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2009/february/article/public-library-gets-a-facelift/ |title=National News 19.02.2009 Public library gets a facelift |last=Shejavali |first=Nangula |date=19 February 2009 |work=[[The Namibian]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130112024928/http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2009/february/article/public-library-gets-a-facelift/ |archive-date=12 January 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

=== Places of worship ===
[[File:Kirche Windhuk.JPG|thumb|upright|[[Christ Church, Windhoek]]]]
The [[places of worship]] are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples: those of [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia]], [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia]], [[German-speaking Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia]] (all three members of the [[Lutheran World Federation]]), [[Baptist Convention of Namibia]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Assemblies of God]], [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Windhoek]] ([[Catholic Church]]).<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices‘‘, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 2012-2013</ref> There are also a few [[Islam]]ic mosques in the city, including the [[Windhoek Islamic Center]].

===Architecture===
[[File:Parlamentsgärten, Windhoek.jpg|thumb|[[Parliament Gardens]]]]
[[File:Parlament Windhuk.JPG|thumb|Tintenpalast in Windhoek]]
*[[Alte Feste]] – (''Old Fortress'') Built in 1890, today houses the National Museum.
*[[Curt von François]] monument in front of the municipality building. Inaugurated on 18 October 1965 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the second foundation of the town by von François. The statue was removed from its location, in front of the municipal grounds, on the 23 November 2022 and will be stored in the local Windhoek City Museum.<ref name=Stadtrecht/>
*[[Heroes' Acre (Namibia)|Heroes' Acre]] – A national war and heroes memorial, about 10 km outside of the city.
*[[Independence Memorial Museum (Namibia)]] – A historical museum focusing on the anti-colonial resistance and the national liberation movement of the [[Republic of Namibia]].
*[[National Council (Namibia)]] – The upper chamber of Namibia's bicameral Parliament.
*[[Reiterdenkmal, Windhoek|Reiterdenkmal]] (''Equestrian Monument''), a statue celebrating the victory of the German Empire over the Herero and Nama in the [[Herero and Namaqua Genocide|Herero and Namaqua War]] of 1904–1907<ref name="centenary">{{cite news |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2012/january/article/monuments-centenary-remembered/ |title=Monument's centenary remembered |last=Bause |first=Tanja |date=30 January 2012 |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209003900/http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2012/january/article/monuments-centenary-remembered/ |archive-date=9 December 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The statue was removed from its historical place next to ''Christuskirche'' in December 2013 and is now on display in the yard of the ''Alte Feste''.<ref name="val">{{cite news |url=http://www.republikein.com.na/kultuur/ruiter-val-op-heiligste-dag.216286 |title=Ruiter val op heiligste dag |trans-title=Rider falls on holiest day |language=af |last=Steynberg |first=Francoise |date=27 December 2013 |work=[[Die Republikein]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701202436/https://www.republikein.com.na/kultuur/ruiter-val-op-heiligste-dag.216286 |archive-date=1 July 2014 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[State House, Windhoek]] – The official residence of the [[President of Namibia]].
*[[Supreme Court of Namibia]] – situated in Michael Scott Street on Eliakim Namundjebo Plaza. Built between 1994 and 1996<ref name=WCE>{{cite web |title=Windhoek Supreme Court |publisher=Windhoek Consulting Engineers |url=http://www.wcenamibia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95:windhoek-supreme-court&catid=62:structural&Itemid=125 |access-date=24 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315084432/http://www.wcenamibia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=95:windhoek-supreme-court&catid=62:structural&Itemid=125 |archive-date=15 March 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> it is Windhoek's only building erected after independence in an African style of architecture.<ref>{{cite web |title=Windhoek on Foot |publisher=Venture Publications |url=http://www.holidaytravel.com.na/ct/central_towns.php?sub_id=192 |access-date=24 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130603125314/http://www.holidaytravel.com.na/ct/central_towns.php?sub_id=192 |archive-date=3 June 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*The three castles of Windhoek built by architect [[Wilhelm Sander]]: [[Heinitzburg]], [[Sanderburg]], and [[Schwerinsburg]]<ref name=KDBioS>{{cite web |title=Biographies of Namibian Personalities, S |last=Dierks |first=Klaus |author-link=Klaus Dierks |publisher=klausdierks.com |url=http://www.klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_S.htm |access-date=3 October 2011 |archive-date=23 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323005514/http://klausdierks.com/Biographies/Biographies_S.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Tintenpalast]] – (''Ink Palace'') within Parliament Gardens, the seat of both chambers of the [[Parliament of Namibia]]. Built between 1912 and 1913 and situated just north of ''Robert Mugabe Avenue''.
*[[Turnhalle (Windhoek)|Turnhalle]] – neo-classicist building of Wilhelmine architecture, inaugurated in 1909.<ref name="100years">{{cite news |url=http://www.republikein.com.na/politiek-en-nasionale/100-years-turnhalle.99760.php |title=100 years Turnhalle • From gymnasium to Tribunal |last=Vogt |first=Andreas |date=18 December 2009 |newspaper=[[Die Republikein]] |access-date=3 October 2011 |archive-date=24 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324132914/http://www.republikein.com.na/politiek-en-nasionale/100-years-turnhalle.99760.php |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Windhoek Railway Station]] – A historical railway station serving the city of Windhoek .
*[[Zoo Park]] – a public park on [[Independence Avenue (Windhoek)|Independence Avenue]] in downtown Windhoek. The current park is landscaped and features a pond, playground and open-air theatre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sa-venues.com/regions/attractionsna/windhoek.htm#Zoo%20Park |title=Windhoek Attractions, Namibia |publisher=Sa-venues.com |access-date=1 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125152058/http://www.sa-venues.com/regions/attractionsna/windhoek.htm#Zoo%20Park |archive-date=25 November 2009 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Sport===
[[Rugby football|Rugby]] is a popular sport in [[Namibia]], and the national team is called the ''Welwitchias''. Namibia has made the [[Rugby World Cup]] on six occasions, in 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019, but has never won a game there.

The city has several football clubs which include [[African Stars F.C.]], [[Black Africa F.C.]], [[F.C. Civics Windhoek]], [[Orlando Pirates Windhoek|Orlando Pirates F.C.]], [[Ramblers F.C.]], [[SK Windhoek]], [[Tigers F.C.]], [[Tura Magic F.C.]], and [[Citizens F.C]].

Many boxers such as [[Paulus Moses]], [[Paulus Ambunda]] and [[Abmerk Shindjuu]] are from the city.

The [[Namibia national cricket team]], the Eagles, plays the majority of its home games at the [[Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek|Wanderers Cricket Ground]].<ref>{{citation |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/19/1344.html |title=Wanderers Cricket Ground, Windhoek |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215020509/https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/19/1344.html |url-status=live}} Retrieved 26 September 2011.</ref> It has also played at other grounds in the city, including the [[United Ground, Windhoek|United Ground]] and the [[Trans Namib Ground]].<ref>{{citation |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/19/1343.html |title=United Ground, Windhoek |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215012922/https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/19/1343.html |url-status=live}} Retrieved 26 September 2011.</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/19/1341.html |title=Trans Namib Ground, Windhoek |publisher=CricketArchive |access-date=31 October 2017 |archive-date=15 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215015709/https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/19/1341.html |url-status=live}} Retrieved 26 September 2011.</ref> The team took part in the [[2003 Cricket World Cup]] in [[South Africa]], though they lost all their games. They have played in each edition of the [[ICC Intercontinental Cup]].

Men's [[baseball]] was introduced to Namibia in 1950 at the Ramblers sports club in town.

The 'Tony Rust Raceway' is located west of Windhoek on the Daan Viljoen road, and reopened in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |last=Galpin |first=Darren |title=Tony Rust Raceway, Windhoek |url=http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/tracks/africa/windhoek.html |work=GEL Motorsport Information Page |access-date=31 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610080703/http://www.dlg.speedfreaks.org/tracks/africa/windhoek.html |archive-date=10 June 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Farm Windhoek]], located adjacent to the townlands and owned by the municipality, is a sports venue for hiking, running, and mountain biking.

==Education==
[[File:Unamt.jpg|thumb|The main campus of the [[University of Namibia]]]]

===Tertiary institutions===
The general institutions of higher education in Windhoek are:
*[[University of Namibia]] (UNAM)
*[[Namibia University of Science and Technology]] (NUST), until 2015 the ''Polytechnic of Namibia''
*[[International University of Management]] (IUM)

===Other institutions===
Other recognisable institutions of higher learning:
*Institute of Information Technology (IIT)
*[[College of the Arts, Windhoek|College of the Arts]] (COTA)

===Secondary schools===
Windhoek {{As of|2016|alt=has}} 29 secondary schools and 58 primary schools.<ref>{{cite news |title=Schools in Windhoek under pressure for places |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |date=15 January 2016 |page=6 |publisher=[[Namibia Press Agency|Nampa]] |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=read&id=35952 |access-date=16 January 2016 |archive-date=6 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206100928/http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=read&id=35952 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some of the notable schools are:
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[A. Shipena Secondary School]]
*[[Academia Secondary School]]
*[[Augustineum Secondary School]]
*Centaurus High School
*[[Concordia College (Namibia)|Concordia College]]
*[[Cosmos High School]]
*Chairman Mao Zedong High School
*Dagbreek School for the Intellectually Impaired<ref>{{cite web |title=Dagbreek school Windhoek Namibia-school for learners who are intellectually impaired |last=Du Plessies |first=P.S |url=http://www.schoolnamibie.nl/dagbreek-school-info.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426041709/http://www.schoolnamibie.nl/dagbreek-school-info.html |archive-date=26 April 2012 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[David Bezuidenhout Secondary School]]
*[[Delta Secondary School Windhoek]] (DSSW)
*[[Deutsche Höhere Privatschule]] (DHPS)
*[[Ella du Plessis High School]]
*Eros School for Girls<ref name="Mitrofanov">{{cite web |author=Sergei Mitrofanov |url=http://www.namibweb.com/schools.htm |title=Eros School for Girls |publisher=namibweb.com |access-date=1 October 2009 |archive-date=13 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091013081536/http://www.namibweb.com/schools.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Hage G. Geingob High School|Hage Geingob High School]]
*[[Holy Cross Convent School, Windhoek|Holy Cross Convent School]]
*[[Immanuel Shifidi Secondary School]]
*[[Jakob Marengo Secondary School]]
*[[Jan Jonker Afrikaner High School]]
*[[Jan Möhr Secondary School]]
*Saint George's Diocesan College<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stgeorgesnamibia.com |title=Saint George's Diocesan College |publisher=stgeorgesnamibia.com |access-date=12 October 2015 |archive-date=20 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020001719/http://stgeorgesnamibia.com/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Pionier Boys' School]]
*[[St. Paul's College, Namibia|Saint Paul's College]]
*[[Windhoek Afrikaanse Privaatskool]] (WAP)
*[[Windhoek Gymnasium Private School]] (WHK Gym)<ref>{{cite news |title=Private school draws praise from Namwandi |first=Albertina |last=Nakale |newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] |date=20 May 2014 |url=http://www.newera.com.na/2014/05/14/private-school-draws-praise-namwandi/ |access-date=20 May 2014 |archive-date=20 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140520220609/http://www.newera.com.na/2014/05/14/private-school-draws-praise-namwandi/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Windhoek High School]] (WHS)
*[[Windhoek International School]] (WIS)
{{Div col end}}

==Notable people==


*[[Frank Fredericks]] (born 1967), athlete
*[[Gisvi]] (born 1982) Portuguese former footballer
*[[Max Katjijeko]] (born 1995) rugby union player for the [[Tel Aviv Heat]]
*[[Michelle McLean]] (born 1973), Miss Universe 1992
*[[Quido]] (Le-Roy Quido Mohamed) (born 1989), rapper
*[[Peter Shalulile]] (born 1993), footballer
*[[Collin Benjamin]] (born 1978), retired footballer

==See also==
*[[List of mayors of Windhoek]]
*[[List of cemeteries in Windhoek]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Windhoek#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Windhoek}}

==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q3935|s=no|b=no|v=no|q=no|n=no|m=no|mw=no|species=no|voy=Windhoek}}
*[http://www.windhoekcc.org.na Official homepage of the City of Windhoek]

{{Administrative divisions of Windhoek}}
{{Constituencies of the Khomas Region}}
{{List of African capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Windhoek| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Khomas Region]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Namibia]]
[[Category:German South West Africa]]
[[Category:1840 establishments in South West Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1840]]
[[Category:Cities in Namibia]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]

Sukhumi

2023-12-12T19:53:18Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital city of Abkhazia}}
{{redirect|Aqwa|the aquarium|Aquarium of Western Australia}}
{{About|the capital of Abkhazia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Sukhumi
| other_name = Sokhumi, Aqwa
| native_name = {{native name|ab|Аҟәа|italics=no}} {{native name|ka|სოხუმი|italics=no}} {{native name|ru|Сухум(и)|italics=no}}
| nickname =
| settlement_type = City
| motto =
| image_skyline = Sokhumi Collage.jpg
| image_caption = Colonnade, Embankment, Panoramic, Beach panorama, former building of the Council of Ministers
| image_flag = Flag Sukhum City.jpg
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield = Coat of Arms of Sukhumi.svg
| shield_size =
| image_map = 
| map_caption = location of Sukhumi
| pushpin_map = Abkhazia#Georgia
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Sukhumi in Abkhazia##Location of Sukhumi in Georgia
| pushpin_mapsize = 280
| subdivision_type = Country (''[[de jure]]'')
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Georgia}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country (''[[de facto]]'')
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Abkhazia}}{{efn|{{Abkhazia-note}}}}
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Beslan Eshba]]
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 6th century BC
| established_title2 = City status
| established_date2 = 1848
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 372
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| population_as_of = 2018
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 65,439<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ugsra.org/ofitsialnaya-statistika.php?ELEMENT_ID=386|title=Государственный комитет Республики Абхазия по статистике|website=ugsra.org}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Moscow Time|MSK]]
| utc_offset = +3
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|43|00|12|N|41|00|55|E|region:GE-AB|display=inline}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_max_m = 140
| elevation_min_m = 5
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 384900
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Abkhazia|Area code]]
| area_code = +7 840 22x-xx-xx
| registration_plate = ABH
| footnotes =
| name =
| website = {{URL|https://www.sukhumcity.ru/}}
}}

'''Sukhumi''' (see also [[#Toponym|other names]] below) is a city in a wide bay on the [[Black Sea]]'s eastern coast. It is both the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of the Republic of [[Abkhazia]], a partially recognised state widely recognized as a part of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. The city has been controlled by Abkhazia since the [[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)|Abkhazian war]] in 1992–93. The city, which has an [[Sukhumi Dranda Airport|airport]], is a port, major rail junction and a holiday resort because of its beaches, [[Sanatorium (resort)|sanatoriums]], mineral-water spas and semitropical climate. It is also a member of the [[International Black Sea Club]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.i-bsc.info/emember.php |title=International Black Sea Club, members |access-date=30 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722072027/http://www.i-bsc.info/emember.php |archive-date=22 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Sukhumi's history can be traced to the 6th century BC, when it was settled by Greeks, who named it Dioscurias. During this time and the subsequent Roman period, much of the city disappeared under the Black Sea. The city was named Tskhumi when it became part of the [[Kingdom of Abkhazia]] and then the [[Kingdom of Georgia]]. Contested by local princes, it became part of the [[Ottoman Empire]] in the 1570s, where it remained until it was conquered by the [[Russian Empire]] in 1810. After a period of conflict during the [[Russian Civil War]], it became part of the [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|independent Georgia]], which included Abkhazia, in 1918.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|editor-first=Dale H.|editor-last=Hoiberg|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|title=Abkhazia|edition=15th|year=2010|publisher=Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.|volume=I: A-ak Bayes|location=Chicago, IL|isbn=978-1-59339-837-8|pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/33 33]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/33}}</ref> In 1921, the Democratic Republic of Georgia was [[Red Army invasion of Georgia|occupied]] by Soviet [[Bolsheviks|Bolshevik]] forces from Russia. Within the [[Soviet Union]], it was regarded as a holiday resort. As the Soviet Union broke up in the early 1990s, the city suffered significant damage during the [[Abkhaz–Georgian conflict]]. The present-day population of 60,000 is only half of the population living there toward the end of Soviet rule.

==Toponym==
In [[Georgian language|Georgian]], the city is known as ''Sokhumi'' (სოხუმი), amongst [[Samurzakano|Samurzakans]] in [[Megrelian language|Megrelian]] the city is sometimes referred to as ''Aqujikha'' (აყუჯიხა),<ref>Otar Kajaia, 2001–2004, [http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etca/cauc/megr/kajaia/kajai.htm Megrelian-Georgian Dictionary] (entry ''aq'ujixa'').</ref><ref name=Chirikba>[http://www.abkhazworld.com/Pdf/Abkhaz_Loans_in_Megrelian_Chirikba.pdf Abkhaz Loans in Megrelian], p. 65</ref> and in Russian as Сухум (''Sukhum'') or Сухуми (''Sukhumi''). The toponym Sokhumi derives from the Georgian word ''Tskhomi/Tskhumi'' (ცხომი/ცხუმი), which in turn is supposed to be derived from [[Svan language|Svan]] [[wikt:ცხუმ#Svan|tskhum (ცხუმ)]] meaning "[[hornbeam]] tree".<ref name="Etymology">{{cite book |title= Assays from the history of Georgia. Abkhazia from ancient times to the present day |year=2011 |url=http://dspace.nplg.gov.ge/handle/1234/10253 |language=en|location=Tbilisi, Georgia |publisher=Intelect |isbn=978-9941-410-69-7}}</ref> In Abkhaz, the city is known as ''Aqwa'' (Аҟәа) which is believed to derive from ''a-qwara'' (а-ҟәара), meaning "stony seashore".<ref name=Chirikba/> According to Abkhaz tradition ''Aqwa'' (Аҟәа) signifies ''water''.<ref name="colarusso_mp54">{{cite web|url=http://www.safarmer.com/Indo-Eurasian/Pontic-horse.pdf|title=More Pontic: Further Etymologies between Indo-European and Northwest Caucasian|last=Colarusso|first=John|author-link=John Colarusso|page=54|access-date=22 August 2009}}</ref>

Medieval Georgian sources knew the town as ''Tskhumi'' (ცხუმი).<ref>[http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/cauc/ageo/gh/gh039.htm ''Vita Sanctae Ninonis''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005152820/http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/cauc/ageo/gh/gh039.htm |date=5 October 2012 }}. [[TITUS (project)|TITUS]] Old Georgian hagiographical and homiletic texts: Part No. 39</ref><ref>[http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/cauc/ageo/gh/gh041.htm ''Martyrium David et Constantini''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005152847/http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/cauc/ageo/gh/gh041.htm |date=5 October 2012 }}. [[TITUS (project)|TITUS]] Old Georgian hagiographical and homiletic texts: Part No. 41</ref><ref>[http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/cauc/ageo/kcx1/kcx1233.htm ''Kartlis Cxovreba'': Part No. 233]. [[TITUS (project)|TITUS]]</ref> Later, under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] control, the town was known in Turkish as ''Suhum-Kale'', which was derived from the earlier Georgian form Tskhumi or read to mean "Tskhumi fortress".<ref name="goltzgd056">{{cite book|last=Goltz|first=Thomas|title=Georgia Diary|publisher=M.E. Sharpe|location=Armonk, New York / London, England|date=2009|edition=Expanded|page=56|chapter=4. An Abkhazian Interlude|isbn=978-0-7656-2416-1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abkhazeti.info/ethno/EkplpAVElyHNzaIaLX2.php|title=Путеводитель по городу Сухуму и Сухумскому Округу с историко-этнографическим очерком|website=Путеводитель по городу Сухуму и Сухумскому Округу с историко-этнографическим очерком}}</ref>

The ending -i in the above forms represents the Georgian nominative suffix. The town was officially called Сухум (''Sukhum'') in Russian until 16 August 1936, when this was changed to ''Sukhumi'' (Сухуми).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Заяц |first1=Д.В. |title=Изменение административно-территориального деления союзных республик |journal=География |date=2001 |volume=28 |url=https://geo.1sept.ru/article.php?ID=200102809 |access-date=10 March 2022 |language=ru}}</ref> This remained so until 4 December 1992, when the Supreme Council of Abkhazia restored the previous version.<ref name="post1992">{{cite book| author = | chapter = | chapter-url = | format = | url = http://www.rrc.ge/law/dadg_1992_12_04_R.htm?lawid=719&lng_3=ru | title = Сборник законодательных актов Республики Абхазия, выпуск 3 | orig-year = | agency = | edition = |location= Сухум |date = 1995 |publisher= |volume= | pages = 94–95| series = | isbn = | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130522151230/http://www.rrc.ge/law/dadg_1992_12_04_R.htm?lawid=719&lng_3=ru| archive-date = 22 May 2013}}</ref> Russia also readopted its official spelling in 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsru.com/russia/13nov2008/colors.html|title=Абхазию и Южную Осетию на картах в РФ выкрасят в "негрузинские" цвета|date=13 November 2008|website=NEWSru.com}}</ref> though Сухуми is also still being used.

In English, the most common form today is ''Sukhumi'', although ''Sokhumi'' is increasing in usage and has been adopted by sources including ''[[United Nations]]'',<ref>{{cite web |title=Geospatial, location information for a better world |url=https://www.un.org/geospatial/content/georgia |website=United Nations |publisher=UN Geospatial |access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]'',<ref>"Sokhumi". (2006). In [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]. Retrieved 6 November 2006, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9070213 Britannica.com]</ref> ''[[MSN Encarta]]'',<ref>"Sokhumi". (2006). In [[Encarta]]. Retrieved 6 November 2006: [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761584388/Sokhumi.html Encarta.msn.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230011021/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761584388/Sokhumi.html |date=30 December 2007 }}</ref> [[Esri]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Esri ArcGis WebMap|url=http://www.arcgis.com/home/webmap/viewer.html|access-date=2 May 2016|work=Esri}}</ref> and [[Google Maps]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Google Maps changes Sukhumi to Sokhumi following Georgia's request|url=http://agenda.ge/news/29597/eng|access-date=22 February 2015|work=Agenda.ge|date=10 February 2015}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Colchis coin.jpg|thumb|Coin of Dioscurias, late 2nd century BC. Obverse: The caps ([[Pileus (hat)|pilei]]) of [[Dioscuri]] surmounted by stars; reverse: [[Thyrsos]], ΔΙΟΣΚΟΥΡΙΑΔΟΣ|left]]The history of the city began in the mid-6th century BC when an earlier settlement of the second and early first millennia BC, frequented by local [[Colchian tribes]], was replaced by the [[Miletus|Milesian]] [[Colonies in antiquity|Greek colony]] of '''Dioscurias''' ({{lang-el|Διοσκουριάς}}).<ref name = arrian-original>{{Cite web|url=https://el.wikisource.org/wiki/%CE%A0%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%AF%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%82_%CE%95%CF%85%CE%BE%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CF%85_%CE%A0%CF%8C%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85|title=Περίπλους Ευξείνου Πόντου – Βικιθήκη|website=el.wikisource.org}}</ref><ref name = arrian-translation>{{cite book |last1=King |first1=Charles |author1-link=Charles King (professor of international affairs) |title=The Black Sea. A history. |date=2004 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-924161-3 |chapter=The Expedition of Flavius Arrianus}}</ref> The city is said to have been founded<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://topostext.org/work/206#275|title=ToposText|website=topostext.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://topostext.org/work/145#1.111|title=ToposText|website=topostext.org}}</ref> and named by the [[Castor and Pollux|Dioscuri]], the twins Castor and Pollux of [[classical mythology]]. According to another legend it was founded by Amphitus and Cercius of [[Sparta]], the charioteers of the Dioscuri.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://topostext.org/work/493#22.8.24|title=ToposText|website=topostext.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://topostext.org/work/747#15.17|title=ToposText|website=topostext.org}}</ref> The Greek pottery found in [[Eshera]], further north along the coast, predates findings in the area of Sukhumi bay by a century suggesting that the centre of the original Greek settlement could have been there.<ref name = braund-esheray>{{cite book |last1=David |first1=Braund |title=Georgia in Antiquity. A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia 550 BC AD 562 |date=1994 |publisher=Calendon Press |isbn=0198144733 |pages=107–108}}</ref>

It became busily engaged in the commerce between Greece and the indigenous tribes, importing salt<ref name = braund-economy>{{cite book |last1=David |first1=Braund |title=Georgia in Antiquity. A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia 550 BC AD 562 |date=1994 |publisher=Calendon Press |isbn=0198144733 |pages=58}}</ref> and wares from many parts of Greece, and exporting local timber, [[linen]], and [[hemp]]. It was also a prime center of [[History of slavery|slave trade]] in Colchis.<ref>{{cite book |title= An inquiry into the state of slavery amongst the Romans|last= Blair|first= William|year= 1833|publisher= T. Clark|page= 25}}</ref> The city and its surroundings were remarkable for the multitude of languages spoken in its bazaars.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/44885/44885-h/44885-h.htm|title=The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Geography of Strabo Vol. II., translated By H. C. Hamilton.|website=www.gutenberg.org}}</ref>

Although the sea made serious inroads upon the territory of Dioscurias, it continued to flourish and became one of the key cities in the realm of [[Mithridates VI of Pontus]] in the 2nd century BC and supported his cause until the end. Dioscurias issued bronze coinage around 100 BC featuring the symbols of the [[Dioskuri]] and [[Dionysus]].<ref name = braund-mithridates>{{cite book |last1=David |first1=Braund |title=Georgia in Antiquity. A History of Colchis and Transcaucasian Iberia 550 BC AD 562 |date=1994 |publisher=Calendon Press |isbn=0198144733 |pages=158–159}}</ref> Under the [[Roman emperor]] [[Augustus]] the city assumed the name of '''Sebastopolis'''<ref name=hewitt_taah>[https://books.google.com/books?id=MNOHKnF1nl8C Hewitt, George (1998) ''The Abkhazians: a handbook''] St. Martin's Press, New York, p. 62, {{ISBN|0-312-21975-X}}</ref> ({{lang-el|Σεβαστούπολις}}). But its prosperity was past, and in the 1st century [[Pliny the Elder]] described the place as virtually deserted though the town still continued to exist during the times of [[Arrian]] in the 130s.<ref>Dioscurias. ''A Guide to the Ancient World'', H.W. Wilson (1986). Retrieved 20 July 2006, from [http://www.xreferplus.com/entry/5073174 Xreferplus.com]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The remains of towers and walls of Sebastopolis have been found underwater; on land the lowest levels so far reached by archaeologists are of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. According to [[Gregory of Nyssa]] there were Christians in the city in the late 4th century.<ref>{{cite journal |last1= Vinogradov|first1= Andrey|date= 2014|title= Some Notes On The Topography Of Eastern Pontos Euxeinos In Late Antiquity And Early Byzantium|url= https://poseidon01.ssrn.com/delivery.php?ID=335074111074015064109101125090105073109017024072035030106079021111121085009064082107037033035060058099112005013097030099124108062066043049061124113118006092109014067086029023124126088102082120065106103022080021028106121119082094067007110004024116009091&EXT=pdf}}</ref> In 542 the Romans evacuated the town and demolished its citadel to prevent it from being captured by [[Sasanian Empire]]. In 565, however, the emperor [[Justinian I]] restored the fort and Sebastopolis continued to remain one of the Byzantine strongholds in Colchis until [[Marwan ibn Muhammad's invasion of Georgia|being sacked]] by the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Arab]] conqueror [[Marwan II]] in 736.

Afterwards, the town came to be known as '''Tskhumi'''.<ref name="Adrian Room">Room, A. (2005), ''Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings of the Names for 6,600 Countries, Cities, Territories, Natural Features and Historic Sites''. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina, and London, {{ISBN|0-7864-2248-3}}, p. 361</ref> Restored by the [[Divan of the Abkhazian Kings|kings of Abkhazia]] from the Arab devastation, it particularly flourished during the [[Georgian Golden Age]] in the 12th–13th centuries, when Tskhumi became a center of traffic with the European maritime powers, particularly with the [[Republic of Genoa]]. The Genoese established their [[Gazaria (Genoese colonies)#Georgia|trading port]] in Tskhumi in the end of 13th century<ref name="comai">{{cite web |last1=Comai |first1=Georgio |title=The Genoese in Abkhazia |url=https://www.balcanicaucaso.org/eng/Areas/Abkhazia/The-Italian-maritime-republics-and-slave-trade-from-the-Caucasus-213053 |website=Balcanicaucaso |access-date=30 October 2023}}</ref> and a Catholic bishopric existed there which is now a [[titular see]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Alasania |first1=Giuli |title=Level of Independence in Georgia Throughout the 14th Century |journal=Journal of Literature and Art Studies |date=August 2016 |volume=6 |issue=8 |page=974|url=http://www.academia.edu/download/47689003/Journal_of_Literature_and_Art_Studies_Vol.6_Issue_8_August_2016.pdf|quote=As it is known, a Catholic bishopric existed in Sukhumi as early as in 1318 and Bernard Morre was appointed as the bishop. Peter Gerald was appointed to the same position in 1330}}{{dead link|date=July 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> A Genoese consulate was established in 1354 with the consul dispatched from [[Caffa]]. In spite of occasional conflicts with the locals, the consulate functioned until 1456.<ref name="comai"/> The city of Tskhumi became the summer residence of the [[List of monarchs of Georgia#Kings of unified Georgia (1008–1490)|Georgian kings]]. According to Russian scholar V. Sizov, it became an important "cultural and administrative center of the [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgian]] state.<ref name="Giorgi Sharvashidze2">{{Cite web|url=https://iberiana.wordpress.com/afxazeti/unfalsified-history/|title=• Papaskiri- ABKHAZIA – UNFALSIFIED HISTORY|date=18 April 2010}}</ref> A Later Tskhumi served as capital of the [[Odishi]] — [[Principality of Mingrelia|Megrelian]] rulers, it was in this city that [[Vameq I Dadiani|Vamek I]] ({{Circa}} 1384–1396), the most influential [[House of Dadiani|Dadiani]], minted his coins.<ref name="Giorgi Sharvashidze2"/> [[File:Gamba - view of sukhumi fortress.JPG|thumb|The Sohum-Kale fort in the early 19th century.]]Documents of the 15th century clearly distinguished Tskhumi from [[Principality of Abkhazia]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.amsi.ge/istoria/div/m.lordkiPaniZe_abkh.html|title=მარიამ ლორთქიფანიძე – აფხაზები და აფხაზეთი|website=www.amsi.ge}}</ref> The [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] navy occupied the town in 1451, but for a short time. Later contested between the princes of [[Principality of Abkhazia|Abkhazia]] and [[Principality of Mingrelia|Mingrelia]], Tskhumi finally fell to the Turks in the 1570s. The new masters heavily fortified the town and called it '''Sohumkale''', with ''kale'' meaning "fort" but the first part of the name of disputed origin. It may represent [[Turkish language|Turkish]] ''su'', "water", and ''kum'', "sand", but is more likely to be an alteration of its earlier Georgian name.<ref name="Adrian Room" />

[[File:Botanical garden.Sukhum.jpg|thumb|[[Sukhumi Botanical Garden]]]]At the request of the pro-Russian Abkhazian prince, the town was stormed by the [[Naval Infantry (Russia)|Russian Marines]] in 1810 and turned, subsequently, into a major outpost in the North West Caucasus. (See [[Russian conquest of the Caucasus#Black Sea Coast|Russian conquest of the Caucasus]]). Sukhumi was declared the seaport in 1847 and was directly annexed to the [[Russian Empire]] after the ruling [[House of Shervashidze|Shervashidze]] princely dynasty was ousted by the Russian authorities in 1864. During the [[Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878)|Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878]], the town was temporarily controlled by the Ottoman forces and Abkhaz-[[Adyghe people|Adyghe]] rebels. After its annexation, Sukhumi became the administrative center of the [[Sukhumi Okrug]] of the [[Kutaisi Governorate|Kutais Governorate]].

[[File:On quay. Sukhum.jpg|thumb|left|Sukhumi quay]]

Following the [[Russian Revolution|Russian Revolution of 1917]], the town and Abkhazia in general were engulfed in the chaos of the [[Russian Civil War]]. A short-lived [[Bolsheviks|Bolshevik]] government was suppressed in May 1918 and Sukhumi was incorporated into the [[Democratic Republic of Georgia]] as a residence of the autonomous People's Council of Abkhazia and the headquarters of the Georgian governor-general. The [[Red Army]] and the local revolutionaries took the city from the Georgian forces on 4 March 1921, and declared Soviet rule. Sukhumi functioned as the capital of the "Union treaty" [[Socialist Soviet Republic of Abkhazia|Abkhaz Soviet Socialist Republic]] associated with the [[Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic|Georgian SSR]] from 1921 until 1931, when it became the capital of the Abkhazian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic within the Georgian SSR. By 1989, Sukhumi had 120,000 inhabitants and was one of the most prosperous cities of Georgia. Many holiday [[dacha]]s for Soviet leaders were situated there.

[[File:Suhumi Prokudin-Gorskii.jpg|thumb|Sukhumi in 1912. Early color photo by [[Sergei Prokudin-Gorskii]]]]
Beginning with the [[1989 Sukhumi riots|1989 riots]], Sukhumi was a centre of the [[Abkhaz–Georgian conflict|Georgian-Abkhaz conflict]], and the city was severely damaged during the [[War in Abkhazia (1992–1993)|1992–1993 War]]. During the war, the city and its environs suffered almost daily air strikes and artillery shelling, with heavy civilian casualties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/1995/Georgia2.htm |title=The Human Rights Watch report, March 1995 Vol. 7, No. 7 |publisher=Hrw.org |access-date=4 July 2010}}</ref> On 27 September 1993 the battle for Sukhumi was concluded by a full-scale campaign of [[Ethnic cleansing of Georgians in Abkhazia|ethnic cleansing]] against its majority Georgian population (see [[Sukhumi massacre|Sukhumi Massacre]]), including members of the pro-Georgian Abkhazian government ([[Zhiuli Shartava]], [[Raul Eshba]] and others) and mayor of Sukhumi [[Guram Gabiskiria]].
Although the city has been relatively peaceful and partially rebuilt, it is still suffering the after-effects of the war, and it has not regained its earlier ethnic diversity. A relatively large infrastructure reconstruction program was launched in 2019–2020 focusing on the renovation of the waterfront, rebuilding city roads and cleaning city parks.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} Its population in 2017 was 65,716, compared to about 120,000 in 1989. During summer holidays season its population usually doubles and triples with a large inflow of international tourists.<ref name="censuses">{{Cite web|url=http://www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru/rnabkhazia.html|title=население абхазии|website=www.ethno-kavkaz.narod.ru}}</ref>

In [[2021 Abkhazia unrest|2021, there was unrest in the city]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=Opposition Protests In Georgia's Breakaway Abkhazia Turn Violent|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-abkhazia-opposition-protests/31620013.html|access-date=2021-12-22|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=21 December 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

== Population ==
===Demographics===
Historic population figures for Sukhumi, split out by ethnicity, based on population censuses:<ref name="censuses"/>

{| class="wikitable"
!Year
![[Abkhaz people|Abkhaz]]
![[Armenians in Abkhazia|Armenians]]
![[Estonians in Abkhazia|Estonians]]
![[Georgians]]
![[Pontic Greeks|Greeks]]
![[Russians]]
![[Turkish people|Turkish]]
![[Ukrainians]]
!Total
|-
|1886 Census*
| align="right" |0.1% (3)
| align="right" |12.9% (53)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |27.9% (115)
| align="right" |22.6% (93)
| align="right" |28.9% (119)
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |412
|-
|1897 Census*
| align="right" |1.8% (144)
| align="right" |13.5% (1,083)
| align="right" |0.4% (32)
| align="right" |30.9% (2,565)
| align="right" |14.3% (1,143)
| align="right" |21.1% (1,685)
| align="right" |2.7% (216)
| align="center"|–
| align="right" |7,998
|-
|1916 almanac<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |title=Кавказский календарь на 1917 год |publisher=Tipografiya kantselyarii Ye.I.V. na Kavkaze, kazenny dom |year=1917 |edition=72nd |publication-place=Tiflis |pages=363–364 |language=Russian |trans-title=Caucasian calendar for 1917 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104233151/https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |archive-date=4 November 2021}}</ref>
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |13.3% (8,250)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |40.6% (25,156)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |30.5% (18,890)
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |61,974
|-
|1926 Census
| align="right" |3.1% (658)
| align="right" |9.4% (2,023)
| align="right" |0.3% (63)
| align="right" |23.3% (5,036)
| align="right" |10.7% (2,298)
| align="right" |23.7% (5,104)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |10.4% (2,234)
| align="right" |21,568
|-
|1939 Census
| align="right" |5.5% (2,415)
| align="right" |9.8% (4,322)
| align="right" |0.5% (206)
| align="right" |19.9% (8,813)
| align="right" |11.3% (4,990)
| align="right" |41.9% (18,580)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |4.6% (2,033)
| align="right" |44,299
|-
|1959 Census
| align="right" |5.6% (3,647)
| align="right" |10.5% (6,783)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |31.1% (20,110)
| align="right" |4.9% (3,141)
| align="right" |36.8% (23,819)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |4.3% (2,756)
| align="right" |64,730
|-
|1979 Census
| align="right" |9.9% (10,766)
| align="right" |10.9% (11,823)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |38.3% (41,507)
| align="right" |6.5% (7,069)
| align="right" |26.4% (28,556)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |3.4% (3,733)
| align="right" |108,337
|-
|1989 Census
| align="right" |12.5% (14,922)
| align="right" |10.3% (12,242)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |41.5% (49,460)
| align="right" |–
| align="right" |21.6% (25,739)
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |119,150
|-
|2003 Census
| align="right" |56.3% (24,603)
| align="right" |12.7% (5,565)
| align="right" |0.1% (65)
| align="right" |4.0% (1,761)
| align="right" |1.5% (677)
| align="right" |16.9% (8,902)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |1.6% (712)
| align="right" |43,716
|-
|2011 Census
| align="right" |67.3% (42,603)
| align="right" |9.8% (6,192)
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |2.8% (1,755)
| align="right" |1.0% (645)
| align="right" |14.8% (9,288)
| align="center" |–
| align="center" |–
| align="right" |62,914
|}
* The Abkhazians were deemed "guilty" from 1877, but officially it was by an order of the tsar of 31 May 1880 that their "guilt" was recognised. Abkhazians were forbidden to settle near the coast (except for the upper classes), or live in Sukhum. The devastated central part of Abkhazia between the rivers Psyrtskha and Kodor became a colonised land-fund of the imperial administration. There was established here a kind of buffer-zone between the Gudauta and Ochamchira Abkhazians. Abkhazians had no right to settle in this part of their own country. Meanwhile, thousands of Armenians, Mingrelians, Greeks, Russians, Estonians, Germans, Moldovans and others who were resettled began from 1879 to take root here in today's Sukhum and Gulripsh districts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://abkhazworld.com/aw/history/617-thirty-years-of-guilt-1877-1907-by-stanislav-lakoba|title=Thirty years of "guilt" (1877–1907), by Stanislav Lakoba|first=Abkhaz|last=World|website=Abkhaz World | History, Culture & Politics of Abkhazia|date=14 March 2013 }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
Most of the inhabitants belong to the [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox]] and [[Armenian Apostolic Church]]es, [[Islam]] and the Abkhaz traditional religion.

==Culture==

=== Main sights ===
Sukhumi theatres which offer classical and modern performances, with the theatre season lasting from September to June. Several galleries and museums exhibit modern and historical Abkhaz visual art. [[Sukhumi Botanical Garden]] was established in 1840 and is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the Caucasus.

[[File:Beslet bridge.JPG|thumb|Medieval [[Besleti Bridge|bridge]] over the Besletka river known as the [[Tamar of Georgia|Queen Tamar]] Bridge.]]
Sukhumi houses a number of historical monuments, notably the [[Besleti Bridge]] built during the reign of queen [[Tamar of Georgia]] in the 12th century. It also retains visible vestiges of the defunct monuments, including the Roman walls, the medieval [[Bagrat's Castle|Castle of Bagrat]], several towers of the [[Kelasuri Wall]], also known as Great Abkhazian Wall, constructed between 1628 and 1653 by [[Levan II Dadiani]] to protect his fiefdom from the Abkhaz tribes;<ref>Ю.Н. Воронов (''Yury Voronov''), "Келасурская стена" (''Kelasuri wall''). Советская археология 1973, 3. {{in lang|ru}}</ref> the 14th-century Genoese fort and the 18th-century Ottoman fortress. The 11th century [[Kamani Monastery]] ({{convert|12|km|0|abbr=off}} from Sukhumi) is erected, according to tradition, over the tomb of Saint [[John Chrysostom]]. Some {{convert|22|km|0|abbr=on}} from Sukhumi lies [[New Athos]] with the ruins of the medieval city of [[Anacopia Fortress|Anacopia]]. The [[Byzantine Revival architecture|Neo-Byzantine]] [[New Athos Monastery]] was constructed here in the 1880s on behest of [[Tsar]] [[Alexander III of Russia]].

Northward in the mountains is the [[Krubera Cave]], one of the deepest in the world, with a depth of 2,140 meters.<ref>[http://www.showcaves.com/english/misc/caves/Voronya.html Voronya Peshchera]. ''Show Caves of the World''. Retrieved on 29 July 2008.</ref>

=== Education ===
The city hosts a number of research and educational institutions, including the [[Abkhazian State University]], the Sukhumi Open Institute and about a half a dozen of vocational education colleges. From 1945 to 1954 the city's electron physics laboratory was involved in the Soviet program to develop nuclear weapons. Additionally, the [[Abkhaz State Archive]] is located in the city.

Until 19th century young people from Abkhazia usually received their education mainly at religious schools (Muslims at Madrasas and Christians at Seminaries), although a small number of children from wealthy families had opportunity to travel to foreign countries for education.

The first modern educational institutions (both schools and colleges) were established in the late 19th-early 20th century and rapidly grew until the second half of the 20th century. For example, the number of college students grew from few dozens in the 1920s to several thousands in the 1980s.

According to the official statistical data, Abkhazia has 12 TVET colleges (as of 2019, est.) providing education and vocational training to youth mostly in the capital city, though there are several colleges in all major district centers. Independent international assessments suggest that these colleges train in about 20 different specialties attracting between 1200 and 1500 young people annually (aged between 16 and 29) (as of 2019, est.).<ref name="ugsra.org">{{Cite web|url=https://ugsra.org/ofitsialnaya-statistika.php?ELEMENT_ID=409|title=Государственный комитет Республики Абхазия по статистике|website=ugsra.org}}</ref> The largest colleges are as follows:{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

* Abkhaz Multiindustrial College (1959) (from 1959 to 1999 – Sukhumi Trade and Culinary School),
* Sukhumi State College (1904) (from 1904 to 1921 – Sukhumi Real School; from 1921 to 1999 – Sukhumi Industrial Technical School),
* Sukhumi Art College (1934) (from 1934 to 1966 – Sukhimi Art Studio). This college is also a home for a relatively large collection of local paintings and sculptures accumulated mainly during past 60 years.
* Sukhum Medical College (1931)

Higher education in Sukhumi currently is represented by one university, [[Abkhazian State University]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tppra.org/en/news/abkhazian-state-university-6206.html|title=The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia|website=www.tppra.org}}</ref> which has a special status in the education system in Abkhazia and it manages its own budget.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/state/culture/university.php |script-title=ru:Абхазский государственный университет |trans-title=Abkhazia State University |language=ru |access-date=2019-02-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515231642/http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/state/culture/university.php |archive-date=2008-05-15 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Abkhazian State University|Abkhaz State University]] (1979), has its own campus which is a home for 42 departments organized into 8 faculties providing education to about 3300 students (as of 2019, est.).<ref name="ugsra.org"/>

== Climate ==
Sukhumi has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''), that is almost cool enough in summer to be an [[oceanic climate]] (''Cfb'').
{{Weather box
|width= auto
|metric first= Yes
|single line= Yes
|location= Sukhumi

|Jan high C= 10.0
|Feb high C= 10.7
|Mar high C= 12.8
|Apr high C= 16.8
|May high C= 20.4
|Jun high C= 24.2
|Jul high C= 26.5
|Aug high C= 26.8
|Sep high C= 24.1
|Oct high C= 20.3
|Nov high C= 15.6
|Dec high C= 12.0

|Jan low C= 2.2
|Feb low C= 2.7
|Mar low C= 4.5
|Apr low C= 8.3
|May low C= 12.2
|Jun low C= 16.2
|Jul low C= 19.0
|Aug low C= 18.6
|Sep low C= 14.8
|Oct low C= 10.4
|Nov low C= 6.6
|Dec low C= 3.9

|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm = 102
|Feb precipitation mm = 76
|Mar precipitation mm = 102
|Apr precipitation mm = 102
|May precipitation mm = 92
|Jun precipitation mm = 89
|Jul precipitation mm = 83
|Aug precipitation mm = 107
|Sep precipitation mm = 120
|Oct precipitation mm = 114
|Nov precipitation mm = 104
|Dec precipitation mm = 108

|Jan rain days= 17
|Feb rain days= 15
|Mar rain days= 16
|Apr rain days= 15
|May rain days= 12
|Jun rain days= 11
|Jul rain days= 10
|Aug rain days= 10
|Sep rain days= 10
|Oct rain days= 12
|Nov rain days= 16
|Dec rain days= 16

|source 1= climatebase.ru<ref>{{cite web|url=http://climatebase.ru/station/37260
| title=Sukhumi
| publisher=climatebase.ru
| access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref>
|source 2= Georgia Travel Climate Information<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.travel-climate.com/georgia/data.php?cit=37260 |title=Georgia, Sukhumi climate information |publisher=Travel-climate.com |access-date=2016-06-26 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303223306/http://www.travel-climate.com/georgia/data.php?cit=37260 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|date= March 2011}}

== Administration ==
On 2 February 2000, President Ardzinba dismissed temporary Mayor [[Leonid Osia]] and appointed [[Leonid Lolua]] in his stead.<ref name=apress-agov-narod>{{cite news|title=СООБЩЕНИЯ АПСНЫПРЕСС|url=http://abkhazia-gov.narod.ru/apsnypress.html|access-date=21 January 2012|newspaper=[[Apsnypress]]|date=2 February 2000}}</ref> Lolua was reappointed on 10 May 2001 following the March 2001 local elections.<ref name="press2001-92">{{cite news|title=Выпуск № 92|url=http://abkhazia.narod.ru/gb/1579|access-date=24 April 2016|agency=[[Apsnypress]]|date=10 May 2001}}</ref>

On 5 November 2004, in the heated aftermath of the [[Abkhazian presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential election]], president [[Vladislav Ardzinba]] appointed head of the [[Gulripshi District]] assembly [[Adgur Kharazia]] as acting mayor. During his first speech he called upon the two leading candidates, [[Sergei Bagapsh]] and [[Raul Khadjimba]], to both withdraw.<ref name=rferl041110>{{cite news|url=http://www.hri.org/cgi-bin/brief?/news/balkans/rferl/2004/04-11-10.rferl.html#21|title=MAYOR SUGGESTS ABKHAZ PRESIDENTIAL RIVALS SHOULD WITHDRAW|publisher=RFE/RL|date=10 November 2004|access-date=1 July 2008}}</ref>

On 16 February 2005, after his election as president, Bagapsh replaced Kharazia with [[Astamur Adleiba]], who had been Minister for Youth, Sports, Resorts and Tourism until December 2004.<ref name=agov1498>{{cite news|url=http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/president/activities/decree/detail.php?ID=1498|title=Указ Президента Абхазии №5 от 16.02.2005|publisher=Администрация Президента Республики Абхазия|date=16 February 2005|access-date=1 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721061501/http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/president/activities/decree/detail.php?ID=1498|archive-date=21 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In the 11 February 2007 local elections, Adleiba successfully defended his seat in the Sukhumi city assembly and was thereupon reappointed mayor by Bagapsh on 20 March.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.apsnypress.info/news2007/march/20.htm|title=Президент Сергей Багапш подписал указы о назначении глав городских и районных администраций|publisher=[[Apsnypress|Апсныпресс]]|date=20 March 2007|access-date=1 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026093918/http://www.apsnypress.info/news2007/march/20.htm|archive-date=26 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In April 2007, while President Bagapsh was in Moscow for medical treatment, the results of an investigation into corruption within the Sukhumi city administration were made public. The investigation found that large sums had been embezzled and upon his return, on 2 May, Bagapsh fired Adleiba along with his deputy [[Boris Achba]], the head of the Sukhumi's finance department [[Konstantin Tuzhba]] and the head of the housing department [[David Jinjolia]].<ref name=iwpr335985>{{cite news|url= http://iwpr.net/report-news/abkhazias-anti-corruption-drive|title=Abkhazia's anti-corruption drive|publisher=[[Institute for War & Peace Reporting]]|date=20 March 2007|access-date=20 January 2012}}</ref> On 4 June Adleiba paid back to the municipal budget 200,000 rubels.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.regnum.ru/news/838958.html&tbb=1|title=Экс-мэр Сухуми вернул в бюджет двести тысяч рублей|publisher=REGNUM|date=5 June 2007|access-date=2 July 2008}}</ref> and on 23 July, he resigned from the Sukhumi city council, citing health reasons and the need to travel abroad for medical treatment.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/president/press/news/detail.php?ID=7220|title=Экс-мэр Сухума намерен покинуть Столичное городское Собрание|publisher=Администрация Президента Республики Абхазия|date=23 July 2007|access-date=2 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721061529/http://www.abkhaziagov.org/ru/president/press/news/detail.php?ID=7220|archive-date=21 July 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 15 May 2007, president Bagapsh released [[Alias Labakhua]] as First Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Committee and appointed him acting Mayor of Sukhumi, a post temporarily fulfilled by former Vice-Mayor [[Anzor Kortua]]. On 27 May Labakhua appointed [[Vadim Cherkezia]] as Deputy Chief of staff.<ref name=uzel115078>{{cite news|title=Заместителем главы администрации столицы Абхазии назначен Вадим Черкезия|url=http://www.kavkaz-uzel.ru/articles/115078/|access-date=18 April 2012|newspaper=[[Caucasian Knot]]|date=27 May 2007}}</ref> On 2 September, Labakhua won the by-election in constituency No. 21, which had become necessary after Adleiba relinquished his seat. Adleiba was the only candidate and voter turnout was 34%, higher than the 25% required.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.apsnypress.info/news2007/september/3.htm|title=АЛИАС ЛАБАХУА ИЗБРАН ДЕПУТАТОМ ГОРОДСКОГО СОБРАНИЯ СУХУМА|publisher=[[Apsnypress|Апсныпресс]]|date=3 September 2007|access-date=2 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028013531/http://www.apsnypress.info/news2007/september/3.htm|archive-date=28 October 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since Adleiba was now a member of the city assembly, president Bagapsh could permanently appoint him Mayor of Sukhumi on 18 September.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.apsnypress.info/news2007/september/18.htm|title=СЕРГЕЙ БАГАПШ ПОДПИСАЛ УКАЗ О НАЗНАЧЕНИИ АЛИАСА ЛАБАХУА ГЛАВОЙ АДМИНИСТРАЦИИ ГОРОДА СУХУМ|publisher=[[Apsnypress|Апсныпресс]]|date=18 September 2007|access-date=2 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031090433/http://www.apsnypress.info/news2007/september/18.htm|archive-date=31 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Following the [[Abkhazian Revolution|May 2014 Revolution]] and the election of [[Raul Khajimba]] as president, he on 22 October dismissed Labakhua and again appointed (as acting Mayor) [[Adgur Kharazia]], who at that point was Vice Speaker of the [[People's Assembly of Abkhazia|People's Assembly]].<ref name=apress13326>{{cite news|title=Адгур Харазия назначен исполняющим обязанности главы администрации г. Сухум|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/13326.html|access-date=22 October 2014|agency=[[Apsnypress]]|date=22 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022232815/http://apsnypress.info/news/13326.html|archive-date=22 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Kharazia won the 4 April 2015 by-election to the City Council in constituency no. 3 unopposed,<ref name=alhra30>{{cite web|title=Итоги выборов|url=http://alhra.org/index.php/30-sostoyanie-vybornogo-protsessa-na-12-00-04-04-2015g|website=alhra.org|publisher=Избирательная комиссия по выборам в органы местного самоуправления г.Сухум|access-date=19 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208112518/http://alhra.org/index.php/30-sostoyanie-vybornogo-protsessa-na-12-00-04-04-2015g|archive-date=8 December 2015|df=dmy-all}}</ref> and was confirmed as mayor by Khajimba on 4 May.<ref name=ukaz120>{{cite web|last1=Khajimba|first1=Raul|author-link=Raul Khajimba|title=УКАЗ О главе администрации города Сухум|url=http://presidentofabkhazia.org/upload/iblock/ab8/%D0%A3%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%20%D0%9E%20%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%B2%D0%B5%20%D0%90%D0%B4%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%B8%20%D0%B3.%20%D0%A1%D1%83%D1%85%D1%83%D0%BC.pdf|website=presidentofabkhazia.org|access-date=19 September 2015}}</ref> The [[6th convocation of the Sukhumi City Council]] was elected 13 April 2016.

=== List of mayors ===
{| class="wikitable" style="width:75%;"
|- style="background:#e9e9e9; font-weight:bold; text-align:left;"
| #
| width=240|Name
| width=200|From
|
| width=200|Until
|
| width=200|President
| width=200|Comments
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"|'''Chairmen of the (executive committee of the) City Soviet:'''
|-
|
|[[Vladimir Mikanba]]
|1975
|<ref name=lakoba/>
|1985
|<ref name=lakoba/>
|
|
|-
|
|D. Gubaz
|<=1989
|
|>=1989
|
|
|
|-
|
|[[Nodar Khashba]]
|1991
|<ref name=lakoba>{{cite web|last=Lakoba|first=Stanislav|author-link=Stanislav Lakoba|title=Кто есть кто в Абхазии|url=http://apsnyteka.narod2.ru/l/abhaziya_posle_dvuh_imperii_xix-xxi_vv/kto_est_kto_v_abhazii_ukazatel_imen/index.html|access-date=20 January 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512120647/http://apsnyteka.narod2.ru/l/abhaziya_posle_dvuh_imperii_xix-xxi_vv/kto_est_kto_v_abhazii_ukazatel_imen/index.html|archive-date=12 May 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|
|
|
|First time
|-
|
|[[Guram Gabiskiria]]
|1992
|
|27 September 1993
|
|
|
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"|'''Heads of the City Administration:'''
|-
|rowspan=2|
|rowspan=2|[[Nodar Khashba]]
|1993
|<ref name=lakoba/>
|26 November 1994
|
|
|rowspan=2|Second time
|-
|26 November 1994
|
|1995
|<ref name=lakoba/>
|rowspan=5|[[Vladislav Ardzinba]]
|-
|
|[[Garri Aiba]]
|1995
|
|2000
|
|
|-
|
|''[[Leonid Osia]]''
|
|
|2 February 2000
|<ref name=apress-agov-narod/>
|Acting Mayor
|-
|
|[[Leonid Lolua]]
|2 February 2000
|<ref name=apress-agov-narod/>
|5 November 2004
|<ref name=rferl041110/>
|
|-
|
|''[[Adgur Kharazia]]''
|5 November 2004
|<ref name=rferl041110/>
|16 February 2005
|<ref name=agov1498/>
|Acting Mayor, first time
|-
|
|[[Astamur Adleiba]]
|16 February 2005
|<ref name=agov1498/>
|2 May 2007
|<ref name=iwpr335985/>
|rowspan=3|[[Sergei Bagapsh]]
|
|-
|
|''[[Anzor Kortua]]''
|May 2007
|
|15 May 2007
|
|Acting Mayor
|-
| rowspan=3|
| rowspan=3|[[Alias Labakhua]]
|15 May 2007
|
|29 May 2011
|
|
|-
|29 May 2011
|
|1 June 2014
|
|[[Alexander Ankvab]]
|
|-
|1 June 2014
|
|22 October 2014
|
|''[[Valeri Bganba]]''
|
|-
|
|[[Adgur Kharazia]]
|22 October 2014
|
|Present
|
|[[Raul Khajimba]]
|Second time
|}

== Transport ==
[[File:Railway station Suhum.jpg|thumb|Railway station]]
Sukhumi is served by the [[Sukhumi Trolleybus]], consisting of 3 Lines.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2019-07-18 |title=Where does the Sukhumi Trolleybus go to? |url=https://abh-n.ru/kuda-vezet-suxumskij-trollejbus/ |access-date=2022-11-17 |website=Нужная газета |language=ru-RU}}</ref>

There is a [[Sukhumi Railway station|railway station]] in Sukhumi, that has a daily train to Moscow via [[Sochi railway station|Sochi]].<ref>[[RZD]], [https://www.rzd.ru/ru/9838/page/103290?id=17729] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210531212907/https://www.rzd.ru/ru/9838/page/103290?id=17729|date=31 May 2021}}, 14.08.2020</ref>

[[Sukhumi Babushara Airport|Babushara Airport]] now handles only local flights due to the disputed status of Abkhazia.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

== Notable people ==
Notable people who are from or have resided in Sukhumi:

* [[Anton Alikhanov]] (1986–present), Russian politician, governor of [[Kaliningrad Oblast]]
* [[Alexander Ankvab]] (1952–present), Abkhaz politician and businessman, [[Prime Minister of Abkhazia]].
* [[Beslan Ajinjal]] (1974–present), is a former Russian footballer.
* [[Ruslan Ajinjal]] (1974–present), is a former Russian-Abkhazian footballer.
* [[Otari Arshba]] (1955–present), Russian politician and member of the [[State Duma of the Russian Federation]].
* [[Hadzhera Avidzba]] (1917–1997), Abkhazia's first professional pianist.
* [[Meri Avidzba]] (1917–1986), Abkhaz female pilot who fought during the [[Eastern Front (World War II)|Great Patriotic War of 1942–1945]].
* [[Verdicenan Kadın|Verdicenan Achba]] (1825–1889), seventh wife of Sultan [[Abdulmejid I]] of the [[Ottoman Empire]].
* [[Sergei Bagapsh]] (1949–2011), Second [[President of Abkhazia|President of the Republic of Abkhazia]]
* [[Guram Gabiskiria]] (1947–1993), Mayor of Sukhumi and [[Order of National Hero (Georgia)|National Hero of Georgia]].
* [[Demna Gvasalia]] (1981–present), Georgian fashion designer.
* [[Fazil Iskander]] (1929–2016), Russian writer and poet.
* [[Sergey Kiriyenko]] (1962–present), Russian politician, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration of Russia.
* [[Vera Kobalia]] (1981–present), Georgian politician.
* [[Daur Kove]] (1979–present), current [[Minister for Foreign Affairs of Abkhazia]].
* [[Kokkai Futoshi]] (1981–present), former professional sumo wrestler.
* [[Siranush Gasparyan]], Armenian opera singer born in Sukhum.

== International relations ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Georgia (country)}}

===Twin towns — Sister cities===
Sukhumi is twinned with the following cities:
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Ufa]], [[Russia]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Krasnodar]], [[Russia]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|Moldova}}{{flagicon|Transnistria|state}} [[Tiraspol]], [[Transnistria]], [[Moldova]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Cherkessk]], [[Russia]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Podolsk]], [[Russia]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.admpodolsk.ru/index.php?categoryid=126&p2_articleid=286 |title=Сайт Администрации г.Подольска – Побратимы |publisher=Admpodolsk.ru |date=2016-06-15 |access-date=2016-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710192607/http://www.admpodolsk.ru/index.php?categoryid=126&p2_articleid=286 |archive-date=10 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Volgograd]], [[Russia]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Grozny]], [[Russia]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|AZE}}{{flagicon|Artsakh}} [[Stepanakert]], [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]]/[[Azerbaijan]] (disputed){{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Arkhangelsk]], [[Russia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apsnypress.info/news/3422.html|title=Новости|publisher=Apsnypress.info|access-date=2016-06-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625144951/http://apsnypress.info/news/3422.html|archive-date=25 June 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Nizhny Novgorod]], [[Russia]]{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sant'Antioco]], [[Italy]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mfaapsny.org/news/index.php?ID=2314 |title=12 мая между городами Абхазии и Италии были подписаны Протоколы о дружбе и сотрудничестве |publisher=Mfaapsny.org |access-date=2016-06-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204055843/http://www.mfaapsny.org/news/index.php?ID=2314 |archive-date=4 December 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.laprovinciadelsulcisiglesiente.com/wordpress/2014/05/il-sulcis-rafforza-il-legame-con-i-paesi-dellest-europeo-sottoscritto-questa-sera-un-protocollo-damicizia-con-labkhcazia/ |title=Il Sulcis rafforza il legame con i paesi dell'Est europeo, sottoscritto questa sera un protocollo d'amicizia con l'Abkhcazia |publisher=Laprovinciadelsulcisiglesiente.com |date=2013-04-09 |access-date=2016-06-26}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Side, Antalya|Side]], [[Turkey]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abkhazworld.com/aw/diaspora/138-viacheslav-chirikba-our-goal-is-to-remove-abkhazia-from-international-isolation |title=Viacheslav Chirikba: Our goal is to remove Abkhazia from international isolation |publisher=Abkhaz World |date=2012-11-25 |access-date=2021-05-30}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NIC}} [[Managua]], [[Nicaragua]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://amerika21.de/2021/11/255388/managua-suchum-staedtepartnerschaft |title=Managua mit neuer Städtepartnerschaft
|publisher=amerika21.de |date=2021-11-12 |access-date=2021-11-15}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Abkhazia}}
* [[Sukhumi District]]
* [[List of twin towns and sister cities in Georgia (country)|List of twin towns and sister cities in Georgia]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Sources and external links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikivoyage|Sukhumi}}
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/former/t1545.htm GigaCatholic for the titular see, linking to incumbent biographies]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080125115903/http://www.unomig.org/print_multimedia/photogallery/?gid=25 UNOMIG photo gallery of Sukhumi]

{{Coord|43|00|N|41|01|E|region:GE_type:city|display=title}}

{{Administrative divisions of Abkhazia}}
{{Cities and towns in Georgia (country)}}
{{List of Asian capitals by region}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}
{{Pontic colonies}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sukhumi| ]]
[[Category:Milesian Pontic colonies]]
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
[[Category:Capitals in Europe]]
[[Category:Port cities in Asia]]
[[Category:Port cities in Europe]]
[[Category:Port cities of the Black Sea]]
[[Category:Greek colonies in Colchis]]
[[Category:Georgian Black Sea coast]]
[[Category:Sukhum Okrug]]
[[Category:Populated places in Abkhazia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 6th century BC]]

Praia

2023-12-12T19:51:47Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital of Cape Verde}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Praia
| settlement_type = Capital city
| official_name = 
| native_name = 
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Praia Ribeira de Palmarejo (cropped).jpg
| photo2a = Palácio da Cultura, Praia, Cape Verde.jpg
| photo2b = Praia-Hôtel de ville (2).jpg
| photo3a = Praia-Fundação Amílcar Cabral (1).jpg
| photo3b = Praia-Monument to Diogo Gomes (3) (cropped).jpg
| photo4a = Praia aerial (cropped).jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 285
| foot_montage = '''Clockwise:''' View of ''Monte Vermelho''; Praia City Hall; [[Monumento de Diogo Gomes]]; aerial view of Praia; Fundação Amílcar Cabral; Palácio da Cultura Ildo Lobo.
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Praia.svg
| image_shield = Coat of Arms of Praia.png
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
|pushpin_map = Cape Verde#Africa
|pushpin_relief = 1
|pushpin_label_position = bottom
|pushpin_mapsize = 250
|pushpin_map_caption = Location of Praia in Cape Verde
| subdivision_type = [[List of islands of Cape Verde|Island]]
| subdivision_name = [[Santiago, Cape Verde|Santiago]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Administrative divisions of Cape Verde|Municipality]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Praia, Cape Verde (municipality)|Praia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Administrative divisions of Cape Verde|Civil Parish]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Praia, Cape Verde (municipality)|Nossa Senhora da Graça]]
| seat_type =
| seat =
| coordinates = {{coord|14.918|-23.509|type:adm1st_region:CV_dim:50000|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| elevation_min_m =
| elevation_max_m =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 102.6
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 16th century
| established_title1 = City
| established_date1 = 1858
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 159050
| population_as_of = 2017 estimate
| population_demonym =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban =
| blank_name_sec1 =
| blank_info_sec1 =
| timezone = [[Cape Verde Time|CVT]] ([[UTC−01:00]])
| timezone_DST =
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_code =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| leader_party =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Praia''' ({{IPA-pt|ˈpɾajɐ}}, [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for "beach") is the capital and largest city of [[Cape Verde]].<ref name=yearbook>[http://ine.cv/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/statistical-yearbook-cv-2015_en.pdf Cape Verde, Statistical Yearbook 2015], [[Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Cape Verde)|Instituto Nacional de Estatística]]</ref> Located on the southern coast of [[Santiago, Cape Verde|Santiago island]], within the [[Sotavento Islands]] group, the city is the seat of the [[Praia, Cape Verde (municipality)|Praia Municipality]]. Praia is the economic, political, and cultural center of Cape Verde.

==History==
[[File:Battle_of_Porto_Praya.jpg|thumb|left|A depiction of Praia during the 1781 [[Battle of Porto Praya]].]]
[[File:BARROW(1806) p098 PORTO PRAYA, ISLAND OF ST.JAGO (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Praia, depicted in 1806.]]
The island of Santiago was discovered by [[António da Noli]] in 1460.<ref name=gomes>[http://hdl.handle.net/11328/594 Valor simbólico do centro histórico da Praia], Lourenço Conceição Gomes, Universidade Portucalense, 2008</ref>{{rp|73}} The first settlement on the island was Ribeira Grande ([[Cidade Velha]]). The village ''Praia de Santa Maria'' was first mentioned around 1615 and grew near the natural [[Praia Harbor|harbour]].<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 244</ref> The ports of Santiago were important ports of call for ships sailing between Portugal and the Portuguese colonies in Africa and South America. Between the end of the 16th century and the end of the 18th century, both Ribeira Grande and Praia suffered many pirate attacks, including those by [[Francis Drake]] ([[Capture of Santiago (1585)|1585]]) and [[Jacques Cassard]] ([[Cassard expedition|1712]]).<ref name=gomes/>{{rp|195}}

Due to its strategic position on a plateau it had better protection against pirate attacks, which gave it a large advantage over the older city of Ribeira Grande ([[Cidade Velha]]). It gradually superseded Cidade Velha to become the most important settlement of Cape Verde, and became the capital of Cape Verde in 1770.<ref name=unesco>{{Cite web|title=Centre historique de Praia|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/6103/|access-date=2023-02-19|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|language=fr|date=2016}}</ref> The naval [[battle of Porto Praya]] took place at [[Praia Harbour]] on 16 April 1781, as Portugal was neutral, it involved Great Britain and France and ended in a tactical draw and French strategic victory. Praia was the first stop of [[Charles Darwin]]'s voyage with {{HMS|Beagle}} in 1832.<ref>
[[s:en:Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the world/Chapter 1|Journal of researches into the natural history and geology of the countries visited during the voyage of H.M.S. Beagle round the world – Chapter 1 at Wikisource, top part]]</ref>

In the course of the 19th century, the ''[[Plateau (Praia)|Plateau]]'' was completely redeveloped with streets according to a [[grid plan]], lined with grand colonial buildings and mansions.<ref name=unesco/><ref>[http://www.portaldoconhecimento.gov.cv/bitstream/10961/2407/1/monografia%20Domigas%20de%20Pina.pdf Antigas residências senhoriais do Centro Histórico da Praia], Domingas Andrade Silva Barbosa de Pina, [[University of Cape Verde|Universidade de Cabo Verde]], 2009</ref> Praia officially became a city (''cidade'') in 1858, which secured its status as the capital of Cape Verde, concentrating political, religious and economic roles.<ref name=gomes/>{{rp|55}} In the early 1920s, the population was around 21,000.<ref>{{cite book|last=Habbel|first=Josef|title=Habbels Konversationslexikon|volume=3|page=1043|place=Regensburg|year=1925}}</ref>

As in other parts of the archipelago, resistance against Portuguese rule rose in the 1950s. There was no open independence war like in [[Guinea-Bissau War of Independence|Guinea-Bissau]]; after the 1974 [[Carnation Revolution]] in Portugal and the resulting end of the [[Portuguese Colonial War]], Cape Verde declared independence in July 1975. After independence, Praia underwent a demographic boom, receiving migrating movements from all the islands. As a result, 56% of the entire population of Cape Verde resides in Santiago; and 29% in the Municipality of Praia alone. Its estimated population has reached 151,436 (2015).<ref name=yearbook/>{{rp|36}} On 28 June 1985, Praia became member of UCCLA, the Union of Luso – Afro-Americo-Asiatic Capital Cities, an international organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/investir/relacoes-economicas-internacionais/uccla|title=Site of the City of Lisbon: UCCLA|publisher=City of Lisbon|language=pt|access-date=11 October 2016}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Praia, Cape Verde Astronaut Imagery.jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view of Praia.]]
Geographically, Praia may be described as a set of [[plateau]]s and their surrounding [[valley]]s. These plateaus generally have the name ''achada'' (Achada de Santo António, Achada de São Filipe, Achada Eugénio Lima, Achada Grande, Achadinha, etc. — ''achada'' being a Portuguese word to designate a volcanic plateau), but the central one is called [[Plateau (Praia)|Plateau]]. The urban settlement is made mostly on top of these plateaus and along the valleys. The [[Ilhéu de Santa Maria|islet of Santa Maria]] is in front of the beach bearing the same name.

For a long time, only the ''Plateau'' was considered to be the city, the other neighbourhoods being relegated to the condition of peripheral suburbs, in spite of always having a close relationship with the ''Plateau'' (people movements, goods and services exchanges, etc.). This is why only the ''Plateau'' previously had relatively well-developed urbanization with its own infra-structures. The remaining neighbourhoods developed in a more organic, chaotic way.

Only after independence did the ''Plateau'' merge with the other neighbourhoods to constitute what is now considered the City of Praia. The whole city was, at the time, equipped with adequate infrastructure. Urbanization begun immediately after independence and sought to expand north.

===Climate===
Praia has a [[desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: BWh) with a short [[wet season]] and a lengthy, very pronounced [[dry season]]. In fact, outside of the months of August, September and October, little precipitation falls on Praia. The city on average sees about {{convert|210|mm|in}} of rain per year. Since the coldest month is far above {{convert|18|C|F}} its temperature patterns resembles a [[tropical climate]], but lacks enough precipitation to be classified as such. Despite the fact that it has an arid climate, Praia seldom gets very hot or very cold, due to its oceanside location on Santiago Island. Temperatures are warm and constant with an average high temperature of {{convert|27|C|F|0}} and an average low temperature of {{convert|22|C|F|0}}.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Praia ([[Nelson Mandela International Airport]]) 1981–2010
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 31.9
|Feb record high C = 33.1
|Mar record high C = 34.2
|Apr record high C = 33.4
|May record high C = 33.3
|Jun record high C = 34.1
|Jul record high C = 32.5
|Aug record high C = 33.1
|Sep record high C = 36.2
|Oct record high C = 34.8
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 31.0
|year record high C = 36.2
|Jan high C = 26.5
|Feb high C = 27.0
|Mar high C = 28.1
|Apr high C = 28.2
|May high C = 28.9
|Jun high C = 29.6
|Jul high C = 29.6
|Aug high C = 30.4
|Sep high C = 30.9
|Oct high C = 31.0
|Nov high C = 29.7
|Dec high C = 27.7
|year high C = 29.0
|Jan mean C = 22.9
|Feb mean C = 22.9
|Mar mean C = 23.6
|Apr mean C = 23.9
|May mean C = 24.7
|Jun mean C = 25.5
|Jul mean C = 26.1
|Aug mean C = 27.1
|Sep mean C = 27.4
|Oct mean C = 27.2
|Nov mean C = 26.1
|Dec mean C = 24.1
|year mean C = 25.1
|Jan low C = 19.3
|Feb low C = 19.2
|Mar low C = 19.5
|Apr low C = 19.9
|May low C = 20.7
|Jun low C = 21.6
|Jul low C = 22.7
|Aug low C = 23.9
|Sep low C = 24.2
|Oct low C = 23.6
|Nov low C = 22.5
|Dec low C = 20.8
|year low C = 21.5
|Jan record low C = 16.9
|Feb record low C = 16.2
|Mar record low C = 16.5
|Apr record low C = 17.0
|May record low C = 18.8
|Jun record low C = 19.2
|Jul record low C = 20.3
|Aug record low C = 20.6
|Sep record low C = 19.6
|Oct record low C = 19.6
|Nov record low C = 19.5
|Dec record low C = 17.3
|year record low C = 16.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 3.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 0.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 0.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 0.0
|May precipitation mm = 0.5
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 8.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 60.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 60.9
|Oct precipitation mm = 31.0
|Nov precipitation mm = 2.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 5.0
|year precipitation mm =
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 1
|Feb precipitation days = 0
|Mar precipitation days = 0
|Apr precipitation days = 0
|May precipitation days = 0
|Jun precipitation days = 0
|Jul precipitation days = 2
|Aug precipitation days = 7
|Sep precipitation days = 7
|Oct precipitation days = 4
|Nov precipitation days = 2
|Dec precipitation days = 1
|year precipitation days = 24
|Jan humidity = 65.7
|Feb humidity = 63.3
|Mar humidity = 62.6
|Apr humidity = 64.5
|May humidity = 65.2
|Jun humidity = 68.5
|Jul humidity = 73.3
|Aug humidity = 76.0
|Sep humidity = 76.8
|Oct humidity = 72.9
|Nov humidity = 69.8
|Dec humidity = 70.1
|year humidity = 69.1
|Jan sun = 223.2
|Feb sun = 234.5
|Mar sun = 279.0
|Apr sun = 285.0
|May sun = 306.9
|Jun sun = 279.0
|Jul sun = 217.0
|Aug sun = 201.5
|Sep sun = 216.0
|Oct sun = 244.9
|Nov sun = 234.0
|Dec sun = 204.6
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 7.2
|Febd sun = 8.3
|Mard sun = 9.0
|Aprd sun = 9.5
|Mayd sun = 9.9
|Jund sun = 9.3
|Juld sun = 7.0
|Augd sun = 6.5
|Sepd sun = 7.2
|Octd sun = 7.9
|Novd sun = 7.8
|Decd sun = 6.6
|yeard sun = 8.0
|source 1 = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica<ref name = INMG>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201229191802/https://www.inmg.gov.cv/index.php/servicos/servicos-climaticos
| archive-date = 29 December 2020
| url = https://www.inmg.gov.cv/index.php/servicos/servicos-climaticos
| title = Normais Climatológicas
| publisher = Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia e Geofísica
| language = pt
| access-date = 28 December 2020}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes, precipitation days, and sun)<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_085890_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Praia / Sao Tiago / Kapverden (Rep. Kap Verde)
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 6 November 2018}}</ref>

}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Nossa Senhora da Graça.jpg|thumb|[[:pt:Nossa Senhora da Graça (Santiago)|Nossa Senhora da Graça]] church]]
According to the national statistics office, the city's population was estimated 159,050 as of July 2017. As of the mid-19th century, the population was estimated at 1,500 to 2,000.

When Edmund Roberts visited in 1832, he noted a population of black people in Praia totaling about "nineteen twentieths" of the population.<ref name=Roberts>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Edmund|title=Embassy to the Eastern Courts of Cochin-China, Siam, and Muscat|year=1837|publisher=Harper & Brothers|location=New York|pages=19–20|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7317/view/1/19/}}</ref>
{{Historical populations
| title= Population of the city of Praia (1990–2017)
| align = none
| 1990 |61644
| 2000 |94161
| 2010 |130271
| 2017 |159050
| graph-pos=bottom
| graph-width = 250
| source =[http://www.citypopulation.de/CapeVerde.html City Population], citing the [http://www.ine.cv/index.aspx Instituto Nacional de Estatísticas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118142225/http://www.ine.cv/index.aspx |date=18 November 2008 }}.
}}

==Education==
[[File:Praia-Escola_Grande.jpg|thumb|left|Escola Grande on [[Rua Serpa Pinto]].]]
[[File:Praia - Liceu (cropped).JPG|thumb|right|[[Liceu Domingos Ramos]].]]
The city of Praia is home to the first primary school in the archipelago, originally known as the ''Escola Central'' (today known as the ''Escola Grande''). For much time it was the only primary school in Praia. At the beginning of the 1960s, other primary schools began to be built in neighbourhoods around the Plateau and in other localities on the island.

Praia was also the first site in Cape Verde with a secondary education institution with the creation of the ''Liceu Nacional'' in 1861. However, the Portuguese authorities were not interested in implementing secondary education in Cape Verde and the school failed as a result; secondary education became, afterwards, the role of the ''Seminário de Ribeira Brava'' on the island of São Nicolau, and later of the lyceum in Mindelo.

In 1960, Praia again had secondary education, first with a facility on 12 September Plaza and later in its own building. With the expansion of education in Cape Verde in the 1990s, buildings dedicated to education were constructed in Cape Verde, and Praia in 2016 had 12 secondary education schools.

International schools:
* [[École Internationale Les Alizés]] (French school)
* Colégio Internacional – Cabo Verde (Portuguese school)<ref>"[http://www.dgae.mec.pt/web/14650/cabo-verde ESCOLAS COM CURRÍCULO PORTUGUÊS EM CABO VERDE]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160304111526/http://www.dgae.mec.pt/web/14650/cabo-verde Archive]). Direção de Serviços de Ensino e Escolas Portuguesas no Estrangeiro (DSEEPE) of the [[Ministry of Education (Portugal)|Portuguese Education Ministry]]. Retrieved on 27 October 2015.</ref>

For higher education, there are the [[Universidade de Santiago]], ''Instituto Superior de Ciencias Juridícas e Sociais'', ''Instituto Superior de Ciencias Económicas e Empresariais'', [[Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde]], and [[University of Cape Verde]].

Praia is also home to the [[National Library of Cape Verde|National Library]] and the [[Arquivo Histórico Nacional (Cape Verde)|National Archives Building]] or the ANCV.

==Economy==
[[File:Praia coast Cape Verde.jpg|thumb|right|Tourism is an important contributor to Praia's economy]]
The principal economic activities of Praia belong to the tertiary sector. Beyond activities related to administration and governance (local and national), there are extensive commerce, services (health care, education, tourism, restaurants and hotels, public functions, etc.), and other activities of a liberal character.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia
|title=Praia |encyclopedia= Encyclopedia Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Praia|access-date=2023-02-19|language=en|date=2015}}</ref>

Being the nation's capital as well as the economic hub, Praia is one of the most economically viable cities in the Cape Verde archipelago. About one third (1/3) of the city's population lives below the poverty line today (2014). The gross metropolitan product for the city is about 39% of the country's GDP, translating into US$4764 income per capita.

==Transport ==
[[File:Praia International Airport.jpg|thumb|right|[[Nelson Mandela International Airport|Praia International Airport]].]]
The city is served by [[Nelson Mandela International Airport]] and [[Cabo Verde Airlines]], both having headquarters in Praia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flytacv.com/spip.php?page=contact&id_article=68#sommaire_1|title=TACV Cabo Verde Airlines|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009231137/http://www.flytacv.com/spip.php?page=contact&id_article=68#sommaire_1 |archive-date=9 October 2009 }}</ref> It has the nation's second most used port, [[Praia Harbor]], with a ferry terminal linking to other islands, direct ferry routes are [[Maio, Cape Verde|Maio]], [[Fogo, Cape Verde|Fogo]] and [[São Vicente, Cape Verde|São Vicente]]. The port is managed by the national port authority [[ENAPOR]]. The port was reconstructed and expanded in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enapor.cv/web/guest/porto-da-praia|title=Information about the port|publisher=[[ENAPOR]]|language=pt|access-date=23 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219012115/http://www.enapor.cv/web/guest/porto-da-praia|archive-date=19 February 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Praia has a [[dual carriageway]] [[ring road]], the ''Circular da Praia'' (EN1-ST06), which is connected with the main national roads to the north ([[EN1-ST01]]) and the west ([[EN1-ST05]]) of the island. The main roads inside the city are ''Avenida Grão Ducado de Luxemburgo'' (from the centre to the west), [[Avenida Amílcar Cabral]] (in ''Plateau'') and [[Avenida Cidade de Lisboa]].

===Public transport===
Public transport within the city of Praia is provided by the company SolAtlântico. There are 12 city bus lines. Intercity [[share taxi]]s for other cities on the island of Santiago depart from the Sucupira terminal in the city centre, which was opened in May 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://noticias.sapo.cv/economia/artigos/santiago-condutores-de-hiace-satisfeitos-com-o-terminal-da-praia| title =Santiago: Condutores de hiace satisfeitos com o terminal da Praia |work=SAPO Notícias|date=3 July 2018}}</ref> In 2015 a project called EcobusCV started running a fleet of dual fuel waste vegetable oil / diesel minibuses between Praia and Assomada. However, services were suspended in November 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://expressodasilhas.cv/economia/2016/11/07/ecobus-suspende-rota-praia-assomada-praia/50841| title =Ecobus suspende rota Praia/Assomada/Praia |work=[[Expresso das Ilhas]]|date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Praia-Palácio Presidencial (1) (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Presidential Palace of Cape Verde]].]]
[[File:Farol D. Maria Pia-2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Farol de D. Maria Pia]].]]
There is the ''Museu Etnográfico'' (Ethnographic Museum), which was founded in 1997. Some of the oldest buildings in Praia are Jaime Mota Barracks ([[Quartel Jaime Mota]]) dating from 1826. Since 2016, the historic centre of Praia is on the tentative list of [[World Heritage Site]]s.<ref name=unesco/>

Landmarks in the colonial city center include Albuquerque Square (named after the colonial governor of the mid 19th century, [[Caetano Alexandre de Almeida e Albuquerque]]), the old city hall built in the 1920s, the [[Palácio Presidencial|Presidential Palace]], which was constructed in the end of the 19th century to house the Portuguese governor and the ''[[Monumento de Diogo Gomes]]'', named after the Portuguese [[navigator]] who discovered the island of Santiago in 1460.

== Places of worship ==
Among the [[places of worship]], they are predominantly Christian churches and temples: [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Santiago de Cabo Verde]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[Church of the Nazarene]], [[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]], [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 505</ref>

==Sports==
Praia is home to several sports teams with the most popular football (soccer) clubs include [[Sporting Clube da Praia|Sporting]], [[Boavista FC (Cape Verde)|Boavista]], [[CD Travadores|Travadores]], [[Académica da Praia|Académica]], [[Vitória FC (Santiago)|Vitória]] and [[Desportivo da Praia|Desportivo]]; others include [[AD Bairro|ADESBA]], based in Craveiro Lopes; [[Celtic (Achadinha de Baixo)|Celtic]], based in Achadinha de Baixo; Tchadense, based out of Achada Santo Antônio; Delta, and Eugênio Lima, based in that neighbourhood. Basketball clubs include ABC Praia, Bairro and Travadores. Volleyball clubs include Desportivo da Praia. All are part of the [[Santiago Island League (South)|Santiago League South Zone]]. Many clubs play at [[Estádio da Várzea]].

==Notable people==
{{See also|List of people from Santiago, Cape Verde#Praia}}
* [[Caló (footballer)|Caló]], footballer
* [[Arménio Vieira]], writer
* [[Dário Furtado]], footballer
* [[Gardénia Benrós]], singer
* [[Gelson Fernandes]], footballer
* [[Ivan Almeida]], basketball player
* [[Mito Elias]], artist
* [[Nando Maria Neves]], footballer
* [[Ronny Souto]], footballer
* [[Tania Fernandes Anderson]], [[Cape Verde]]an-born American politician and member of the [[Boston City Council]]
* [[Vadú]], singer
* [[Yara dos Santos]], writer

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Cape Verde}}
Praia is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Boston]], United States<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister cities|url=https://www.boston.gov/economic-development/sister-cities|website=boston.gov|date=3 August 2016 |publisher=City of Boston|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Faro, Portugal|Faro]], Portugal<ref>{{cite web |title=Geminações|url=https://www.cm-faro.pt/pt/menu/292/geminacoes.aspx|website=cm-faro.pt|publisher=Faro|language=pt|access-date=11 December 2019}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Figueira da Foz]], Portugal<ref>{{cite web |title=Geminações de Cidades e Vilas: Figueira da Foz|url=https://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M6230|website=anmp.pt|publisher=Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses|language=pt|access-date=10 December 2019}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Funchal]], Portugal<ref>{{cite web |title=Acordos de Geminação|url=http://www.cm-funchal.pt/en/rela%C3%A7%C3%B5es-internacionais/179-acordos-de-gemina%C3%A7%C3%A3o.html|website=cm-funchal.pt|publisher=Funchal|language=pt|access-date=10 December 2019}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Gondomar, Portugal|Gondomar]], Portugal<ref>{{cite web |title=Geminações|url=https://www.cm-gondomar.pt/concelho/geminacoes/barton-inglaterra/|website=cm-gondomar.pt|publisher=Gondomar|language=pt|access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Jinan]], China<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister Cities|url=http://english.jinan.gov.cn/art/2018/12/18/art_29566_2754518.html|website=english.jinan.gov.cn|publisher=Jinan|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Lisbon]], Portugal<ref>{{cite web |title=Acordos de geminação|url=https://www.lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionais/acordos-de-geminacao|website=lisboa.pt|publisher=Lisboa|language=pt|access-date=3 February 2020}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Macau]], China<ref>{{cite web |title=Exchange between IACM and other cities|url=https://www.iam.gov.mo/files/exchange_e.pdf|website=iam.gov.mo|publisher=Governo da Região Administrativa Special de Macau|date=2019|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Ponta Delgada]], Portugal<ref>{{cite web |title=Geminações de Cidades e Vilas: Ponta Delgada|url=https://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M9500|website=anmp.pt|publisher=Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses|language=pt|access-date=12 December 2019}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]], United States<ref>{{cite web |title=Providence Gets Its Fifth Sister City, But No One Knows for Sure|url=https://www.golocalprov.com/news/providence-gets-its-fifth-sister-city-but-no-one-knows-for-sure|website=golocalprov.com|publisher=GoLocalProv News|date=13 October 2016|access-date=19 February 2020}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

== See also ==

*[[Battle of Porto Praya]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Praia (Cape Verde)}}
{{wikivoyage|Praia}}
* {{official website|http://www.cmpraia.cv/}}

{{Praia}}
{{Subdivisions of Santiago, Cape Verde}}
{{List of African capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Praia| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Cities in Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Municipal seats in Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 16th century]]

Port Vila

2023-12-12T19:51:01Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital of Vanuatu}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{More citations needed|date=February 2007}}
{{Expand Spanish|Port Vila|topic=geo|date=December 2009}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Port Vila
|other_name =
|native_name = Vila
|settlement_type = Capital City
|image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Port Vila aerial.jpg
| photo2a = Vanuatu Parliament, Port Vila - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg
| photo2b = Port Vila Vanuatu Harbour.JPG
| photo3a = PortVilaCityHall.jpg
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
|image_caption = (from top: left to right) Aerial view of central Port Vila, Parliament building, Port Vila Harbour and Port Vila City Hall.
|image_flag = Flag of Port Vila.svg
|pushpin_map = Vanuatu
|pushpin_label_position = left
|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Vanuatu
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Vanuatu}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Vanuatu|Province]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Shefa Province]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of islands of Vanuatu|Island]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Efate]]
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = [[Erick Puyo Festa]]
|established_title =
|established_date =
|area_total_km2 = 23.6
|population_as_of = 2020
|population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://vnso.gov.vu/images/Pictures/Census/2020_census/Census_Volume_1/2020NPHC_Volume_1_-_Version_2.pdf |title=2020 National Population and Housing Census - Basic Tables Report, Volume 1, Version 2 |date=2021-11-17 |website=vnso.gov.vu |publisher=[[Vanuatu National Statistics Office]] |access-date=2023-09-05 }}</ref>
|population_total = 49034
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = VUT
|utc_offset = +11
|coordinates = {{coord|17|44|S|168|19|E|region:VU|display=it}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 59
|elevation_ft =
|website =
|footnotes =
}}

'''Port Vila''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|iː|l|ə}}; {{lang-fr|Port-Vila}}), or simply '''Vila''' ({{lang-fr|Vila}}; {{lang-bi|Vila}} {{IPA-all|viˈla|}}), is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Vanuatu]]. It is located on the [[Efate|island of Efate]].

The population was 49,034 as of the [[2020 Vanuatu Census|2020 census]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://vnso.gov.vu/images/Pictures/Census/2020_census/Census_Volume_1/2020NPHC_Volume_1_-_Version_2.pdf |title=2020 National Population and Housing Census - Basic Tables Report, Volume 1, Version 2 |date=2021-11-17 |website=vnso.gov.vu |publisher=[[Vanuatu National Statistics Office]] |access-date=2023-09-05 }}</ref> In 2020, the population of Port Vila formed 16.3% of the country's population.

On the south coast of the island of Efate, in [[Shefa Province]], Port Vila is the economic and commercial centre of Vanuatu. The mayor is Erick Puyo Festa, of the [[Vanua'aku Pati]], elected in January 2018; his deputy is Jenny Regenvanu, of the [[Graun mo Jastis Pati]].<ref>[http://www.loopvanuatu.com/vanuatu-news/puyo-festa-new-mayor-port-vila-91000 "Puyo-Festa New mayor for Port Vila"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622132200/http://www.loopvanuatu.com/vanuatu-news/puyo-festa-new-mayor-port-vila-91000 |date=22 June 2020 }}, Loop Pacific, 27 March 2020</ref>

On 13 March 2015, Port Vila suffered extensive damage from [[Cyclone Pam]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2015/03/13/cyclone-pam-direct-hit-vanuatu/|title=Monstrous Category 5 cyclone makes direct hit on tiny Vanuatu|author=Andrew Freedman|publisher=Mashable|date=13 March 2015|access-date=4 April 2015|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712081608/https://mashable.com/2015/03/13/cyclone-pam-direct-hit-vanuatu/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Name ==
Locally the town is most commonly referred to simply as "Vila", whether in French or Bislama {{IPA-all|viˈla|}} or in English {{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|iː|l|ə}} {{respell|VEE|lə}} (not like English "villa").{{citation needed|date=September 2022}}

The name of the area is ''Efil'' in the native [[South Efate language]] and ''Ifira'' in neighbouring [[Mele-Fila language]]. ''Vila'' is a variant of these names. [[Ifira]] is a small island in Vila harbour where many of the area's traditional landowners reside.

== History ==
The area occupied by Port Vila has been inhabited by [[Melanesia]]n people for thousands of years. In Autumn of 2004, an archaeological expedition known as ''Teouma'' discovered a burial site of 25 tombs containing three dozen skeletons of members of the [[Lapita]] culture. Pieces of ceramics found at the site were dated to the 13th century BC.

Efate Island was charted in 1774 by [[James Cook]], who named it Sandwich Island. Cook's expedition did not land but noted the presence of good harbours and land suitable for European settlement. In late 19th century when the islands were known as the [[New Hebrides]], the British were initially the dominant European presence, though by the 1890s, the economic balance had begun to favour the French, who established large plantations. French citizen Ferdinand Chevillard began buying and clearing land around Port Vila to be converted into the largest French plantation on the island. Instead, it was converted into the municipality of [[Franceville, New Hebrides|Franceville]], which declared independence on 9 August 1889, though this only lasted until June of the following year.

It was the first [[self-governing]] nation to practice [[universal suffrage]] without distinction of sex or race. Although the population at the time consisted of about 500 native islanders and fewer than fifty whites, only the latter were permitted to hold office. One of the elected presidents was a US citizen by birth, R. D. Polk, a relative of American president [[James K. Polk]].<ref>"Wee, Small Republics: A Few Examples of Popular Government," ''Hawaiian Gazette'', 1 Nov 1895, p. 1</ref>

After 1887, the territory was jointly administered by the [[French colonial empire|French]] and the [[British Empire|British]]. This was formalized in 1906 as an Anglo-French [[Condominium (international law)|Condominium]]. During [[World War II]], Port Vila was an American and Australian airbase.

In 1987, [[Cyclone Uma]] severely damaged the city. A powerful earthquake in January 2002 caused minor damage in the capital and surrounding areas. The city suffered massive damage from a category 5 cyclone named [[Cyclone Pam]] in March 2015, whose [[Eye (cyclone)|eye wall]] passed just to the east of Port Vila.

== Geography ==
=== Climate ===
Port Vila has a [[tropical climate]], more specifically a [[tropical rainforest climate]], with noticeably wetter and drier months. As the trade winds are almost permanent and cyclones are not rare in Port Vila, the climate is not equatorial but maritime trade-wind tropical climate.<ref>"Climatologie" by Pierre Estienne and Alain Godard, Éditions Armand Colin ({{ISBN|2-200-31042-0}}), "CHAPITRE XVI 1. Les climats équatoriaux et subéquatoriaux 2. Les climats tropicaux 3. Les climats d'alizé 4. Les climats de montagne LES CLIMATS DE LA ZONE INTERTROPICALE : LES VARIÉTÉS", pages 314, 315 and 322.</ref> Rainfall averages about {{convert|2,338.9|mm|in|2|disp=or}} per year, and the wettest month is March. The driest month is September. There are 153 wet days in an average year. The area also has south-east [[trade winds]]. Temperatures do not vary very much at all throughout the year, and the record high is {{convert|35.6|C|F|1|disp=or}}. The coolest month, July, has an average high of {{convert|27|C|F|1|disp=or}}, and an average low of {{convert|18|C|F|1|disp=or}}. The hottest month, February, has an average high of {{convert|31.2|C|F|1|disp=or}} and an average low of {{convert|23|C|F|1|disp=or}}. The record low for Port Vila is {{convert|8.5|C|F|1|disp=or}}. [[Humidity]] is often high.

{{Weather box
|location = Port Vila, Vanuatu ([[Bauerfield International Airport]])
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 35.0
|Feb record high C = 33.9
|Mar record high C = 33.5
|Apr record high C = 32.5
|May record high C = 31.1
|Jun record high C = 32.0
|Jul record high C = 34.3
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 31.5
|Oct record high C = 31.2
|Nov record high C = 33.0
|Dec record high C = 35.6
|year record high C = 35.6
|Jan high C = 31.3
|Feb high C = 31.2
|Mar high C = 30.8
|Apr high C = 29.9
|May high C = 28.8
|Jun high C = 27.4
|Jul high C = 26.4
|Aug high C = 27.0
|Sep high C = 27.7
|Oct high C = 28.5
|Nov high C = 29.2
|Dec high C = 30.7
|year high C = 29.1
|Jan mean C = 26.4
|Feb mean C = 26.5
|Mar mean C = 26.3
|Apr mean C = 25.3
|May mean C = 24.1
|Jun mean C = 23.0
|Jul mean C = 22.1
|Aug mean C = 22.0
|Sep mean C = 22.7
|Oct mean C = 23.4
|Nov mean C = 24.6
|Dec mean C = 25.7
|year mean C = 24.3
|Jan low C = 22.5
|Feb low C = 23.0
|Mar low C = 22.6
|Apr low C = 22.0
|May low C = 20.2
|Jun low C = 19.8
|Jul low C = 18.2
|Aug low C = 18.0
|Sep low C = 18.4
|Oct low C = 19.6
|Nov low C = 20.7
|Dec low C = 21.7
|year low C = 20.5
|Jan record low C = 15.8
|Feb record low C = 15.0
|Mar record low C = 16.3
|Apr record low C = 14.5
|May record low C = 13.4
|Jun record low C = 10.0
|Jul record low C = 8.5
|Aug record low C = 10.0
|Sep record low C = 9.9
|Oct record low C = 11.0
|Nov record low C = 12.6
|Dec record low C = 15.2
|year record low C = 8.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 316.1
|Feb rain mm = 273.7
|Mar rain mm = 320.9
|Apr rain mm = 255.2
|May rain mm = 210.3
|Jun rain mm = 180.0
|Jul rain mm = 94.4
|Aug rain mm = 87.4
|Sep rain mm = 87.3
|Oct rain mm = 134.1
|Nov rain mm = 192.3
|Dec rain mm = 187.2
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 15.4
|Feb rain days = 16.6
|Mar rain days = 18.5
|Apr rain days = 17.1
|May rain days = 12.9
|Jun rain days = 11.3
|Jul rain days = 10.3
|Aug rain days = 9.8
|Sep rain days = 8.1
|Oct rain days = 8.4
|Nov rain days = 12.1
|Dec rain days = 13.2
|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 85
|Mar humidity = 86
|Apr humidity = 87
|May humidity = 85
|Jun humidity = 85
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 81
|Nov humidity = 82
|Dec humidity = 83
|year humidity = 84
| Jan dew point C =24
| Feb dew point C =24
| Mar dew point C =24
| Apr dew point C =23
| May dew point C =21
| Jun dew point C =21
| Jul dew point C =20
| Aug dew point C =20
| Sep dew point C =20
| Oct dew point C =21
| Nov dew point C =22
| Dec dew point C =23
|Jan sun = 220.1
|Feb sun = 155.4
|Mar sun = 198.4
|Apr sun = 165.0
|May sun = 170.5
|Jun sun = 162.0
|Jul sun = 148.8
|Aug sun = 167.4
|Sep sun = 174.0
|Oct sun = 198.4
|Nov sun = 180.0
|Dec sun = 195.3
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 7.1
|Febd sun = 5.5
|Mard sun = 6.4
|Aprd sun = 5.5
|Mayd sun = 5.5
|Jund sun = 5.4
|Juld sun = 4.8
|Augd sun = 5.4
|Sepd sun = 5.8
|Octd sun = 6.4
|Novd sun = 6.0
|Decd sun = 6.3
|yeard sun = 5.8
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_915570_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Vila (Int. Flugh.) / Insel Efaté / Vanuatu (Neue Hebriden)
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 November 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170510172337/http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_915570_kt.pdf
| archive-date = 10 May 2017
| url-status = dead
|date=March 2014}}</ref>

|source 2 =[https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/vanuatu/port-vila/climate Time and Date] (dewpoints, between 2005-2015)<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/vanuatu/port-vila/climate
|title = Climate & Weather Averages at Bauerfield Efate weather station (91557)
|publisher = Time and Date
|access-date = 6 February 2022
|archive-date = 6 February 2022
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220206183206/https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/vanuatu/port-vila/climate
|url-status = live
}}</ref>

}}

=== Economy and transport ===
{{See also|Economy of Vanuatu}}
Port Vila is Vanuatu's most important [[harbour]] and the center of the country's trade. The international airport, [[Bauerfield International Airport|Bauerfield International]] ('''VLI''') is also located in the city. [[Air Vanuatu]] has its head office in Vanuatu House in Port Vila.<ref>"[http://www.airvanuatu.com/home/contact-us/contact-us.aspx Contact Us] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215185510/http://www.airvanuatu.com/home/contact-us/contact-us.aspx |date=15 December 2016 }}." [[Air Vanuatu]]. Retrieved 22 June 2010.</ref>

Major industries in the city remain agriculture and fishing. Tourism is also becoming important, especially from [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]. There were over 80,000 visitors in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International tourism, number of arrivals - Vanuatu {{!}} Data|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?locations=VU|access-date=2021-07-25|website=data.worldbank.org|archive-date=25 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725043830/https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/ST.INT.ARVL?locations=VU|url-status=live}}</ref>

Vanuatu is a [[tax haven]], and offshore financing in Port Vila is an important part of the economy.

Vanuatu is still dependent on [[foreign aid]], most of which comes from Australia and New Zealand, although in recent years aid has also come from the People's Republic of China. One example was New Zealand paying to train doctors selected from the local community, then paying part of their wages during the first year after qualification. Australia has paid consultants to work in [[Port Vila Central Hospital]].

35.7% of exports leave from Port Vila and 86.9% of imports arrive in Port Vila. {{citation needed|date=March 2014}}

== Population ==
=== Demographics ===
{{See also|Demographics of Vanuatu}}
[[File:Port-Vila cath Sacre Coeur.JPG|thumb|[[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila]]]]

The population is around 45,000; predominately [[Melanesia]]n, with small [[Polynesia]]n, Asian, Australian and European populations, mainly French and British.

=== Languages ===
Port Vila is home to many languages, reflecting the country's [[Languages of Vanuatu|high linguistic diversity]].

The day-to-day [[lingua franca]] in the capital city is [[Bislama]]. In addition, English and French are also widespread.

Among Vanuatu's 100 [[Languages of Vanuatu#Indigenous languages|indigenous languages]], many are spoken in the capital, as people from rural areas come to live in the city, either temporarily or permanently.

=== Religion ===
Christianity is the predominant religion across Vanuatu, followed by more than 90% of the population. The largest denomination is the [[Presbyterian Church in Vanuatu]], followed by one third of the population. Roman Catholicism and the [[Church of Melanesia]] are also common, each about 15%. [[Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur, Port Vila|Cathédrale du Sacré-Cœur]] is a modern Roman Catholic cathedral in Port Vila. The seat of the Diocese of Port Vila,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/oceania/2269.htm|title=Cathédrale du Sacré-Coeur|publisher=GCatholic.org|access-date=9 May 2013|archive-date=4 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204020102/http://www.gcatholic.org/churches/oceania/2269.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> the church is dedicated to the [[Sacred Heart of Jesus]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Les Missions catholiques|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uzAMAAAAIAAJ|year=1938|language=fr|page=294}}</ref> On October 5, 2020, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints]] announced plans to construct a temple in the city, and the [[Bahá'í]] community is also established in Port Vila.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/vanuatu|title=Bahá'í Community of Vanuatu|publisher=bahai.org|access-date=26 April 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122162514/https://www.bahai.org/national-communities/vanuatu|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture and education ==

=== Highlights of the city ===
The capital of Vanuatu has various sights to offer. There are several memorials, e.g. opposite the Parliament where two traditional totem poles and a monument representing a pig's tusk can be seen. The Presbyterian Church of Port Vila is an impressive and sightworthy building opposite the [[Independence Park, Port Vila|Independence Park]]. A colourful wall painting can be seen on the administration building opposite the market hall. Another noteworthy wall painting is on the façade of the post office. The City Hall of Port Vila is an oblong and sightworthy building on a hill in the city centre.

{{Gallery
|title=Cityscape
|align=center
|File:PortVilaPresbyterianChurch.jpg|Presbyterian Church
|File:PortVilaWallPainting.jpg|Wall painting opposite the market
|File:Vanuatu Parliament, Port Vila - Flickr - PhillipC.jpg|Vanuatu Parliament
|File:PortVilaMemorialAtParliament.jpg|Memorial opposite the Parliament building
|File:Port Vila market.jpg|Market hall
|File:PortVilaMarketHall.jpg|Market
|File:PortVilaPostOffice.jpg|Post office. The building once marked the unofficial demarcation between the two sectors of Port Vila, the British Paddock to the south and the Quartier français to the north
|File:Port Vila Vanuatu Harbour.JPG|The natural harbour as viewed from town looking out at sea with Iririki Island to the left
|File:PortVilaCityHall.jpg|City Hall
}}

=== Vanuatu Cultural Centre ===
{{main|Vanuatu Cultural Centre}}
The Vanuatu Cultural Centre, hosting the [[National Museum of Vanuatu|Vanuatu National Museum]], is located at the Saralana Park in front of the national parliament, close to the National Library and the [[Malvatumauri]] (Vanuatu National Council of Chiefs). This institution is an important place for the preservation and promotion of the different aspects of the local culture. Traditional artifacts from several islands are on display in the museum. The centre host also the National Audiovisual Archives which is the most important fund of documents from the late 19th century until today.

=== World Heritage ===
Port Vila was the location in August 1999 for the "2nd World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific Islands Region" held by [[UNESCO]]. One of the major topics related to Vanuatu and the Pacific region was the question of the suitability of [[underwater archeology|underwater heritage]] for inscription on the [[World Heritage List]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/vanuatu99.htm|title=Second World Heritage Global Strategy Meeting for the Pacific, Port Vila (Vanuatu) 24-27 August 1999|access-date=26 December 2019|archive-date=19 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219050619/http://whc.unesco.org/archive/vanuatu99.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Education ===
{{expand section|date=May 2015}}
Port Vila is one location of the [[University of the South Pacific]], an educational institution co-owned by twelve Pacific countries. The Vanuatu campus is the only law school in the university, and it also teaches languages. Port Vila is one location of the University of the South Pacific, an educational institution co-owned by twelve Pacific countries. The Vanuatu campus is the only law school in the university, and it also teaches languages.

Upper secondary (sixth form/senior high school) institutions include:

* Port Vila International School
* Central Secondary School
* Epauto Adventist Senior Secondary School
* [[Lycee de Montmartre]]
* [[Lycée Français J. M. G. Le Clézio]] (French international school)
* [[Malapoa College]] (Formerly known as British Secondary School)
* Onesua Presbyterian College
* NTCU Port Vila Christian College

Junior secondary (seventh form to tenth form) institutions include:

* Port Vila International School
* Central Secondary School
* Malapoa College (Formerly known as British Secondary School)
* NTCU Port Vila Christian College
* Seaside Community Secondary School
* Sorovanga Self-Support Community School
* Suango Mele Junior Secondary School
* Ulei Junior Secondary School
* Vila North Secondary School

==Institutions==
===Municipality===
The municipality of Port Vila is divided into four wards and administered by a council consisting of 14 members. The four wards are:
# Malapoa-Tagabe: Western and far northern neighborhoods
# Anabrou-Melcofe-Tassiriki: Northern and eastern neighborhoods
# Centre: Nambawan and Seaside neighborhoods
# South: Nambatu, Nambatri, and Elluk neighborhoods

Malapoa-Tagabe and South are allotted three representatives each to the council while Anabrou-Melcofe-Tassiriki and Centre have four.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://be.convdocs.org/docs/index-87100.html|title=1. Composition of Port Vila Municipal Council|access-date=27 January 2019|archive-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109234739/http://be.convdocs.org/docs/index-87100.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The municipality handles primary education, primary health care, regional planning, road maintenance and construction, trash collection, cemeteries, parks and open spaces and the promotion of tourism.

There are also [[informal settlements]] such as Blacksands which are effectively suburbs of Vila but are outside the municipality. Living conditions in some of these neighbourhoods are very poor, and lack of service provision and insecure land tenure are major problems.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/4461/LeslieEmilyM2013MPlan.pdf?sequence=3 |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201939/https://ourarchive.otago.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10523/4461/LeslieEmilyM2013MPlan.pdf?sequence=3 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Blacksands was [[Squatting in Vanuatu|squatted]] in the 1960s.<ref name="Report">{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=David |last2=Chung |first2=Margaret |title=Urban informal settlements in Vanuatu: Challenge for equitable development |url=https://mjcs.gov.vu/images/research_database/Vanuatu_Squatter_Settlement_Study_2002.pdf |access-date=16 March 2021 |work=Report prepared for Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, Pacific Operation Centre |date=2020 |archive-date=19 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419144648/https://mjcs.gov.vu/images/research_database/Vanuatu_Squatter_Settlement_Study_2002.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

The most recent municipal council election was held in [[2022 Port Vila municipal election|2022]].

=== Constituency ===
{{update section|date=May 2015}}
Port Vila is one of the eighteen [[List of constituencies of Vanuatu|constituencies]] in Vanuatu, and elects six [[Parliament of Vanuatu|Members of Parliament]]. Following the [[2016 Vanuatuan general election|2016 general election]], its representatives are:<ref>[https://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/memebers/members-of-11th-legislatture "Members of the 11th Legislature of Parliament"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129003545/http://parliament.gov.vu/index.php/memebers/members-of-11th-legislatture |date=29 November 2018 }}, Parliament of Vanuatu</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Member!!Party
|-
|Kenneth Natapei
| [[Vanua'aku Pati]]
|-
|Alatoi Ishmael Kalsakau
|[[Union of Moderate Parties]]
|-
|Jean Pierre Nirua
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|-
|Kalo Seule
| [[Green Confederation]]
|-
|Ephraim Kalsakau
| [[Independent politician|Independent]]
|-
|Ulrich Sumptoh
|[[Union of Moderate Parties]]
|}

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Oceania}}
Port Vila is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|PYF}} [[Bora-Bora (commune)|Bora-Bora]], French Polynesia<ref>{{cite web|title=Sister cities between Borabora and Port Vila|url=https://dailypost.vu/news/sister-cities-between-borabora-and-port-vila/article_bd631540-db0e-5aef-a4c0-da869db080ba.html|work=Daily Post|date=2019-05-11|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720062318/https://dailypost.vu/news/sister-cities-between-borabora-and-port-vila/article_bd631540-db0e-5aef-a4c0-da869db080ba.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NCL|FLNKS}} [[Dumbéa]], New Caledonia<ref name=pireport>{{cite web|title=New Caledonia Enhances Ties With Vanuatu Capital City|url=http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/03/13/new-caledonia-enhances-ties-vanuatu-capital-city|website=pireport.org|publisher=Pacific Islands Report|date=2017-03-13|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720063816/http://www.pireport.org/articles/2017/03/13/new-caledonia-enhances-ties-vanuatu-capital-city|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Foshan]], China<ref>{{cite web|title=Foshan doctors here to treat children|url=https://www.sista.com.vu/foshan-doctors-here-to-treat-children/|website=sista.com.vu|publisher=Sista|date=2020-01-10|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720073942/https://www.sista.com.vu/foshan-doctors-here-to-treat-children/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|NCL|FLNKS}} [[Lifou]], New Caledonia<ref name=pireport/>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China<ref>{{cite web|title=Mayor Sumptoh to renew 22-year-old relations with Shanghai|url=https://dailypost.vu/news/mayor-sumptoh-to-renew-22-year-old-relations-with-shanghai/article_4bb41f18-f633-5d98-a07e-4bf9178b734d.html|work=Daily Post|date=2016-10-15|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=20 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720060647/https://dailypost.vu/news/mayor-sumptoh-to-renew-22-year-old-relations-with-shanghai/article_4bb41f18-f633-5d98-a07e-4bf9178b734d.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Yinchuan]], China<ref>{{cite web|title=银川市友好城市及交流合作情况|url=http://www.yinchuan.gov.cn/sshc/ycgk/yhcs/|website=yinchuan.gov.cn|publisher=Yinchuan|language=zh|access-date=2020-07-20|archive-date=16 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616160320/http://www.yinchuan.gov.cn/sshc/ycgk/yhcs/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}

{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Port Vila| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Vanuatu]]
[[Category:Capitals in Oceania]]
[[Category:Port cities in Oceania|Vila]]
[[Category:Squatting in Vanuatu]]

Lusaka

2023-12-12T19:49:13Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital of Zambia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2021}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Lusaka
| native_name = Mwalusaka
| nickname = LSK
| settlement_type = City
| motto =
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
|border = infobox
|total_width = 270
|perrow = 2/2/3/1
|image1 = Downtown Lusaka.JPG
|image2 = Kafue round about.jpg
|image3 = University students on the move.jpg
|image4 = Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Lusaka, interior.jpg
|image5 = Zambia National Commercial Bank.jpg
|image6 = The City of Lusaka 2022 1 7.jpg
|image7 = Lusaka City Transport.jpg
|image8 = National Museum in Lusaka, Zambia - 2014.jpg
}}
| imagesize =
| image_caption = ''From top and left to right'': Central business district of Lusaka with [[FINDECO House]] visible; Kafue Roundabout and surroundings, [[University of Zambia]] Main Campus, [[Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Lusaka|Cathedral of the Holy Cross]], [[Zambia National Commercial Bank|ZANACO]] head office, Society Business Park, Cairo Mall, [[Lusaka National Museum]] exhibition
| image_flag = Flag of Lusaka.svg
| flag_size =
| image_seal =
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Zambia#Africa 
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Lusaka in Zambia
| pushpin_mapsize =
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Zambia]]
| subdivision_type =
| subdivision_name = Zambian Kwacha
| subdivision_type2 = [[Provinces of Zambia|Province]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Lusaka Province]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Zambia#Lusaka Province|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Lusaka District]]
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = [[Mayor-council government]]
| leader_title = [[Mayor of Lusaka|Mayor]]
| leader_name = Chilando Chitangala [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|(PF)]]
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1905
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 = City status
| established_date3 = 25 August 1960
| unit_pref =  =
| area_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.lcc.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=72 City of Lusaka Website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420091956/http://www.lcc.gov.zm/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=47&Itemid=72 |date=20 April 2012}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 360 
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 =
| population_as_of = 2010 Census
| population_footnotes =
| population_note =
| population_total = 1,747,152<ref>{{cite web |author=Central Statistical Office |title=Population and Demography of Zambia |url=https://zambia.opendataforafrica.org/ZMPAD21016/population-and-demography-of-zambia |access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>
| population_metro = 2,238,569
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_demonym = Lusakan
| timezone = [[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
| utc_offset = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|15|25|S|28|17|E|region:ZM|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 1279<ref>Airport altitude, http://climexp.knmi.nl/ Retrieved 7 March 2015</ref>
| elevation_ft = 4190
| postal_code_type = 10101 
| postal_code =
| area_code = 0211<ref>{{cite web |title=Zambia |work=[[International Telecommunication Union]] |date=14 November 2019 |access-date=15 July 2021 |url=https://www.itu.int/oth/T02020000E8/en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915203403/http://www.itu.int/oth/T02020000E8/en |archive-date=15 September 2017 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2018)
| blank_info_sec1 = 0.664<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{cite web |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org |access-date=13 September 2018}}</ref> {{color|#FFD215|Medium}}
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Humid subtropical climate|Cwa]]
| website ={{URL|http://www.lcc.gov.zm}}
| footnotes =
| name =
| population_est = 2,731,696<ref>{{cite web |author=Central Statistical Office |title=Population and Demographic Projections |url=https://zambia.opendataforafrica.org/ZMPHC2015/population-and-demographic-projections-2011-2035 |access-date=20 September 2020}}</ref>
| pop_est_as_of = 2020
}}

'''Lusaka''' ({{IPAc-en|l|uː|ˈ|s|ɑː|k|ə}}; {{respell|loo|SAH|kə}}) is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Zambia]]. It is one of the fastest-developing cities in [[southern Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Africa's fastest-growing cities |url=https://www.dw.com/en/africas-fastest-growing-cities/g-49895423 |access-date=12 April 2021 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]]}}</ref> Lusaka is in the southern part of the central plateau at an elevation of about {{convert|1279|m|ft}}. {{As of|2019}}, the city's population was about 3.3 million, while the urban population is estimated at 2.5 million in 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/zambia-population/|title=Zambia Population 2020 (Live)|website=worldpopulationreview.com|access-date=28 April 2020}}</ref> Lusaka is the centre of both commerce and government in Zambia and connects to the country's four main highways heading [[Great North Road, Zambia|north]], [[Livingstone Road|south]], [[Great East Road|east]], and [[Great West Road, Zambia|west]]. English is the official language of the city administration, while [[Bemba language|Bemba]], [[Tonga language (Zambia and Zimbabwe)|Tonga]], [[Lenje]], [[Soli language|Soli]], [[Lozi language|Lozi]], and [[Nyanja]] are the commonly spoken street languages.
[[File:INDO_BANK_ZAMBIA.jpg|alt=Indo Bank Zambia building, Lusaka|thumb|''[[Indo-Zambia Bank Limited]] Headquarters, Lusaka'']]
The earliest evidence of settlement in the area dates to the 6th century AD, with the first known settlement in the 11th century. It was then home to the [[Lenje people|Lenje]] and [[Soli language|Soli]] peoples from the 17th or 18th century. The founding of the modern city occurred in 1905 when it lay in the [[British protectorate]] of [[Northern Rhodesia]], which was controlled by the [[British South African Company]] (BSAC). The BSAC built a railway linking their mines in the [[Copperbelt]] to [[Cape Town]] and Lusaka was designated as a [[water stop]] on that line, named after a local Lenje chief called Lusaaka. White [[Afrikaner]] farmers then settled in the area and expanded Lusaka into a regional trading centre, taking over its administration. In 1929, five years after taking over control of Northern Rhodesia from the BSAC, the British colonial administration decided to move its capital from [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]] to a more central location, and Lusaka was chosen. Town planners including [[Stanley Adshead]] worked on the project, and the city was built out over the subsequent decades.

Lusaka lost some of its status to [[Harare|Salisbury]] (now Harare in Zimbabwe) when the latter became the capital of the merged [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]] in 1953, but regained it when it was named the capital of newly independent Zambia in 1964. A large-scale building programme in the city followed, including government buildings, the [[University of Zambia]] and [[Kenneth Kaunda International Airport|a new airport]]. Wealthy suburbs in Lusaka include Woodlands, Ibex Hill and Rhodes Park. Large-scale migration of people from other areas of Zambia occurred both before and after independence, and a lack of sufficient formal housing led to the emergence of numerous unplanned [[shanty town]]s on the city's western and southern fringes.

== History ==
{{see also|Timeline of Lusaka}}
[[File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-3-235.jpg|thumb|left|Government House, built for the [[Governor of Northern Rhodesia]]]]

===Early history===
The earliest evidence of settlement in the area around what is now the Lusaka area dates to the 6th century. The first known village dates to around the 11th century, a settlement of round huts close to the modern suburb of Olympia. The subsequent centuries saw considerable fluctuation of people in the area, until the arrival of the [[Lenje language|Lenje]] and [[Soli language|Soli]] peoples in the 17th or 18th century.{{sfn|Myers|2016|p=48}} The Soli are believed by scholars to have arrived as part of the [[Luba people|Luba migration]] along the [[Luapula River]],{{sfn|Fagan|1961|p=228}} while the Lenje are related to the {{nowrap|[[Ila people|Ila]]–[[Tonga people (Zambia and Zimbabwe)|Tonga]]}}.<ref name="BritannicaZambiaPeople">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Zambia – People |last=Roberts |first=Andrew D. |author-link=Andrew D. Roberts |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |date=15 April 2021 |access-date=9 June 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Zambia/People}}</ref> Modern Lusaka lies on the boundary of the territories of the two groups, with the Lenje inhabiting the region to the north of the city and the Soli to the south.<ref name="TribalLinguisticMap">{{cite map |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tribal_Linguistic_map_Zambia.jpg |via=[[African Studies Centre Leiden]] |title=Tribal and linguistic map of Zambia}}</ref> In the 19th century, African and European slave traders began arriving from the coastal regions of modern-day [[Tanzania]], [[Mozambique]] and [[Angola]], enslaving members of the Soli and Lenje communities for shipment to the Middle East, Europe and South America.{{sfn|Myers|2016|p=48}}{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}} The need to evade these attacks as well as their use of a [[Shifting cultivation|shifting-cultivation]] farming system, necessitated frequent relocation amongst the Soli and Lenje, and there were, therefore, no major permanent settlements.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}}

In the late 19th century, British–South African mining entrepreneur and politician [[Cecil Rhodes]] founded the [[British South African Company]] (BSAC), with a charter from [[Queen Victoria]] to colonise and develop land in sections of what is now northern South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.<ref name="BritannicaRhodes"/> Rhodes was a strong believer in the [[Cape to Cairo railway]] project, although with [[German East Africa]] blocking the route to the north of BSAC territory, he could not progress it during his lifetime.{{sfn|Fox|1920|p=100}} With little regard for the prior rights of the African populations, Rhodes directed the expansion of territorial control as far as [[Harare|Salisbury]] (now Harare in Zimbabwe), and his company continued extending to the north even after his death in 1902.<ref name="BritannicaRhodes">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Woodhouse |first=Christopher Montague |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |title=Cecil Rhodes {{!}} Biography, Significance, & Facts |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Cecil-Rhodes |access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref> The BSAC took formal control of the region around Lusaka through the [[British protectorate|protectorate]] of [[Barotziland–North-Western Rhodesia]], named after Rhodes, in 1899.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|pp=1–2}}<ref>{{cite web |title=Barotziland North-Western Rhodesia Order in Council, 1899 |publisher=[[Government of the United Kingdom]] |via=Barotseland Post |date=28 November 1899 |access-date=12 June 2021 |url=https://barotselandpost.com/images/important_barotse_documents/Barotseland-Northwestern-Rhodesia-Order-in-Council-1899.pdf}}</ref> The capital was initially at [[Kalomo]], being switched to [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]] in 1907.{{sfn|Hunt|1959|pp=9 & 12}} This was merged in 1911 with the territory of [[North-Eastern Rhodesia]] to form [[Northern Rhodesia]], predecessor of modern Zambia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Northern Rhodesia Order in Council, 1911 |publisher=[[Government of the United Kingdom]] |via=Barotse National Freedom Alliance |date=17 August 1911 |access-date=12 June 2021 |url=http://bnfa.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Northern-Rhodesia-Order-in-Council-1911.pdf}}</ref>

Faced with uprisings by Africans within their territory, as well as an economic decline and a desire to expand mining interests in northern Zambia's [[Copperbelt]], the BSAC expedited the building of the northbound railway from South Africa into Northern Rhodesia from 1896.{{sfn|Lunn|1992|pp=240–241}}{{sfn|Katzenellenbogen|1974|p=64}} Lusaka was founded in 1905 as a [[water stop]] on the route and was named after a Chief Lusaaka, the leader of a nearby Lenje village.{{sfn|Myers|2016|p=48}} The section of line through Lusaka was built by the [[Mashonaland Railway Company]], extending the line by {{convert|281|mi|km|order=flip}} from Kalomo through to the mining town of Broken Hill (now [[Kabwe]]).{{sfn|Winchester|1935a|pp=867–868}}{{sfn|Winchester|1935b|pp=869–874}} During the subsequent years, white [[Afrikaner]] farmers settled in the area, Lusaka becoming their regional centre and access point to the railway. By 1913, several stores and a hotel had opened, and they persuaded the BSAC to declare Lusaka as a recognised town and cede control of local affairs to them.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}}{{sfn|Myers|2016|p=48}} This early town was governed by the Lusaka Village Management Board, elected by the farmers, and consisted of a tract of land along the railway route, {{convert|5|km|mi|sigfig=1}} in length and {{convert|1.5|km|mi|sigfig=1}} wide.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}}

After [[World War I]], the United Kingdom took control of [[Tanganyika (territory)|Tanganyika]] (now Tanzania), which had been previously part of [[German East Africa]]. This created an almost continuous line of British colonies from South Africa through to Egypt and led to the revival of projects for the Cape to Cairo railway and a similar [[Cape to Cairo Road|road route]].{{sfn|Fox|1920|p=100}}{{sfn|Home|2013|p=4}} The British imperial government took direct control of Northern Rhodesia in 1924, through a governor and legislative council, but the BSAC retained its rights over mining acquired in prior decades.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=4}}{{sfn|Clough|1924|pp=281–282}} The new administration favoured an [[indirect rule]] system with self-governance for the African population, although in reality the rights of Africans remained very limited.{{sfn|Home|2013|pp=4–5}} The mining corporations, as well as Afrikaner farmers around Lusaka, did not welcome the change, favouring a South African model.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=6}}{{sfn|Ranger|1980|p=351}} The colonial administration favoured the establishment of planned towns as a means of asserting its authority.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=7}}

===Designation as Northern Rhodesia's capital===
In March 1929, the UK's [[Colonial Office]] sent a telegram to the Northern Rhodesian government recommending that the capital of the territory be moved, citing "communications" and also "health" reasons.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=7}} However, the medical rationale for the relocation was not explicitly published at the time.<ref name="hans_Nort">{{Cite web |title=Northern Rhodesia - Tuesday 19 April 1932 |publisher=[[Parliament of the United Kingdom]] |work=[[Hansard]] |date=19 April 1932 |access-date=14 June 2021 |url= https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/1932-04-19/debates/1f41fb52-1c18-4352-b5e4-c0f545d159f3/NorthernRhodesia}}</ref> [[James Maxwell (colonial administrator)|James Maxwell]], a former physician and the protectorate's governor since 1927, brought his former colleague David Alexander from Nigeria to assist with him with this relocation project.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=7}} Keen to avoid the informal development of the [[township]]s that were emerging close to mining areas, Alexander recommended that a [[town planner]] be recruited to design the capital. Maxwell and Alexander then investigated possible sites for the new city, eventually choosing Lusaka as a result of its situation on the railway and at the crossroads of Northern Rhodesia's [[Great North Road, Zambia|Great North Road]] and [[Great East Road]].{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}}{{sfn|Home|2013|p=8}} Maxwell requested a town planner from the Colonial Office, which sent [[University College London]] professor [[Stanley Adshead]], as well as a water engineer, to the colony. Adshead examined several possible locations for the capital, eventually confirming Lusaka as a suitable location in late 1930. He had considered placing the capital in the Copperbelt, but a mutual distrust between the mining corporations and the government meant that both preferred to maintain some distance between the capital and the mines.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=8}} The water engineer's investigations concluded that there was sufficient groundwater,{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}} and the report confirming Lusaka as the planned capital was approved by the legislative council in July 1931.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=8}}<ref name="hans_Nort"/>

[[Ronald Storrs]] replaced Maxwell as governor in 1932, but funds were limited as a result of the [[Great Depression]] and there was little progress on the development of Lusaka. Several thousand Africans migrated to the city in search of construction work, but none was available, leading to large-scale poverty, hunger, and rioting.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=9}}{{sfn|Hansen|1982|p=122}} Storrs's greatest interest in the project was the development of the Government House, echoing [[Presidential Palace, Nicosia|a similar project]] he had initiated as [[List of colonial governors and administrators of British Cyprus|governor of Cyprus]], when his headquarters was burned down in [[1931 Cyprus revolt|a revolt]]. Seeking to emulate the Cyprus building, as well as the recently completed [[Rashtrapati Bhavan|viceroy's mansion in New Delhi]], Storrs commissioned several top architects to work on the plan, which was presented at the [[Royal Academy]]. The £43,000 projected cost of the building was more than 10 per cent of the total budget earmarked for the Lusaka project and the Colonial Office insisted in late 1933 that it be reduced. Storrs left his post as governor shortly afterwards, on the grounds of ill health.{{sfn|Home|2013|pp=9–10}} By that point, the completed work consisted of a few short stretches of road (including [[Cairo Road]], named for its anticipated place on the proposed [[Cape to Cairo Road]]) and some houses and flats for government officials.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=10}}{{sfn|Home|2013|p=21}}

Storrs's replacement as governor was [[Hubert Winthrop Young]], who had been serving as governor of neighbouring [[Nyasaland]] (now Malawi). Early in his tenure, in April 1934, Young hosted a visit to Lusaka by [[Prince George, Duke of Kent|Prince George]], the fourth son of [[King George V]].{{sfn|Home|2013|p=2}} During his visit, George laid the foundation stone of Lusaka's administrative buildings,<ref>{{cite web |title=Lusaka will be Rhodesia capital |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |work=[[Spokane Chronicle]] |date=3 April 1934 |access-date=15 June 2021 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79611000/spokane-chronicle/}}</ref> as well as opening roads named after his father and himself.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=2}} After the royal visit, Young wrote to the Colonial Office that he was "optimistic about the future of Lusaka", and he appointed administrator Eric Dutton to lead the project.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=10}} There was some resistance from the white population of Livingstone, which feared that the capital would lead to a loss of business. Young refused their demand to compensate them financially, but he sought to placate them by establishing Livingstone as the protectorate's tourism capital, with [[Livingstone Museum|a new museum]] and a [[game reserve]]. Lusaka formally became the capital in May 1935, with a "Lusaka week" celebration scheduled to coincide with celebrations of [[Silver Jubilee of George V|George V's silver jubilee]]. The government commissioned a special train, which moved all government officials from Livingstone to Lusaka during a single weekend.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=11}}

Under Adshead's original plans, Lusaka was proposed as a pure administrative centre, with no industry or large African population; he commented at one point that it "could never become an important city".{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}}{{sfn|Home|2013|p=1}} Under Bowling's revised plans, there were areas designated for both light and heavy industry, as well as a business area.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}}{{sfn|Home|2013|p=14}} He gave prominence to the airport, as well as to the government house, albeit under a simpler design than that envisaged by Storrs. Both men had built [[racial segregation]] into their plans, dividing the city into "native" and "non-native" areas, with residential areas and services for Africans placed on the southern periphery of the city. Despite producing these plans, both Adshead and Bowling had left Rhodesia before the Lusaka week, and the remainder of the building was left to Dutton and a small team of white officials.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=14}} The city's footprint covered a large area, even at this early stage, despite much of it being undeveloped. This was part of a policy devised by Adshead intended to allow internal expansion, rather than the usual central core with suburbs added outside.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=16}}<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Ithaca Journal]] |date=4 June 1935 |page=9 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79818324/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=Modern City New African Colony Seat}}</ref>

===Later colonial years===
The building of Lusaka continued through the second half of the 1930s, but progress was slowed by a shortage of funds. The Northern Rhodesia government had hoped to raise money through taxes on the mining companies, but these were mostly registered in the United Kingdom and paid all the tax on their revenues there. The loan taken to cover the project's £400,000 budget was guaranteed by the [[Alfred Beit#The Beit Trust and other donations|Beit Trust]], but there was no scope for additional infrastructure to be built.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=15}} The UK launched [[Bledisloe Commission|an investigation]] into a possible merger of Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland in 1938, a prospect which caused private businesses to withdraw investment, fearing that Lusaka would lose its capital status. This left the government as the sole source of funds.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Windsor Star]] |date=2 February 1938 |page=4 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/79814592/the-windsor-star/ |access-date=18 June 2021 |via=Newspapers.com |title=Politics – and Other Subjects: Rhodesia}}</ref> Also in 1938, the Northern Rhodesia government commissioned a report by finance expert [[Alan Pim]], to examine the territory's economy. This concluded that despite the relatively high taxes on mining in the territory, the administration (which was already heavily reliant on revenue from mining) was not getting its fair share.{{sfn|Roberts|1982|p=352}} Pim also criticised the allocation of housing for Africans in Lusaka, noting that of 10,000 living in the city at that time, only 1,500 were in formal housing.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=16}} Africans were at that time only permitted to live in the city under temporary work permits, with family members required to remain elsewhere.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=3}}

The need for metals during [[World War II]] led to a boom in the copper industry which, accompanied by a 1941 excess-profits tax ordered by the UK, brought increased revenue to the government.{{sfn|Roberts|1982|p=353}} The boom also led to a substantial increase in urbanisation.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=2}} Lusaka's official population (which excluded much of the African population) rose from around 2,000 in 1931 to almost 19,000 in 1946, with a 15 per cent annual growth rate.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=3}} In 1948, the government passed the African Housing Ordinance, which authorised permanent residential suburbs for Africans, including married couples. Employers in the city were also required to pay for their workers' housing. The city authorities founded the African Housing Board, which built the new suburbs of New Chilenje and Matero. Lusaka's African workforce, which remained relatively unskilled, did not benefit as much as that of the Copperbelt, where a shortage of skilled mining labour had led to improved pay.{{sfn|Hansen|1982|pp=122–123}} In 1952, a development plan for Lusaka gained statutory approval for the first time – earlier proposals such as those by Adshead and Bowling had never been legally sanctioned.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=16}} This plan envisaged much more territory for the African suburbs, but only around one-third of these were ever built.{{sfn|Hansen|1982|p=123}}

In 1953, the British government approved the pre-war plan to merge Northern Rhodesia with its two neighbours, forming the [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]]. Authorities in London cited the economic benefits and the belief that the merged territory would form a "multiracial state" to counter the rise of [[Apartheid]] in South Africa. The federation was popular with white settlers across the region, especially in Southern Rhodesia, but was strongly opposed by the African population.<ref name="BritannicaFederation">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland |last=Kalinga |first=WOwen Jato |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=29 June 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Federation-of-Rhodesia-and-Nyasaland}}</ref> Lusaka remained the capital of Northern Rhodesia but many of the government departments, as well as some private sector industries, moved to Salisbury, which was designated as the federal capital. Lusaka's economy suffered as a result, with reduced jobs in construction, transportation, and domestic service. This economic decline, coupled with a fall in copper prices in the mid-to-late 1950s, resulted in large-scale unemployment among both African and white Lusakans. The population continued to grow, however, as increasing numbers moved from rural areas to the city's informal settlements.{{sfn|Hansen|1982|p=123}} In contrast to South Africa, where the government regularly bulldozed them, the authorities in Rhodesia tolerated these squatter areas although they provided no services and Africans continued to live under strict legal constraints.{{sfn|Hansen|1982|p=124}}

=== Capital of the Republic of Zambia ===
As discontent with federation rose, a new group of African leaders emerged in the late 1950s, seeking [[majority rule]] and independence for Northern Rhodesia, as had recently been attained in [[Ghana]]. After a [[civil disobedience]] in 1962, led by [[Kenneth Kaunda]]'s [[United National Independence Party]] (UNIP), the UK Government agreed to a new constitution under which Africans took control of the legislature. The end of the federation followed in 1963, and in 1964, Northern Rhodesia became independent as the Republic of [[Zambia]].<ref name="BritannicaZambiaColonialRule">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Zambia – Colonial Rule |last=Roberts |first=Andrew D. |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |date=15 April 2021 |access-date=9 June 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Zambia/Colonial-rule}}</ref> Lusaka was named as the capital of Zambia.{{sfn|Home|2013|p=18}} A large-scale building programme in the city followed, including: government buildings, the [[University of Zambia]] and [[Kenneth Kaunda International Airport|a new airport]]. The employment opportunities that arose from this attracted further migration from rural areas into Lusaka, exacerbating the city's housing shortage. The government constructed several new housing estates during the 1960s, including New Kamwala and Chilenje South.{{sfn|Hansen|1982|p=125}} This was the first time that good-quality housing with public utilities had been built for the African population, although it was largely limited to civil servants and copper-industry workers, with the majority of residents continuing to live in the informal settlements.{{sfn|Hansen|1982|p=125}}<ref name="BlackPast">{{Cite web |title=Lusaka, Zambia (1913–) |last=Wade |first=Evan |work=[[Blackpast.org]] |date=3 November 2014 |access-date=30 June 2021 |url= https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/places-global-african-history/lusaka-zambia-1913/}}</ref>

Although Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania had achieved independence by the mid-1960s,<ref name="BritannicaFederation"/><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Tanzania – Independence |last=Ingham |first=Kenneth |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=30 June 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania/Independence}}</ref> the other nearby territories of [[Portuguese Mozambique|Mozambique]], [[Portuguese Angola|Angola]], Southern Rhodesia and South Africa were still under white minority control. Many activists from these territories moved to post-independence Lusaka, and American historian Evan Wade later described it as the "center of anti-colonial resistance for Southern Africa".<ref name="BlackPast"/>{{sfn|Chongo|2016|p=13}} In 1969, the city hosted the Fifth Summit Conference of East and Central African States, attended by fourteen leaders of African countries. The conference produced the [[Lusaka Manifesto]], a pledge of solidarity by the signatories in seeking majority rule in southern Africa. The manifesto advocated a strategy of negotiation rather than violence and was later endorsed by the [[United Nations]].{{sfn|Chongo|2016|p=13}} The 1965 [[Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence|Unilateral Declaration of Independence]] in Southern Rhodesia and subsequent UN embargo and eventual border closure impacted Zambia's economy, depriving it of its principal trade route.<ref name="BritannicaZambiaUnderKaunda">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Zambia – Zambia under Kaunda |last=Roberts |first=Andrew D. |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |date=15 April 2021 |access-date=1 July 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Zambia/Colonial-rule}}</ref>

In the early days of independence, with high revenues from copper exports, economists described Zambia as a "middle-income country" with the potential to become fully [[developed country|developed]]. Beginning in the 1970s, however, the Zambian economy suffered a major decline as a result of falling copper prices and rising oil prices.<ref name="BritannicaZambiaUnderKaunda"/> [[Per capita income]] dropped by 50% between 1974 and 1994. The slow-down also highlighted what American political scientist John Harbeson described as a "massive and inefficient parastatal sector as well as the government's prevailing urban bias", and led to a fall in formal employment in Lusaka which continued for several decades.{{sfn|Frischkorn|2015|pp=209–210}} The lack of jobs decreased the level of rural-to-urban migration in Zambia,{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=4}} but the decline of the copper industry caused a large movement of people from the Copperbelt cities to Lusaka. This, and the [[natural population growth]] in the city's young population, gave Lusaka a population growth of around 4% in the 1990s, exceeding the national average.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=4}}

The Zambian economy grew rapidly during the 2000s,<ref name="Economist">{{cite news |url=https://www.economist.com/leaders/2020/11/12/how-to-stop-zambia-from-turning-into-zimbabwe |title=How to stop Zambia from turning into Zimbabwe |access-date=3 July 2021 |date=12 November 2020}}</ref> and the government initiated projects designed to improve the quality of housing and access to services in Lusaka.{{sfn|Wragg|Lim|2014|p=262}} These included a comprehensive urban development plan, prepared by the Zambian government and the [[Japan International Cooperation Agency]] (JICA), and an urban and regional planning bill, which was enacted in 2015.<ref name="parl_TheU">{{Cite web |title=The Urban and Regional Planning: Act Number 3 of 2015 |publisher=[[National Assembly of Zambia]] |date=14 August 2015 |access-date=3 July 2021 |url= https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/4540}}</ref> Inequality and underinvestment in housing remain high, however, with 70% of residents still living in unplanned settlements in 2015.{{sfn|Wragg|Lim|2014|p=262}} In 2018, the city council began a programme of road improvements to tackle chronic traffic congestion, but the lack of quality housing and services remains an issue as of 2021.{{sfn|Chigudu|2021|pp=6–7}}

== Geography ==
[[File:Kafue round about.jpg|thumb|View of Cairo Road and north-west Lusaka from the Zanaco building]]
The [[geography of Zambia|Zambian terrain]] consists mainly of a high-altitude [[plateau]], with some hills and mountains.{{sfn|Grönwall|Mulenga|McGranahan|2010|p=47}} Lusaka is located on the plateau, in south-central Zambia at 15°25′S 28°17′E, with an altitude of {{convert|1280|m|ft}}.<ref name="BritannicaLusaka">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Lusaka |last=Pletcher |first=Kenneth |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=25 June 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Lusaka}}</ref>{{sfn|CIA|2007|p=684}} It is located {{convert|472|km|mi}} north east of the tourism capital, [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]], and {{convert|362|km|mi}} from [[Kitwe]] on the Copperbelt, Zambia's second-largest city. [[Mpulungu]], the most distant major Zambian town from Lusaka, lies {{convert|1074|km|mi}} away on the shores of [[Lake Tanganyika]].{{sfn|McIntyre|2016|p=68}} The city of Lusaka is coterminous with [[Lusaka District]], and is the capital of [[Lusaka Province]], which is Zambia's smallest but most populated province.<ref name="LusakaCityCouncil">{{cite web |title=About Lusaka |author= |publisher=Lusaka City Council |date= |access-date=27 June 2021 |url= https://www.lcc.gov.zm/AboutLusaka.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Lusaka Provincial Administration » About Lusaka |author= |publisher=Provincial Administration, [[Lusaka Province]] |date= |access-date=27 June 2021 |url=https://www.lsk.gov.zm/?page_id=4785 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627172246/https://www.lsk.gov.zm/?page_id=4785 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Lusaka District borders [[Chilanga District]] to the west and south, [[Kafue District]] to the south-east and [[Chongwe District]] to the east, all in Lusaka Province. It also borders [[Chibombo District]] to the north.<ref name="LusakaCityCouncil"/>

The geology of Lusaka is divided between uneven-depth [[Fold (geology)|folded]] and [[Fault (geology)|faulted]] [[schist]] in the north, and [[limestone]] with dolomitic [[marble]] in the south, to a depth of {{convert|120|m|ft}}. These rocks yield more groundwater than the [[Basement (geology)|crystalline basement]] rock which is the most prevalent in Zambia. The limestone regions have formed underground [[karst]]s, into which surface water drains, causing a lack of major rivers and few streams.{{sfn|Grönwall|Mulenga|McGranahan|2010|p=49}} The city lies on a [[drainage divide]], with waters in the north east of the city draining into the [[Chongwe River]], via the Ngwerere and Chalimbana streams, while the west and south are within the basin of the [[Kafue River]]. Both the Chongwe and the Kafue ultimately drain into the [[Zambezi River]].{{sfn|Lusaka City Council|Environmental Council of Zambia|2008|p=3}} The soil is predominantly [[Leptosol]]s in the schist region and [[Phaeozem]]s on the dolomite. These non-clay soils result in reduced filtration of groundwater before it reaches [[aquifer]]s.{{sfn|Grönwall|Mulenga|McGranahan|2010|p=50}}

===Cityscape===
[[File:LusakaSuburbs.jpg|thumb|Suburban residential area]]
[[File:Lusaka Morning 1.jpg|thumb|202x202px|Chilenje Residential area in 2023]]
Lusaka's central business district (CBD) is located in the area surrounding Cairo Road, to the west of the [[Zambia Railways]] line from Livingstone to the Copperbelt. This is the historical site where the original colonial town was founded in the early 20th century. [[Cairo Road]], a north–south multi-lane highway roughly {{convert|4|km|mi|frac=2|spell=in}} in length,{{sfn|McIntyre|2016|p=119}} is the CBD's main artery, which features office buildings as well as shops, cafes and other retail businesses.{{sfn|Hamonga|1996|p=61}}{{sfn|Auzias|Labourdette|2017|p=86}} However, heavy vehicles (trucks) are not allowed on Cairo Road (they are advised to use Lumumba Road to bypass this thoroughfare to the west when travelling north and south). Four of the top five tallest buildings in Zambia are located on Cairo Road, including the tallest, the {{convert|90|m|ft|adj=on}} 23-storey [[Findeco House]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Zambia's tallest buildings - Top 20 |publisher=STR Germany |work=[[Emporis]] |access-date=13 July 2021 |url=https://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/country/100142/zambia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150511220109/http://www.emporis.com/statistics/tallest-buildings/country/100142/zambia|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 May 2015}}</ref>{{efn|The four of the tallest five buildings located on Cairo Road are Findeco House,<ref>{{cite web |title=Findeco House |publisher=STR Germany |work=Emporis |access-date=13 July 2021 |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/103456/findeco-house-lusaka-zambia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507225324/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/103456/findeco-house-lusaka-zambia|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 May 2016}}</ref> Society House,<ref>{{cite web |title=Society House |publisher=STR Germany |work=Emporis |access-date=13 July 2021 |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/103455/society-house-lusaka-zambia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304044716/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/103455/society-house-lusaka-zambia|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2020}}</ref> Indeco House,<ref>{{cite web |title=Indeco House |publisher=STR Germany |work=Emporis |access-date=13 July 2021 |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/321592/indeco-house-lusaka-zambia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418105220/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/321592/indeco-house-lusaka-zambia|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 April 2021}}</ref> and ZANACO House.<ref>{{cite web |title=ZANACO House |publisher=STR Germany |work=Emporis |access-date=13 July 2021 |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/321590/zanaco-house-lusaka-zambia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304044716/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/321590/zanaco-house-lusaka-zambia|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 March 2020}}</ref>}} To the west of Cairo Road there are two major markets, the Central Market and New City Market.{{sfn|McIntyre|2016|p=119}}

East of the CBD lies the government area, which including the State House and the various ministries, around [[Cathedral Hill, Lusaka|Cathedral Hill]] and [[Ridgeway, Lusaka|Ridgeway]] neighbourhoods.<ref name="CityscapeOSM">{{cite map |title=Lusaka |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/search?query=Lusaka#map=12/-15.4166/28.2822 |work=[[OpenStreetMap]] |access-date=15 July 2021}}</ref> East of there, along Independence Avenue, lies Woodlands, which is the principal residential area for Lusaka's rich elite, as well as wealthy expatriates.{{sfn|Auzias|Labourdette|2017|p=86}} The wealthy suburbs of Makeni, Ibex Hill and Rhodes Park are also situated in the east of the city.{{sfn|Hamonga|1996|p=61}}<ref name="CityscapeOSM"/> Other suburbs include [[Kalingalinga]], [[Kamwala Secondary School|Kamwala]], [[Kabwata]], Olympia Park, Roma, Fairview and Northmead.{{sfn|Auzias|Labourdette|2017|p=86}} The majority of Lusaka residents, however, live in the unplanned [[shanty town]]s, which are predominantly in the west, south and north of the city.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=7}} These include Matero, Chilenje and Libala.{{sfn|Hamonga|1996|p=61}}

Along [[Great East Road]] are three of the largest shopping malls in Zambia: Arcades shopping mall (with open-air storefronts), East Park shopping mall and Manda Hill shopping mall (enclosed shops), which was revamped and houses many most international stores and restaurants.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mwakikagile |first=Godfrey |title=Zambia: Life in an African Country |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DFVS4IixY5oC&pg=PA161 |url-status=live |publisher=New Africa Press |date=2010 |pages=161 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171113112808/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=DFVS4IixY5oC&pg=PA161 |archive-date=13 November 2017 |df=dmy-all |isbn=9789987160112}}</ref> Overlooking Arcades is the [[Sun Share Tower]] on Katimamulilo Road near the Radisson Blu hotel. The 58-metre-high Tower was launched in 2017 by Sun Share Ltd.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sun Share LTD to Launch tower building at the Penthouse Party |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/12/13/sun-share-ltd-launch-tower-building-penthouse-party/ |work=Lusaka Times |date=13 December 2017 |access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref>

Monuments and national symbols in Lusaka include the [[National Museum]], government buildings around the CBD, the African Freedom statue and a memorial to the victims of the [[1993 Zambia national football team plane crash]], located at the [[National Heroes Stadium]].{{sfn|Myers|Subulwa|2018|p=124}}

===Climate===
Primarily due to its high altitude, Lusaka features a [[humid subtropical climate]] (Cwa) according to [[Köppen climate classification]]. Its coldest month, July, has a monthly mean temperature of {{convert|14.9|°C}}. Lusaka features hot summers and cool winters, with cold conditions mainly restricted to nights in June and July. The hottest month is October, which sees daily average high temperatures at around {{convert|32|°C}}. There are three main seasons: a warm [[monsoon]] season between November and March, a dry winter between April and August, and a hot summer in September and October.

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Lusaka
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 39.6
|Feb record high C = 36.4
|Mar record high C = 33.6
|Apr record high C = 33.0
|May record high C = 32.0
|Jun record high C = 29.9
|Jul record high C = 29.7
|Aug record high C = 33.5
|Sep record high C = 38.5
|Oct record high C = 37.2
|Nov record high C = 38.6
|Dec record high C = 33.9
|year record high C = 39.6

|Jan high C = 27.4
|Feb high C = 27.4
|Mar high C = 27.5
|Apr high C = 27.1
|May high C = 25.8
|Jun high C = 23.8
|Jul high C = 24.0
|Aug high C = 26.5
|Sep high C = 30.3
|Oct high C = 31.7
|Nov high C = 30.4
|Dec high C = 27.7
|year high C = 27.5

|Jan mean C = 21.5
|Feb mean C = 21.5
|Mar mean C = 21.1
|Apr mean C = 19.9
|May mean C = 17.4
|Jun mean C = 15.2
|Jul mean C = 14.9
|Aug mean C = 17.3
|Sep mean C = 21.3
|Oct mean C = 23.5
|Nov mean C = 23.4
|Dec mean C = 21.7
|year mean C = 19.9

|Jan low C = 17.6
|Feb low C = 17.4
|Mar low C = 16.4
|Apr low C = 14.0
|May low C = 10.7
|Jun low C = 7.8
|Jul low C = 7.2
|Aug low C = 9.2
|Sep low C = 12.9
|Oct low C = 16.2
|Nov low C = 17.4
|Dec low C = 17.8
|year low C = 13.7

|Jan record low C = 13.0
|Feb record low C = 12.9
|Mar record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 8.0
|May record low C = 5.4
|Jun record low C = 0.2
|Jul record low C = 0.7
|Aug record low C = 2.8
|Sep record low C = 5.8
|Oct record low C = 9.0
|Nov record low C = 10.8
|Dec record low C = 10.4
|year record low C = 0.2

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 245.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 185.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 95.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 34.7
|May precipitation mm = 3.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 1.7
|Oct precipitation mm = 18.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 89.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 208.1
|year precipitation mm = 882.1

|Jan humidity = 82.3
|Feb humidity = 82.5
|Mar humidity = 80.7
|Apr humidity = 75.8
|May humidity = 69.3
|Jun humidity = 65.2
|Jul humidity = 61.1
|Aug humidity = 53.6
|Sep humidity = 46.3
|Oct humidity = 48.6
|Nov humidity = 60.2
|Dec humidity = 78.6
|year humidity = 67.0

|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 18
|Feb precipitation days = 15
|Mar precipitation days = 10
|Apr precipitation days = 3
|May precipitation days = 0
|Jun precipitation days = 0
|Jul precipitation days = 0
|Aug precipitation days = 0
|Sep precipitation days = 0
|Oct precipitation days = 2
|Nov precipitation days = 8
|Dec precipitation days = 16

|Jan sun = 176.7
|Feb sun = 168.0
|Mar sun = 220.1
|Apr sun = 246.0
|May sun = 275.9
|Jun sun = 270.0
|Jul sun = 294.5
|Aug sun = 303.8
|Sep sun = 291.0
|Oct sun = 272.8
|Nov sun = 234.0
|Dec sun = 182.9

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name=NOAA>{{cite web
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-I/ZA/67665.TXT
|title = LUSAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Climate Normals 1961-1990
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = 6 November 2012
|df = dmy-all
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==
As of the 2010 Zambian census, the population of Lusaka was 1,715,032, of whom 838,210 were male and 876,822 female.<ref>{{cite report |title=2010 Census of Population and Housing |publisher=Central Statistical Office (Zambia) |date=November 2012 |volume=11 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0141689.s006 |page=2|doi-access=free }}</ref> This represented a 58 per cent increase since the 2000 census,{{efn|Population in 2000 was 1,084,703.<ref>{{cite web |page=10 |publisher=Central Statistical Office (Zambia) |date=November 2003 |url=https://www.zamstats.gov.zm/index.php/publications/category/13-2000?download=15:2000-census-of-population-and-housing-summary-report |title=2000 Census of Population and Housing: Summary Report}}</ref>}} and the city has continued to grow rapidly with an estimated population of 2,731,696 in 2020.{{sfn|Mulenga|Hines|Fwoloshi|Chirwa|2021|p=e777}} Although the area was historically on the boundary between the territory of the Soli and Lenje peoples,<ref name="TribalLinguisticMap"/> modern Lusaka has no single dominant ethnic group, with all of [[List of Zambian tribes|Zambia's peoples]] represented.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=4}} This is a result of extensive migration from all areas of the country into the city, as well as the government's "One Zambia, One Nation" policy which encourages government employees to work across the country irrespective of their area of origin.{{sfn|Mutunda|2007|p=2}} Although most of the population is African and of [[Bantu peoples|Bantu]] origin, there are also some non-Bantu long-term residents in Lusaka. This includes [[White people in Zambia|white people]], many descendants of those who settled around the railway in colonial times and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]]-speaking Indians, whose numbers have increased since Zambian independence. Many of these non-African residents hold Zambian citizenship.<ref name="BritannicaPeople"/>

===Languages===
As with the rest of Zambia, English is the official national language in Lusaka, and is used in education from the [[Education in Zambia|fifth grade]] in school, at the age of 11, through to university.<ref name="dw.c_Zamb">{{Cite web |title=Zambia grapples with language challenge |last=Sikombe |first=Kathy |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |date=14 February 2013 |access-date=15 July 2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/zambia-grapples-with-language-challenge/a-16598662}}</ref>{{sfn|Mutunda|2007|p=2}} It is also the language used by large business, most newspapers and media, as well as the government.{{sfn|Mutunda|2007|p=2}}<ref name="BritannicaPeople">{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Zambia – People |last=Roberts |first=Andrew D. |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |date=15 April 2021 |access-date=1 July 2021 |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Zambia/People}}</ref> The local language spoken in the city until the late 1980s was [[Nyanja]], brought by immigrants from Eastern Province. Since then, however, with increased migration from the Copperbelt region, there has been growing use of [[Bemba language|Bemba]] among the city's residents.{{sfn|Mulenga|2003|p=4}} The mixture of three languages has led to a [[Mixed language|hybrid language]] in Lusaka known as Town Nyanja. This is based on Nyanja, but incorporates vocabulary from English and Bemba as well as [[Nsenga language|Nsenga]].{{sfn|Mutunda|2007|p=2}}

==Government==
[[File:Zambia Supreme Court.JPG|thumb|Supreme Court of Zambia]]
As the national capital, Lusaka is the seat of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, epitomised by the presence of the National Assembly (parliament), the State House (office of the President), and the High Court. The Parliament is situated at the Parliament complex, which features a 15-story building. The city is also the capital of [[Lusaka Province]], the smallest and most populous of the country's ten provinces, and forms an [[Districts of Zambia|administrative district]] run by Lusaka City Council (namely [[Lusaka District]]). The city council is headed by the [[List of mayors of Lusaka|Mayor of Lusaka]], with [[Chilando Chitangala]] the incumbent as of 2021.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chilando Chitangala Was Duly Elected As Lusaka Mayor ~|url=https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/chilando-chitangala-was-duly-elected-as-lusaka-mayor/ |date=21 September 2021 |access-date=25 January 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:University of Zambia Sports Centre and Clinic.jpg|alt=|thumb|left|University of Zambia campus]]
Zambia's oldest and largest institution of learning is the [[University of Zambia]] which is based in Lusaka and was established in 1965 and officially opened to the general public (which included both local and international students) in July 1966. Other universities and colleges located in Lusaka include: [[University of Lusaka]] (UNILUS), [http://zaou.ac.zm/ Zambian Open University (ZAOU)], Chainama Hills College, [[Evelyn Hone College]] of Applied Arts and Commerce, [https://www.zcas.ac.zm/ Zambia Centre for Accountancy Studies University] (ZCASU), Natural Resources Development College (NRDC), National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), [[Cavendish University Zambia|Cavendish University]], [[Lusaka Apex Medical University]] and [[DMI St. Eugene University|DMI-St. Eugene University]]. Lusaka has some of the finest schools in Zambia, including the [[American International School of Lusaka]], [[Rhodes Park School]], the Lusaka International Community School, the French International School, the Italian international School, the Lusaka Islamic Cultural, and Educational Foundation (LICEF), the Chinese International School, Lusaka Russian Embassy School,<ref>{{cite web |title=Russian Embassy School, Lusaka, Zambia |url=https://bizpages.org/business--Zambia--Lusaka--12857 |website=bizpages.org |access-date=24 February 2020}}</ref> and [[Baobab College]]. [[Rhodes Park School]] is not an international school, though there is a large presence of Angolans, Nigerians, Congolese, South Africans, and Chinese. The children of late President [[Levy Mwanawasa]], as well as the children of late Vice-president [[George Kunda]], attended the Rhodes Park School. Other well-known schools located in Lusaka include Matero Boys' Secondary School (MaBoys), [[Parklands High School, Lusaka|Parklands High School]], Roma Girls' Secondary School, Munali Boys' and Girls' Secondary Schools, Chudleigh House School, Kabulonga Boys' and Girls' Secondary Schools, Lake Road PTA School, David Kaunda Technical School (DK), Ibex Hill School, Kamwala Secondary, Libala Secondary, Silverest Secondary School and St. Mary's Secondary School.

== Places of worship ==
[[File:Zambia Lusaka catholic church Krzysztof Błażyca 2011 P01.jpg|right|thumb|Lusaka Catholic church]]
Among the [[places of worship]], these are the predominant [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples: the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka]] ([[Catholic Church]]), seated at the [[Child Jesus Cathedral, Lusaka|Child Jesus Cathedral]]; the Anglican [[Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Lusaka|Cathedral of the Holy Cross]] in [[Cathedral Hill, Lusaka|Cathedral Hill]]; the [[Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division of Seventh-day Adventists|Seventh-day Adventist (SDA)]]; [[United Church in Zambia]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]); [[New Apostolic Church]]; [[Reformed Church in Zambia]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]); [[Baptist Union of Zambia]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]); and the [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Zambia Zambia], britannica.com, USA, accessed on 7 July 2019</ref> The Jehovah’s Witnesses and LDS churches both have a few chapels and growing base of members. There are also several large mosques to serve the local Muslim community. Synagogues here are noticeably absent.

== Culture ==
Attractions include [[Lusaka National Museum]], the Political Museum, the Zintu Community Museum, the Freedom Statue, the Zambian National Assembly, the Agricultural Society Showgrounds (known for their annual agricultural show), the Moore Pottery Factory, the Lusaka Playhouse [[theatre]], a [[cenotaph]], Lusaka Golf Club, [[National Heroes Stadium]], Woodlands Stadium, the Lusaka Central Sports Club, Kalimba Reptile Park, Mulungushi Conference Centre, Monkey Pools and the [[zoo]], Pazuri and [[botanical gardens]] of the Munda Wanga Environmental Park.

==Economy==
Lusaka is the [[Financial centre|economic and financial hub]] of Zambia, serving as the country's main gateway to the rest of the world and largest business centre.{{sfn|United Nations|2011|p=19}} Although district-level GDP figures are not recorded in Zambia, on a provincial level Lusaka Province had the second-highest [[gross domestic product]] in Zambia in 2014, contributing 27.2 per cent of the national output, a figure narrowly below that of the resource-rich Copperbelt Province.{{sfn|Central Statistical Office|2017|p=8}}

In contrast to Zambia as a whole, in which agriculture and mining are the largest contributors, Lusaka's economy is dominated by the [[service sector]], as well as [[Domestic trade|wholesale and retail trade]].{{sfn|Mulenga|2016|p=5}} Major employment areas in the city include finance, insurance, real estate, transport, communications, energy, construction and manufacturing.{{sfn|Mulenga|2016|p=5}} The headquarters of [[List of banks in Zambia|Zambian banks]] are located in the city, as is the [[Lusaka Stock Exchange]], which launched in 1993.{{sfn|United Nations|2011|p=19}}

===Retail===
{{see also|List of shopping centres in Zambia}}
Lusaka is home to the largest and most numerous shopping centres in the country, including [[List of shopping centres in Zambia|Manda Hill, Levy Junction, EastPark, Cosmopolitan]], and the smaller but well-known Arcade Shopping Centre. It also has newly built shopping malls such as Lewanika shopping mall, Centro mall, Novare Pinnacle malls in Woodlands and along the Great North Road.

==Transport==
[[File:Lusaka International Airport.jpg|thumb|left|Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, main terminal]]
[[File:Lusaka Intercity Bus stand.jpg|alt=Lusaka Intercity Bus Station|thumb|Lusaka Intercity Bus Station]]
[[File:Public transport-01.jpg|thumb|Pedestrian getting on minibus at the local bus stop in Lusaka]]
Lusaka is home to [[Kenneth Kaunda International Airport]] (which is used for both civil and [[military]] operations). There is also [[Lusaka City Airport]], which is used by the [[Zambian Air Force]].

The city is served by the operating sections of the [[Cape to Cairo Railway]] ([[Zambia Railways]]), which connects it to [[Kabwe]], [[Ndola]], [[Kitwe]] and [[Lubumbashi]] in the north and [[Mazabuka]], [[Choma, Zambia|Choma]], [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]] and [[Bulawayo]] in the south. The international airport is connected to the railway line.

The city is crossed by [[Beira–Lobito Highway|Trans-African Highway 9]] (TAH 9), which connects it to the cities of [[Harare]] and Lubumbashi, and by [[Cape to Cairo Road|Trans-African Highway 4]] (TAH 4), which connects it to [[Dodoma]] and Bulawayo.

Lusaka's city centre is at the crossroads of three major routes, namely the [[Great North Road, Zambia|Great North Road]] ([[T2 Road (Zambia)|T2]]), [[Great East Road]] (T4) and [[Lusaka–Mongu Road|Mongu Road]] (M9). The Great North Road connects north to [[Kabwe]], [[Mpika]] and the republic of [[Tanzania]] (with branches linking to [[Ndola]], [[Kitwe]] and [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|DR Congo]]) and south to [[Choma, Zambia|Choma]], [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]] and the republic of [[Zimbabwe]]. The Great East Road connects east to [[Chipata]] and the republic of [[Malawi]] (with a branch road linking to the republic of [[Mozambique]]). The Mongu Road connects west to [[Kaoma, Zambia|Kaoma]] and [[Mongu]] (and could possibly become the main route to [[Angola]] via the [[Barotse Floodplain Causeway]]).

Intracity public transport is provided primarily by minibuses, but also includes larger buses and shared taxis on fixed routes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://travelwanderings.com/public-transportation/|title=Can You Do It? Using Public Transportation in Lusaka Zambia|date=5 September 2013|work=Travel Wanderings|access-date=26 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528010654/http://travelwanderings.com/public-transportation/|archive-date=28 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Vehicles on most routes travel between specific parts of the city and the four terminals in the central business district (referred to as "Town"): Kulima Tower, City Market, Millennium and Lumumba.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zipar.org.zm/documents/Making%20Public%20Transport%20in%20Lusaka%20City%20more%20Efficient%20and%20Effective.pdf/|title=Making Public Transport in Lusaka City More Efficient and Effective|date=December 2013|publisher=Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis & Research|access-date=10 March 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140528030858/http://www.zipar.org.zm/documents/Making%20Public%20Transport%20in%20Lusaka%20City%20more%20Efficient%20and%20Effective.pdf|archive-date=28 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> There is no official map of public transport routes in Lusaka, but an initiative to create a user-generated content map was begun in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lusakapublictransportmap.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/and-we-have-a-map/|title=And We Have a Map!|date=10 March 2014|work=Lusaka Public Transport Map: A User-Generated Mapping Project|access-date=26 May 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527214941/http://lusakapublictransportmap.wordpress.com/2014/03/10/and-we-have-a-map/|archive-date=27 May 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> All public transport vehicles in Lusaka are operated by private operators.

Bus services within Lusaka neighbourhoods, the CBD, and towns surrounding Lusaka, such as [[Siavonga]] and [[Chirundu, Zambia|Chirundu]], use the Lusaka City Market Bus station, Inter-city Bus Terminus, Millennium Bus Station, and Kulima Tower Station.

==Healthcare==
Zambia has five national tertiary hospitals, of which two are located in Lusaka.<ref name="MappingHealthLinks">{{cite web |title=Main Report: Mapping of Health Links in the Zambian Health Services and Associated Academic Institutions under the Ministry of Health |author1=Tropical Health and Education Trust |author2=Ministry of Health (Zambia) |date=2007 |access-date=10 July 2021 |url=https://www.zukhwa.ed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2007-THET-Zambia-MoH-Health-Links-Mapping.pdf}}</ref> The larger of these is the [[University Teaching Hospital]] (UTH), which has 1655 beds and space for 250 babies.<ref name="baus_Zamb">{{cite web |title=Lusaka (Zambia) |work=The British Association of Urological Surgeons |access-date=10 July 2021 |url=https://www.baus.org.uk/professionals/urolink/zambia.aspx}}</ref> UTH serves as the highest-level hospital for a population of around 2 million people, as well as taking referrals from other health institutions around the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka |work=Zambia UK Health Workforce Alliance |access-date=10 July 2021 |url=https://www.zukhwa.ed.ac.uk/members/members-list/university-teaching-hospital-lusaka}}</ref> It serves as Zambia's principal centre for the training of medical professionals including doctors and nurses, the latter in a specialist Nursing School within the UTH complex.<ref name="baus_Zamb"/> Lusaka's second tertiary hospital is the Chainama Hills,<ref name="MappingHealthLinks"/> which has 210 authorised beds and 167 unofficial "floor beds", is Zambia's only psychiatric hospital.{{sfn|Mwape|Sikwese|Kapungwe|Mwanza|2010|p=2}} The Chainama Hills site also serves as the training centre for clinical officers in Zambia.<ref name="baus_Zamb"/>

Overall, Lusaka had a total of 34 health centres run by the government in 2007, as well as 134 run by the private sector.<ref name=UN2007>{{cite book |author= |date=2007 |title=Zambia: Lusaka Urban Profile |publisher=United Nations Human Settlements Programme |url=https://www.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/UN-HABITAT-2007-Zambia.pdf |page=12}}</ref> The government has sought to decentralise provision from the Ministry of Health and Lusaka's day-to-day healthcare is provided by the provincial-level Lusaka District Health Management Team and the citywide Lusaka District Health Management Team.<ref name=UN2007 />{{sfn|Mandyata|Olowski|Mutale|2017|p=3}} The priorities for the district, which in 2007 accounted for 90 per cent of the city's health cases, include [[malaria]], [[reproductive health]], [[child health]], [[tuberculosis]], [[leprosy]], [[HIV]] and other sexually-transmitted diseases, [[environmental health]], [[mental health]], and medicine supply.{{sfn|Mandyata|Olowski|Mutale|2017|p=4}} The Zambian government has a long-term aim of providing [[universal health care]] (UHC) for all Zambians. As of 2017, it had notionally achieved free primary health provision for all, but availability was often limited due to capacity constraints. To address this, the ministry of health partnered with JICA to on a project to take the necessary steps to achieve genuine UHC.<ref name="idsi_Univ">{{cite web |title=Universal Health Coverage: what can the Republic of Zambia learn from Thailand? |last=Turner |first=Claire |work=iDSI |date=7 August 2017 |access-date=10 July 2021 |url=https://idsihealth.org/blog/universal-health-coverage-what-can-the-republic-of-zambia-learn-from-thailand/ }}</ref>

==Sport==
The largest sports venue in Lusaka is [[National Heroes Stadium]], which was built with assistance and financing from China. Named in honour of those who died in the [[1993 Zambia national football team plane crash]],{{sfn|Muchimba|2015|p=213}} it opened in 2014 and has a capacity of 60,000.<ref>{{cite web |title=Zambia finish building new stadium |last=Gondwe |first=Kennedy |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=12 January 2014 |access-date=2 June 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/25706425}}</ref> The stadium is used to host home matches of the [[Zambian national football team]],<ref name="zamb_Nati">{{cite web |title=National Heroes Stadium and Levy Mwanawasa get CAF approval to host World Cup qualifiers |author= |work=ZamFoot |date=4 May 2021 |access-date=2 June 2021 |url=https://zambianfootball.co.zm/national-heroes-stadium-and-levy-mwanawasa-get-caf-approval-to-host-world-cup-qualifiers/zfadmin/}}</ref> and was one of two host stadia for the [[2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations]] in Zambia, alongside the [[Levy Mwanawasa Stadium]] in [[Ndola]].<ref name="bbc._Zamb">{{cite web |title=Zambia prepares for start of African U-20s |last=Gondwe |first=Kennedy |publisher=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2017 |access-date=2 June 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39091014}}</ref> That tournament was won by Zambia at the National Heroes Stadium, with a 2–0 win against [[Senegal national football team|Senegal]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Zambia crowned U-20 champions on home soil |last=Gondwe |first=Kennedy |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 March 2017 |access-date=10 July 2021 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39250008}}</ref> The stadium is also used for athletics events, including the 2021 All Comers Tournament, which served as a qualification event for the [[2020 Summer Olympics]] in Tokyo.<ref>{{cite web |title=4 athletes in Zambia for Olympics qualifiers {{!}} The Nation Online |work=The Nation Online |date=4 March 2021 |access-date=10 July 2021 |url= https://www.mwnation.com/4-athletes-in-zambia-for-olympics-qualifiers/}}</ref>

As of 2021, six of the eighteen teams in the association football [[Zambia Super League]] are based in Lusaka.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zamb2021.html |title=Zambia 2020/21 |first=Kalumiana |last=Kalumiana |access-date=31 May 2021 |website=[[RSSSF]] |date=27 May 2021}}</ref> The city's most successful club is [[Zanaco F.C.]], which has won seven national titles, the most recent [[2016 Zambian Super League|in 2016]].<ref name="ZamChamps">{{cite web |last=Schöggl |first=Hans |title=Zambia Champions |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zamb2021.html |access-date=31 May 2021 |website=[[RSSSF]] |date=5 November 2020}}</ref> Zanaco were founded in 1978 as the team of the [[Zambia National Commercial Bank]], and have played in the top division since 1989.<ref name="zana_ZANA">{{cite web |title=Zanaco FC - Who We Are |author=[[Zanaco F.C.]] |work=zanacofc.co.zm |date= |access-date=31 May 2021 |url=https://zanacofc.co.zm/who-we-are}}</ref> [[Green Buffaloes F.C.|Green Buffaloes]] are another successful team in Lusaka, with six titles, although the most recent was in 1981.<ref name="ZamChamps"/> In addition to the National Heroes stadium, Lusaka's football teams play home games at the Nkoloma Stadium, [[Sunset Stadium]] and Woodlands Stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/fixtures/_/date/20210627/league/zam.1 |title=Zambian Super League Fixtures & Results: 27th June 2021 – 3rd July 2021 |publisher=[[ESPN]] |access-date=10 July 2021}}</ref>

Lusaka is home to the [[basketball]] team [[UNZA Pacers]], which is part of the [[University of Zambia]].

==International relations==
Lusaka is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
* {{flagicon|TJK}} [[Dushanbe]], [[Tajikistan]], since 1966
* {{flagicon|LIB}} [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]], (2018)
* {{flagdeco|THA}} [[Udon Thani]], Thailand, (2015)
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Los Angeles]], [[United States]], since 1968
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Izhevsk]], Russia

==Notable people==
* The [[Rugby union|rugby]] union players [[Corné Krige]] and [[George Gregan]], who respectively captained the {{nrut|South Africa}}n and {{nrut|Australia}}n teams in both the [[2002 Tri Nations Series|2002]] and [[2002 Tri Nations Series|2003]] [[Tri Nations Series]], were coincidentally born in the same hospital in Lusaka.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.georgegregan.com/george/ggprofile.html |title=George Gregan - Player Profile |publisher=Georgegregan.com |access-date=13 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109095618/http://www.georgegregan.com/george/ggprofile.html |archive-date=9 November 2008 }}</ref><ref name="Courageous">[http://www.thegoal.com/players/rugby/krige_corne/captain.html "Captain Courageous: Corné Krige"] {{webarchive |url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110726204312/http://www.thegoal.com/players/rugby/krige_corne/captain.html |date=26 July 2011}}, ''TheGoal.com'', retrieved 26 June 2006.</ref><ref name="SA World Cup 2003">[http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyworldcup2003/story/0,,1054302,00.html "Rugby Union World Cup Special Reports: South Africa"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119034506/http://sport.guardian.co.uk/rugbyworldcup2003/story/0,,1054302,00.html |date=19 January 2008}}, ''[[The Guardian]]'', 6 October 2003.</ref>
* The former [[Zimbabwe national cricket team|Zimbabwe]] [[cricketer]] [[Henry Olonga]] was also born in Lusaka. He was the first black cricketer – and the youngest person – to play for Zimbabwe.<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry Olonga- a short biography |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe/content/story/83938.html |publisher=ESPNcricinfo |date=18 September 1999 |access-date=4 September 2018}}</ref>
* Lusaka is the hometown and place of residence of [[Joseph and Luka Banda]], the first [[conjoined twins]] to be successfully separated by [[Ben Carson]] and his team.<ref name=Terris13Nov>{{cite news |last1=Terris |first1=Ben |last2=Kirchner |first2=Stephanie |title=The Story of the Surgery that made Ben Carson Famous |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-story-of-the-surgery-that-made-ben-carson-famous--and-its-complicated-aftermath/2015/11/13/15b5f900-88c1-11e5-be39-0034bb576eee_story.html |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=13 November 2015 |access-date=14 November 2015}}</ref>
* Former professional [[association football|footballer]] [[Enock Mwepu]] was born in Lusaka.
* Zambian model [[Lukundo Nalungwe]] grew up in Lusaka.
* [[Chilufya Tayali]] , Zambian politician based in Lusaka

== See also ==
{{portal|Zambia|Cities}}
* [[Southern Africa Freedom Trail]]
* [[Kafue Railway Bridge]] (railway bridge from [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]] to Lusaka)
* [[Komboni]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

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* {{cite book |last=Myers |first=Garth A. |editor-last1=Loeb |editor-first1=Carolyn |editor-last2=Luescher |editor-first2=Andreas |chapter=Remaking the Edges: Surveillance and Flows in Sub-Saharan Africa's New Suburbs |title=The Design of Frontier Spaces: Control and Ambiguity |publisher=Routledge |year=2016 |isbn=978-1-31703-607-4}}
* {{cite book |last1=Myers |first1=Garth A. |last2=Subulwa |first2=Angela G. |chapter=The Cityscapes of Lusaka and Mongu: Narrating National Symbolism in Zambia |editor1-last=Diener |editor1-first=Alexander C. |editor2-last=Hagen |editor2-first=Joshua |title=The City as Power: Urban Space, Place, and National Identity |year=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9781538118276}}
* {{cite journal |last=Ranger |first=Terence |title=Making Northern Rhodesia Imperial: Variations on a Royal Theme, 1924-1938 |journal=African Affairs |date=July 1980 |volume=79 |number=316 |pages=349–373 |publisher=Oxford University Press on behalf of The Royal African Society |doi=10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a097229 |jstor=722045 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/722045}}
* {{cite journal |last=Roberts |first=Andrew D. |title=Notes towards a Financial History of Copper Mining in Northern Rhodesia |journal=Canadian Journal of African Studies |year=1982 |volume=16 |number=2 |pages=347–359 |publisher=Taylor & Francis, Ltd. on behalf of the Canadian Association of African Studies |doi=10.2307/484302 |jstor=484302 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/484302}}
* {{cite web |author=United Nations |author-link=United Nations |title=An Investment Guide to Zambia: Opportunities and Conditions |year=2011 |url=https://unctad.org/system/files/official-document/diaepcb201008_en.pdf |access-date=12 July 2021}}
* {{cite journal |editor-last=Winchester |editor-first=Clarence |publisher=Amalgamated Press |url=https://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/rhodesia-railways.html |title=Progress in Rhodesia: An important railway system in the heart of Africa |journal=Railway Wonders of the World |date=2 August 1935 |volume=27 |ref={{sfnref|Winchester|1935a}}}}
* {{cite journal |editor-last=Winchester |editor-first=Clarence |publisher=Amalgamated Press |url=https://www.railwaywondersoftheworld.com/rhodesia-railways.html |title=Progress in Rhodesia: An important railway system in the heart of Africa |journal=Railway Wonders of the World |date=9 August 1935 |volume=28 |ref={{sfnref|Winchester|1935b}}}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Wragg |first1=Emma |last2=Lim |first2=Regina |year=2014 |title=Urban visions from Lusaka, Zambia |volume=46 |journal=Habitat International |pages=260–270 |doi=10.1016/j.habitatint.2014.10.005}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lusaka}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Lusaka}}
* [http://www.lcc.gov.zm/ Lusaka City Council]
* [http://www.zambiatourism.com/travel/cities/lusaka.htm Zambia Tourism page on Lusaka]

{{List of African capitals}}
{{Largest cities of Zambia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lusaka| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Lusaka Province]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in Zambia]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1905]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:1905 establishments in the British Empire]]

Kuwait City

2023-12-12T19:47:42Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Kuwait}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{EngvarB|date= October 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kuwait City
| other_name = {{transliteration|ar|Madinat Al-Kuwayt}}
| native_name = {{lang|ar|مدينة الكويت}}
| nickname = {{lang|ar|الديرة}} ''Ad-Dirah''
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| motto =
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 300
| perrow = 1/2/2/2
| image1 = Kuwait City banner.jpg
| alt1 = Kuwait Skyline
| image2 = Al Hamra Tower.jpg
| alt2 = Al Hamra Tower
| image3 =
| alt3 = Kuwait towers
| image4 = Seifpalace.jpg
| alt4 = Seif palace
| image5 = Murthadha.80.jpg
| alt5 = Souq Sharg port
| image6 = 2012 road Kuwait 8016482071.jpg
| alat6 Kuwait City in 2012
| image7 = Kuwait City (8287172359).jpg
| alat7 Kuwait Nightlife
}}
| imagesize = 270
| image_caption = From top left: Kuwait City skyline, [[Al Hamra Tower]], [[Kuwait Towers]], [[Seif Palace]], Souq Sharg port Kuwait Downtown in 2012
| image_flag = Flag of Kuwait City.svg
| image_seal =
| image_shield =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Kuwait#Persian Gulf#West Asia#Asia
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Kuwait City in Kuwait
| pushpin_mapsize =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Kuwait}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Governorates of Kuwait|Governorate]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Capital Governorate (Kuwait)|Capital]]
| subdivision_type2 =
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| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1613
| established_title2 = 
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| area_total_km2 = 860
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| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban = 3,000,000
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| timezone = [[UTC+3#Arabia Standard Time|AST]]
| utc_offset = +03:00
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| coordinates = {{coord|29|22|11|N|47|58|42|E|region:KW|display=inline,title}}
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}}

'''Kuwait City''' ({{lang-ar|مدينة الكويت}}) is the capital and largest city of [[Kuwait]]. Located at the heart of the country on the south shore of [[Kuwait Bay]] on the [[Persian Gulf]], it is the political, cultural and economic centre of the emirate, containing Kuwait's [[Seif Palace]], government offices, and the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and banks. It is one of the hottest cities in summer on earth, with average summer high temperatures over 45 °C (113 °F) for three months of the year.

{{As of|2018|post=,}} the metropolitan area had roughly 3 million inhabitants (more than 70% of the country's population).<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |year= |title=The World's Cities in 2018. Data Booklet |publisher=United Nations |publication-place= |page= |url=https://www.un.org/en/events/citiesday/assets/pdf/the_worlds_cities_in_2018_data_booklet.pdf |access-date=2021-03-29}}</ref> The city itself has no administrative status. All six [[Governorates of Kuwait|governorates]] of the country comprise parts of the [[urban area|urban agglomeration]], which is subdived in numerous [[Areas of Kuwait|areas]]. In a narrower sense, ''Kuwait City'' can also refer only to the town's historic core, which nowadays is part of the [[Capital Governorate (Kuwait)|Capital Governorate]] and seamlessly merges with the adjacent urban areas.

Kuwait City's trade and transportation needs are served by [[Kuwait International Airport]], [[Shuwaikh|Mina Al-Shuwaik]] (Shuwaik Port) and [[Mina Al Ahmadi]] (Ahmadi Port).

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Kuwait City}}
[[File:Kuwait1944.jpg|thumb|Celebration at [[Seif Palace]] in 1944 for Sheikh [[Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]]]]

In 1613, the town of Kuwait was founded in modern-day Kuwait City as a fishing village inhabited by fishermen. In 1716, the [[Bani Utub]]s settled in Kuwait.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stockholm |first=Kuwait Embassy |title=History of Kuwait |url=https://kuwaitembassy.se/history/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Embassy of The State of Kuwain in Sweden |language=en-US}}</ref> At the time of the arrival of the Utubs, Kuwait was still inhabited by a few [[fishermen]] and primarily functioned as a [[fishing village]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0NH1CbXf24C&pg=PA64|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905215834/https://books.google.com/books?id=R0NH1CbXf24C&pg=PA64|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2015|title=Constancy and Change in Contemporary Kuwait City: The Socio-cultural Dimensions of the Kuwait Courtyard and Diwaniyya|work=Mohammad Khalid A. Al-Jassar|year=2009|page=64|isbn=9781109229349}}</ref> In the eighteenth century, Kuwait prospered and rapidly became the principal commercial center for the transit of goods between [[India]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], [[Baghdad]] and [[Arabia]].<ref name=sail>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/shadowsonsandthe00bell|url-access=registration|title=Shadows on the Sand: The Memoirs of Sir Gawain Bell|publisher=C. Hurst|work=Gawain Bell|page=[https://archive.org/details/shadowsonsandthe00bell/page/222 222]|year=1983|isbn=9780905838922|last1=Bell|first1=Sir Gawain}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=ʻAlam-i Nisvāṉ – Volume 2, Issues 1–2|page=18|quote=Kuwait became an important trading port for import and export of goods from India, Africa and Arabia.}}</ref> By the mid 1700s, Kuwait had already established itself as the major trading route from the Persian Gulf to [[Aleppo]].<ref name=kw/>

During the [[Ottoman–Persian War (1775–1776)|Persian siege of Basra in 1775–1779]], Iraqi merchants took refuge in Kuwait and were partly instrumental in the expansion of Kuwait's boat-building and trading activities.<ref name=boom>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/beyondstormgulf00benn|url-access=registration|title=Beyond the Storm: A Gulf Crisis Reader|publisher=Olive Branch Press|work=Phyllis Bennis|pages=[https://archive.org/details/beyondstormgulf00benn/page/42 42]|isbn=9780940793828|last1=Bennis|first1=Phyllis|last2=Moushabeck|first2=Michel|date=31 December 1990}}</ref> As a result, Kuwait's maritime commerce boomed.<ref name=boom/> Between the years 1775 and 1779, the Indian trade routes with Baghdad, Aleppo, [[Smyrna]] and [[Constantinople]] were diverted to Kuwait.<ref name=kw>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0NH1CbXf24C&pg=PA66|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905214654/https://books.google.com/books?id=R0NH1CbXf24C&pg=PA66|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 September 2015|title=Constancy and Change in Contemporary Kuwait City|work=Mohammad Khalid A. Al-Jassar|year=2009|page=66|isbn=9781109229349}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5xVSkGtcT5YC&pg=PA4|title=The Kuwait Crisis: Basic Documents|page=4|year=1991|isbn=9780521463089|last1=Lauterpacht|first1=E|last2=Greenwood|first2=C. J|last3=Weller|first3=Marc|publisher=Cambridge University Press }}</ref> The [[East India Company]] was diverted to Kuwait in 1792.<ref name=eas>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0NH1CbXf24C&pg=PA67|title=Constancy and Change in Contemporary Kuwait City |page=67|year=2009|isbn=9781109229349 }}</ref> The East India Company secured the sea routes between Kuwait, [[India]] and the east coasts of Africa.<ref name=eas/> After the Persian withdrawal from Basra in 1779, Kuwait continued to attract trade away from Basra.<ref name=mer>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t6v2HHoWgbsC&pg=PA72|title=Merchants, Mamluks, and Murder: The Political Economy of Trade in Eighteenth-Century Basra|author=Thabit Abdullah|page=72|isbn=9780791448076|year=2001|publisher=SUNY Press }}</ref>

[[File:Kuwait harbour 1961.jpg|thumb|Kuwait harbour in 1961]]
Kuwait was the centre of [[boat building]] in the Persian Gulf region.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1266/1/1266.pdf|title=The impact of economic activities on the social and political structures of Kuwait (1896–1946)|page=108}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmGfM_JPLigC&q=The+port+of+Kuwait+was+then,+and+is+still,+the+principal+dhow-+building+and+trading+port+of+the+Arabian+Gulf,+though+offering+little+trade+itself.+I|title=Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East: Cultural depth and diversity|year=1970 |page=156|quote=The port of Kuwait was then, and is still, the principal dhow- building and trading port of the Persian Gulf, though offering little trade itself.}}</ref> During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, ship vessels made in Kuwait carried the bulk of trade between the ports of India, East Africa and the Red Sea.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xCMiAQAAMAAJ&q=For+centuries+its+native+vessels,+designed+for+ocean+travel,+carried+the+bulk+of+the+trade+between+India,+East+Africa,+and+the+Red+Sea+ports.+The+building+of+these+dhows+became+an+important+industry,+and+the+waterfront+of+the+town+of+Kuwait+was|title=Bijdragen tot de taal-, land- en volkenkunde, Volume 130|author=M. Nijhoff |page=111|year=1974}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9-MZAAAAMAAJ&q=From+India+to+Fast+Africa,+and+from+the+Red+Sea+ports+to+North+Eastern+Arabia,+the+bulk+of+the+trade+was+carried+on+by+Kuwaiti+vessels.|title=Indian Foreign Affairs|page=29|year=1965 |last1=Aggarwal |first1=Jatendra M. }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hcMmAQAAMAAJ&q=During+this+and+the+succeeding+century+its+native+vessels,+designed+for+ocean+travel,+carried+the+bulk+of+the+trade+between+India,+East+Africa,+and+Red+Sea+ports+and+northeastern+Arabia.|title=The Arabian Peninsula|author=Richard Harlakenden Sanger |page=150|year=1970|publisher=Books for Libraries Press |isbn=9780836953442 }}</ref> Kuwaiti ship vessels were renowned throughout the Indian Ocean.<ref name=neildon>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zXXGAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA93|title=The Postal Agencies in Eastern Arabia and the Gulf |work=Neil Donaldson|year=2008 |page=93|isbn=9781409209423 |last1=Donaldson |first1=Neil |publisher=Lulu.com }}</ref> Regional geopolitical turbulence helped foster [[prosperity|economic prosperity]] in Kuwait in the second half of the 18th century.<ref name="jasser">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R0NH1CbXf24C&pg=PA68|title=Constancy and Change in Contemporary Kuwait City|work= Mohammad Khalid A. Al-Jassar|page=68|isbn=9781109229349}}</ref> Kuwait became prosperous due to Basra's instability in the late 18th century.<ref name=w>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iT_8KzTECwMC&pg=PA18|title=Waqai-i manazil-i Rum: Tipu Sultan's mission to Constantinople|work=Mohibbul Hasan|year=2007|page=18|quote=For owing to Basra's misfortunes, Kuwait and Zubarah became rich.|isbn=9788187879565|last1=Hasan|first1=Mohibbul|publisher=Aakar Books }}</ref> In the late 18th century, Kuwait partly functioned as a haven for Basra's merchants fleeing [[Ottoman government]] persecution.<ref name=halamudhir>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g5MewSBHkG4C&pg=PA114|title=The Politics of Regional Trade in Iraq, Arabia, and the Gulf, 1745–1900 |work=Hala Mundhir Fattah |year=1997 |page=114|isbn=9780791431139 |last1=Fattah |first1=Hala Mundhir |publisher=SUNY Press }}</ref> According to Palgrave, Kuwaitis developed a reputation as the best [[sailors]] in the Persian Gulf.<ref name=neildon/><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DRtWm-UkS-oC&pg=PA48|title=Seafaring in the Arabian Gulf and Oman: People of the Dhow|work=Dionisius A. Agius|year=2012|page=48|isbn=9781136201820|last1=Agius|first1=Dionisius A.|publisher=Routledge }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QjzYdCxumFcC&dq=The+Kuwaitis+developed+a+reputation+as+the+best+sailors+in+the+Persian+Gulf&pg=PA321|title=Encyclopedia of the Ottoman Empire|year=2009|page=321|isbn=9781438110257 |last1=́Goston |first1=Ga ́bor A. |last2=Masters |first2=Bruce Alan |publisher=Infobase }}</ref>

During the reign of [[Mubarak Al-Sabah]], Kuwait was dubbed the "[[Marseilles]] of the Gulf" because its economic vitality attracted a large variety of people.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncfIAAAAQBAJ&pg=PA272|title=The Arabian Gulf in History
|page=272 |work=Lawrence G. Potter |year=2009|isbn=9780230618459
|last1=Potter
|first1=L.
|publisher=Springer
}}</ref> In the first decades of the twentieth century, Kuwait had a well-established elite: wealthy trading families who were linked by marriage and shared economic interests.<ref name=elite>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D8di8GN_hKsC&pg=PA37|title=Oil and Politics in the Gulf: Rulers and Merchants in Kuwait and Qatar |work=Jill Crystal |year=1995 |page=37|isbn=9780521466356 |last1=Crystal |first1=Jill |publisher=Cambridge University Press }}</ref>

In 1937, [[Freya Stark]] wrote about the extent of poverty in Kuwait at the time:<blockquote>Poverty has settled in Kuwait more heavily since my last visit five years ago, both by sea, where the pearl trade continues to decline, and by land, where the blockade established by Saudi Arabia now harms the merchants.</blockquote>
Some prominent merchant families left Kuwait in the early 1930s due to the prevalence of economic hardship. At the time of the discovery of oil in 1937, most of Kuwait's inhabitants were impoverished.

From 1946 to 1982, Kuwait experienced a period of prosperity driven by oil and its liberal atmosphere.<ref name=venezia>{{cite book |editor-first=Noura |editor-last=Al Sager |url={{google books|201yBgAAQBAJ|page=7|plainurl=yes}} |title=Acquiring Modernity: Kuwait's Modern Era Between Memory and Forgetting|date=2014 |page=7 |publisher=National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters |isbn=9789990604238}}</ref><ref name=farid>{{cite web|author=Farid, Alia |url=http://aliafarid.net/Art-Papers |title=Acquiring Modernity: Kuwait at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition |website=aliafarid.net |date=2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221184242/http://aliafarid.net/Art-Papers |archive-date=21 February 2015 |author-link=Alia Farid }}</ref> In popular discourse, the years between 1946 and 1982 are referred to as the "Golden Era".<ref name=venezia/><ref name=farid/><ref>{{cite journal |last=Gonzales |first=Desi |date=November–December 2014 |title=Acquiring Modernity: Kuwait at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition |url=http://www.artpapers.org/feature_articles/feature3_2014_1112.html |journal=[[Art Papers]] |access-date=31 July 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426171107/http://www.artpapers.org/feature_articles/feature3_2014_1112.html |archive-date=26 April 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1950, a major public-work programme began to enable Kuwaitis to enjoy a modern standard of living. By 1952, the country became the largest oil exporter in the Persian Gulf region. In the following year, the country's annual oil income grew to $169 million. This massive growth attracted many foreign workers, especially from Palestine, Egypt and India and helped finance the development of a new master plan, which the state approved in 1952. In June 1961, Kuwait became independent with the end of the [[Sheikhdom of Kuwait|British protectorate]] and the sheikh [[Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah]] became an Emir. Under the terms of the newly drafted [[Constitution of Kuwait|constitution]], Kuwait held its first [[Kuwaiti parliamentary election, 1963|parliamentary elections in 1963]]. Kuwait was the first [[Arab States of the Persian Gulf|Persian Gulf country]] to establish a constitution and parliament.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Kuwait was the most developed country in the region.<ref>{{cite news|title=Looking for Origins of Arab Modernism in Kuwait |url=http://hyperallergic.com/191773/looking-for-the-origins-of-arab-modernism-in-kuwait/ |journal=[[Hyperallergic]]}}</ref><ref name=index>{{cite web |url=http://gulfartguide.com/essay/cultural-developments-in-kuwait/ |title=Cultural developments in Kuwait |date=March 2013 |access-date=16 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021858/http://gulfartguide.com/essay/cultural-developments-in-kuwait/ |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Kuwait was the pioneer in the Middle East in diversifying its earnings away from oil exports.<ref name=swf>{{cite journal |first=Sam|last=Chee Kong |url=http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article44637.html |title=What Can Nations Learn from Norway and Kuwait in Managing Sovereign Wealth Funds |journal=Market Oracle |date=1 March 2014}}</ref> The [[Kuwait Investment Authority]] is the world's first sovereign wealth fund. From the 1970s onward, Kuwait scored highest of all Arab countries on the [[Human Development Index]].<ref name=index/> [[Kuwait University]] was established in 1966.<ref name=index/> Kuwait's [[Kuwait#Theatre|theatre industry]] was well-known throughout the Arab world.<ref name=venezia/><ref name=index/> In the 1960s and 1970s, Kuwait's press was described as one of the [[Freedom of press|freest in the world]]. Kuwait was the pioneer in the literary renaissance in the Arab region.<ref name=pioneer>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/191792/reftab/36/t/Kuwait-literary-scene-a-little-complex/Default.aspx |title=Kuwait Literary Scene A Little Complex |quote=A magazine, Al Arabi, was published in 1958 in Kuwait. It was the most popular magazine in the Arab world. It came out it in all the Arabic countries, and about a quarter million copies were published every month. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129040817/http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/191792/reftab/36/t/Kuwait-literary-scene-a-little-complex/Default.aspx |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}</ref> In 1958, ''[[Al Arabi Magazine|Al Arabi]]'' magazine was first published, the magazine went on to become the most popular magazine in the Arab world.<ref name=pioneer/> Many Arab writers moved to Kuwait for [[freedom of expression]] because Kuwait had greater freedom of expression than elsewhere in the Arab world.<ref name=newsmedia>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t4DFAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA24|title=News Media in the Arab World: A Study of 10 Arab and Muslim Countries|page=24|isbn=9781441102393|last1=Gunter|first1=Barrie|last2=Dickinson|first2=Roger|date=6 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-first1=Abdulaziz |editor-last1=Sager |editor-first2=Christian |editor-last2=Koch |editor-first3=Hasanain |editor-last3=Tawfiq Ibrahim |url={{google books|FMsuAQAAIAAJ|page=39|plainurl=yes}} |title=Gulf Yearbook 2006-2007 |publisher=I. B. Tauris |location=Dubai, UAE |date=2008 |page=39 |quote=The Kuwaiti press has always enjoyed a level of freedom unparalleled in any other Arab country. }}</ref> Kuwait was a haven for writers and journalists from all parts of the Middle East, with the Iraqi poet [[Ahmed Matar]] leaving Iraq in the 1970s to take refuge in the more liberal environment of Kuwait.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jane |last=Kinninmont |url=http://islamicommentary.org/2013/02/jane-kinninmont-the-case-of-kuwait-debating-free-speech-and-social-media-in-the-gulf/ |title=The Case of Kuwait: Debating Free Speech and Social Media in the Gulf |website=ISLAMiCommentary |date=15 February 2013 |access-date=20 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214055949/https://islamicommentary.org/2013/02/jane-kinninmont-the-case-of-kuwait-debating-free-speech-and-social-media-in-the-gulf/ |archive-date=14 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Kuwaiti society embraced [[Westernization|liberal and Western attitudes]] throughout the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{cite book |title= Muslim Education Quarterly |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=CyftAAAAMAAJ&q=Kuwait+is+a+primary+example+of+a+Muslim+society+which+embraced+liberal+and+Western+attitudes+throughout+the+sixties+and+seventies. |publisher= Islamic Academy |date=1990 |volume=8 |page=61 |quote=Kuwait is a primary example of a Muslim society which embraced liberal and Western attitudes throughout the sixties and seventies. }}</ref> Most Kuwaiti women did not wear the [[hijab]] in the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Rubin |editor-first=Barry |url={{google books|wEih57-GWQQC|page=306|plainurl=yes}} |title=Guide to Islamist Movements |volume=1 |publisher=M.E. Sharpe |location=Armonk, New York |date=2010 |page=306 |isbn=9780765641380}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=Deborah L. |last=Wheeler |url={{google books|v6aWc8fM1iEC|page=99|plainurl=yes}} |title=The Internet In The Middle East: Global Expectations And Local Imaginations |publisher=State University of New York Press |location=Albany, New York |page=99 |isbn=9780791465868|year=2006 }}</ref> At Kuwait University, mini-skirts were more common than the hijab.<ref>{{cite news |first=Evan |last=Osnos |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2004-07-11/news/0407110232_1_kuwait-university-mutairi-kuwaiti/2 |title=In Kuwait, conservatism a launch pad to success |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=11 July 2004 |quote=In the 1960s and most of the '70s, men and women at Kuwait University dined and danced together, and miniskirts were more common than hijab head coverings, professors and alumni say.}}</ref>

In the early 1980s, Kuwait experienced a major [[economic crisis]] after the [[Souk Al-Manakh stock market crash]] and [[1980s oil glut|decrease in oil price]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stock-market-crash.net/souk.htm |title=Kuwait's Souk al-Manakh Stock Bubble |publisher=Stock-market-crash.net |date=23 June 2012 |access-date=14 January 2013}}</ref>

The [[Kuwait National Assembly Building]], a parliament building designed by the works of [[Jørn Utzon]] in its elements of Islamic architecture, was completed in 1982 by orders of his son [[Jan Utzon]].

During the [[Iran–Iraq War]], Kuwait supported Iraq. Throughout the 1980s, there were several terror attacks in Kuwait, including the [[1983 Kuwait bombings]], hijacking of [[1983 Kuwait bombings#Aircraft hijackings (1984–1988)|several Kuwait Airways planes]] and attempted assassination of Emir Jaber in 1985.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hunter|first=Shireen T.|title=Iran and the world : continuity in a revolutionary decade|url=https://archive.org/details/iranworldcont00hunt|url-access=registration|year=1990|publisher=Indiana University Press|page=[https://archive.org/details/iranworldcont00hunt/page/117 117]}}</ref> Kuwait was a leading regional hub of [[science and technology studies|science and technology]] in the 1960s and 1970s up until the early 1980s, the scientific research sector significantly suffered due to the terror attacks.

[[File:BrennendeOelquellenKuwait1991.jpg|thumb|Oil fires in Kuwait in 1990, which were a result of the [[scorched earth]] policy of Iraqi [[Military of Iraq|military forces]] retreating from Kuwait.]]
[[File:Red Arrows Over Kuwait City.jpg|thumb|[[Red Arrows]] over Kuwait City]]

The Kuwaiti government strongly advocated [[Islamism]] throughout the 1980s.<ref name=fpif>{{cite web|url=http://fpif.org/frankensteins_lament_in_kuwait/|title=Frankenstein's Lament in Kuwait|date=November 2001}}</ref> At that time, the most serious threat to the continuity of [[Al Sabah]] came from home-grown secular democrats.<ref name=fpif /> The secular Kuwaiti opposition were protesting the [[Kuwaiti general election, 1975|1976 suspension of the parliament]].<ref name=fpif /> Al Sabah were attracted to Islamists preaching the virtues of a [[hierarchical]] order that included loyalty to the Kuwaiti monarchy.<ref name=fpif/> In 1981, the Kuwaiti government [[gerrymandered]] electoral districts in favour of the Islamists.<ref name=fpif /> Islamists were the government's main allies, hence Islamists were able to colonize state agencies, such as the [[government ministries]].<ref name=fpif /> By the mid-1980s, Kuwait was described as an [[autocracy]].<ref name=fpif /> In 1986, Emir Jaber suspended the parliament.

After the Iran–Iraq War ended, Kuwait declined an Iraqi request to forgive its US$65 billion debt.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_213.shtml|title=Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait; 1990|work=Acig.org|access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref> An economic rivalry between the two countries ensued after Kuwait increased its oil production by 40 percent.<ref name=autogenerated6>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DejCbO1mvCYC&q=Kuwait+slant+drilling&pg=PA156 |title=The Colonial Present: Afghanistan … |author=Derek Gregory |publisher=Wiley|access-date=28 June 2010|isbn=978-1-57718-090-6|year=2004}}</ref> Tensions between the two countries increased further in July 1990, after Iraq complained to [[OPEC]] claiming that Kuwait was stealing its oil from a field near the [[Iraq–Kuwait border]] by [[slant drilling]] of the [[Rumaila field]].<ref name=autogenerated6 />

In August 1990, Iraqi forces [[Invasion of Kuwait|invaded and annexed]] Kuwait. After a series of failed diplomatic negotiations, the United States led a coalition to remove the Iraqi forces from Kuwait, in what became known as the [[Gulf War]]. On 26 February 1991, the coalition succeeded in driving out the Iraqi forces. As they retreated, Iraqi forces carried out a [[scorched earth]] policy by setting oil wells on fire.<ref name=autogenerated10>{{cite web|url=http://earthshots.usgs.gov/Iraq/Iraqtext |title=Iraq and Kuwait: 1972, 1990, 1991, 1997 |publisher=Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change |access-date=14 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429014811/http://earthshots.usgs.gov/Iraq/Iraqtext |archive-date=29 April 2012 }}</ref> During the Iraqi occupation, more than 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians were killed.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Use of Terror During Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait|url=http://jafi.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Eye+on+Israel/Current+Issues/Peace+and+Conflict/The+Use+of+Terror+in+Kuwait.htm|access-date=20 November 2014|archive-date=6 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006074959/http://jafi.org/JewishAgency/English/Jewish+Education/Compelling+Content/Eye+on+Israel/Current+Issues/Peace+and+Conflict/The+Use+of+Terror+in+Kuwait.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, more than 600 Kuwaitis went [[missing people|missing]] during Iraq's occupation,<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq and Kuwait Discuss Fate of 600 Missing Since Gulf War |url=http://articles.latimes.com/2003/jan/09/world/fg-missing9 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=9 January 2003}}</ref> approximately 375 remains were found in mass graves in Iraq.

In March 2003, Kuwait became the springboard for the US-led [[invasion of Iraq]]. Upon the death of the Emir Jaber, in January 2006, [[Saad Al-Sabah]] succeeded him but was removed nine days later by the Kuwaiti parliament due to his ailing health. [[Sabah Al-Sabah]] was sworn in as Emir.

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Kuwait}}
[[File:ISS041-E-81348 - View of Kuwait.jpg|thumb|Satallite image showing the extent of Kuwait City metropolitan area]]

Kuwait City is located on [[Kuwait Bay]], a natural deep-water harbor. 90% of Kuwait's population live within the Kuwait Bay coast. The country is generally low-lying, with the highest point being {{convert|306|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} [[above sea level]].<ref name=cia>{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kuwait/ |title=Kuwait |website=[[The World Factbook]] |publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]] |date=10 April 2015}}</ref> It has [[List of islands of Kuwait|nine islands]], all of which, with the exception of [[Failaka Island]], are uninhabited.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-82709/Bubiyan |title=Bubiyan (island, Kuwait) |access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref> With an area of {{convert|860|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, [[Bubiyan Island|Bubiyan]] is the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a {{convert|2380|m|ft|adj=mid|-long|0}} bridge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0000613 |title=Structurae [en]: Bubiyan Bridge (1983) |website=En.structurae.de |date=19 October 2002 |access-date=28 June 2010}}</ref> The land area  is considered arable<ref name=cia /> and sparse vegetation is found along its {{convert|499|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}}{{dubious||date=July 2023 |reason= Coastline paradox — 499 km measured how? Improper rounding/double unit conversion?}} coastline.<ref name=cia />

Kuwait's [[Burgan field]] has a total capacity of approximately {{convert|70|Goilbbl|m3}} of proven oil reserves. During the 1991 [[Kuwaiti oil fires]], more than 500 oil lakes were created covering a combined surface area of about {{convert|35.7|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|first=Daniel |last=Pendick |title=Kuwaiti Oil Lakes |encyclopedia=Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/sidebar_761594234/Kuwaiti_Oil_Lakes.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101114016/http://encarta.msn.com/sidebar_761594234/Kuwaiti_Oil_Lakes.html |archive-date= 1 November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The resulting soil contamination due to oil and soot accumulation had made eastern and south-eastern parts of Kuwait uninhabitable. Sand and oil residue had reduced large parts of the Kuwaiti desert to semi-asphalt surfaces.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.american.edu/ted/kuwait.htm |title=The Economic and Environmental Impact of the Gulf War on Kuwait and the Persian Gulf |work=American.edu |access-date=28 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219043510/http://www1.american.edu/ted/kuwait.htm |archive-date=19 December 2010 }}</ref> The oil spills during the Gulf War also drastically affected Kuwait's marine resources.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Kuwait (country) |encyclopedia=Encarta |url=http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563200_2/Kuwait_(country).html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021011805/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761563200_2/Kuwait_(country).html |archive-date=21 October 2009 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all |access-date=4 July 2011 }}</ref>

==Climate==
[[File:Kuwait City, Kuwait.JPG|thumb|Aerial view of Kuwait City]]
Kuwait City has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system|Köppen]]: ''BWh'') with extremely hot, very prolonged summers and mild, short winters. It is one of the hottest cities in summer on Earth.<ref name="hottest">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/22/where-world-hottest-city-kuwait-karachi-ahvaz|title=Where is the world's hottest city?|newspaper=the Guardian|access-date=3 March 2016|date=22 July 2015|last1=Birch|first1=Hayley}}</ref> Average summer high temperatures are above {{convert|45|°C}} for three months of the year, and during heat waves; the daytime temperature regularly exceeds {{convert|50|°C}} with nighttime lows often remaining above {{convert|30|°C}}. In winter, nighttime temperatures frequently drop below {{convert|8|°C}}. Considering its coastal position and relative distance to the equator in comparison with the hot desert climates in Africa and Saudi Arabia, the heat in the city is rather extreme - being surrounded in almost every direction by the hot desert.

Sand storms occur at times during summer from the [[shamal (wind)|shamal wind]]. Sand storms can occur any time of year but occur mostly during summer, and less frequently during autumn.

{{Weather box
|location = Kuwait City
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 29.8
|Feb record high C = 35.8
|Mar record high C = 41.2
|Apr record high C = 44.2
|May record high C = 49.0
|Jun record high C = 49.8
|Jul record high C = 52.1
|Aug record high C = 50.7
|Sep record high C = 47.7
|Oct record high C = 43.7
|Nov record high C = 37.9
|Dec record high C = 30.5
|year record high C = 52.1
|Jan high C = 19.5
|Feb high C = 21.8
|Mar high C = 26.9
|Apr high C = 33.9
|May high C = 40.9
|Jun high C = 45.5
|Jul high C = 46.7
|Aug high C = 46.9
|Sep high C = 43.7
|Oct high C = 36.6
|Nov high C = 27.8
|Dec high C = 21.9
|year high C = 34.3
|Jan low C = 8.5
|Feb low C = 10.0
|Mar low C = 14.0
|Apr low C = 19.5
|May low C = 25.4
|Jun low C = 28.9
|Jul low C = 30.7
|Aug low C = 29.5
|Sep low C = 26.2
|Oct low C = 21.5
|Nov low C = 14.5
|Dec low C = 9.9
|year low C = 19.9
|Jan record low C = -4.0
|Feb record low C = -3.3
|Mar record low C = -0.1
|Apr record low C = 6.9
|May record low C = 14.7
|Jun record low C = 20.4
|Jul record low C = 22.4
|Aug record low C = 21.7
|Sep record low C = 16.0
|Oct record low C = 9.4
|Nov record low C = 2.0
|Dec record low C = -1.5
|year record low C = -4.0
|rain colour =
|Jan rain mm = 30.2
|Feb rain mm = 10.5
|Mar rain mm = 18.2
|Apr rain mm = 11.5
|May rain mm = 0.4
|Jun rain mm = 0.0
|Jul rain mm = 0.0
|Aug rain mm = 0.0
|Sep rain mm = 0.0
|Oct rain mm = 1.4
|Nov rain mm = 18.5
|Dec rain mm = 25.5
|year rain mm = 116.2
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 5
|Feb rain days = 3
|Mar rain days = 3
|Apr rain days = 1
|May rain days = 0
|Jun rain days = 0
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 0
|Sep rain days = 0
|Oct rain days = 1
|Nov rain days = 3
|Dec rain days = 3
|year rain days = 19
|Jan sun = 198.1
|Feb sun = 222.5
|Mar sun = 217.6
|Apr sun = 229.3
|May sun = 272.5
|Jun sun = 304.5
|Jul sun = 307.1
|Aug sun = 301.6
|Sep sun = 285.1
|Oct sun = 252.2
|Nov sun = 216.5
|Dec sun = 193.5
|year sun = 3000.5
|Jand sun = 7.1
|Febd sun = 7.7
|Mard sun = 7.5
|Aprd sun = 7.9
|Mayd sun = 9.4
|Jund sun = 10.5
|Juld sun = 10.6
|Augd sun = 10.8
|Sepd sun = 10.2
|Octd sun = 9.0
|Novd sun = 7.7
|Decd sun = 6.9
|yeard sun = 8.8
|Jan percentsun = 68
|Feb percentsun = 69
|Mar percentsun = 63
|Apr percentsun = 62
|May percentsun = 69
|Jun percentsun = 77
|Jul percentsun = 76
|Aug percentsun = 78
|Sep percentsun = 77
|Oct percentsun = 79
|Nov percentsun = 72
|Dec percentsun = 67
|year percentsun = 72
| source = ''World Meteorological Organization'' (temperature and rainfall 1994–2008);<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/113/c01498.htm
|title=World Weather Information Service – Kuwait City
|publisher=World Meteorological Organization
|access-date=19 February 2014
}}</ref> NOAA (sunshine and records, 1961–1990);<ref name= NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/KW/40582.TXT
| title = Kuwait International Airport Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 15 January 2015
}}</ref> Wundergound (2012 records)<ref name=Wunderground>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html
|title=Dr. Jeff Masters' article published January 2013
|publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date=20 July 2015
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117064246/http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMasters/article.html
|archive-date=17 January 2013
}}</ref>
}}

== Economy ==
[[File:Kuwait airport.jpg|thumb| [[Kuwait International Airport]]]]
[[File:KuwaitiOilFires-STS037-152-91-(2).jpg|thumb|Smoke from burning Kuwait oil fields after Saddam Hussein set fire to during Gulf war.]]
{{Main|Economy of Kuwait}}
Kuwait has a petroleum-based economy, petroleum and fertilizers are the main export products. The [[Kuwaiti dinar]] is the highest-valued currency unit in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconindia.com/finance/news/10-Most-Valuable-Currencies-in-the-World-nid-109953.html|title=10 Most Valuable Currencies in the World|work=Silicon India}}</ref> Petroleum accounts for 43% of GDP and 70% of export earnings.<ref name=newes>{{cite web|url=https://santandertrade.com/en/portal/analyse-markets/kuwait/foreign-trade-figures|title=Foreign Trade in Figures}}</ref>

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Kuwait}}

===Theatre===
Kuwait is known for its home-grown tradition of theatre.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-12025499|title=Reviving Kuwait's theatre industry|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> Kuwait is the only Arab country in the Persian Gulf region with a theatrical tradition.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O06bOHRW7s8C&pg=PA277|title=Popular Culture in the Arab World: Arts, Politics, and the Media|page=277|isbn=9789774160547|last1=Hammond|first1=Andrew|year=2007|publisher=American Univ in Cairo Press }}</ref> The Arabic theatrical movement in Kuwait constitutes a major part of the country's Arabic cultural life.<ref name="theat"/> Theatrical activities in Kuwait began in the 1920s when the first spoken dramas were released.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nsqec4PcdmYC&pg=PT143|title=The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: The Arab world|isbn=9780415059329|last1=Rubin|first1=Don|date=January 1999|publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref> Theatre activities are still popular today.<ref name=theat>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TG2mP5KTDn8C&pg=PA147|title=The World of Theatre: An Account of the Theatre Seasons 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99|page=147|isbn=9780415238663|last1=Herbert|first1=Ian|last2=Leclercq|first2=Nicole|last3=Institute|first3=International Theatre|year=2000|publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref>

===Soap operas===
{{main|Cinema of Kuwait}}
Kuwaiti soap operas (المسلسلات الكويتية) are among the most-watched soap operas in the Arab world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.kuwaittimes.net/entertainment-gets-soapy-ramadan-kuwait/|title=Entertainment gets soapy during Ramadan in Kuwait|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=17 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017125231/http://news.kuwaittimes.net/entertainment-gets-soapy-ramadan-kuwait/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Most Gulf soap operas are based in Kuwait. Although usually performed in the [[Kuwaiti Arabic|Kuwaiti dialect]], some Kuwaiti soap operas were successful as far away as [[Tunisia]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Uzy_AAAAIAAJ&q=Some+Kuwaiti+soap+operas+have+become+extremely+popular+and,+although+they+are+usually+performed+in+the+Kuwaiti+dialect,+they+have+been+shown+with+success+as+far+away+as+Tunisia.|title=Kuwait: vanguard of the Gulf|page=113|isbn=9780091736040 |quote=Some Kuwaiti soap operas have become extremely popular and, although they are usually performed in the Kuwaiti dialect, they have been shown with success as far away as Mauritania. |last1=Mansfield |first1=Peter |year=1990 |publisher=Hutchinson }}</ref>

===Sports===
{{main|Sport in Kuwait}}

The city is home to the [[Al Kuwait SC (basketball)|Al Kuwait SC]], which has traditionally provided [[Kuwait's national basketball team]] with key players.<ref>[https://www.fiba.basketball/asia/2015/Kuwait |tab=roster 2015 FIBA Asia Championship – Kuwait Roster], FIBA.com, accessed 16 February 2016.</ref>

From 13 to 15 February 2020 it held the first [[Aquabike World Championship (powerboating)|Aquabike World Championship]] Grand Prix of Kuwait <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gulftoday.ae/sport/2020/02/14/double-delight-for-team-abu-dhabi-riders-at-kuwait-grand-prix |title=Double delight for Team Abu Dhabi riders at Kuwait Grand Prix - GulfToday |publisher=Gulftoday.ae |date= |accessdate=2022-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Forgot Username or Password |url=https://menafn.com/1100996435/Kuwaits-Abdulrazzeq-wins-ITU-Aquabike-World-Championships-slalom-GPI |title=Kuwait's Abdulrazzeq wins ITU Aquabike World Championships' ... |publisher=Menafn.Com |date=2020-10-21 |accessdate=2022-03-16}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Diana Karazon]] (born 1983), Kuwaiti-born Jordanian singer
* [[Queen Rania of Jordan|Rania Al-Abdullah]] (born 1970 as Rania Al-Yassin), Kuwaiti-born [[List of Jordanian consorts|queen consort of Jordan]]
* [[Mishary Rashid Alafasy]], Qari, imam, preacher and [[Nasheed]] artist
* [[Abdulfattah Owainat]] (born 1972), Kuwaiti-born Palestinian singer and songwriter
* [[Saleem Haddad]] (born 1983), Kuwaiti author and aid worker
* [[Yasser Al-Masri]] (born 1970, died 2018), Kuwaiti-born Jordanian actor
* [[Khaled Mazeedi]] (born 1986), Kuwaiti media magnate, internet entrepreneur, author and philanthropist
* [[Abdulhussain Abdulredha]] (15 July 1939 – 11 August 2017), Kuwaiti actor
* [[Nura (German rapper)|Nura Habib Omer]] (born 1988), [[Germans|German]] rapper of [[Eritrea]]n and [[Saudi Arabia|Saudi]] descent
* [[Omar Jarun]] (born 1983), former footballer and currently an assistant coach for [[Atlanta United 2]]
* [[Adline Castelino]] (born 1998), model, represented India in the [[Miss Universe 2020]] pageant

==See also==

* [[List of twin towns and sister cities in Asia#Kuwait]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kuwait City}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Kuwait City}}

{{Kuwait City}}
{{Kuwait topics}}
{{List of Asian capitals by region}}
{{Capitals of Arab countries}}
{{Arab Capital of Culture}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kuwait City}}
[[Category:Kuwait City| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Kuwait]]
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Kuwait]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns in Kuwait]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Persian Gulf]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1613]]

Georgetown, Guyana

2023-12-12T19:46:24Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital of Guyana}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Georgetown
| other_name =
| native_name =
| settlement_type = [[Capital city|Capital City]]
| motto =
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|align=center
| photo1a = Stabroek Market Clock by Khirsah1.jpg
| photo2a = St George's Cathedral.jpg
| photo3a = Guyana Parliament Building.jpg
| size = 300
| spacing =
| color = white
| border = 2
| color_border = black
}}
| image_caption = Stabroek Market Clock, View of St George's Cathedral, Guyana Parliament Building
| image_flag = Flag_of_Georgetown.svg
| flag_size =
| image_seal = Coat_of_arms_of_Georgetown.png
| seal_size =
| image_shield =
| shield_size =
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Guyana#South America
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Guyana]] and [[South America]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Guyana]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Guyana|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Demerara-Mahaica]]
| subdivision_type2 =
| subdivision_name2 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = Mayor-Council
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Alfred Mentore]]
| leader_title1 =
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = Established
| established_date = 1781
| established_title2 = Named
| established_date2 = 29 April 1812
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_total_km2 = 70
| population_as_of = 2012
| population_footnotes = <ref name=census>{{cite report |title=Guyana Population and Housing Census 2012: Preliminary Report |url=https://statisticsguyana.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2012_Preliminary_Report.pdf |page=23 |publisher=Bureau of Statistics, Guyana |date=June 2014 |access-date=23 May 2016 |archive-date=10 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201010130705/https://statisticsguyana.gov.gy/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/2012_Preliminary_Report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_note =
| population_total = 118,363
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[UTC-4]]
| utc_offset =
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|06|48|21|N|58|09|03|W|region:GY|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 0
| blank1_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info = [[Tropical rainforest climate|Af]]
| postal_code_type =
| postal_code =
| area_codes =
| website =
}}

'''Georgetown''' is the [[capital (political)|capital]] and largest city of [[Guyana]]. It is situated in [[Demerara-Mahaica]], region 4, on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] coast, at the mouth of the [[Demerara River]]. It is nicknamed the "Garden City of the Caribbean." It is the retail, administrative, and financial services centre of the country, and the city accounts for a large portion of Guyana's GDP. The city recorded a population of 118,363 in the 2012 census.

All executive departments of Guyana's government are located in the city, including [[Parliament Building, Guyana|Parliament Building]], Guyana's Legislative Building and the Court of Appeals, Guyana's highest judicial court. The [[State House, Guyana|State House]] (the official residence of the head of state), as well as the offices and residence of the head of government, are both located in the city. The [[Caribbean Community|CARICOM]] headquarters is also based in Georgetown.

Georgetown is also known for its British colonial architecture, including the tall painted-timber [[St. George's Cathedral, Georgetown|St. George's Cathedral]] and the iconic [[Stabroek Market]].<ref name="census" />

== History ==
[[File:Wesleyan Mission Premises, George-Town, Demerara (VII, p.1, January 1950) - Copy.jpg|thumb|280px|Wesleyan Mission Premises, George-Town, Demerara (1850)<ref name=Offering1850>{{cite journal |title=Wesleyan Mission Premises, George-Town, Demerara |journal=Wesleyan Juvenile Offering |date=January 1850 |volume=VII |page=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a1wEAAAAQAAJ |access-date=19 November 2015 |publisher=Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society |location=London |archive-date=26 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726165608/https://books.google.com/books?id=a1wEAAAAQAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>]]The city of Georgetown began as a small town in the 18th century. Originally, the capital of the [[Demerara-Essequibo]] colony was located on [[Borsselen]] Island in the [[Demerara River]] under the administration of the [[Netherlands|Dutch]]. When the colony was captured by the [[British Empire|British]] in 1781, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Kingston chose the mouth of the Demerara River for the establishment of a town which was situated between Plantations [[Werk-en-rust]] and Vlissengen.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

It was the French who made it a capital city when they colonised it in 1782. The French called the capital Longchamps. When the town was restored to the Dutch in 1784, it was renamed [[Stabroek, Guyana|Stabroek]] after [[Nicolaas Geelvinck]], Lord of Stabroek, and president of the [[Dutch West India Company]]. Eventually the town expanded and covered the estates of Vlissengen, La Bourgade and Eve Leary to the North, and Werk-en-rust and La Repentir to the South.
[[File:Kingston Georgetown 19 Century.jpg|thumb|280px|A view of the Kingston section of Georgetown in the 19th century.]]

It was renamed Georgetown on 29 April 1812 in honour of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]].{{cn|date=October 2022}} On 5 May 1812, an ordinance was passed to the effect that the town formerly called Stabroek, with districts extending from La Penitence to the bridges in [[Kingston, Guyana|Kingston]] and entering upon the road to the military camps, shall be called Georgetown.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

The ordinance provided that the various districts of Georgetown shall be known by their own names. The supervision of Georgetown was to be done by a committee chosen by the governor and Court of Policy. Estimates of expenditure were to be prepared.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

By 1806, the owner of Vlissingen asked to be exempted from the responsibility of maintaining the road which is now called Camp Street, but the Court refused the request. In 1810, the maintenance of the roads in the area called Georgetown cost 11,000 guilders per annum.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

The governing body of Georgetown was once a Board of Police. The Board of Police was chosen by the governor and the Court of Policy. It came into existence as the result of disputes among various organisations which controlled the districts. The board met monthly but what was discussed is not on the records between 1825 and 1837. Newspapers in the colony were prohibited by law from reporting public matters.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

The post of Commissary of Police was not regarded as important. People elected to the board invariably declined to attend meetings and never gave reasons for their refusal. It was, therefore, decided that individuals elected to the board were bound to serve for two years, or suffer a penalty of 1,000 guilders. The Board of Police was abolished when an ordinance was passed to establish a mayor and town council.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Georgetown gained official city status on 24 August 1842 during the reign of [[Queen Victoria]].{{cn|date=October 2022}}

The names of Georgetown's wards and streets reflect the influence of the Dutch, French and English who administered the town at different periods of history.

Cummingsburg was originally named Plantation La Bourgade by its first owner, Jacques Salignac. It was laid out in streets and building lots by its second proprietor, Thomas Cuming, a Scotsman, from whom it gets its current name. He made a presentation of the [[Parade Ground, Georgetown|Militia Parade Ground]] and Promenade Gardens to the town as a gift. Carmichael Street was named after General [[Hugh Lyle Carmichael]] who served as governor from 1812 to 1813. He died in March 1813 and was buried in the Officers' Cemetery, Eve Leary.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Water Street was so called because it ran along the riverside and formed the original river dam. High Street formed the leading road from the East Bank to the East Coast of Demerara. The part of High Street that ran through Cummingsburg was called Main Street. Camp Street received its name because it was the road which led to the camp or garrison at the northern end of the city. Kingston got its name from King George of Great Britain. It was part of Pln. Eve Leary which was named after the wife or daughter of its owner, Cornelis Leary. Some of the streets of Kingston have military names because the garrison used to be located there, e.g. Parade Street, Barrack Street and Fort Street.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Lacytown was another leasehold portion of Plantation Vlissengen. Luke M. Hill*states that it was named after the lessee, George Lacy, who was related to the family of General Sir De Lacy Evans (sic. - General Sir George de Lacy Evans GCB), a Crimean war hero.{{cn|date=October 2022}} The owner of Vlissengen was Joseph Bourda, Member of the Court of Policy. After his son and heir disappeared at sea, the government claimed the property under the authority of the Vlissengen Ordinance of 1876. A new district of Bourda was laid out and Lacytown was improved by the Board of Vlissengen Commissioners.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Bourda Street and the ward of Bourda were named after Joseph Bourda, Member of the Court of Policy and former owner of Pln. Vlissengen. It was laid out by the Commissioner of Vlissengen in 1879. The [[Bourda Cemetery, Guyana|Bourda Cemetery]] holds the remains of many citizens of Georgetown. Only those persons who owned family vaults or burial rights in the enclosed ground used it.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

In 1945, a large fire (The Great Fire) broke out in the city, causing widespread damage.<ref>Luke M. Hill - The Nomenclature of Georgetown in Timehri: The Journal of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society of British Guiana (Third Series) Vol.1, January 1911, p. 42</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:20191122 Guyana 0082 Georgetown sRGB (49295764796).jpg|thumb|View of Georgetown from over the Atlantic Ocean]]

Georgetown is located on Guyana's Atlantic coast on the east bank of Demerara River estuary. The terrain in this part of the country where the city is located is flat coastal plains. The city is surrounded by a blanket of cane fields along with marshy swamps, and savannah lands on its east and south. The elevation of the land is one metre below the high tide level.{{cn|date=November 2022}} This low elevation is protected by a retaining wall known as the seawall to keep the ocean out and an innovative network of canals with kokers to drain the city of excess water.{{cn|date=November 2022}}

=== Climate ===
Georgetown has a year-round hot trade-wind [[tropical rainforest climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Af]]). Relative humidity fluctuates throughout the year with the highest occurring in May, June, August and December–January; these months are usually the rainiest part of the year. Between the months of September to November relative humidity is lower ushering in the drier season.

Georgetown does not truly have a [[dry season]] – monthly precipitation in all 12 months is above {{cvt|60|mm|in}}. Because of its location Georgetown's temperatures are moderated by the North-East [[trade winds]] blowing in from the North Atlantic and so it rarely sees temperatures above 31 degrees Celsius.
{{Weather box|location = Georgetown (1961–1990)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 28.6
|Feb high C = 28.9
|Mar high C = 29.2
|Apr high C = 29.5
|May high C = 29.4
|Jun high C = 29.2
|Jul high C = 29.6
|Aug high C = 30.2
|Sep high C = 30.8
|Oct high C = 30.8
|Nov high C = 30.2
|Dec high C = 29.1
|year high C = 29.6
|Jan mean C = 26.1
|Feb mean C = 26.4
|Mar mean C = 26.7
|Apr mean C = 27.0
|May mean C = 26.8
|Jun mean C = 26.5
|Jul mean C = 26.6
|Aug mean C = 27.0
|Sep mean C = 27.5
|Oct mean C = 27.6
|Nov mean C = 27.2
|Dec mean C = 26.4
|year mean C = 26.8
|Jan low C = 23.6
|Feb low C = 23.9
|Mar low C = 24.2
|Apr low C = 24.4
|May low C = 24.3
|Jun low C = 23.8
|Jul low C = 23.5
|Aug low C = 23.8
|Sep low C = 24.2
|Oct low C = 24.4
|Nov low C = 24.2
|Dec low C = 23.8
|year low C = 24.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 185.2
|Feb rain mm = 88.5
|Mar rain mm = 111.0
|Apr rain mm = 140.5
|May rain mm = 285.5
|Jun rain mm = 327.7
|Jul rain mm = 268.0
|Aug rain mm = 201.4
|Sep rain mm = 97.5
|Oct rain mm = 107.2
|Nov rain mm = 185.9
|Dec rain mm = 261.9
|year rain mm = 2260.3
|Jan rain days = 16
|Feb rain days = 10
|Mar rain days = 10
|Apr rain days = 12
|May rain days = 19
|Jun rain days = 23
|Jul rain days = 21
|Aug rain days = 15
|Sep rain days = 9
|Oct rain days = 9
|Nov rain days = 12
|Dec rain days = 18
|year rain days = 174
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan sun = 201.0
|Feb sun = 208.6
|Mar sun = 219.7
|Apr sun = 197.9
|May sun = 178.8
|Jun sun = 156.7
|Jul sun = 201.6
|Aug sun = 233.7
|Sep sun = 229.8
|Oct sun = 235.3
|Nov sun = 210.9
|Dec sun = 186.6
|year sun = 2460.6
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web |url=ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REGIII/BG/81001.TXT |title=Georgetown Climate Normals 1961–1990 |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref>
|date=August 2011}}[[File:Parliament Georgetown Guyana.JPG|thumb|300px|Parliament Building]]
[[File:20191121 Guyana 0062 Georgetown sRGB (49295972987).jpg|thumb|300px|The High Court]]

==Transportation==
=== Air ===
The [[Cheddi Jagan International Airport]] (formerly Timehri Airport) acts as the major air transportation hub for the city, which is located on the right bank of the Demerara River, 41 kilometres south of Georgetown. Closer to the city is [[Ogle Airport]], with a terminal facility geared to handle regional, international and inter-Caricom flights, connecting CARICOM states with the CARICOM Secretariat. Helicopters also use this airport for the support of offshore oil and gas exploration activities.

=== Land ===
The four-lane East Coast Highway was completed in 2005.{{cn|date=October 2022}}

Georgetown is served by private buses.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-12-30 |title=Georgetown to Lethem operator now running 25 buses |url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2014/12/30/news/guyana/georgetown-lethem-operator-now-running-25-buses/ |access-date=2021-03-13 |website=Stabroek News |language=en-US }}</ref> There is a regular coach service between Georgetown and [[Boa Vista, Roraima|Boa Vista]] in [[Brazil]]. The [[Demerara Harbour Bridge]] is a major crossing point. Taxi service is available almost everywhere along the coast including in large numbers in Georgetown.

=== Water ===
Georgetown also is home to a [[seaport]]. The Demerara River is navigable by oceangoing vessels up to roughly 100 km upriver.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guyana - The World Factbook |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guyana/#transportation |access-date=2021-03-13 |website=www.cia.gov |archive-date=7 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107032754/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/guyana/#transportation |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==
Georgetown recorded a population of 118,363 in the 2012 Guyanese census, down 12 percent from the 134,497 people counted in the 2002 census.<ref name=census/> In 2002, about 70,962 (53%) listed themselves as [[Afro-Guyanese|Black/African]]; 31,902 (24%) as [[Mixed Race|mixed]]; 26,542 (20%) as [[Indo-Guyanese|East Indian]]; 1,441 (1.1%) as [[Indigenous peoples in Guyana|Amerindian]]; 1,075 (0.8%) as [[Portuguese Guyanese|Portuguese]]; 475 (0.35%) as [[Chinese Guyanese|Chinese]]; 2,265 (1.7%) as "don't know/not stated"; 196 (0.15%) as [[white people|white]] not of Portuguese descent; 35 as "other".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/ |title=Bureau of Statistics – Guyana |publisher=Statisticsguyana.gov.gy |access-date=30 April 2010 |archive-date=6 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406122642/http://www.statisticsguyana.gov.gy/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Points of interest==
[[File:St georges.jpg|thumb|210px| [[St. George's Cathedral, Georgetown|St. George's Anglican Cathedral]]]]

Georgetown is laid out in a north–south, east–west grid, interlaced with canals protected by [[kokers]] (sluices), built by the Dutch and later the British that provide drainage to a city that lies {{cvt|3|ft|m|order=flip}} below high-tide level. A long [[Georgetown Seawall|seawall]] helps prevent flooding. The city has numerous boulevards and contains many wooden colonial buildings and markets.

Most of the main buildings are centred around the western region of the town. Around the western-central area is Independence Square and [[Promenade Gardens]], the [[Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology]], the [[National Library of Guyana|National Library]] (built by [[Andrew Carnegie]]), the [[Bank of Guyana]], [[Company Path Garden]], the [[National Museum of Guyana]] and [[State House, Guyana|State House]] (built 1852) where the president resides, [[St. George's Cathedral, Georgetown|St. George's Anglican Cathedral]] and the [[Red House (Guyana)|Red House]].

The [[Georgetown Cenotaph]], at Main and Church Streets, was built in 1923. It is the site of Remembrance Day (Remembrance Sunday) services in November each year.

To the south of this region is where the neo-[[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[Georgetown City Hall|City Hall]] (1889) is to be found, as well as the Victoria Law Courts (1887), the [[Parliament Building, Guyana|Parliament Building]] (1829–1834), the large [[Stabroek Market]] (1792) containing the prominent cast-iron clock tower that dominates the city sky line, the [[Roman Catholic]] [[Brickdam Cathedral]], City Engineer House, the Magistrate's Court, [[St. Andrew's Kirk, Georgetown|St. Andrew's Kirk]] (1818) and Independence Arch.

The northern area of the city near the Atlantic coast contains [[Splashmins Fun Park]], Fort William Frederick, a park and the [[Umana Yana]], a conical thatched building built by [[Wai-Wai (people)|Wai-Wai]] [[Amerindians]] using traditional techniques. It was built for the 1972 [[Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers Conference]]. The Umana Yana burnt down in 2010 but was rebuilt in 2016.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Gxmedia |title=Umana Yana is standing strong and continues to be one of Georgetown's most scenic attraction |url=https://www.thingsguyana.com/umana-yana-is-standing-strong-and-continues-to-be-the-one-of-georgetowns-most-scenic-attraction/ |website=Things Guyana |date=29 April 2019 |access-date=1 November 2019 |archive-date=1 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101112950/https://www.thingsguyana.com/umana-yana-is-standing-strong-and-continues-to-be-the-one-of-georgetowns-most-scenic-attraction/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Georgetown Lighthouse, Guyana|Georgetown Lighthouse]] is a famous landmark.

The [[Guyana National Park]] is an urban park in the city. More inland, surrounded by residential neighbourhoods are the [[Guyana Zoo]], [[Guyana Botanical Gardens|Botanical Gardens]] and [[Castellani House, Guyana|Castellani House]]. The city's suburbs are also home to the [[Museum of African Heritage]] located in Bel Air Park.<ref name="peretz">{{cite journal |last1=Peretz |first1=Jeremy Jacob |date=19 June 2018 |title=Inherited "Ancestors' Collections" of a Devoted Curator: The Museum of African Heritage in Georgetown, Guyana |journal=Karib: Nordic Journal for Caribbean Studies |volume=4 |issue=1 |pages=1–20 |doi=10.16993/karib.39 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

== Sports ==
Georgetown hosted the [[CaribeBasket]], the top international basketball tournament for countries in the [[Caribbean]] in 1981, 1988 and 1994.

==Performing arts==
[[File:US Navy 070929-N-7092S-046 The U.S. Navy Showband, attached to Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), performs at the National Cultural Centre.jpg|thumb|250px| [[National Cultural Centre (Guyana)|National Cultural Centre]] auditorium]]
Georgetown's theatre scene is dominantly concentrated on the stages of the [[National Cultural Centre (Guyana)|National Cultural Centre]]. Plays are also staged at the theatre guild of Guyana. This is the oldest theatrical performance facility in Guyana. It was opened in 1957 and restored in 2007.

== Neighbourhoods ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
[[File:Dwelling in city.jpg|thumb|300px|A Colonial era residence in Georgetown.]][[File:Smaller Providence Stadium inside.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Providence Stadium]] hosted several [[2007 Cricket World Cup]] matches, replacing [[Bourda]] as the national stadium and [[test cricket|test]] venue]]
[[File:Georgetown28022007.jpg|thumb|300px|The International Conference Centre]]
=== Central Georgetown ===
The central city includes the Business district as well as the seat of the national Government.

=== Greater Georgetown ===
Northeastern Georgetown also has many significant business headquarters, such as for University of Guyana, [[Guyana Sugar Corporation]], and the [[Secretariat of the Caribbean Community|CARICOM Secretariat]]. Also here are [[The Cyril Potter College of Education]], Guyana International Conference Centre, and [[Eugene F. Correia International Airport]].

This area also has a number of exclusive gated communities. Bel Air Park, Bel Air Gardens, Lamaha Gardens and Bel Air Springs are well known ultimately as places for the rich and powerful.

North of Georgetown lies Main Street, where the head of state's official residence as well as the Ministry of Finance. East of Georgetown stretches towards the Avenue of the Republic, where Georgetown's city hall building is located, and St. George's Cathedral. Also on the east side is Brickdam, which is the single most concentrated area of executive departments and agencies. The Ministries of Health, Education, Home Affairs, Housing and Water are all located on Brickdam.

West of Stabroek Market is the Port of Georgetown, the largest and busiest shipping point in Guyana. Stabroek Market itself contains the Ministry of Labour as well as the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security. It is also the host facility for the equally famous Stabroek markets. Regent Street is considered Georgetown's premier shopping district and Sheriff Street is the main entertainment area containing most of the city's clubs, bars and restaurants.

=== South Georgetown ===
The south end incorporates communities of neighbourhoods along the eastern bank of the Demerara River such as [[Pattensen, Turkeyen (Sophia)|Sophia]], Roxanne Burnham Gardens, Albouystown, and Agricola. Those are well known and highly regarded poor areas of the city. Some areas such as Houston Estates, Ruimvelt and Thirst Park have retained high levels of affluence.

== Crime ==
Armed robberies occur regularly in Georgetown, especially in businesses and shopping districts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=16163 |title="Guyana 2014 Crime and Safety Report", Overseas Security Advisory Council, US State Department, 15 August 2014. |access-date=5 April 2015 |archive-date=10 November 2015 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20151110222827/https%3A//www.osac.gov/Pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid%3D16163 |url-status=live }}</ref> Particularly high crime areas of Georgetown include Tiger Bay, Albouystown, Sophia, all of south Georgetown, [[Buxton, Guyana|Buxton]] and Agricola.<ref name="gov.uk">{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guyana/safety-and-security |title=Safety and security - Guyana travel advice |access-date=5 April 2015 |archive-date=23 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823021132/https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/guyana/safety-and-security |url-status=live }}</ref> Robberies are a daily occurrence in the [[Stabroek Market]] area.<ref name="gov.uk"/> A number of assaults have taken place in the [[Guyana Botanical Gardens|botanical garden]].<ref name="gov.uk"/>

==Utilities==
Power is supplied by the state-owned and controlled [[Guyana Power and Light]]. [[Water supply and sanitation in Guyana]] is handled by state-owned Guyana Water Incorporated.
{{See also|Telecommunications in Guyana}}

==Notable people==
*[[John Agard]], poet
*[[Joy Ford Austin]], non-profit executive and philanthropist, born in Georgetown
*[[Julian Austin (field hockey)|Julian Austin]] (1949), Olympic field-hockey player<ref>{{cite web |url=https://olympic.ca/team-canada/julian-austin/ |title=Julian Austin |website=Olympic Canada |access-date=11 August 2020 |archive-date=15 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815205059/https://olympic.ca/team-canada/julian-austin/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Sudesh Fitzgerald]], professional darts player, born in Georgetown
*[[John Meredith Ford]] (1923–1995), Lord Mayor of Georgetown
*[[Lance Gibbs]] (born 1934), former member of the [[West Indies cricket team]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/51883.html |title=Lance Gibbs |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=espn circinfo |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809065113/https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/51883.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[David A. Granger]] (born 1945), former President of Guyana<ref>{{cite news |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2016/07/16/who-really-is-president-david-granger/ |title=Who, really, is President David Granger? |website=Guyana Chronicle |access-date=22 August 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020173952/https://guyanachronicle.com/2016/07/16/who-really-is-president-david-granger/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[R. B. Greaves]], an American singer born in Georgetown
*[[Saint Jhn]], born Carlos St. John Phillips, American-born singer and rapper, raised between [[Brooklyn]] and Georgetown
*[[Wilson Harris]], Guyanese writer
*[[Roger Harper]] (born 1963), former member of the [[West Indies cricket team]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52045.html |title=Roger Harper |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=espn circinfo |archive-date=13 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713031008/https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52045.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Carl Hooper]] (born 1966), former member of the [[West Indies cricket team]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52066.html |title=Carl Hooper |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=espn circinfo |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814010149/https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52066.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Donald Kayum]] (born 1955), cricketer
*[[Clive Lloyd]] (born 1944), captain [[West Indies cricket team]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52345.html |title=Sir Clive Lloyd |access-date=11 August 2020 |website=espn circinfo |archive-date=6 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806015402/https://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/player/52345.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Thomas Moulder]] (1872–1920), cricketer
*[[Manzoor Nadir]], former minister and current Speaker of the National Assembly<ref>{{cite news |url=https://guyanachronicle.com/2015/04/26/marissa-nadir-tuf-are-the-new-order/ |title=Marissa Nadir, TUF are the new order |website=Guyana Chronicle |access-date=1 September 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020174600/https://guyanachronicle.com/2015/04/26/marissa-nadir-tuf-are-the-new-order/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Grace Nichols]] (born 1950) Guyanese poet
*[[Negus Nurse|Alwin Nurse]], singer also known as Negus Nurse
*[[C. C. H. Pounder]], a Guyanese-American actress, born in Georgetown
*[[Walter Rodney]], historian of Africa, born and assassinated in Georgetown
*[[John Rodriguez (politician)|John Rodriguez]], former Canadian MP and Mayor of Sudbury
*[[Neville Stanton]], Guyanese footballer
*[[Dušan Velkaverh]], [[Slovenia]]n lyricist, born in Georgetown
*[[Oscar Weber]] (1871–1946), cricketer
*[[Oneeka Williams]] (born 1966), Guyanese writer and surgeon
*[[Letitia Wright]], a Guyanese actress, born in Georgetown

==Twin towns – sister cities==
Georgetown has several [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister cities]], as designated by [[Sister Cities International]]:
*{{flagicon|USA}} – [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri]], [[United States]]
*{{flagicon|TRI}} – [[Port of Spain]], [[Trinidad and Tobago]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Guyana}}
{{Sister project links |commonscat=yes |d=Q10717 |n=yes |q=no |s=Category:Georgetown, Guyana |b=no |species=no |v=no |wikt=Georgetown |voy=Georgetown (Guyana)}}
*{{Wikisource-inline|list=
**{{Cite Collier's |wstitle=Georgetown (British Guiana) |display=Georgetown, capital of British Guiana |short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite NSRW |wstitle=Georgetown |short=x |noicon=x}}
}}

{{Settlements in Guyana}}
{{List of South American capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Georgetown, Guyana| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in South America]]
[[Category:Populated places in Demerara-Mahaica]]
[[Category:History of Guyana]]
[[Category:Port cities in South America]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 18th century]]
[[Category:18th-century establishments in South America]]
[[Category:1781 establishments in the British Empire]]

Gaborone

2023-12-12T19:45:29Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and the largest city of Botswana}}
{{Distinguish|Gaberoun|text=[[Gaberoun]], [[Libya]]}}
{{for|the pharmaceutical drug brand Gabarone|Gabapentin}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Gaborone
| nicknames = Gabs, GC, Gabz, G-City, Mageba, Moshate
| named_for = [[Kgosi Gaborone]]
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Botswana_Gaborone_I_Towers.jpg
| photo2a = BotswanaParliament.jpg
| photo2b =
| photo3a = Gaborone_National_Museum_20200211.jpg
| photo3b = National_Records.jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 280
| foot_montage = Top: Gaborone CBD; Middle: Botswana Parliament, Ministry of Education Building; Bottom: Gaborone National Museum, Botswana National Archives and Records Services}}
| image_flag = Flag of Gaborone.svg
| pushpin_map = Botswana#Africa
| pushpin_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of Gaborone in Botswana
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Botswana}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Botswana|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[South-East District (Botswana)|South East]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Sub-districts of Botswana|Sub-district]]
| subdivision_name2 = Gaborone
| government_type = [[City commission government]]
| governing_body = [[Gaborone City Council]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Austin Abraham ([[Botswana Democratic Party|BDP]])
| leader_title1 = [[Deputy Mayor]]
| leader_name1 = Oduetse Tautona ([[Botswana Democratic Party|BDP]])
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1964<ref name=history>{{cite web |first=Neil |last=Parsons |title=Botswana History Page 7: Geography |url=http://www.thuto.org/ubh/bw/bhp7.htm |work=Botswana History Pages |publisher=University of Botswana History Department |location=Gaborone, Botswana |date=19 August 1999 |access-date=4 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091007123525/http://www.thuto.org/ubh/bw/bhp7.htm |archive-date=7 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| unit_pref = 
| area_footnotes = <ref name=BSYB />
| area_total_km2 = 169
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 =
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_sq_mi =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_urban_sq_mi =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| population_as_of = 2022
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Statistics Bostwana - Census 2022 - Population of cities, towns and villages"/>
| population_total = 246325
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_metro = 421907
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_urban =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_density_urban_sq_mi =
| timezone = [[Central Africa Time]]
| utc_offset = +2
| timezone_DST = not observed
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|24|39|29|S|25|54|44|E|region:BW|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BC/09/Gaborone.html|title=Gaborone, Botswana Page|publisher=Falling Rain Genomics, Inc.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110904191948/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/BC/09/Gaborone.html|archive-date=4 September 2011|access-date=27 July 2010}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 1014
| elevation_ft =
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Botswana|Geographical area code]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=86|title=Current Local Time in Gaborone, Botswana|website=www.timeanddate.com|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209221518/http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/city.html?n=86|archive-date=9 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book | title =Botswana (country code +267) | url =http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/02/02/T020200001C0001MSWE.doc| author=Botswana Telecommunications Authority|publisher=International Telecommunication Union | access-date =27 December 2009|date=11 September 2009|format=DOC|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5mKyF8Dce?url=http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/02/02/T020200001C0001MSWE.doc| url-status =dead |archive-date=27 December 2009}}</ref>
| area_code = 3XX
| iso_code = BW-SE
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec1 = 0.807<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref> {{fontcolor|Darkgreen|Very high}}
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|BSh]]
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20120514114903/http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Local-Authorities/Gaborone-City-Council/ Gaborone City Council Website]
| name =
| population_est = 273,602
| pop_est_as_of = 2020
| pop_est_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://botswana.opendataforafrica.org/oxfduob/demographics-1994-2026-botswana
|title = Demographics, 2001-2031, Botswana - Botswana Data Portal|accessdate=13 December 2022}}</ref>
}}
'''Gaborone''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|ɡ|æ|b|ə|ˈ|r|oʊ|n|i|,_|ˌ|h|æ|b|-}} {{respell|GAB|ə|ROH|nee|,_|HAB|-}},<ref name="Collins">{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gaborone|title=Gaborone|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=26 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726203333/https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gaborone|archive-date=26 July 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Gaborone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182154/https://www.lexico.com/definition/gaborone |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Gaborone |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{IPAc-en|US|ˌ|ɡ|ɑː|b|ə|ˈ|r|oʊ|n|i|,_|-|n|eɪ}} {{respell|GAH|bə|ROH|nee|,_|-|nay}},<ref name="Collins"/><ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Gaborone|access-date=26 July 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|tn|χabʊˈrʊnɛ|lang}}) is the [[Capital city|capital]] and [[List of cities in Botswana|largest city]] of [[Botswana]] with a population of 246,325 based on the 2022 census,<ref name="Statistics Bostwana - Census 2022 - Population of cities, towns and villages">{{Cite web |title=Statistics Bostwana - Census 2022 - Population of cities, towns and villages |url=https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Population%20of%20Cities%20Towns%20and%20Villages%20%202022.pdf}}</ref> about 10% of the total population of Botswana.<ref name=demo /> Its agglomeration is home to 421,907 inhabitants at the 2011 census.

Gaborone is situated between [[Kgale Hill]] and Oodi Hill, near the confluence of the [[Notwane River]] and Segoditshane River in the south-eastern corner of Botswana, {{convert|15|km|mi}} from the South African border.<ref name=seth>{{cite book |last1=Seth |first1=Willie |title=Botswana and Its People |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bR54xeODwCIC&pg=PA44 |access-date=4 August 2009 |year=2008 |publisher=Godfrey Mwakikagile |isbn=978-0-9814258-7-0 |chapter=Major urban centres |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bR54xeODwCIC&pg=PA43 |pages=44–46}}</ref> The city is served by the [[Sir Seretse Khama International Airport]]. It is an administrative district in its own right, but is the capital of the surrounding [[South-East District (Botswana)|South-East District]].<ref>[http://www.laws.gov.bw/ Laws of Botswana] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723192435/http://www.laws.gov.bw/ |date=23 July 2011 }}, [http://www.mlg.gov.bw/ Ministry of Local Government] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718061659/http://www.mlg.gov.bw/ |date=18 July 2009 }}</ref> Locals often refer to the city as ''GC or Motse-Mshate''.<ref name=history1 />

The city of Gaborone is named after [[Chief Gaborone]] of the [[Tlokwa]] tribe, who once controlled land nearby.<ref name="Map - Gaborone - MAPNALL.COM">{{Cite web|title=Map - Gaborone - MAP[N]ALL.COM|url=http://174.127.109.64/en/Map-Gaborone_1577118.html|website=174.127.109.64|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> Because it had no tribal affiliation and was close to fresh water, the city was [[New town|planned]] to be the capital in the mid-1960s when the [[Bechuanaland Protectorate]] became an independent nation.<ref name="Map - Gaborone - MAPNALL.COM"/> The centre of the city is a long strip of commercial businesses, called "Main Mall" with a semicircle-shaped area of government offices to its east. Gaborone was once one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, and this has created problems with housing and illegal settlements. The city has also dealt with conflicts spilling into the country from [[Zimbabwe]] and [[South Africa]] during the 1980s.

Gaborone is the economic capital as well as the government capital; it is headquarters to numerous companies and the [[Botswana Stock Exchange]]. Gaborone is also home to the [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC), a regional economic community established in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sadc.int/about-sadc|title=Southern African Development Community :: About SADC|website=www.sadc.int|access-date=April 28, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312200255/http://www.sadc.int/about-sadc/|archive-date=12 March 2018}}</ref> Many languages are spoken there, Setswana ([[Tswana language|Tswana]]) being the main tongue. [[English language|English]], [[Kalanga language|Kalanga]], and [[Kgalagadi language|Kgalagadi]] are also spoken.

==History==
{{Main|History of Gaborone|Timeline of Gaborone}}
[[File:Stamp Bechuanaland Protectorate 1938 6p.jpg|125px|thumb|left|A postage stamp circa 1943, the postmark reading "Gaborone's Village"]]
[[File:1966 Mayor Gaborone.JPG|125px|thumb|left|Rev. [[Derek Jones (mayor)|Derek Jones]], the first mayor of Gaborone|alt=]]
Evidence shows that there have been inhabitants along the [[Notwane River]] for centuries. In more recent history, the [[Tlokwa]] left the [[Magaliesberg]] ranges to settle in the area around 1880, and called the settlement ''[[Moshaweng]]'' . The word "Gaborone" literally means "it does not fit badly" or "it is not unbecoming".<ref name=tourismboard>{{cite web|url=http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/sites/default/files/publications/southern_botswana.pdf |title=Travel Companion – Southern Botswana |work=Travel Companion |publisher=Botswana Tourism Board |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807162203/http://www.botswanatourism.co.bw/assests/southern_botswana.pdf |archive-date=7 August 2011 |access-date=31 May 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city was then called "Gaberones" by early European colonizers.<ref name=lonelyplanet>{{cite book |last1=Hardy |first1=Paula|last2=Firestone |first2=Matthew D. |title=Botswana & Namibia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSAs1_B-93YC&pg=PA74 |access-date=4 August 2009 |year=2007 |publisher=Lonely Planet |isbn=978-1-74104-760-8 |chapter=Gaborone |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HSAs1_B-93YC&pg=PA74 |pages=75–88}}</ref> Gaberones, a shortening of "Gaborone's Village", was named after [[Chief Gaborone]] of the Tlokwa,<ref name=seth /> whose home village (now called [[Tlokweng]]) was across the river from the Government Camp, the name of the colonial government headquarters. The nickname, "GC", comes from the name "Government Camp".<ref name=history1 /> In 1890, [[Cecil John Rhodes]] picked Gaberones to house a colonial fort.<ref name=history2>{{cite web |title=African cities- Gaborone History |url=http://gaborone.info/php/gabhist.php?name=Gaborone%20History |work=Gaborone.info |publisher=AfricanCities.net |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721202338/http://gaborone.info/php/gabhist.php?name=Gaborone%20History |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref> The fort was where Rhodes planned the [[Jameson Raid]].<ref name=lonelyplanet /> The city changed its name from Gaberones to Gaborone in 1969.<ref>{{cite news | title = Regions Given New Spelling | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7bszAAAAIBAJ&dq=gaborone&pg=7329%2C1913552 | agency = Associated Press | newspaper = Spokane Daily Chronicle | location = Spokane, Washington, USA | date = 22 December 1969 | page = 11 | access-date = 11 July 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151117044134/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7bszAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IfgDAAAAIBAJ&dq=gaborone&pg=7329%2C1913552 | archive-date = 17 November 2015 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/ Gaborone Gaborone], britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019</ref>

The modern town was only founded in 1964, after a decision was taken to establish a capital for Botswana, which became a self governing territory in 1965, before becoming a fully independent republic on 30 September 1966.

In 1965, the capital of the [[Bechuanaland Protectorate]] moved from [[Mahikeng|Mafeking]] to Gaberones.<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 113</ref> When Botswana gained its independence, [[Lobatse]] was the first choice as the nation's capital.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Books|first=L. L. C.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WLJESwAACAAJ|title=Settlements in Botswan: Cities, Towns and Villages in Botswana, Gaborone, Palapye, Moshupa, Serowe, Francistown, Maun, Ghanzi, Hukuntsi|date=June 2010|publisher=General Books|isbn=978-1-157-93814-9|language=en}}</ref> However, Lobatse was deemed too limited, and instead, a new capital city would be created next to Gaberones.<ref name=history1>{{cite web|first=Purity |last=Njeru |title=History of Gaborone |url=http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=703 |publisher=[[The African Executive]] |location=Nairobi, Kenya |year=2009 |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707100754/http://www.africanexecutive.com/modules/magazine/articles.php?article=703 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}</ref> The city was chosen because of its proximity to a fresh water source, its proximity to the railway to [[Pretoria]], its central location among the central tribes, and its lack of association with those surrounding tribes.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Seth |first1=Willie |title=Botswana and Its People |year=2008 |publisher=New Africa Press|isbn=978-0-9814258-7-0 |chapter=Major urban centres |pages=44–46}}</ref>

The city was planned under [[Garden city movement|Garden city principles]] with numerous pedestrian walkways and open spaces.<ref name=economy>{{Cite book|last1= Keiner|first1=Marco|last2= Zegras|first2=Christopher|last3= Schmid|first3=Willy A.|editor1-last= Keiner|editor1-first= Marco|editor2-last= Zegras|editor2-first= Christopher|editor3-last= Schmid|editor3-first= Willy A.|display-editors = 3 |editor4-last= Salmerón|editor4-first= Diego | title =From understanding to action: sustainable urban development in medium-sized cities in Africa and Latin America|pages=19, 63, 68, 93 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=eHZYT0-SsSEC | publisher=Springer|year=2004|isbn=978-1-4020-2879-3 | access-date =6 August 2009}}</ref> Building of Gaborone started in mid-1964. During the city's construction, the chairman of Gaberones Township Authority, Geoffrey Cornish, likened the layout of the city to a "brandy glass" with the government offices in the base of the glass and businesses in the "mall", a strip of land extending from the base.<ref name=Eugene>{{cite news | title = Capital City Being Built On Virgin Soil | author = Paine, David J. | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7uQQAAAAIBAJ&dq=gaberones&pg=4458%2C3421646 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130102232505/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7uQQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-OADAAAAIBAJ&dq=gaberones&pg=4458,3421646 | url-status=dead | archive-date = 2 January 2013 | agency = Associated Press | newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard | location = Eugene, Oregon, USA | date = 15 April 1966 | at = section D, p. 3 | access-date =11 July 2010 }}</ref>

Most of the early town was built within three years, as a small town designed to accommodate 20,000 people – only to later develop after independence into a modern city. Buildings in early Gaborone include assembly buildings, government offices, a power station, a hospital, schools, a radio station, a telephone exchange, police stations, a post office, and more than 1,000 houses.<ref name=architecture>{{cite web |author=killion |title=The Unsustainable urban growth of Gaborone City, Botswana |url=http://www.boidus.co.uk/?p=1188 |publisher=Boidus: Blogs |date=29 June 2009 |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111202355/http://www.boidus.co.uk/?p=1188 |archive-date=11 November 2012 }}</ref> Because the town was built so quickly, there was a massive influx of labourers who had built illegal settlements on the new city's southern industrial development zone. These settlements were named Naledi. The latter term literally means "the star", but could also mean "under the open sky" or "a community that stands out from all others". In 1971, because of the growth of illegal settlements, the Gaborone Town Council and the Ministry of Local Government and Lands surveyed an area called Bontleng, which would contain low-income housing. However, Naledi still grew, and the demand for housing was greater than ever. In 1973, the Botswana Housing Corporation (BHC) built a "New Naledi" across the road from the "Old Naledi". Residents from Old Naledi would be moved to New Naledi. However, the demand for housing increased yet again; moreover, the residents who relocated to New Naledi disliked the houses. The problem was solved in 1975 when Sir [[Seretse Khama]], the president of Botswana, rezoned Naledi from an industrial zone to a low-income housing area.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Old Naledi, the village becomes a town: an outline of the Old Naledi Squatter Upgrading Project, Gaborone, Botswana|last=Van Nostrand|first=John Cornelius|publisher=James Lorimer & Company|year=1982|isbn=978-0-88862-650-9|access-date=19 September 2009|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qGjfAc4J1yUC&pg=PP13|chapter=Old Naledi: History of Settlement|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qGjfAc4J1yUC&pg=PP13|pages=13–15}}</ref>

On 30 September 1966, [[Bechuanaland Protectorate|Bechuanaland]] became the eleventh [[British dependency]] in Africa to become independent. The first [[Gaborone City Council#List of mayors|mayor of Gaborone]] was Reverend [[Derek Jones (mayor)|Derek Jones]].<ref name=jones>{{Cite book | last =Grant | first =Sandy | date =18 June 2009 | title =Our Heritage. | location =Gaborone, Botswana | publisher =[[Mmegi|Mmegi Online]] | url =http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=6&aid=12&dir=2009/June/Thursday18 | access-date =6 August 2009 | volume =26 | issue =91 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120223122431/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=6&aid=12&dir=2009%2FJune%2FThursday18 | archive-date =23 February 2012 }}</ref> The old Gaberones became a suburb of the new Gaborone, and is now known as "the Village".<ref name=history1 />

In the mid-1980s, South Africa attacked Botswana and conducted raids on Gaborone and other border towns. The [[Raid on Gaborone]] resulted in twelve deaths.

After the [[Botswana general election, 1994|1994 General Elections]], riots started in Gaborone because of high unemployment and other issues.<ref name=botswana />

Today, Gaborone is growing very rapidly. In 1964, Gaborone only had 3,855 citizens;<ref name=BALA>{{Cite book|last=Maundeni |first=Zibani |title=Mapping Local Democracy in Gaborone City |url=http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/botswana/04915.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309233840/http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/botswana/04915.pdf |archive-date=9 March 2012 |access-date=3 August 2010 |date=June 2004 |publisher=Botswana Association of Local Authorities |isbn=99912-564-2-3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> seven years later, the city had almost 18,000 residents.<ref name=census3>{{cite web|author=Central Statistics Office|title=Table 1.6: Distribution of Population in Urban Settlements: 1971–2001 Censuses|url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=147|access-date=27 December 2009|location=Gaborone, Botswana|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113195559/http://www.cso.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=89|archive-date=13 November 2009}}</ref> The city originally planned on 20,000 citizens, but by 1992, the city had 138,000 people. This has led to many squatter settlements on undeveloped land.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Carr|first1=Michael | title =New patterns: process and change in human geography|chapter=The form and future shape of the modem city|page=224|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7lKIMAS_7hoC&pg=PA211 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=7lKIMAS_7hoC&pg=PA224 | publisher=Nelson Thornes|year=1997|edition=2nd|isbn=978-0-17-438681-0 | access-date =6 August 2009}}</ref> Former mayor Veronica Lesole has stated that Gaborone's development problems were caused by the original city planners.<ref>{{cite web|title=Garden City Concept is a thing of the past, says Richard Rogers|url=http://boidus.co.bw/blog/?p=2295|publisher=Boidus.co.bw|access-date=9 October 2011|date=15 July 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425052329/http://boidus.co.bw/blog/?p=2295|archive-date=25 April 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{See also|Geography of Botswana}}
[[File:Gaborone, Botswana.jpg|thumb|left|Satellite View of Gaborone. North is to the left of the image.]]
[[File:Gaberone aerial.jpg|thumb|Gaborone aerial]]
Gaborone is situated at {{Coord|24|39|29|S|25|54|44|E}} between [[Kgale Hill|Kgale]] and Oodi Hills, on the [[Notwane River]] in the south-eastern corner of Botswana, and {{convert|15|km|mi}} from the South African border.<ref name=seth /> The city lies at an elevation of {{convert|1010|m|ft}} above sea level. Gaborone is surrounded by the following cities: [[Ramotswa]] to the southeast, [[Mogoditshane]] to the northwest, and [[Mochudi]] to the east, and [[Tlokweng]] across the river. Most of them are [[commuter town]]s for Gaborone. Suburbs in Gaborone include Broadhurst, Gaborone West, The Village, Naledi.<ref name=seth /> [[Phakalane]], an affluent suburb, lies about 13 km north of the city center.<ref name=phakalane>{{cite web|author=Phakalane Properties |title=Gaborone Information – Phakalane Properties, Botswana |url=http://www.phakalane.com/phakalane/ |location=Phakalane, Botswana |year=2008 |access-date=24 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418042010/http://www.phakalane.com/phakalane/ |archive-date=April 18, 2011 }}</ref>

In the centre of the city lies the Main Mall which houses many diplomatic missions. At the eastern end of the Mall, one can find the Civic Centre along with the Pula Arch that commemorates Botswana's independence. The [[Botswana Stock Exchange]], [[Botswana National Museum|National Museum and Art Gallery]], and the main campus of the [[University of Botswana]] also lie near the Main Mall. To the west of the Main Mall is the Government Enclave. This area contains the governmental buildings such as the [[National Assembly of Botswana]] and [[Ntlo ya Dikgosi]] buildings. The [[National Archives of Botswana|National Archives]] building is also found here.

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Gaborone
|North = [[Dumadumana]], [[Kopong]], [[Lentsweletau]]
|Northeast = [[Tlokweng]], [[Pilane (Botswana)|Pilane]], '''[[Mochudi]]'''
|East = [[Modipane]], [[Sikwane]]
|Southeast =
|South = [[Ramotswa]], [[Otse]], '''[[Lobatse]]'''
|Southwest = '''[[Kanye, Botswana|Kanye]]'''
|West = [[Gabane]], [[Thamaga]]
|Northwest = '''[[Mogoditshane]]''', '''[[Molepolole]]'''
}}

===Climate===
Gaborone has a hot [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''[[semi-arid climate#Hot semi-arid climates|''BSh'']]''). Most of the year, Gaborone is very sunny. The summers are usually hot. The nights are cool. Usually, the summers with little rainfall are warmer than summers with regular rainfall. If there is a drought, the hottest temperatures of the year are usually in January or February. If there is normal rainfall, the hottest temperatures are usually in October, right before the rain starts. During the winter, days are still warm, and the nights are cold.<ref name=climate />

There are on average seventy-four days per year with temperatures above {{convert|32|°C|°F}}. There are on average 196 days per year with temperatures above {{convert|26|°C|°F}}. There are on average fifty-one days per year with temperatures below {{convert|7|°C|°F}}. There is on average one day per year with temperatures below {{convert|0|°C|°F}}.<ref name=temperature /> The average [[dew point]] peaks around January and February at {{convert|16|°C|°F}} and hits the lowest levels in July at {{convert|2|°C|°F}}. The average dew point in a given year is {{convert|10|°C|°F}}.<ref name=temperature /> The record high temperature ever registered in Gaborone was {{convert|43.9|°C}}.<ref name="Climate">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203143334/http://www.weather.info.bw/resources/entry_fs.html |archive-date=3 December 2008 |url=http://www.weather.info.bw/resources/entry_fs.html |title=Botswana's Climate |publisher=Meteorological Services Botswana |access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref> The lowest temperature registered in Gaborone was {{convert|-6.5|°C}}.<ref name="Climate" />

Precipitation in Gaborone is scanty and erratic. Most of the rainfall in Gaborone falls during the summer months, between October and April.<ref name=climate /> There are on average forty days of thunderstorms per year, most of them happening during the summer months, and four days of fog, usually happening during the winter months.<ref name=temperature>{{cite web | url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=44286&refer=&cityname=Gaborone-South-East-Botswana&units=us | title =Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Gaborone, Botswana | access-date =26 June 2012 | publisher =Weatherbase | archive-date =24 September 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120924123406/http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=44286&refer=&cityname=Gaborone-South-East-Botswana&units=metric | url-status =dead }}</ref> Gaborone has been affected by three floods based on records going back to 1995, one in 2000, one in 2001 that caused an estimated 5,000,000 [[Botswana pula]] worth of damage, and one in 2006.<ref name=enviro>{{cite web |url=http://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Natural%C2%A0%20Disasters%C2%A0%20Digest%C2%A02008.pdf |author=Central Statistics Office |location=Gaborone, Botswana |access-date=3 July 2010 |date=August 2009 |title=NATURAL DISASTERS DIGEST 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810174557/http://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Natural%C2%A0%20Disasters%C2%A0%20Digest%C2%A02008.pdf |archive-date=10 August 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The highest humidity occurs in June at 90% while the lowest humidity is in September at 28%.<ref name=climate />

[[Solar irradiance]] ranges from 4.1 kWh m−2 d−1 in June to 7.3 kWh m−2 d−1 in December.<ref name=climate>{{Cite news |first=Carl |last=Bauer |year=2005 |title=Climate |periodical=Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation in the Building Sector in Botswana |place=Gaborone, Botswana |publisher=Bauer Consult |pages=6–13 |url=http://www.bauerconsultbotswana.com/3_Climate.pdf |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806211743/http://www.bauerconsultbotswana.com/3_Climate.pdf |archive-date=6 August 2010 }}</ref>

It is windier from September to November at {{convert|14|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, and it is calmer from May to August at {{convert|8|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}. The average wind speed in a given year is {{convert|12|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref name=temperature />
{{Clear }}
{{Weather box
|collapsed =
|location = Gaborone ([[Sir Seretse Khama Airport]], 1981–2010)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high F = 103
|Feb record high F = 104
|Mar record high F = 102
|Apr record high F = 98
|May record high F = 91
|Jun record high F = 84
|Jul record high F = 83
|Aug record high F = 91
|Sep record high F = 103
|Oct record high F = 100
|Nov record high F = 104
|Dec record high F = 103
|year record high F = 104
|Jan high C = 32.7
|Feb high C = 32.1
|Mar high C = 30.8
|Apr high C = 28.4
|May high C = 25.6
|Jun high C = 23.1
|Jul high C = 22.9
|Aug high C = 26.2
|Sep high C = 30.0
|Oct high C = 32.0
|Nov high C = 32.3
|Dec high C = 32.5
|year high C = 29.1
|Jan mean C = 25.7
|Feb mean C = 25.2
|Mar mean C = 23.7
|Apr mean C = 20.6
|May mean C = 16.8
|Jun mean C = 13.7
|Jul mean C = 13.5
|Aug mean C = 16.9
|Sep mean C = 21.2
|Oct mean C = 24.0
|Nov mean C = 24.7
|Dec mean C = 25.3
|year mean C = 20.9
|Jan low C = 19.7
|Feb low C = 19.3
|Mar low C = 17.4
|Apr low C = 13.5
|May low C = 8.3
|Jun low C = 5.0
|Jul low C = 4.4
|Aug low C = 7.5
|Sep low C = 12.3
|Oct low C = 16.3
|Nov low C = 17.7
|Dec low C = 18.8
|year low C = 13.4
|Jan record low F = 57
|Feb record low F = 55
|Mar record low F = 52
|Apr record low F = 32
|May record low F = 30
|Jun record low F = 30
|Jul record low F = 28
|Aug record low F = 32
|Sep record low F = 41
|Oct record low F = 45
|Nov record low F = 46
|Dec record low F = 52
|year record low F = 28
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 143
|Feb precipitation mm = 82
|Mar precipitation mm = 74
|Apr precipitation mm = 30
|May precipitation mm = 8.3
|Jun precipitation mm = 7.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 1
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 5.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 5.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 58
|Dec precipitation mm = 71
|year precipitation mm =
|Jan rain days = 6
|Feb rain days = 5
|Mar rain days = 5
|Apr rain days = 3
|May rain days = 2
|Jun rain days = 1
|Jul rain days = 1
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 2
|Oct rain days = 4
|Nov rain days = 5
|Dec rain days = 6
|year rain days = 41
|source 1 = African Regional Climate Centre<ref name=ARCC>
{{cite web
|url = http://acmad.net/rcc/African-RCC/rcc_country_selection.php
|title = Precipitation and temperature reference climatologies: Seretse Khama International Airport
|publisher = African Regional Climate Centre
|access-date = January 19, 2016
|url-status = live
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160314035305/http://acmad.net/rcc/African-RCC/rcc_country_selection.php
|archive-date = 14 March 2016

}}</ref>
|source 2 = Weatherbase (records)<ref name=temperature />
|date=June 2012
}}


==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|shading = on
|percentages = pagr
|1964|3855
|1971|17718
|1981|59657
|1991|133468
|2001|186007
|2006|191776
|2011|231626
|2022|246325
|footnote=Sources:<ref name=BSYB>{{cite web|title=BOTSWANA STATISTICAL YEAR BOOK 2010 |url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/Botswana%20Statistical%20Year%20Book%202010.PDF |work=Statistics Botswana |publisher=Central Statistics Office |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904061357/http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/Botswana%20Statistical%20Year%20Book%202010.PDF |archive-date=4 September 2015 |location=Gaborone |date=December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=2011Census>{{cite web|title=The Population of Towns, Villages and Associated Localities |work=2011 Population and Housing Census |url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/Population%20of%20Towns%20and%20Villages%20_2011%20PHC_%20Jun%204%202012..pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904061357/http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/Population%20of%20Towns%20and%20Villages%20_2011%20PHC_%20Jun%204%202012..pdf |archive-date=4 September 2015 |access-date=14 June 2012 |date=June 2012 |publisher=Statistics Botswana |location=Gaborone |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=demo /><ref name=BALA /><ref name=census3 /><ref name="Statistics Bostwana - Census 2022 - Population of cities, towns and villages">{{Cite web |title=Statistics Bostwana - Census 2022 - Population of cities, towns and villages |url=https://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Population%20of%20Cities%20Towns%20and%20Villages%20%202022.pdf}}</ref>
}}

The population, based on the 2022 census, is 246,325. There are 118,727 males and 127,598 females in the city.<ref name="Statistics Bostwana - Census 2022 - Population of cities, towns and villages" /> There are 58,476 households in Gaborone.<ref name=census>{{cite web|author=Central Statistics Office|title=Table 1.1: Population by sex and census districts (1991 And 2001)|url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=89|access-date=5 August 2009|date=7 February 2008|location=Gaborone, Botswana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091113195559/http://www.cso.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=142&Itemid=89|archive-date=13 November 2009|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2001, the average household size was 3.11 people. The city of Gaborone is home to over 10% of the population of Botswana.<ref name=demo /><ref name=botswana /> Almost half of Botswana citizens live within {{convert|100|km|mi}} of Gaborone.<ref name="capital2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.capital.bw/resources/presentation2010/botswana_country_overview_2010-11.pdf |title=Botswana Country Overview 2010/11 |publisher=Capital Resources |work=Botswana Resource Conference 2010 |year=2010 |access-date=24 May 2011 |last1=Jefferis |first1=Keith |last2=Pickering |first2=Dawn |last3=Kenwendo |first3=Bogolo |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904061358/http://www.capital.bw/resources/presentation2010/botswana_country_overview_2010-11.pdf |archive-date=4 September 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Population growth|population growth rate]] of Gaborone is 3.4%, the highest in the country. This is most likely because the city has a more developed infrastructure, making it more livable.<ref name=census2>{{cite web |author=Central Statistics Office |title=2001 POPULATION CENSUS ATLAS: BOTSWANA |url=http://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Population_Census_Atlas.pdf |access-date=5 August 2009 |date=February 2005 |location=Gaborone, Botswana |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113191219/http://www.statsbots.org.bw/sites/default/files/publications/Population_Census_Atlas.pdf |archive-date=13 November 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> Gaborone is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.<ref name=seth /> Much of the growth is based on net in migration from the rest of Botswana.<ref name=pula />

The [[human sex ratio|sex ratio]] of Gaborone is 96.3, meaning that there are 963 men for every 1,000 women.<ref name=2011Census /> Most of the marriages in Botswana are registered in Gaborone; about 15% of all marriages in Botswana were registered in Gaborone in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/StatsBrief/marriages_june_2010.pdf |title=MARRIAGE STATISTICS 2007 |author=A. N. Majelantle |date=May 2010 |work=STATS BRIEF |publisher=Central Statistics Office |location=Gaborone, Botswana |page=2 |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5qyc2XAMi?url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/StatsBrief/marriages_june_2010.pdf |archive-date=4 July 2010 |access-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On average, there are 3.3 persons per household in Gaborone. This is a low number compared to the rest of Botswana.<ref name=demo>{{cite web| url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/HouseHold/2006_bdsrprt.pdf|title=Botswana Demographic Survey 2006|author=Central Statistics Office|location=Gaborone, Botswana|access-date=3 July 2010|date=January 2009}}</ref>

== Places of worship ==
{{See also|Religion in Botswana}}
[[File:Hindu temple gaborone01.jpg|thumb|Gaborone Hindu temple]]
Among [[places of worship]], [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples predominate. These include houses of worship affiliated with the [[Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana]] ([[Lutheran World Federation]]), [[Assemblies of God]], [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], [[International Pentecostal Holiness Church]], [[Christ Embassy]], [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaborone]] ([[Catholic Church]]).<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 380</ref> Accompanying a significant community of ethnic Serbs in the city, there are also two [[Serbian Orthodox]] churches within Gaborone; the St. Nicholas Church and the St. Sava Church.

==Culture==
The [[Botswana National Museum|National Museum and Art Gallery]] is located just northwest of the Mall along Independence Road.<ref name="map" /> The museum opened in 1968. It holds many things from traditional crafts to works of art by local artists. The museum houses original paintings by [[Thomas Baines]] and [[Lucas Sithole]]. Exhibits include ''Artists in Botswana'', ''Children's Art Competition'' and ''Thapong International''. Outside the museum, there are various forms of transportation such as wagons, sledges, and ''bakkies'' ([[pickup truck]]s). There is also an exhibit on the [[San people|San]], the earliest inhabitants of southern Africa.<ref name="yeah">{{cite web |title=Gaborone Holidays – a Visit to the Vibrant Cosmopolitan Capital |date=24 May 2006 |url=http://www.syl.com/travel/gabaroneholidaysavisittothevibrantcosmopolitancapital.html |access-date=5 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625031736/http://www.syl.com/travel/gabaroneholidaysavisittothevibrantcosmopolitancapital.html |archive-date=25 June 2010 }}</ref> The museum opened a {{convert|3.6|ha|acre|adj=on|sigfig=1}}<ref name="garden">{{cite web |title=National Botanical Garden |publisher=Botanic Gardens Conservation International |url=http://www.bgci.org/garden.php?id=2254&ftrCountry=BW&ftrKeyword=&ftrBGCImem=&ftrIAReg= |access-date=19 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310122528/http://www.bgci.org/garden.php?id=2254&ftrCountry=BW&ftrKeyword=&ftrBGCImem=&ftrIAReg= |archive-date=10 March 2012 }}</ref> botanical garden called the [[National Botanical Garden (Botswana)|National Botanical Garden]] on 2 November 2007.<ref>{{cite web |author=Palapye |title=National Museum to Launch Botanical Garden |date=25 October 2007 |url=http://palapye.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/national-museum-to-launch-botanical-garden/ |access-date=31 May 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110824003744/http://palapye.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/national-museum-to-launch-botanical-garden/ |archive-date=24 August 2011 }}</ref> The garden was built to protect Botswana's indigenous plant life, and 90% of its total plant species are native plants from Botswana.<ref name=garden />

The introduction of the ministry of youth sports and culture has immensely contributed to the growth of arts and culture, with few elements of culture used to create a living for the youth, the ministry buys the locally designed ornaments and artifacts. the culture depicted is not just a way of living but shared experience that improves individuals lives. with different crafts people of Gaborone have managed to sustain their lives, be it in sports, and or performing arts.

The Maitisong Festival was started in 1987 and is held every year for seven days on either the last week of March or the first week of April. The festival holds outdoor concerts, plays, and films in various venues around the city.<ref name=lonelyplanet />

"My African Dream" was a performing-arts competition during the 2000s that was held every year at the Gaborone International Convention Center. The show featured many [[kwaito]] dancers and musicians.<ref name=botswana />

The book series ''[[The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency]]'', written by Scottish author [[Alexander McCall Smith]], is set in Gaborone. The books follow [[Precious Ramotswe]], the first female private detective in Botswana, and the mysteries that she solves. The Detective Kubu series, by Michael Stanley (South African co-writers Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip), features Assistant Superintendent David 'Kubu' Bengu of the [[Botswana Police Service]] Criminal Investigation Department.

==Economy==
[[File:I-Tower 20200402.jpg|thumb|left|I-Tower at Central Business District]]
Gaborone is the center of the national economy. The headquarters of important financial institutions such as the [[Bank of Botswana]], [[Bank Gaborone]], [[BancABC]], and the [[Botswana Stock Exchange]] are centrally located, as well as the headquarters for [[Air Botswana]], [[Consumer Watchdog (Botswana)|Consumer Watchdog]], [[Botswana Telecommunications Corporation]], and [[Debswana]], the joint diamond mining venture between [[De Beers]] and the Botswana government.
The [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC) has its headquarters in Gaborone; the organization was formed in 1980 to increase economic cooperation among its members and reduce dependence on South Africa.<ref name=seth />

Several international companies have invested in the city: [[Hyundai Group|Hyundai]], [[SABMiller]], [[Daewoo]], [[Volvo]], and [[Siemens]].<ref name="pula" />

[[File:Orapa_house,_Gaborone_6_(Botswana).jpg|thumb|right|Orapa House]]Orapa House, owned by [[Debswana]], is where the diamonds mined from Debswana are sorted and valued. Orapa House is located at the intersection of Khama Crescent and Nelson Mandela Drive.<ref name="map" /> It has a unique style of architecture that allows the optimal amount of indirect sunlight to shine through the windows in order to accurately sort diamonds.<ref name="culture">{{cite web |title=African cities- Gaborone Culture |url=http://gaborone.info/php/gabculture.php?name=Gaborone%20Culture |work=Gaborone.info |publisher=AfricanCities.net |access-date=5 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721202404/http://gaborone.info/php/gabculture.php?name=Gaborone%20Culture |archive-date=21 July 2011 }}</ref>

A Diamond Technology Park was recently opened{{when|date=November 2022}}, this is as part of Botswana Government's vision for establishment of downstream diamond industry.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} Companies dealing in diamonds have established their local operations in the park.

The Botswana Resource Conference is held annually at the Gaborone International Conference Centre.

The unemployment rate in Gaborone is 11.7% {{As of|2008|lc=y}}.<ref name=BAIS />{{update inline|date=June 2022}} 19.7% of the population in Gaborone is employed in the financial sector.<ref name="BAIS" />{{update inline|date=June 2022}}

According to [[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer]]'s 2011 [[List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees|Worldwide Cost of Living Survey]], Gaborone has the 195th highest [[cost of living]] for [[expatriate]]s in the world, up from 203rd in 2010. Gaborone comes between [[Chennai]], India and [[Quito]], Ecuador. Gaborone is the fourth least expensive city for expatriates in Africa, coming in above [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia at 211th, [[Kampala]], Uganda at 202nd and [[Windhoek]], Namibia at 198th.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/1420615 |title=Worldwide Cost of Living survey 2011 – city ranking |date=12 July 2011 |work=Cost of Living Survey |publisher=Mercer |location=Toronto |access-date=25 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410174442/http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/1420615 |archive-date=10 April 2014 }}</ref>

==Sport==
There are several football stadiums located in and around Gaborone. These include [[SSKB Stadium]], [[Mochudi Stadium]], and [[Botswana National Stadium]]. There are also several football teams representing Gaborone, which include, amongst others, [[Botswana Defence Force XI]], [[Gaborone United]], [[Police XI]], [[Township Rollers]] and [[Uniao Flamengo Santos FC]], which is based in nearby [[Gabane]]; all of them have played in the [[Botswana Premier League]]. The [[Botswana national football team]] plays in the National Stadium, but has never qualified for the [[FIFA World Cup]], even though they recently qualified for the [[Africa Cup of Nations]], held in [[Gabon]] in January 2012.

The [[Botswana Cricket Association]], the governing body of cricket in Botswana, is headquartered in Gaborone. There are two Ovals where cricket is played in the city.

The [[Steinmetz Gaborone Marathon]], the second [[marathon]] in Botswana, was held for the first time on 18 April 2010. The route started at the Phakalane Golf Estate in Phakalane, north of the city, and went through Gaborone, passing the [[National Assembly of Botswana|National Assembly Building]]. The marathon, which was cancelled in 2011, has been held annually starting from 2012.<ref name=GCM>{{cite web |url=http://www.gaboronecitymarathon.com/ |title=Gaborone City Marathon |access-date=4 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322200348/http://www.gaboronecitymarathon.com/ |archive-date=22 March 2010 }}</ref>

<div align=center>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
|- style="text-align:center; background:#eee"
|+ Stadiums in Gaborone<ref>{{cite web |title=Stadiums in Gaborone |publisher=worldstadia.com |year=2010 |url= http://www.worldstadia.com/ws/show-page.php?menuCommand=showcity&menuData=Gaborone&menuSubData=Botswana |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101231090406/http://www.worldstadia.com/ws/show-page.php?menuCommand=showcity&menuData=Gaborone&menuSubData=Botswana |archive-date=31 December 2010 |access-date=1 July 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Stadiums in Botswana |publisher=World Stadiums |year=2010 |url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/botswana.shtml |url-status=dead |access-date=1 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006121330/http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/botswana.shtml |archive-date=6 October 2009 }}</ref>
! Venue !! Sport
! !! Capacity !! Club(s)
|-
|[[Botswana Cricket Association Oval]] ||[[Cricket]]
| || align="center" |n/a ||[[Botswana cricket team]]
|-
|[[Botswana National Stadium]] ||[[Association football|Football]], athletics, [[Rugby football|rugby]], tennis
| || align="right" |25,000 ||[[Gaborone United]], [[Notwane F.C.]], [[Police XI]], [[Township Rollers F.C.]]
|-
|[[Mochudi Stadium]] ||[[Association football|Football]]
| || align="right" |10,000 ||[[Mochudi Centre Chiefs]]
|-
|[[SSKB Stadium]] ||[[Association football|Football]]
| || align="right" | 5,000 ||[[Botswana Defence Force XI]]
|-
|[[University of Botswana Stadium]] ||[[Association football|Football]]
| || align="right" | 5,000 ||[[Uniao Flamengo Santos F.C.]]
|}
</div>
{{clear|both}}

==Parks and recreation==
The [[Gaborone Dam]] is located south of Gaborone along the Gaborone-Lobatse road, and provides water for both Gaborone and Lobatse. The dam is the second biggest in Botswana, able to hold {{convert|141400000|m3|cuyd|sigfig=4|lk=on}}.<ref name=water>{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/Enviro/botswanawater_statisticsreport.pdf |title=Botswana water statistics |first=A. |last=Majelantle |date=October 2009 |publisher=Central Statistics Office |location=Gaborone, Botswana |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5r28HPAkm?url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/Enviro/botswanawater_statisticsreport.pdf |archive-date=7 July 2010 |access-date=7 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It is also starting to be marketed as a recreational area. The northern end of the reservoir is planned to become an entertainment venue called ''The Waterfront''. There is a [[yacht club]], called Gaborone Yacht Club, also on the northern side of the lake. The southern end houses the Kalahari Fishing Club and a new public facility called City Scapes. City Scapes contains parks, playgrounds, and boating facilities.<ref name=architecture1>{{cite web |author=Gabscity.com |location=Gaborone, Botswana |title=City – Gabscity.com all about Gaborone |url=http://www.gabscity.com/city/index.php |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809032116/http://www.gabscity.com/city/index.php |archive-date=9 August 2009 }}</ref> The dam is popular with [[birdwatching|birdwatchers]], [[windsurfing|windsurfers]], and [[fishing|anglers]].<ref name=lonelyplanet /> However, there is no swimming due to the presence of [[crocodile]]s and parasitic [[Schistosoma|bilharzia]]s.<ref name=culture />

===Wildlife===

{{See also|Wildlife of Botswana}}
[[File:Watch house.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Watch house in Gaborone Game Reserve]]
The Gaborone Game Reserve is a {{convert|600|ha|acre|adj=on}} park east of the city on Limpopo Drive.<ref name=map /> The reserve was built in 1988 and is now the third-busiest in Botswana. Examples of animals in the park are [[impala]], [[kudu]], [[ostrich]]es, [[wildebeest]], [[zebra]]s, [[gemsbok]], [[bushbuck]], [[springbok (antelope)|springbok]], [[duiker]], [[common eland]], and [[common warthog]]s.<ref name=lonelyplanet /> The park is a destination for [[birdwatching]].<ref name=yeah /> Birds in the marshy section of the park include [[snake eagle]]s, [[Laniarius|boubou]], [[Moorhen|gallinule]], [[kingfisher]]s, and [[hornbill]]s.<ref name=lonelyplanet />
[[File:Ostriches at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Botswana.JPG|thumb|Ostriches at Mokolodi Nature Reserve, Botswana]]
[[Kgale Hill]] is located a few hundred metres from the city. The hill is nicknamed the ''Sleeping Giant'' and is {{convert|1287|m|ft}}. There are three different paths to reach the top, usually taking two hours.<ref name=lonelyplanet />

The [[Mokolodi Nature Reserve]] is a {{convert|30|km2|sqmi|adj=on}} reserve that was created in 1994.<ref name=nature /> It is located {{convert|12|km|mi}} south of Gaborone.<ref name=lonelyplanet /> There are many different species of animals found in the park such as [[common warthog]]s, [[steenbok]], [[kudu]], [[zebra]]s, [[giraffe]]s, [[common eland]], [[ostrich]]es, [[hippopotamus|hippo]]s and [[rhinoceros|rhino]]s. The park helps with wildlife projects in Botswana that include: the reintroduction of the [[white rhinoceros|white rhino]] and the relocation of "problem" [[cheetah]]s. Mokolodi also holds the Education Centre, which teaches children about the conservation projects.<ref name=nature>{{cite web |author=Mokolodi Nature Reserve |title=Introduction |url=http://www.mokolodi.com/introduction.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080312010501/http://www.mokolodi.com/introduction.php |archive-date=March 12, 2008 |publisher=Mokolodi Nature Reserve |access-date=5 August 2009}}</ref>

Somarelang Tikologo (Environment Watch Botswana) is a member-based environmental NGO housed inside an ecological park at the heart of Gaborone. The aim of the organization is to promote sustainable environmental protection by educating, demonstrating and encouraging best practices in environmental planning, resource conservation and waste management in Botswana. The park was officially opened by the Botswana Minister of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism, Onkokame kitso Mokaila on 27 February 2009. The park contains a playground for children to play on throughout the day, a community organic garden, a recycling drop-off center, and a shop where visitors can purchase products made of recycled material.<ref name=st>{{cite web |author=Somarelang Tikologo |title=What is ST? |url=http://www.somatiko.org.bw |publisher=Somarelang Tikologo |access-date=17 September 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914112716/http://www.somatiko.org.bw/ |archive-date=14 September 2010 }}</ref>

==Government==
{{main|Parliament of Botswana}}
[[File:BotswanaParliament.jpg|thumb|The [[National Assembly of Botswana]]]]

===Local government===
{{main|Gaborone City Council}}
Gaborone is controlled by the [[Gaborone City Council]], the wealthiest council in Botswana.<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Nengwekhulu |first=Ranwedzi |title=An evaluation of the nature and role of local government in post colonial Botswana |chapter-url=http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/submitted/etd-09222008-160653/unrestricted/03chapter5.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100714024518/http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/submitted/etd-09222008-160653/unrestricted/03chapter5.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2010 |access-date=17 June 2012 |degree=DPhil |date=1 April 1996 |publisher=University of Pretoria School of Public Management and Administration |id=etd-09222008-160653|pages=98–124|chapter=Chapter Five: The Structure and Membership of the Council}}</ref> It is composed of 35 councillors representing the wards of Gaborone. The Townships Act mandates the structure of local governments in Botswana. Because Botswana is a [[unitary state]], the power of the local councils are delegated from the national level. The Ministry of Local Government, Land and Housing has a major influence in terms of personnel hiring and training, budgeting, and development planning.<ref name=Wunsch>{{cite journal|last=Wunsch |first=James S. |title=Decentralization, Local Governance and the Democratic Transition in Southern Africa: A Comparative Analysis |journal=African Studies Quarterly |year=1998 |volume=2 |issue=1 |pages=19–45 |access-date=17 June 2012 |publisher=[[University of Florida]] Center for African Studies |location=[[Gainesville, Florida|Gainesville]], Florida |issn=2152-2448 |url=http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v2/v2i1a2.pdf |archive-date=16 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216190909/http://www.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v2/v2i1a2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[City commission government|city commission]]-style [[city council|council]] is run by the city clerk and the deputy city clerk. The city is governed by the mayor, deputy mayor, and several committees run by councillors: the financial and general purposes committee; the public health, social welfare and housing committee; the Self-Help Housing Agency (SHAA) management committee; the town planning committee; the trade licensing committee; and the education committee.<ref name=pula>{{Cite journal|last=Lekorwe |first=Mogopodi |title=The politics of urban governance and management in Gaborone |url=http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/PULA/pula012001/pula012001006.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616154953/http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/African%20Journals/pdfs/PULA/pula012001/pula012001006.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2011 |access-date=3 August 2010 |journal=Pula: Botswana Journal of African Studies |volume=12 |issue=1 & 2 |year=1998 }}</ref> The councillors elect the mayor in a [[first-past-the-post voting|first-past-the-post]] system and place each other in the committees yearly.<ref name=BALA /> The council has 2,515 employees.<ref name=pula />

An income tax called the Local Government Tax used to be the main source of income of the city council, but it was abolished. Today, the city council derives most of its revenue from property rates. City councillors feel that because of recurrent obligations, they have little room to institute new solutions.<ref name=Wunsch />

The city council has been criticised by the Botswana Association of Local Authorities for its closed elections and minimal authority.<ref name=BALA /> In 2010, the council had problems with waste management: Frenic, the waste management company hired by the city, sued the Gaborone City Council for unpaid compensation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mooketsi|first=Lekopanye|title=Frenic Company sues Gaborone City Council|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=603&dir=2010/March/Wednesday3|publisher=Mmegi|access-date=4 August 2010|date=3 March 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307161312/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=603&dir=2010%2FMarch%2FWednesday3|archive-date=7 March 2012}}</ref> This has led to a buildup of uncollected garbage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ngwanaamotho|first=Maranyane|title=Gaborone City Council fails to collect garbage|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1532&dir=2010/April/Friday9|publisher=Mmegi|access-date=4 August 2010|date=9 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307161335/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=1532&dir=2010%2FApril%2FFriday9|archive-date=7 March 2012}}</ref> Haskins Nkaigwa, mayor of Gaborone from 2011, has stressed the importance of more local autonomy. He advocates for a stronger city council with the power to determine budgets and hire and fire clerks and officers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Keoreng|first=Ephraim|title=New Gaborone Mayor seeks power to hire and fire|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=494&dir=2011/October/Wednesday5|access-date=17 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104154805/http://mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=494&dir=2011%2FOctober%2FWednesday5|archive-date=4 November 2011|location=Gaborone|date=5 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===National government===
Gaborone is the political centre of [[Botswana]]. Most government buildings are located west of the Main Mall in an area called the Government Enclave.<ref name=map /> The [[National Assembly of Botswana]], the [[Ntlo ya Dikgosi]], the [[National Archives of Botswana|National Archives]],<ref name=economy /> the [[Department of Taxes and Attorney General's Chambers Building]], and the Ministry of Health. Near the entrance of the parliament building, there is a statue of [[Seretse Khama|Sir Seretse Khama]], Botswana's first president as well as a memorial dedicated to the three hundred Batswana who were killed from 1939 to 1945.<ref name="botswana review">{{cite journal| year = 2010| title = Botswana Review 29th Edition| journal = Botswana Review of Commerce and Industry| volume = 29| publisher = B&T Directories (Pty) LTD| location = Gaborone, Botswana| url = https://www.scribd.com/doc/32694240/Botswana-Review-2010| access-date = 11 October 2010| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100707102758/http://www.scribd.com/doc/32694240/Botswana-Review-2010| archive-date = 7 July 2010}}</ref> Another monument pays tribute to the [[Botswana Defence Force]] soldiers who died in the [[Rhodesian Bush War]].<ref name=tourismboard />

Before 1982, Gaborone held one [[Parliamentary constituencies of Botswana|parliamentary constituency]], one seat in the [[Parliament of Botswana]]. From 1982 to 1993, Gaborone was divided into two constituencies, Gaborone North and Gaborone South. A third seat in Parliament was given to a member elected for the whole city of Gaborone. In January 1993, two new constituencies were created: Gaborone West and Gaborone Central. For local government elections, the four constituencies were divided into wards. Gaborone North had seven, Gaborone West had seven. Gaborone Central had six, and Gaborone South had five.<ref name=pula /> In 2019, the city had five constituencies: Gaborone North, Gaborone Central, Gaborone South, Gaborone West North, and Gaborone West South.<ref name="constituencies">{{cite web|title=How Parties Fared in 2019 Parliamentary Election|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?aid=83222&dir=2019/october/28|last=Odubeng|first=Maureen|date=18 October 2019|website=The Monitor|access-date=30 May 2020}}</ref>

An [[International Law Enforcement Academy]] (ILEA) was established on 24 July 2000 in Gaborone. The academy would provide training for middle managers for the countries in the [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC).<ref>{{Cite web | date =29 June 2009 | title =History | url =http://www.ileagaborone.co.bw/History.htm | publisher =ILEA Gaborone-Botswana | access-date =24 May 2011 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20110706164523/http://www.ileagaborone.co.bw/History.htm | archive-date =6 July 2011 }}</ref>

There are 21 [[List of diplomatic missions in Botswana|diplomatic missions in Gaborone]].

==Education==
[[File:St. Joseph's College students.JPG|thumb|left|St. Joseph's College students]]
{{main|List of schools in Botswana}}
There are more people who have earned a degree or postgraduate qualifications in Gaborone than anywhere else in Botswana. 70.9% of the population of Gaborone have earned at least a secondary-level education<ref name=demo /> 2.6% of the population of Gaborone has never attended school.<ref name=BAIS>{{cite web|title=2008 Botswana AIDS Impact Survey III |url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/aids%20impact%20survey.pdf |work=BAIS |publisher=Central Statistics Office |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904061358/http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/aids%20impact%20survey.pdf |archive-date=4 September 2015 |location=Gaborone |date=November 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Gaborone has many primary and secondary schools, both public and private. These include [[Westwood International School]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.westwoodis.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231212237/http://www.westwoodis.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-12-31|title=Westwood International School|website=www.westwoodis.com|access-date=2016-06-17}}</ref> [[Maru a Pula School|Maru-a-Pula School]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maruapula.org/|title=Home - Maru-a-Pula School|website=Maru-a-Pula School|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512235657/http://www.maruapula.org/|archive-date=12 May 2016}}</ref> [[St. Joseph's College, Kgale]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.localbotswana.com/company/12397/ST_JOSEPHS_COLLEGE|title=ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE|website=LocalBotswana|access-date=2016-06-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701070249/http://www.localbotswana.com/company/12397/ST_JOSEPHS_COLLEGE|archive-date=1 July 2016}}</ref> Legae Academy,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.legaeacademy.co.bw/|title=Home|website=www.legaeacademy.co.bw|access-date=2016-06-17|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729203756/http://www.legaeacademy.co.bw/|archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref> Northside Primary School, Thornhill Primary School and Hillcrest International School. Seventeen of the sixty private schools in Botswana are located in Gaborone.<ref>{{cite web|title=Education Statistics 2011 |url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/Educ%20Stats%20Brief%20Dec%2020%202011..pdf |work=Statistics Botswana |publisher=Central Statistics Office |access-date=25 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904061358/http://www.cso.gov.bw/templates/cso/file/File/Educ%20Stats%20Brief%20Dec%2020%202011..pdf |archive-date=4 September 2015 |location=Gaborone |page=1 |date=December 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The main campus of the [[University of Botswana]] (which was established in 1982)<ref name=seth/> is on the eastern extent of the city.<ref name=map/>

In addition there are other universities or institutions of higher education that cater to specialized study and instruction: [[Limkokwing University Of Creative Technology]] (which also has a campus in Gaborone); the [[Botswana Accountancy College]] (which caters to both accounting and IT students); [[Botswana Open University]] (offering long-distance learning); Gaborone Technical College; Boitekanelo College; Botho University (which offers courses ranging from computing, accounting and finance, business, engineering and health information management); and Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, situated approximately {{convert|15|km|mi}} from the city centre.<ref>{{citation |title=BCA becomes university |date=12 November 2013 |work=Daily News |url=http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=7018 |location=Gaborone, Botswana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701184051/http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=7018 |archive-date=1 July 2016 |access-date=4 April 2016 }}</ref>

Further, in year 2006, the Gaborone Universal College of Law, opened its main campus in Gaborone,<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.guc.co.bw/guc-aboutus.html |publisher=Gaborone Universal College of Law |access-date=9 October 2010 |location=Gaborone, Botswana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128201650/http://www.guc.co.bw/guc-aboutus.html |archive-date=28 January 2011 }}</ref> with its first group of students graduating in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mokgoabone |first=Kabo |title=Gaborone University College of Law holds 2010 graduation |url=http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=8767&GroupID=1 |access-date=9 October 2010 |newspaper=Sunday Standard |date=6 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722000420/http://www.sundaystandard.info/article.php?NewsID=8767&GroupID=1 |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref>

==Media==
Newspapers published in Gaborone include ''[[Mmegi]]'', ''[[The Botswana Gazette]]'', The Monitor, Midweek Sun, The Patriot on Sunday, Sunday Standard, and ''[[The Voice (Botswana)|The Voice]]''. Magazines published are Lapologa, Peolwane, Kutwlano among others.

Radio station [[Yarona FM]] broadcasts from Gaborone; its frequency in Gaborone is 106.6 FM. Another small, local radio station in Gaborone is Gabz FM, Duma FM & Yarona FM.<ref name=media>{{Cite book|last1=Denbow|first1=James Raymond|last2=Thebe|first2=Phenyo C. | title =Culture and customs of Botswana|chapter=Literature and Media|pages=72–73|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ycoVZ-DfrYC&q=gabz+FM&pg=PA55
| url =https://books.google.com/books?id=8ycoVZ-DfrYC&pg=PA72 | publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group
| year=2006|isbn=978-0-313-33178-7| access-date =6 August 2009}}</ref> 86.6% of Gaborone households own a working radio.<ref name=BAIS />

Before 2000, residents of Gaborone received television programming from BOP TV in [[Mahikeng]] via a repeating transmitter on the summit of [[Kgale Hill]].<ref name=media /> Today, the Gaborone Broadcasting Company and [[Botswana TV]] provide television programming for Gaborone. 78.7% of the households in Gaborone have a working television. Other local channels based in Gaborone are Now TV, Khuduga HD, Access TV & Maru TV.<ref name=BAIS />

93.7% of the households in Gaborone have a cell phone.<ref name=BAIS />

==Infrastructure==
{{ multiple image
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| footer =
| image1 =
| caption1=
| image2 = Gabs Traffic.png
| caption2= Traffic in Gaborone
| image3 =
| caption3 = Traffic (top) and New CBD Developments (bottom).
}}
Gaborone is one of the fastest-growing cities in Africa. The growth of Gaborone, especially suburban growth, has caused much of the farmland surrounding the city to be absorbed into the city. Much of the food for Gaborone comes from north of the city with some smaller-scale farms on the southern end.<ref name=infrastructure>{{cite magazine | last1 = Cavric | first1 = Branko I. | last2 = Mosha | first2 = Aloysius C. | magazine=Urban Agriculture Magazine | volume = 4 | pages = 25–27 | date = July 2001 | title = Incorporating Urban Agriculture In Gaborone City Planning | url = http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/Incorporating%20Urban%20Agriculture%20In%20Gaborone%20City%20Planning.pdf |via=RUAF Foundation | access-date = 4 August 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110725133838/http://www.ruaf.org/sites/default/files/Incorporating%20Urban%20Agriculture%20In%20Gaborone%20City%20Planning.pdf | archive-date = 25 July 2011 }}</ref>
The city centre was planned to be [[Functionalism (architecture)|functionalist]],<ref name=economy /> with major buildings designed and built in the style of [[Modern architecture]]. The city is surrounded by smaller buildings.<ref name=travel /> The city's central business district (CBD) is still under construction so when one says ''downtown'', they actually mean the ''Main Mall'' and ''Government Enclave'' areas where tall buildings are usually found.<ref name=travel>{{cite web | title = Gaborone: a capital city w/ a strange design | url = http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d513c/1d7ca9/ | date = 25 February 2008 | access-date = 4 August 2009 | url-status = live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090305032648/http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/d513c/1d7ca9/ | archive-date = 5 March 2009 }}</ref><ref name=architecture2>{{cite web |author=Gabscity.com |location=Gaborone, Botswana |title=Home – Gabscity.com all about Gaborone |url=http://www.gabscity.com/index.php |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808204551/http://www.gabscity.com/index.php |archive-date=8 August 2009 }}</ref> The Main Mall, a car-free shopping and commercial area, runs in an east–west direction with the Government Enclave and National Assembly on the west end and the Gaborone City Town Council complex on the east.<ref name=tourismboard />

Gaborone's CBD is home to the new Square Mall, The Tower, the new [[Southern African Development Community|SADC]] headquarters, the Industrial Court,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mosinyi|first=Wanetsha|date=8 May 2009|location=Gaborone, Botswana|publisher=[[Mmegi|Mmegi Online]]|title=New CBD threatens office space market|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=20&dir=2009/May/Friday8|access-date=6 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223122450/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=20&dir=2009%2FMay%2FFriday8|archive-date=23 February 2012}}</ref> a court specifically for settling trade disputes,<ref>{{cite web |website=Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs|title=The Industrial Court of Botswana |url=http://www.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=40 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080327024303/http://www.gov.bw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=40 |archive-date=March 27, 2008 |access-date=6 August 2009}}</ref> and the [[Three Dikgosi Monument]], a landmark featuring the statues of [[Khama III]], Sebele I, and [[Bathoen I]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Historians support dikgosi statues |url=http://www.gabscity.com/place-to-visit/historians-support-dikgosi-statues.html |publisher=Gabscity.com |location=Gaborone, Botswana |access-date=30 June 2010 |date=8 September 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090725111732/http://www.gabscity.com/place-to-visit/historians-support-dikgosi-statues.html |archive-date=25 July 2009 }}</ref> three [[kgosi|dikgosi]], or chiefs, who traveled to [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Great Britain]] to establish the [[Bechuanaland Protectorate]] separate from [[Southern Rhodesia]] (present-day [[Zimbabwe]]) or the [[Cape Colony]] (present-day South Africa). The monument was inaugurated on 29 September 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=The Highlights Of An Eventful Year|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/2005/December/Monday19/917370795169.html|newspaper=[[Mmegi]] |access-date=30 June 2010|date=19 December 2005|volume=49|issue=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195528/http://www.mmegi.bw/2005/December/Monday19/917370795169.html|archive-date=3 March 2016}}</ref> While the statues represent famous historical figures, there has been some controversy over the cost of the construction, P12,000,000 (approx. US$1.7M, €1.4M, or £1.1M as of June 2010), and over the construction company, [[North Korea]]n [[Mansudae Overseas Projects]], putting the wrong inscription date.<ref>{{cite news |author=Keto Segwai|title=Three dikgosi in waiting|url=http://www.mmegi.bw/2006/July/Friday28/122256372162.html|newspaper=[[Mmegi]] |access-date=30 June 2010|date=28 July 2006|volume=23|issue=111 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304024943/http://www.mmegi.bw/2006/July/Friday28/122256372162.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> Other buildings under construction in the CBD include the Holiday Inn Gaborone, retail space, and office space.<ref>{{Cite book |first=Brian |last=Benza |title=Masa Towers To Cost P275 Million – Giachetti |url=http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=20&dir=2008/August/Monday11 |publisher=[[Mmegi|Mmegi Online]] |location=Gaborone, Botswana |date=11 August 2008 |access-date=6 August 2009 |volume=25 |issue=116 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223122506/http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=4&aid=20&dir=2008%2FAugust%2FMonday11 |archive-date=23 February 2012 }}</ref>

===Utilities===
The city gets most of its water from the reservoir formed from the [[Gaborone Dam]] on the southeast side of the city, which has facilitated growth.<ref name=history1 /> The city of Gaborone was originally constructed as a small town, so the Gaborone Dam needed to be built to provide water for all its citizens.<ref name=phakalane />

From 2007 to 2008, {{convert|23963000|m3|cuyd|sigfig=5|lk=on}} of water was sold in Gaborone. The government sector bought the most water, {{convert|11359000|m3|cuyd |sigfig=5|lk=on}}. {{convert|8564000|m3|cuyd|sigfig=4|lk=on}} of water was bought for domestic use, and {{convert|4040000|m3|cuyd|sigfig=3|lk=on}} of water was bought by the commercial and industrial sectors. In 2008, the city of Gaborone consumed {{convert|25657363|kl|cuyd}} of water, and the water consumption per capita was {{convert|0.184|m3|cuyd|sigfig=3|lk=on}} per person per year, the lowest rate since 1999.<ref name=water />

Gaborone has some of the highest water tariffs in the country because of high transportation costs and high water consumption. The high tariffs may also be due to the fact that some of Gaborone's water supply is imported from the [[Letsibogo Dam]].<ref name=water />

The average [[pH]] of the water in the Gaborone Dam is 7.95 as of February 2006. The concentration of [[calcium]] in the reservoir was 14.87milligrams per litre from April 2001 to August 2006. During the same period, the concentration of [[calcium carbonate]] (CaCO3) was 57.73 milligrams per litre, slightly over Botswana's ideal concentration which means the water is [[hard water|hard]]. Also during the same period, the [[chloride]] concentration was 6.44 mg/l, the [[fluoride]] concentration was 0.54 mg/l, the [[potassium]] concentration was 6.72 mg/l, and the [[sodium]] concentration was 10.76 mg/l.<ref name=water />

===Healthcare===
{{main|List of hospitals in Botswana}}
{{ multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width =
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| image1 =
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| image2 = Medical rescue team car (Desert race 2017).jpg
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| caption3 = Medical rescue Ambulance (top) and Ministry of health (bottom).
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The [[Botswana Red Cross Society]], established in 1968, is headquartered in Gaborone. The Princess Marina Hospital is the main referral hospital in Gaborone and houses 500 beds.<ref>{{Cite web
| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101229125740/http://www.velavke.co.za/projects.htm?action=view-item&id=860
| archive-date= 29 December 2010
| title= Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone
|url=http://www.velavke.co.za/projects.htm?action=view-item&id=860
|access-date=2023-02-06
| url-status= usurped }}</ref>
There is also [[Gaborone Private Hospital]] and Sidilega Private Hospital all operating in the city of Gaborone.
The [[Cancer Association of Botswana]] is a voluntary non-governmental organization established as a trust in 1998. The association is a leading service provider in supplementing existing services through provision of cancer prevention and health promotion programmes, facilitating access to health services for cancer patients and offering support and counselling to those affected. Its headquarters is at Ditlhakore Way, Extension 12, Gaborone.

====HIV/AIDS====

{{See also| HIV/AIDS in Botswana}}
AIDS is a very serious problem in Gaborone. 17,773 Gaborone citizens, 17.1% of the total population of Gaborone, have tested positive for HIV. There is a higher prevalence of HIV among women; 20.5% of women have tested positive compared to 13.6% of men. The population between 45 and 49 years of age are most likely to have AIDS with 35.4% of the residents in that age group testing positive.<ref name=BAIS />

[[Sex education|HIV/AIDS education]] is extensive in Gaborone. However, a 2008 study shows that 14.5% of Gaborone residents between 10 and 64 who have heard of HIV/AIDS believe that HIV can be spread through witchcraft, and 31.3% of the residents believe HIV can be spread through mosquito bites.<ref name=BAIS />

==Transportation==
===Railways===
{{main|Rail transport in Botswana}}
The railway that served the founding purpose of the city remains important, bisecting the city in a north–south direction.<ref name=seth /> [[Botswana Railways]] runs a line that goes from [[Cape Town]] to [[Harare]] via [[Bulawayo]]. The railway station in Gaborone is located south of the Parliament House in the city's centre.<ref name=map>{{cite map |publisher=Botswana Tourism Board |title=Gaborone City map |url=http://www.ambafrance-bw.org/IMG/gif/gabs_big.gif |year=2001 |series=Botswana Maps |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108052236/http://www.ambafrance-bw.org/IMG/gif/gabs_big.gif |archive-date=8 November 2016 }}</ref> The line stops at the following cities in and near Botswana: [[Ramatlabama]] on the South African border, [[Lobatse]], Gaborone, [[Palapye]], [[Serule]], [[Francistown]], [[Ramokgwebana]], and [[Plumtree, Zimbabwe]].<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Botswana Tourism Board |title=Botswana Railway Network |url=http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/railway_big.jpg |scale=1 : 8,000,000 |series=Botswana Maps |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304201329/http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/railway_big.jpg |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> The line became a cargo-only line on 1 April 2009<ref>{{Cite book|first=Lewis|last=Malikongwa|title=Termination of Botswana Railways' Passenger Service|url=http://www.botswanarailways.co.bw/press/27feb09.html|place=Botswana|publisher=Ministry of Works and Transport|date=27 February 2009|access-date=4 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125015605/http://www.botswanarailways.co.bw/press/27feb09.html|archive-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> but passenger services resumed in early 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mouwane|first=Tumelo|date=2016-03-23|title=New, improved passenger train sets off|url=https://www.mmegi.bw/news/new-improved-passenger-train-sets-off/news|access-date=2023-02-06|website=Mmegi Online|language=en}}</ref>

===Airports===
{{main|List of airports in Botswana}}
[[File:Gaborone, Botswana - Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.jpg|thumb|left|[[Sir Seretse Khama International Airport]]]]
[[Sir Seretse Khama International Airport]] ([[International Civil Aviation Organization airport code|ICAO code]]: FBSK<ref name=SSKA>{{GCM|FBSK|Sir Seretse Khama International Airport}}</ref> [[International Air Transport Association airport code|IATA code]]: GBE<ref name=SSKA />) lies {{convert|25|km|mi}}<ref name=botswana>{{Cite book|last1= LeVert|first1=Suzanne | title =Botswana|pages=15, 27–28, 105 | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=f9JybmRxB2oC | publisher=Marshall Cavendish|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7614-2330-0 | access-date =6 August 2009}}</ref> north of the city<ref name=map /> and in 2018 has flights to [[Cape Town]], [[Johannesburg]], [[Durban]], [[Addis Ababa]] and various domestic destinations.<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Botswana Tourism Board |title=Domestic & international airline routes map |url=http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/airline_big.gif |series=Botswana Maps |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111128075435/http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/airline_big.gif |archive-date=28 November 2011 }}</ref> It is the headquarters of [[Air Botswana]], the national airline of [[Botswana]].

In 2008, Sir Seretse Khama International Airport handled 15,844 aircraft movements, second only to [[Maun Airport]] ([[International Civil Aviation Organization airport code|ICAO code]]: FMBN<ref name=FMBN>{{GCM|FMBN|Maun Airport}}</ref> [[International Air Transport Association airport code|IATA code]]: MUB<ref name=FMBN />) Air traffic in Gaborone has decreased since 2006. However, Gaborone has the most air passenger traffic, accounting for 51.6% of all passenger movement in Botswana. International passengers total 244,073 passengers while domestic air passenger movement comes up to 333,390 passengers.<ref name=transport /> Gaborone International Airport terminal was rebuilt into a modern terminal in 2010.

===Roads===

[[File:Gaborone Road Map.png|thumb|Road map of Gaborone]]
Highways in and around Gaborone include the [[Trans-Kalahari Highway]], [[A1 highway (Botswana)|A1 Highway]], [[A10 road (Botswana)|A10 Highway]] and the [[Cairo-Cape Town Highway]]. There are five major roads in Gaborone that go to [[Lobatse]], [[Kanye, Botswana|Kanye]], [[Molepolole]], [[Francistown]] via [[Mochudi]], and [[Tlokweng]].<ref>{{cite map |publisher=Botswana Tourism Board |title=Road network map |url=http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/road_big.jpg |series=Botswana Maps |scale=1 : 6,000,000 |inset=lower right |access-date=4 August 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225052828/http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/road_big.jpg |archive-date=25 February 2014 }}</ref>

===Public transport===
;Kombi
[[File:Public transport in Gaborone.jpg|thumb|Kombi (Minibus taxi)]]
Public transport in the city is generally reliable, when compared with major African cities. ''[[shared taxi|Kombis]]'' (small vans) and taxis ply the routes within the city, while buses serve surrounding villages and other towns in Botswana.<ref name=seth />

===Private traffic===
Gaborone has several vehicle licensing stations. 15,538 new [[motor vehicle|private motor vehicles]], accounting for 46.5% of Botswana's total new [[vehicle registration]]s, were registered in Gaborone in 2008, of which 8,440 were [[automobile|passenger cars]], 440 were [[minibus]]es, 204 were motorcycles, and 181 were [[tractor]]s. The total has increased from 12,690 new vehicle registrations in 2007. Gaborone also has the highest number of vehicle registration renewals at 73,206 in 2008.<ref name=transport>{{cite web|url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/Transport/2008_transport_report.pdf |title=Botswana transport statistics – 2008 |author=A. N. Majelantle |date=December 2009 |work=Botswana Transport Statistics |publisher=Central Statistics Office |location=Gaborone, Botswana |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5r1sNfkq4?url=http://www.cso.gov.bw/images/stories/Transport/2008_transport_report.pdf |archive-date=6 July 2010 |access-date=6 July 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Including the district of Gaborone West, Gaborone had 9,415 [[traffic collision|vehicle accidents]] with 74 [[automobile safety#Safety trends|human fatalities]] in 2008. Most of the traffic collisions in that year, 3,146 collisions, were [[side collision]]s. 263 accidents involved animals. The city has also seen 679 [[Pedestrian safety through vehicle design|pedestrian casualties]] in 2008; 24 pedestrians were killed. The majority of vehicle accident [[casualty (person)|casualties]] involved pedestrians, and most traffic accidents occur between 16:00 and 18:00.<ref name=transport />

==Notable people==
{{Category see also|People from Gaborone}}
* [[Kgosi Gaborone]] ({{circa}} 1825–1931), Motswana [[kgosi|chief]], after whom the city is named
* [[Alec Campbell (archaeologist)|Alec Campbell]] (1932–2012), archaeologist and museum curator
* [[Thamsanga Mnyele]] (1948–1985), member of the [[African National Congress]] and artist
* [[Vernon Nkadimeng]] (1958–1985), member of the [[African National Congress]], killed in Gaborone by the [[South African Police|apartheid police]]
* [[Boniface Tshosa Setlalekgosi]] (b. 1927), Roman Catholic bishop of the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaborone|Diocese of Gaborone]], Botswana from 1981 to 2009
* [[Wally Serote]] (b. 1944), poet and anti-apartheid activist
* [[Dipsy Selolwane]] (b. 1978), football player
* [[Mpule Kwelagobe]] (b. 1979), Miss World Botswana 1997, [[Miss Universe Botswana]] 1999 and [[Miss Universe 1999]]
* [[Alister Walker]] (b. 1982), [[Squash (sport)|squash player]]
* [[Abednico Powell]] (b. 1983), football player
* [[Joel Mogorosi]] (b. 1984), football player
* [[Dirang Moloi]] (b. 1985), member of the [[Botswana national football team]]
* [[Donald Molosi]] (b. 1985), actor, writer and playwright attended [[Maru a Pula School]] in his teens,<ref>[http://www.mmegi.bw/2004/June/Thursday24/2835465531965.html A piecing together of fragments] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916054103/http://www.mmegi.bw/2004/June/Thursday24/2835465531965.html |date=16 September 2017 }} ''Mmegi Online''. Retrieved September 15, 2017.</ref> and the [[National Arts Festival]] in South Africa<ref name="auto3">{{cite news |last=Setlalekgosi |first=Onneile |title=The immortal story teller |publisher=[[The Voice (Botswana)|The Voice]] |location=Botswana |date=2016-07-15 |url=https://thevoicebw.com/immortal-story-teller/ |access-date=2018-07-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916053332/https://thevoicebw.com/immortal-story-teller/ |archive-date=16 September 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Sumaiyah Marope]] ({{circa}} 1987), Miss Botswana 2009
* [[Emma Wareus]] (b. 1990), Miss World Botswana 2010, first runner-up to [[Miss World 2010]]
* [[Matsieng]], a [[Tswana language|Setswana]] traditional music group, formed in Gaborone in 2005

== International relations ==
Gaborone has been [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], United States<ref>{{cite web|title=Burbank's Sister Cities |url=http://www.burbanksistercity.org/burbank_sister_cities.html |publisher=Burbank Sister City Organization |access-date=22 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120521114332/http://burbanksistercity.org/burbank_sister_cities.html |archive-date=21 May 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*{{flagicon|IDN}} [[Sorong (city)|Sorong]], Indonesia{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Worcester, Western Cape|Worcester]], South Africa{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
*{{flagicon|NAM}} [[Walvis Bay]], Namibia{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150" style="line-height:130%">
File:GaboroneStreetScene.jpg|alt=A road with a Bank Gaborone building to the left and a taller building with curved truss structures on the windows to the right|Street scene near the Main Mall
File:RhodesiaRailcar.jpg|alt=A brown train, viewed from the side, is at rest under a small open station. "1035 Rhodesia Railways" is written in gold letters over the train's windows. There is a white fence and a brick walkway in front of the train.|Rhodesia Railways car at the national museum
File:Kgale Hill 2.jpg|View from Kgale Hill (Oodi Hill on horizon)
File:Gaborone Dam 1.jpg|Gaborone Dam
File:Gaborone Dam 2.jpg|Gaborone Dam
File:Botswana Gaborone I Towers.jpg|Botswana Gaborone I Towers
File:Gaborone, Botswana Hindu Temple.jpg|Gaborone Hindu Temple
File:Gaborone, Botswana Mosque.jpg|Gaborone Mosque
File:Botswana, Gaborone Central Business District.jpg|CBD
File:Gaborone, Botswana New Development CBD.jpg|CBD Developments
File:Gaborone, Botswana - 51207616203.jpg|New Construction Developments
File:Gaborone, Botswana Room 52 Rooftop Restaurant.jpg|Room 52 Roof Top Restaurant
File:Gaborone, Botswana - 51208479090.jpg|New CBD
File:Gaborone, Botswana Christ The King Cathedral.jpg|Christ The King Cathedral
File:Gaborone, Botswana - 51206700752.jpg|CBD Mall
File:Gaborone, Botswana - Sir Seretse Khama International Airport.jpg|SSKI Airport
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|Gaborone|b=no|q=no|s=no|n=no|v=no|voy=Gaborone|d=Q3919}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120514114903/http://www.gov.bw/en/Ministries--Authorities/Local-Authorities/Gaborone-City-Council/ Gaborone City Council Website]
* [http://www.wikimapia.org/#lat=-24.6499815&lon=25.9100533&z=13&l=0&m=b Gaborone] Satellite view at [[WikiMapia]] (not affiliated with Wikipedia/[[Wikimedia Foundation]])
* [http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/223198/Gaborone Gaborone] ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' entry
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20170202022458/http://www.botswanatourism.us/images/gabs_big.gif Map of Gaborone]

{{Navboxes
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[[Category:Gaborone| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Cities in Botswana]]
[[Category:South-East District (Botswana)]]
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Funafuti

2023-12-12T19:43:49Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Funafuti
| native_name =
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| settlement_type = [[Atoll]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = _Funafuti airport - Fiji Airways.jpg
| photo2b = Fetu_Ao_Lima_(Morning_Star_Church),_Congregational_Christian_Church_of_Tuvalu.jpg
| photo3a _office_building.jpg
| photo3b = Funafuti_Plage_w.jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
| color = white
| size = 280
| foot_montage = Top: International Airport; Middle: Fetu Ao Lima (Morning Star Church); Bottom: Funafuti coastline
}}
| image_flag = Flag of Funafuti.svg
| nickname =
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| image_map = Funafuti.jpg
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Aerial image of Funafuti atoll
| pushpin_map = Tuvalu
| pushpin_label_position = top
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Funafuti atoll in Tuvalu
| coordinates = {{coord|08|31|S|179|12|E|region:TV_type:isle|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_name = [[Tuvalu]]
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| area_total_km2 = 2.4
| area_total_sq_mi =
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| population_total = 6,320
| population_as_of = 2017
| population_density_km2 = auto
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| iso_code = TV-FUN
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| image_map1 = File:Funafuti 2022.png
| map_caption1 = Map of the atoll
}}
'''Funafuti''' is the capital of the [[island nation]] of [[Tuvalu]].<ref name="TIFun">{{cite web|url=https://www.mapsland.com/oceania/tuvalu|title= Maps of Tuvalu |access-date=15 January 2021}}</ref><ref name="PDN">{{cite book|last1= Lal|first1= Andrick|title= South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Monitoring Project – Funafuti atoll|url= http://www.pacificdisaster.net/oip/FinalReport/Annex/3_Survey%20LDP/Survey_Diagrams_JPACE-TV.pdf|publisher= SPC Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC Division of SPC)|access-date= 31 January 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140203011855/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/oip/FinalReport/Annex/3_Survey%20LDP/Survey_Diagrams_JPACE-TV.pdf|archive-date= 3 February 2014|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref> It has a population of 6,320 people (2017 census),<ref name="C2012">{{cite web|title= Population of communities in Tuvalu| publisher=Thomas Brinkhoff|year =2017|url= http://www.citypopulation.de/Tuvalu.html | access-date=27 September 2020}}</ref> and so it has more people than the rest of Tuvalu combined, with approximately 60% of the population. It consists of a narrow sweep of land between {{convert|20|and|400|m|0|abbr=off}} wide, encircling a large lagoon (''Te Namo'') {{convert|18|km|0|abbr=in}} long and {{convert|14|km|0|abbr=in}} wide. The average depth of the Funafuti lagoon is about 20 fathoms (36.5 metres or 120 feet).<ref name="AC">{{cite book |last=Coates|first=A. | title= Western Pacific Islands |year= 1970 |publisher= H.M.S.O. |pages=349}}</ref> With a surface area of {{convert|275|km²|1|abbr=out}}, it is by far the largest lagoon in Tuvalu. The land area of the 33 islets around the atoll of Funafuti totals {{convert|2.4|km²|1|abbr=out}}; taken together, they constitute less than one percent of the total area of the atoll. Cargo ships can enter Funafuti's lagoon and dock at the port facilities on [[Fongafale]].

The capital of Tuvalu is sometimes said to be [[Fongafale]] or [[Vaiaku]], but, officially, the entire atoll of Funafuti is its capital,<ref name=dfatDA>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/tuvalu/Pages/tuvalu-country-brief.aspx|title=Tuvalu country brief| date =March 2020|publisher=Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|access-date= 3 March 2020}}</ref> since it has a single government that is responsible for the whole atoll.

==Fongafale==

{{see also|Fongafale}}
[[File:Tuvalu Meteorology Service.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Tuvalu Meteorological Service]] station, Fongafale]]
The largest island is [[Fongafale]]. The island houses four villages and community meeting places. The Funafuti Falekaupule is the local council, with the Kaupule as the executive of the Falekaupule.<ref name="FK">{{cite web|work= Funafuti Falekaupule|title= Funafuti Strategic Plan 2011–2015|date= February 2011|url= http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/TUV_2011_Funafuti_StrageticPlan.pdf|access-date= 26 April 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304100522/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/pdnadmin/data/original/TUV_2011_Funafuti_StrageticPlan.pdf|archive-date= 4 March 2016|url-status= dead}}</ref> On Fongafale, the Funafuti Kaupule is responsible for approvals of the construction of houses or extension to an existing buildings on private land and the Lands Management Committee is the responsible authority in relation to lands leased by Government.<ref name="TvAIP2">{{cite web|title=Pacific Aviation Investment Program (PAIP) Environmental Management Plan – Funafuti International Airport(FUN) and Road Interim Working Document|publisher=AECOM|date=13 November 2013|url=http://tvaip.com//docstation/com_docstation/8/tuvalu_emp_final_draft_rev_f.pdf|access-date=18 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325114135/http://tvaip.com//docstation/com_docstation/8/tuvalu_emp_final_draft_rev_f.pdf|archive-date=25 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The installed [[Photovoltaics|PV]] capacity in Funafuti in 2020 was 735 kW compared to 1800 kW of diesel (16% penetration).<ref name="ADB2020-11">{{cite web|title= REG (49450-028): Preparing Floating Solar Plus Projects under the Pacific Renewable Energy Investment Facility – Terms of Reference for Consulting Firm | publisher= [[Asian Development Bank]] (ADB)|date = December 2020 |url= https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/49450-028-tor.pdf| access-date=22 January 2021}}</ref>

Tausoa Lima Falekaupule is the traditional meeting house on Funafuti. ''Tausoalima'' means "hand of friendship" and ''Falekaupule'' means "traditional island meeting hall." There is the [[Funafuti Lagoon Hotel]], and other guesthouses as well as homes, constructed both in the traditional manner, out of palm fronds, and more recently out of cement blocks. The most prominent building on Funafuti atoll is the ''Fētu'ao Lima'' (Morning Star Church) of the [[Church of Tuvalu]].

Other sites of interest are the remains of Japanese aircraft that crashed on Funafuti during World War II. The airfield was [[History of Tuvalu#The Pacific War and Operation Galvanic|constructed during World War II]]. It was adapted to serve as the [[Funafuti International Airport]], which serves both as the airstrip for the flights from [[Fiji]] as well as providing a place for sporting and other recreational activities.
[[File:Office of Tuvalu Telecom.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Offices of the [[Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation]]]]
[[File:Main street of Funafuti.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Main street of Funafuti.]]

A major sporting event is the "Independence Day Sports Festival" held annually at Fongafale on 1 October. The most important sports event within the country is arguably the [[Tuvalu Games]], which are held yearly since 2008, with teams coming to Funafuti from the outer islands to compete in the games.<ref>{{cite web|first = Shuuichi|last = Endou|title = Tuvalu Games 2011|date = 18 May 2011|url = http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2011/05/tuvalu_game_2011.html|publisher = Tuvalu-News.TV|access-date = 31 October 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121018180008/http://www.tuvalu-news.tv/archives/2011/05/tuvalu_game_2011.html|archive-date = 18 October 2012|url-status = live}}</ref> [[Football in Tuvalu]] is played at club and national team level. The [[Tuvalu national football team]] trains at the [[Tuvalu Sports Ground]] on Funafuti and competes in the Pacific Games and South Pacific Games.

The [[Parliament of Tuvalu]] or ''Palamene o Tuvalu'' is located on Fongafale, together with the offices of the government departments and the government agencies, including the [[Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation]], [[National Bank of Tuvalu]], [[Postage stamps and postal history of Tuvalu|Tuvalu Philatelic Bureau]], [[Tuvalu Meteorological Service]], [[Tuvalu National Library and Archives]] and the [[Tuvalu Media Corporation|Tuvalu Media Department]] that operates ''Radio Tuvalu''. The [[Law enforcement in Tuvalu|police service]] has its headquarters and the jail on Fongafale. The [[High Court of Tuvalu]] is also located on Fongafale.

The [[Princess Margaret Hospital (Funafuti)|Princess Margaret Hospital]], the only hospital in Tuvalu, is located on Fongafale.

==Villages on Funafuti==
[[File:Vaiaku Lagi Hotel.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Funafuti Lagoon Hotel]]]]
Below is a list of the individual villages of the atoll, with each atoll's population according to the 2012 census:<ref name="C2012"/> by islet:
[[File:Tuvalu view.jpg|thumb|right|200px| Aerial view of [[Tengako]] peninsula and [[Fongafale]], Funafuti atoll, looking south]]
[[File:Northern Funafuti.jpg|thumb|right|200px| [[Tengako]] peninsula, Funafuti atoll, looking south]]

===Central Fongafale islet===
* '''Fakaifou''': 1,158 inhabitants
* '''Senala''': 1,207 inhabitants
* '''Alapi''': 1,029 inhabitants
* '''[[Vaiaku]]''': 638 inhabitants

===Additional Fongafale islets===
Islets off the Tengako peninsula in the north:
* '''Lofeagai''': 627 inhabitants
* '''Teone''': 570 inhabitants
* '''Tekavatoetoe''': 650 inhabitants

===Funafala===
* '''Funafala''': 50 inhabitants

===Amatuku===
* '''Amatuku''': 128 inhabitants

==Funafuti Marine Conservation Area==

{{see also| Funafuti Conservation Area }}
In June 1996, the [[Funafuti Conservation Area]] was established along the western rim of the reef, encompassing six islets.<ref name="FRFSP">{{cite web|last= |first= |title= Funafuti Reef Fisheries Stewardship Plan (FRFSP)|publisher= Tuvalu Fisheries (Tuvalu Ministry of Natural Resources)|page= |date= 15 November 2017|url= http://www.tuvalufisheries.tv/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FRFSP-231117-web.pdf|accessdate= 11 August 2021|archive-date= 31 October 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191031004907/http://www.tuvalufisheries.tv/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/FRFSP-231117-web.pdf|url-status= dead}}</ref> It has an area of 33 km2 (12 square miles), containing 20 per cent of the reef area of Funafuti. The land area of the six islets in the conservation area is 8 [[hectare|ha]] (20 acres). Below is a list of the islets in the conservation area, in order from north to south, with their estimated areas in hectares:
* Tepuka Vilivili, 3
* Fualopa, 2
* Fuafatu, 0.2
* Vasafua, 0.5
* Fuakea, 1.5
* Tefala, 1

The Funafuti Conservation Area is located {{convert|15|km}} across the lagoon from the main island of [[Fongafale]], and is accessed by boat.

==Islands in Funafuti==
There are at least 29 islets in the Funafuti atoll.<ref name="TIFun"/> The largest is Fongafale, followed by Funafala. At least three of these islets are inhabited: [[Fongafale]] (the main island) in the east, [[Funafala]] in the south, and [[Amatuku]] in the north.
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Amatuku]]
* [[Avalau]]
* [[Falaoigo]]
* [[Fale Fatu]] (or ''Falefatu'')
* [[Fatato]]
* [[Fongafale]]
* [[Fuafatu]]
* [[Fuagea]]
* [[Fualefeke]] (or ''Fualifeke'')
* [[Fualopa]]
* [[Funafala]]
* [[Funamanu]]
* [[Luamotu]]
* [[Mateika]]
* [[Motugie]]
* [[Motuloa (Funafuti)|Motuloa]]
* [[Mulitefala]]
* [[Papa Elise]] (or ''Funangongo'')
* [[Te Afuafou]]
* [[Te Afualiku]]
* [[Tefala]]
* [[Telele]]
* [[Tengako]] (peninsula of the island of [[Fongafale]])
* [[Tengasu]]
* [[Tepuka]]
* [[Tepuka Vili Vili]]
* [[Tutanga]]
* [[Vasafua]]

{{div col end}}

==Passages of Funafuti Atoll==
The atoll has several [[channel (geography)|passages]] leading into its lagoon. The degree to which they are navigable varies. The passes are listed below, in roughly clockwise order, starting in the south, with Fongafale islet. The first two islets on the list are in the southern part of the Funafuti Atoll.<ref name="ANC">{{cite book |title= Admiralty Nautical Chart 2983 Tuvalu – Funafuti atoll |publisher= United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) }}</ref>
* '''Te Ava Pua Pua''' is the shallowest of the passages, 12.7 metres (7 fathoms) deep, lies on the southeastern side of the atoll, and runs between the islets of Funamanu (to the north) and Fale Fatu (to the south). It marks the border between Funafuti's southern and eastern sections.
* '''Te Ava Fuagea''' (also known as '''Ava Amelia'''): This deep, narrow passage, 18.3 metres (10 fathoms) deep and 160 metres (525 feet) wide, lies on the southwestern side of the atoll, south of the islet of Fuafatu, and runs between the southern part of the atoll (to the west) and the islet of Vasafua (to the south).
* '''Te Ava Papa''' lies just north of Te Ava Fuagea.
* '''Te Ava Kum Kum''' lies in the middle of the western rim, south of Te Ava Tepuka Vili, between the islets of Tepuka Vili Vili (to the north) and Fualopa (immediately to the south).
* '''Te Ava Tepuka Vili''' is a deep and narrow channel between the islets of Tepuka (to the north), and Tepuka Vili Vili (to the south).
* '''Te Ava Tepuka''' and '''Te Avua Sari''' are two neighbouring passages in the northeast, between the islets of Te Afualiku (to the northeast) and Tepuka (to the southwest).
* '''Te Ava i te Lape''' is the favoured entrance into the lagoon, although it is only 5.8 metres (3{{frac|1|4}} fathoms) deep and barely 500 metres (1650 feet) wide. It is in the north of the atoll, and runs between the islets of Pava (to the east) and Te Afualiku (to the west).

==Lagoon==
The Funafuti atoll's lagoon (''Te Namo'' in [[Tuvaluan language|Tuvaluan]]) is 24.5 km (15{{frac|1|4}} miles) long, north to south, and 17.5 km (10{{frac|3|4}} miles) wide, east to west, and has an area of 275 km2 (106 sq. mi.), making it by far the largest lagoon in the nation of Tuvalu. It is about 52 metres (28 fathoms) deep in some places, but only 6 metres (3{{frac|1|4}} fathoms) deep in other places (because it has several submerged rocks and [[reefs]] along its bottom, some of which are that close the surface). The deepest basin is in the northern part of the lagoon (the maximum recorded depth is 54.7 metres [30 fathoms]), while the southern part of the lagoon has a very narrow, shallow basin.<ref name="SOPAC">{{cite web |title= EU-SOPAC Project Report 50: TUVALU TECHNICAL REPORT High-Resolution Bathymetric Survey Fieldwork undertaken from 19 September to 24 October 2004 |publisher= Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission c/o SOPAC Secretariat|date=October 2018 |url= ftp://ftp.gouv.nc/sig/PUBLIC/club_geomatique/2017/GT_donnees_geo_maritimes_22_06_2017/Rapport_de_leve_CPS.pdf| access-date=21 October 2019 }}</ref>

==Climate==
Funafuti has a [[tropical rainforest climate]] (Af as defined by the [[Köppen climate classification]] system). Because it experiences frequent cyclones, it is not considered to have an equatorial climate. The town has no [[dry season]]: It sees an extraordinary amount of rainfall throughout the year. Funafuti has an average of about {{convert|3500|mm}} of precipitation annually, and no month in which less than {{convert|200|mm}} rain falls. As is common in many areas with a tropical rainforest climate, the temperature varies little during the year: Average daily temperatures hover around {{convert|28|C}} year-round.

{{Weather box
|location = Funafuti {{small|1981–2000 for temperature mean; 1936–2000 for temperature extremes; 1951–1990 for average precipitation; 1947–1990 for average precipitation days; 1961–1990 for average relative humidity; 1978–1990 for mean daily sunshine hours}}
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 33.8
|Feb record high C = 34.4
|Mar record high C = 34.4
|Apr record high C = 33.2
|May record high C = 33.9
|Jun record high C = 33.9
|Jul record high C = 32.8
|Aug record high C = 32.9
|Sep record high C = 32.8
|Oct record high C = 34.4
|Nov record high C = 33.9
|Dec record high C = 33.9
|year record high C = 34.4
|Jan high C = 30.7
|Feb high C = 30.8
|Mar high C = 30.6
|Apr high C = 31.0
|May high C = 30.9
|Jun high C = 30.6
|Jul high C = 30.4
|Aug high C = 30.4
|Sep high C = 30.7
|Oct high C = 31.0
|Nov high C = 31.2
|Dec high C = 31.0
|year high C = 30.8
|Jan mean C = 28.2
|Feb mean C = 28.1
|Mar mean C = 28.1
|Apr mean C = 28.2
|May mean C = 28.4
|Jun mean C = 28.3
|Jul mean C = 28.1
|Aug mean C = 28.1
|Sep mean C = 28.2
|Oct mean C = 28.2
|Nov mean C = 28.4
|Dec mean C = 28.3
|year mean C = 28.2
|Jan low C = 25.5
|Feb low C = 25.3
|Mar low C = 25.4
|Apr low C = 25.7
|May low C = 25.8
|Jun low C = 25.9
|Jul low C = 25.7
|Aug low C = 25.8
|Sep low C = 25.8
|Oct low C = 25.7
|Nov low C = 25.8
|Dec low C = 25.7
|year low C = 25.8
|Jan record low C = 22.0
|Feb record low C = 22.2
|Mar record low C = 22.8
|Apr record low C = 23.0
|May record low C = 20.5
|Jun record low C = 23.0
|Jul record low C = 21.0
|Aug record low C = 16.1
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 21.0
|Nov record low C = 22.8
|Dec record low C = 22.8
|year record low C = 16.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 413.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 360.6
|Mar precipitation mm = 324.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 255.8
|May precipitation mm = 259.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 216.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 253.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 275.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 217.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 266.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 275.9
|Dec precipitation mm = 393.9
|year precipitation mm = 3512.6
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 20
|Feb precipitation days = 19
|Mar precipitation days = 20
|Apr precipitation days = 19
|May precipitation days = 18
|Jun precipitation days = 19
|Jul precipitation days = 19
|Aug precipitation days = 18
|Sep precipitation days = 16
|Oct precipitation days = 18
|Nov precipitation days = 17
|Dec precipitation days = 19
|year precipitation days = 223
|Jan humidity = 82
|Feb humidity = 82
|Mar humidity = 82
|Apr humidity = 82
|May humidity = 82
|Jun humidity = 82
|Jul humidity = 83
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 81
|Oct humidity = 81
|Nov humidity = 80
|Dec humidity = 81
|year humidity = 82
|Jan sun = 179.8
|Feb sun = 161.0
|Mar sun = 186.0
|Apr sun = 201.0
|May sun = 195.3
|Jun sun = 201.0
|Jul sun = 195.3
|Aug sun = 220.1
|Sep sun = 210.0
|Oct sun = 232.5
|Nov sun = 189.0
|Dec sun = 176.7
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 5.8
|Febd sun = 5.7
|Mard sun = 6.0
|Aprd sun = 6.7
|Mayd sun = 6.3
|Jund sun = 6.7
|Juld sun = 6.3
|Augd sun = 7.1
|Sepd sun = 7.0
|Octd sun = 7.5
|Novd sun = 6.3
|Decd sun = 5.7
|yeard sun = 6.4
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_916430_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Funafuti / Tuvalu (Ellice-Inseln)
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 22 November 2016}}</ref>
}}

==History==
[[File:H-C-Fassett-Ellice-Is-1900.jpg|200px|right|thumb|alt=1900, Woman on Funafuti, Tuvalu, then known as Ellice Islands| Woman on Funafuti; photo by [[Harry Clifford Fassett]] (1900), American photographer]]
The [[Tuvaluan mythology#The Legendary History of Funafuti|oral history of Funafuti]] is that the founding ancestor came from [[Samoa]].<ref name="Sollas">{{cite journal|author=Prof. W. J. Sollas|date=11 February 1897|title=The Legendary History of Funafuti|url=https://www.nature.com/articles/055353a0.pdf|journal=Nature|volume=55|pages=353–355}}</ref><ref name="Genesis 1983">{{cite book | author= Talakatoa O'Brien| title=Tuvalu: A History, Chapter 1, Genesis| year= 1983 | publisher= Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu }}</ref><ref name="Kennedy">{{cite journal |first=Donald G. |last=Kennedy |url=http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_38_1929/Field_notes_on_the_culture_of_Vaitupu%2C_Ellice_Islands%2C_by_Donald_Gilbert_Kennedy%2C_p_1-99/p1?action=null |title=Field Notes on the Culture of Vaitupu, Ellice Islands |journal=[[Journal of the Polynesian Society]] |volume=38 |year=1929 |pages=2–5 |access-date=14 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015043119/http://www.jps.auckland.ac.nz/document/Volume_38_1929/Field_notes_on_the_culture_of_Vaitupu%2C_Ellice_Islands%2C_by_Donald_Gilbert_Kennedy%2C_p_1-99/p1?action=null |archive-date=15 October 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> The name of one of the islets, [[Funafala]], means 'the [[pandanus]] of Funa' ("Funa" is a word meaning "chief" and is also found in the name of the atoll Funafuti).<ref name="CH17">{{cite book |last1= Hedley |first1= Charles |title= General account of the Atoll of Funafuti |url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |year= 1896 |publisher= Australian Museum Memoir 3(2): 1–72 |access-date= 28 September 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015112253/http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |archive-date= 15 October 2013 |url-status= live }}</ref>

The first European to visit Funafuti was Arent Schuyler de Peyster. He was an American from New York, and captain of the armed [[brigantine]] or [[privateer]] vessel ''Rebecca'', which was sailing under British colours.<ref name="deP">{{cite book |last1=De Peyster |first1= J. Watts 1821–1907.|title= Military (1776–'79) transactions of Major, afterwards Colonel, 8th or King's foot, Arent Schuyler de Peyster (with details of the discovery of the Ellice and de Peyster Islands in the Pacific Ocean, in May, 1819)|publisher=Reproduction of original in: Bibliotheque nationale du Quebec |isbn=0665040512}}</ref><ref name="DeP2">{{cite web|title= The De Peysters|url= http://corbett-family-history.com/de-peyster|access-date= 14 August 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170703170833/http://corbett-family-history.com/de-peyster|archive-date= 3 July 2017|url-status= live}}</ref> In May 1819, de Peyster passed through the southern Tuvalu waters, and sighted Funafuti. He named it Ellice's Island, after an English politician, [[Edward Ellice (merchant)|Edward Ellice]], who was the member of parliament for Coventry and the owner of the ''Rebecca''{{'}}s cargo.<ref>Laumua Kofe, Palagi and Pastors, ''Tuvalu: A History'', Ch. 15, Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific and Government of Tuvalu, 1983</ref>

In 1841, the [[United States Exploring Expedition]], led by [[Charles Wilkes]], visited Funafuti.<ref>Tyler, David B. – 1968 ''The Wilkes Expedition. The First United States Exploring Expedition'' (1838–42). Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society</ref> The United States claimed Funafuti based on the 1856 [[Guano Islands Act]], and maintained this claim until 1983, when a treaty of friendship, concluded in 1979, went into effect.

In the 1850s, John (Jack) O'Brien became the first European to settle in Tuvalu. He became a trader on Funafuti and married Salai, the daughter of Funafuti's paramount chief.<ref name="TIC">{{cite web |work=Tuvaluislands.com |title=A Brief History of Tuvalu: Christianity and European Traders |url=http://www.tuvaluislands.com/history.htm |access-date=15 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813092349/http://www.tuvaluislands.com/history.htm |archive-date=13 August 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> with his name continuing on Funafuti.<ref name="MAN1">{{cite web | last =Lambert | first =Sylvester M. | work =Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego | title =Young woman, member of the O'Brien family, Funafuti, Tuvalu | url =http://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb13661628 | access-date =25 January 2017 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170202025500/http://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb13661628 | archive-date =2 February 2017 | url-status =live }}</ref> [[Alfred Restieaux]], a native of England, lived and worked as a trader on Funafuti from July 1881 until about 1888 or 1889.<ref name="JRar3">{{cite web|first= Jane|last= Resture|title= Alfred Restieaux Manuscripts – Part 2|url= http://www.janeresture.com/ar3.htm|publisher= Jane Resture|access-date= 23 March 2013|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130307132104/http://www.janeresture.com/ar3.htm|archive-date= 7 March 2013|url-status= live}}</ref><ref name="DM80">{{cite web|first=Doug|last=Munro|title=Tom De Wolf's Pacific Venture: The Life History of a Commercial Enterprise in Samoa|year=1980|url=https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/PacificStudies/article/download/9023/8672|access-date=23 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002080826/https://ojs.lib.byu.edu/spc/index.php/PacificStudies/article/download/9023/8672|archive-date=2 October 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1882, members of the [[US Fish Commission]] visited Funafuti to investigate the [[formation of coral reefs]] on Pacific [[atoll]]s, sailing there on the [[USS Albatross (1882)|''USFC Albatross'']]. During that visit, [[Harry Clifford Fassett]], the captain's clerk and a photographer, took pictures of people, communities, and scenery in Funafuti.<ref name="NARA">{{cite web|title=National Archives & Records Administration|url=https://www.archives.gov|publisher=Records of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S.|access-date=20 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920202419/http://www.archives.gov/|archive-date=20 September 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Thomas Andrew (photographer)|Thomas Andrew, a photographer]], visited Funafuti around 1885–86.<ref name="AT2">{{cite web|last= Andrew|first= Thomas|title= Washing Hole Funafuti. From the album: Views in the Pacific Islands|publisher= Collection of Museum of New Zealand (Te Papa)|year= 1886|url= http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?irn=1238498|access-date= 10 April 2014|archive-url= https://archive.today/20140411050242/http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?irn=1238498|archive-date= 11 April 2014|url-status= live}}</ref>

In 1892, Captain Davis of {{HMS|Royalist|1883|6}} provided a report describing the traders and trading activities he observed on each of the islands he visited. Davis identified Jack O'Brien as a trader on Funafuti,<ref name="JRdd">{{cite web|first= Jane|last= Resture|title= ''TUVALU HISTORY'' – 'The Davis Diaries' (''H.M.S. Royalist, ''1892 visit to Ellice Islands under Captain Davis'')|url= http://www.janeresture.com/tuvalu_davis/index.htm|access-date= 20 September 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110830021646/http://www.janeresture.com/tuvalu_davis/index.htm|archive-date= 30 August 2011|url-status= live}}</ref> and O’Brien was also reported to be living on the atoll in 1896.<ref name="CH-GA">{{cite journal |ref= Hedley |last1= Hedley |first1= Charles |title= General account of the Atoll of Funafuti |url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |year= 1896 |journal= Australian Museum Memoir |volume= 3 |issue= 2 |pages= 1–72 |doi= 10.3853/j.0067-1967.3.1896.487 |access-date= 28 September 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131015112253/http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |archive-date= 15 October 2013 |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 1894 Count Rudolph Festetics de Tolna, his wife Eila (née Haggin), and her daughter Blanche Haggin visited Funafuti aboard the yacht ''Le Tolna''.<ref>Festetics De Tolna, Comte Rodolphe, ''Chez les cannibales: huit ans de croisière dans l'océan Pacifique à bord du'', Paris: Plon-Nourrit, 1903</ref><ref name="QBFR">{{cite book |title= "The Aristocrat and His Cannibals" Count Festetics von Tolna's travels in Oceania, 1893–1896 |publisher= musée du quai Branly|date=2007}}</ref> The Count spent several days photographing men and woman of Funafuti.<ref name="NMK">{{cite web|title= Néprajzi Múzeum Könyvtára|url= http://www.neprajz.hu|publisher= The library of the Ethnographic Museum of Hungary|access-date= 20 September 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110721111935/http://www.neprajz.hu/|archive-date= 21 July 2011|url-status= live}}</ref>

The population of Funafuti during the years 1860 to 1900 is estimated to have been between 280<ref>{{cite journal |first=W. F. |last=Newton |title=The Early Population of the Ellice Islands |volume=76 |issue=2 |year=1967 |journal=Journal of the Polynesian Society |pages=197–204 }}</ref> and 300 people.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=Richard |last1=Bedford |first2=Barrie |last2=Macdonald |first3=Doug |last3=Monro |title=Population Estimates for Kiribati and Tuvalu |year=1980 |volume=89 |issue=1 |journal=Journal of the Polynesian Society |pages=199 }}</ref> The Funafuti Post Office opened around 1911.<ref name = "Post Office">{{Cite web | last = Premier Postal History | title = Post Office List | publisher = Premier Postal Auctions | url = https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=ge&country= | access-date = 5 July 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140106061201/https://www.premierpostal.com/cgi-bin/wsProd.sh/Viewpocdwrapper.p?SortBy=ge&country= | archive-date = 6 January 2014 | url-status = live }}</ref>

During the [[Pacific War]] (World War II) the Ellice Islands were used as a base to prepare for the subsequent seaborn attacks on the Gilbert Islands ([[Kiribati]]) that were [[Japanese occupation of the Gilbert Islands|occupied by Japanese forces]].<ref name="PMcQ">{{cite book |last1=McQuarrie |first1=Peter |title= Strategic atolls: Tuvalu and the Second World War |year= 1994 |publisher= Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury/ Institute of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific |isbn=0958330050}}</ref> The [[United States Marine Corps]] [[5th Defense Battalion]] landed on Funafuti on 2 October 1942;<ref name="pacificwrecks1">{{cite web| title=Tuvalu (Ellice Islands) |url= http://www.pacificwrecks.com/provinces/tuvalu.html| access-date=1 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/showthread.php?15213-Unsung-battle-Fighting-at-Funafuti-Atoll-played-an-important-role-in-World-War-II | title=Unsung battle: Fighting at Funafuti Atoll played an important role in World War II }}</ref> the operation was kept secret until the Japanese discovered it for themselves on 27 March 1943.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/operation_fetlock_funafuti_atoll.html | title=Occupation of Funafuti Atoll (Operation Fetlock), 2 October 1942 }}</ref>

On Funafuti the islanders were shifted to the smaller islets so as to allow the American forces to build an airfield (now [[Funafuti International Airport]]), a 76-bed hospital and the [[Naval Base Funafuti|naval bases]] and port facilities on [[Fongafale]] islet.<ref name="BTI">{{cite web | last = Jersey | first = Stanley C. | work = The Battle for Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll | title = A Japanese Perspective: Operations in the Gilbert Islands by the 4th Fleet and the 6th Base Force | date = 29 February 2004 | url = http://tarawaontheweb.org/stanjersy1.htm | access-date = 8 June 2015 | archive-date = 7 September 2004 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040907215955/http://tarawaontheweb.org/stanjersy1.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name="TAHMT">{{cite book |first1=Melei |last1=Telavi |editor-first1=Hugh |editor-last1=Larcy |title=Tuvalu: A History|year= 1983 |publisher= University of the South Pacific/Government of Tuvalu|pages=140–144 |chapter= Chapter 18, War }}</ref>

===Darwin's Drill===
There is a site on Funafuti called ''Darwin's Drill'', where boreholes were drilled in 1896, 1897 and 1898, by the [[Royal Society of London]], as part of a scientific investigation designed to find out whether traces of shallow-water organisms could be found deep down in the coral. It was intended as a test of [[Charles Darwin]]'s [[The Structure and Distribution of Coral Reefs|theory of coral atoll formation]].<ref name="PDN1">{{cite book|last1=Lal|first1=Andrick|title=South Pacific Sea Level & Climate Monitoring Project – Funafuti atoll|url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/oip/FinalReport/Annex/3_Survey%20LDP/Survey_Diagrams_JPACE-TV.pdf|publisher=SPC Applied Geoscience and Technology Division (SOPAC Division of SPC)|pages=35 & 40|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203011855/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/oip/FinalReport/Annex/3_Survey%20LDP/Survey_Diagrams_JPACE-TV.pdf|archive-date=3 February 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17092086 |title=TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=11 September 1934 |access-date=20 June 2012 |page=6 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Professor Sollas, the leader of the 1896 expedition, published a report on the study of the atoll.<ref name="JSW">{{cite journal |author= Sollas, William J. |title= Funafati: the study of a coral atoll|journal= Natural Science |volume= 14|year= 1899 |pages=17–37 }}</ref> Professor [[Edgeworth David]] of the [[University of Sydney]] was a member of the 1896 expedition, and the leader of the 1897 expedition.<ref>Branagan, D.F. (2005): ''T.W. Edgeworth David: A Life: Geologist, Adventurer and "Knight in the Old Brown Hat"'', National Library of Australia, Canberra, pp. 85–105. {{ISBN|0 642 10791 2}}</ref><ref>David, Mrs Edgeworth, ''Funafuti or Three Months on a Coral Atoll: an unscientific account of a scientific expedition'', London: John Murray, 1899</ref> Photographers on the expeditions recorded people, communities and scenes at Funafuti.<ref>Photography Collection, University of Sydney Library</ref>

In respect of its role in testing the theory, Funafuti atoll was included by the [[International Union of Geological Sciences]] (IUGS) in its assemblage of 100 'geological heritage sites' around the world in a listing published in October 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=The First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites |url=https://iugs-geoheritage.org/videos-pdfs/iugs_first_100_book_v2.pdf |website=IUGS International Commission on Geoheritage |publisher=IUGS |access-date=5 November 2022}}</ref>

==Cyclones of 1883 and 1972==
George Westbrook, a trader based on Funafuti, recorded a [[tropical cyclone]] that struck Funafuti on 23–24 December 1883. At the time the cyclone struck, he was the lone inhabitant of [[Fongafale]], because Tema, a Samoan missionary, had taken everyone else to [[Funafala]] to work on erecting a church. The cyclone destroyed the buildings in Fongafale, including the church and the trading stores belonging to George Westbrook and [[Alfred Restieaux]]. Little damage occurred at Funafala, however, and the people returned to rebuild at Fongafale.<ref name="BGBKE">{{cite journal |author= McLean, R.F. and Munro, D. |url= http://uspaquatic.library.usp.ac.fj/gsdl/collect/spjnas/index/assoc/HASH0199.dir/doc.pdf |title= Late 19th century Tropical Storms and Hurricanes in Tuvalu |journal= South Pacific Journal of Natural History |volume= 11 |year= 1991 |pages= 213–219 |access-date= 10 April 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190410113306/http://uspaquatic.library.usp.ac.fj/gsdl/collect/spjnas/index/assoc/HASH0199.dir/doc.pdf |archive-date= 10 April 2019 |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="H83">{{cite book |last1= Resture |first1= Jane |title= Hurricane 1883 |url= http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm |publisher= Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: ‘Gods Who Die’ by Julian Dana as told by George Westbrook |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170908231226/http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm |archive-date= 8 September 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref>

[[File:Ocean side Funafuti.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Ocean side of Funafuti atoll showing the storm dunes, the highest point on the atoll.]]
In 1972, Funafuti lay in the path of [[Cyclone Bebe]] during the [[1972–73 South Pacific cyclone season]]. Bebe was a pre-season [[tropical cyclone]] that hit the [[Gilbert Islands|Gilbert]], [[Tuvalu|Ellice]], and [[Fiji]] island groups.<ref name="BOM1975">Bureau of Meteorology (1975) ''Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Australian Regions 1971–1972'' Australian Government Publishing Service</ref> The cyclone system was first spotted on 20 October. It intensified and grew in size through 22 October. At about 4 p.m. on Saturday the 21st, sea water bubbled through the coral on the airfield and rose to a height of about {{convert|5|ft|m}}. Cyclone Bebe continued to ravage the area through Sunday 22 October. The Ellice Islands Colony's ship ''Moanaraoi'', which was in the lagoon, survived. However, three tuna boats were wrecked. Waves broke over the atoll. Five people died: two adults and a 3-month-old child were swept away by waves, and two sailors who had been in the wrecked tuna boats were drowned.<ref name="HB72">{{cite book |last1= Resture |first1= Jane |title= Hurricane Bebe 1972 |url= http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm |date= 5 October 2009 |publisher= Tuvalu and the Hurricanes: 'The Hurricane in Funafuti, Tuvalu' by Pasefika Falani (Pacific Frank) |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170908231226/http://www.janeresture.com/hurribebe/hurricanebebe2.htm |archive-date= 8 September 2017 |url-status= live }}</ref> Cyclone Bebe knocked down 90% of the area's houses and trees. The storm surge created a wall of coral rubble along the ocean side of [[Fongafale]] and [[Funafala]] that was about {{convert|10|mi}} long, and was about {{convert|10|ft|m}} to {{convert|20|ft|m}} thick at the bottom.<ref name="HB72"/><ref name="MJE">{{cite journal |author= Maragos J.E., Baines G.B., Beveridge P.J.|title= Tropical Cyclone creates a New Land Formation on Funafuti |journal= Science |volume= 181|year= 1973 |issue= 4105 |pages=1161–4|doi= 10.1126/science.181.4105.1161 |pmid= 17744290 |s2cid= 35546293 }}</ref><ref name="GBK">{{cite journal |author= Baines, G.B.K., Beveridge, P.J. & Maragos, J.E.|title= Storms and island building at Funafuti Atoll, Ellice Islands |journal= Proceedings of the 2nd Int. Coral Reef Symposium |year= 1974 }}</ref><ref name="NG15">{{cite web | last = Warne | first = Kennedy | work = National Geographic | title = Will Pacific Island Nations Disappear as Seas Rise? Maybe Not – Reef islands can grow and change shape as sediments shift, studies show | date = 13 February 2015 | url = http://news-beta.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/150213-tuvalu-sopoaga-kench-kiribati-maldives-cyclone-marshall-islands/ | access-date = 14 February 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150214031223/http://news-beta.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/150213-tuvalu-sopoaga-kench-kiribati-maldives-cyclone-marshall-islands/ | archive-date = 14 February 2015 | url-status = dead }}</ref> The storm surge also destroyed or contaminated the area's sources of fresh drinking water.

==Educational institutions==
[[File:Fetuvalu High School on Funafuti atoll, Tuvalu.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Water storage tanks installed at Fetuvalu High School]]

Four tertiary institutions on Funafuti offer technical and vocational courses: [[Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute]] (TMTI), [[Tuvalu Atoll Science Technology Training Institute]] (TASTII), Australian Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) and [[University of the South Pacific]] (USP) Extension Centre.<ref name="USP2020-7">{{cite web|url= https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=3268|title= Tuvalu Theory of Change Coalition Consultation|publisher= The University of the South Pacific|date= 6 July 2020|access-date= 10 January 2021|archive-date= 11 January 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210111230331/https://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=3268|url-status= dead}}</ref>

There are two junior schools, the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School and Nauti Primary School, which has a register of more than 900 pupils and is the largest primary school in Tuvalu (45 per cent of the total primary school enrolment).<ref name="MDG">{{cite web | last =2012 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Analytical Report | work =Ministry of Education and Sports, and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development from the Government of Tuvalu; and the United Nations System in the Pacific Islands | title =Tuvalu: Millennium Development Goal Acceleration Framework – Improving Quality of Education | date =April 2013 | url =http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/MDG%20Acceleration%20Framework/MAF%20Reports/RBAP/MAF%20Tuvalu-FINAL-%20April%204.pdf | access-date =13 October 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140213133607/http://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/MDG/MDG%20Acceleration%20Framework/MAF%20Reports/RBAP/MAF%20Tuvalu-FINAL-%20April%204.pdf | archive-date =13 February 2014 | url-status =live }}</ref>

The [[Church of Tuvalu]] operates [[Fetuvalu Secondary School]].<ref name="FHS">{{cite web | title= Fetuvalu High School (Funafuti) | url= http://wikimapia.org/10435819/Fetuvalu-High-School | access-date= 20 November 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130927210334/http://wikimapia.org/10435819/Fetuvalu-High-School | archive-date= 27 September 2013 | url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="AHK">{{cite web | last= Holowaty Krales | first= Amelia | title= TB Workshop at Fetu Valu Secondary School | date= 10 March 2011 | url= http://ameliaholowatykrales.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/tb-workshop-at-fetu-valu-secondary.html | access-date= 20 November 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130928133342/http://ameliaholowatykrales.blogspot.com.au/2011/03/tb-workshop-at-fetu-valu-secondary.html | archive-date= 28 September 2013 | url-status= live }}</ref> The [[University of the South Pacific]] (USP)<ref name="USPt1">{{cite web| work= Welcome to the Tuvalu Campus| title= University of the South Pacific – Tuvalu Campus|year= 2019| url= https://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=3666| access-date= 28 August 2019| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180425224152/https://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=3666| archive-date= 25 April 2018| url-status= live}}</ref> Extension Centre on Funafuti operates the Augmented Foundation Programme for sixth form students who pass their Pacific Secondary School Certificate (PSSC) so that the students can enter tertiary education programmes outside of Tuvalu. The [[Tuvalu Maritime Training Institute]] (TMTI) is located on [[Amatuku]] [[islet|motu]] (islet).

==Transportation==
[[File:Funafuti banner Beach.jpg|thumb|right|upright|600px|Funafuti beach (2013)]]
[[Funafuti International Airport]] {{airport codes|FUN|NGFU}} is located on [[Fongafale]].

[[Fiji Airways]], the owner of Fiji Airlines (trading as [[Fiji Link]]) operates air transport services three times per week (on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) between [[Suva]] and Funafuti. The flights originate in [[Nadi]], and use [[ATR 72]]-600 aircraft, which can carry up to 68 passengers.

In addition, [[Air Kiribati]] operates one flight a week to Funafuti, using a [[Bombardier Dash 8]] 100 series aircraft, which can carry up to 35 passengers.<ref name="AK">{{cite web |title=Funafuti Service |publisher=Air Kiribati |year=2018 |url=http://www.airkiribati.com.ki/funafuti-service |access-date=9 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108101950/http://www.airkiribati.com.ki/funafuti-service |archive-date=8 January 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Fongafale has port facilities and two passenger/cargo ships, ''Nivaga III'' and ''Manu Folau'', which make roundtrips between Fongafale and the outer islands about once every three or four weeks, and also travel between [[Suva]], Fiji,<ref>[http://www.shipping.com.fj Fiji shipping agent, Williams & Gosling] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215212740/http://www.shipping.com.fj/ |date=15 December 2018 }}.</ref> and Funafuti about three or four times a year.

In 2015 the Japanese government donated a ship, the ''Nivaga III'', to Tuvalu, to replace the ''Nivaga II'', which had served Tuvalu since 1989.<ref name="FSO0316">{{cite web | last =Moceituba | first =Atasa | title =Brand-new vessel for Tuvalu | work =The Fiji Times | date =3 February 2016 | url =http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=340189 | access-date =17 March 2016 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20160324094852/http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=340189 | archive-date =24 March 2016 | url-status =dead }}</ref>

==Constituency==
Funafuti is one of the eight constituencies in Tuvalu, and elects two members of [[Parliament of Tuvalu|parliament]]. In the [[2019 Tuvaluan general election|2019 general election]], [[Kausea Natano]] and Simon Kofe were re-elected to parliament.<ref name=RNZ19>{{cite web|first=Jamie|last=Tahana|title= Tuvalu elections: large turnover for new parliament|work=Radio New Zealand|date=10 September 2019|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/398454/tuvalu-elections-large-turnover-for-new-parliament|access-date=10 September 2019}}</ref>

{{Election box begin no change
| title = Funafuti constituency results
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Kausea Natano]] [[File:Symbol confirmed.svg|16px]]
| party = Non-partisan
| votes = 355
| percentage = 27.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = [[Simon Kofe]] [[File:Symbol confirmed.svg|16px]]
| party = Non-partisan
| votes = 374
| percentage = 28.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Tuafafa Latasi
| party = Non-partisan
| votes = 349
| percentage = 26.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Soloseni Penitusi
| party = Non-partisan
| votes = 158
| percentage = 12
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Luke Paeniu
| party = Non-partisan
| votes = 70
| percentage = 5.3
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Prominent local people==
* Sir [[Toaripi Lauti]], {{postnominals|country=GBR|GCMG|PC}} (28 November 1928 – 25 May 2014): first Chief Minister of the Ellice Islands (from 2 October 1975 to 1 October 1978); first Prime Minister of Tuvalu (from 1 October 1978 to 8 September 1981); third Governor General of Tuvalu (from 1 October 1990 to 1 December 1993)
* Sir [[Kamuta Latasi]], {{postnominals|country=GBR|KCMG|OBE|PC|MP}} (born 1936): fourth Prime Minister of Tuvalu (from 1993 to 1996); Speaker of the Parliament of Tuvalu (2006 to September 2010, and December 2010 to March 2014)

==See also==
* [[Funafuti Conservation Area]]
* [[History of Tuvalu]]
* [[List of Guano Island claims]]
* '''''{{portal-inline|Tuvalu}}'''''

==External sources==
*{{cite journal|ref=Hedley|last1= Hedley |first1= Charles|title= General account of the Atoll of Funafuti|url= http://australianmuseum.net.au/Uploads/Journals/16686/487_complete.pdf |year= 1896 |journal= Australian Museum Memoir |volume=3|issue=2|pages=1–72 |doi= 10.3853/j.0067-1967.3.1896.487 }}
* {{in lang|en}} {{cite web |author= Kench, Thompson, Ford, Ogawa and McLean |title = GSA DATA REPOSITORY 2015184 (Changes in planform characteristics of 29 islands located on Funafuti's atoll rim)|year =2015|url= https://www.geosociety.org/datarepository/2015/2015184.pdf |publisher= The Geological Society of America|access-date=22 January 2017}}
*{{cite web| last =Lambert | first =Sylvester M.| work= Special Collections & Archives, UC San Diego |title= Young woman, member of the O'Brien family, Funafuti, Tuvalu |url= http://library.ucsd.edu/dc/object/bb13661628| access-date=18 November 2017}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Islands of Tuvalu}}
{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Funafuti| ]]
[[Category:Atolls of Tuvalu]]
[[Category:Capitals in Oceania]]
[[Category:Pacific islands claimed under the Guano Islands Act]]
[[Category:Former disputed islands]]
[[Category:First 100 IUGS Geological Heritage Sites]]

Freetown

2023-12-12T19:43:05Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital, chief port, and the largest city of Sierra Leone}}
{{About|the capital and largest city in Sierra Leone}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Freetown
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| photo2a = Freetown_Court_1984.jpg
| photo2b = Freetown street (13992704238).jpg
| photo3a = Sierra Leone National Stadium.jpg
| photo3b = Freetown 06 10 (13).jpg
| spacing = 2
| position = center
| color_border = white
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| size = 280
| foot_montage = From top left: Aerial view, Freetown Court and Cotton Tree, Downtown Freetown, Sierra Leone National Stadium, Sierra Leone State House
}}
|image_flag = Freetown, Sierra Leone.png
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|subdivision_name = {{flag|Sierra Leone}}
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = [[Western Area]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Sierra Leone|District]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Western Area Urban District]]
|government_type =[[City council]]
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = [[Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/sierra-leone-capital-freetown-elects-female-mayor-the-first-since-1980//|title=Sierra Leone capital Freetown elects female mayor, the first since 1980|website=africanews.com|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref> ([[All People's Congress|APC]])
|leader_title1 =Deputy Mayor
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'''Freetown''' is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Sierra Leone]]. It is a major [[port city]] on the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and is located in the [[Western Area]] of the country. Freetown is Sierra Leone's major urban, economic, financial, cultural, educational and political centre, as it is the seat of the [[Government of Sierra Leone]]. The population of Freetown was 1,055,964 at the 2015 census.<ref name="2015Census"/>

The city's economy revolves largely around its [[harbour]], which occupies a part of the estuary of the [[Sierra Leone River]] in one of the world's largest natural deep water harbours.

Although the city has traditionally been the homeland of the [[Sierra Leone Creole people]], the population of Freetown is [[ethnically]], [[culturally]], and religiously diverse. The city is home to a significant population of all of Sierra Leone's [[ethnic group]]s, with no single ethnic group forming more than 27% of the city's population. As in virtually all parts of Sierra Leone, the [[Krio language]] of the [[Sierra Leone Creole people]] is Freetown's primary language of communication and is by far the most widely spoken language in the city.

The city of Freetown was founded by [[abolitionist]] [[John Clarkson (abolitionist)|Lieutenant John Clarkson]] on March 11, 1792, as a settlement for freed [[African American]], [[Afro-Caribbean]] and [[Liberated African]] slaves. Their descendants are known as the [[Sierra Leone Creole people|Creole people]]. Before the arrival of Europeans, the local [[Temne people|Temne]] and [[Loko people]] were living in villages on the land that later became known as Freetown.

Freetown is locally governed by a [[directly elected]] [[Freetown City Council]], headed by a mayor, who also is directly elected; elections are held every four years. The mayor of Freetown is Yvonne Aki Sawyerr, who was sworn in on May 11, 2018, after her victory in the 2018 mayoral election; she was re-elected in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africanews.com/2018/03/21/sierra-leone-capital-freetown-elects-female-mayor-the-first-since-1980//|title=Sierra Leone capital Freetown elects female mayor, the first since 1980|website=www.africanews.com|date=March 21, 2018|access-date=April 30, 2018}}</ref>

The Freetown [[city council]] has its own [[municipal police]] force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.sl/drwebsite/exec/view.cgi?archive=6&num=15499&printer=1|title=In Sierra Leone, 140 Metropolitan Police Officers pass out|publisher=|access-date=2013-11-14|archive-date=2015-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610222924/http://news.sl/drwebsite/exec/view.cgi?archive=6&num=15499&printer=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== History ==
{{see also|Timeline of Freetown}}

=== Province of Freedom (1787–1789) ===
The area was first settled in 1787 by 400 formerly [[Slavery|enslaved]] black people sent from London, England, under the auspices of the [[Committee for the Relief of the Black Poor]], an organisation set up by Jonah Hanway and the British abolitionist [[Granville Sharp]].<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 109</ref> These black people were African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Africans, Southeast Asians, and black people born in Great Britain. They established the 'Province of Freedom' and the settlement of Granville Town on land purchased from local [[Koya Temne]] subchief King Tom and regent Naimbana.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Trillo |first=Richard |title=West Africa: The Rough Guide |last2=Hudgens |first2=Jim |date=November 1995 |publisher=The Rough Guides |isbn=978-1-85828-101-8 |edition=2nd |series=Rough Guides |location=London |pages=545-549}}</ref> The British understood the purchase meant that their new settlers had the land "for ever." Although the established arrangement between Europeans and the Koya Temne included provisions for permanent settlement, some historians question how well the Koya leaders understood the agreement, as they had a different conception of the uses of property.

Disputes soon broke out. King Tom's successor, King Jimmy, burnt the settlement to the ground in 1789. [[Alexander Falconbridge]] was sent to Sierra Leone in 1791 to collect the remaining Black Poor settlers, and they re-established Granville Town around the area now known as [[Cline Town|Cline Town, Sierra Leone]] near [[Fourah Bay]]. These 1787 settlers did not formally establish Freetown, even though the bicentennial of Freetown was celebrated in 1987; formally, Freetown was founded in 1792.<ref>Shaw, Rosalind, ''Memories of the Slave Trade: Ritual and the Historical Imagination in Sierra Leone.'' Reconstructed  by Mohamed Sheriff, Memphis, Tennessee, [[University of Chicago Press]] (2002), p. 37.</ref>

=== Freetown settlement and the Colony of Sierra Leone (1792–1808) ===

In 1791, [[Thomas Peters (revolutionary)|Thomas Peters]], an African American who had served in the [[Black Pioneers]], went to England to report the grievances of the black population in [[Nova Scotia]]. Some of these African Americans were ex-slaves who had escaped to the British forces who had been given their freedom and resettled there by the Crown after the [[American Revolution]]. Land grants and assistance in starting the settlements had been intermittent and slow.

During his visit, Peters met with the directors of the [[Sierra Leone Company]] and learned of proposals for a new settlement at Sierra Leone. Despite the collapse of the 1787 colony, the directors were eager to recruit settlers to Sierra Leone. [[Lieutenant John Clarkson, RN]], who was an abolitionist, was sent to Nova Scotia in [[British North America]] to register immigrants to take to Sierra Leone for a new settlement.

Tired of the harsh weather and racial discrimination in Nova Scotia, more than 1,100 former American slaves chose to go to Sierra Leone. They sailed in 15 ships and arrived in St. George Bay between February 26 – March 9, 1792.<ref>Britannica, [https://www.britannica.com/place/Freetown Freetown], britannica.com, USA, accessed on June 24, 2019</ref> Sixty-four settlers died en route to Sierra Leone, and Lieutenant Clarkson was among those taken ill during the voyage. Upon reaching Sierra Leone, Clarkson and some of the Nova Scotian 'captains' "dispatched on shore to clear or make roadway for their landing". The Nova Scotians were to build Freetown on the former site of the first Granville Town, where jungle had taken over since its destruction in 1789. Its surviving Old Settlers had relocated to Fourah Bay in 1791.

At Freetown, the women remained in the ships while the men worked to clear the land. Lt. Clarkson told the men to clear the land until they reached a large cotton tree. After the work had been done and the land cleared, all the Nova Scotians, men and women, disembarked and marched towards the thick forest and to the cotton tree, and their preachers (all African Americans) began singing "Awake and Sing of Moses and the Lamb."

In March 1792, Nathaniel Gilbert, a white preacher, prayed and preached a sermon under the large [[Cotton Tree (Sierra Leone)|Cotton Tree]], and Reverend [[David George (Baptist)|David George]], from South Carolina, preached the first recorded [[Baptist]] service in Africa. The land was dedicated and christened 'Free Town,' as ordered by the Sierra Leone Company Directors. This was the first thanksgiving service.

John Clarkson was sworn in as first governor of Sierra Leone. Small huts were erected before the rainy season. The Sierra Leone Company surveyors and the settlers built Freetown on the American grid pattern, with parallel streets and wide roads, with the largest being Water Street. On August 24, 1792, the Black Poor or Old Settlers of the second Granville Town were incorporated into the new Sierra Leone Colony, but remained at Granville Town.

In 1793, the settlers sent a petition to the Sierra Leone Company expressing concerns about the treatment that they were enduring.<ref>Settlers' Petition, # 19, page. 35, Our Children Free and Happy</ref> The settlers in particular objected to being issued currency that was only redeemable at a company owned store. They also claimed that the governor, a Mr. Dawes, ruled in an almost tyrannical fashion, favoring certain people over others when ruling the settlement. The writers then argued that they had not received the amount of land that Lt. Clarkson had promised them on leaving Nova Scotia. The letter expressed anxiety that the company was not treating them as freemen, but as slaves and requested that Lt. Clarkson return as governor.

Freetown survived being pillaged by the French in 1794, and was rebuilt by the settlers. By 1798, Freetown had between 300 and 400 houses with architecture resembling that of the United States – stone foundations with wooden superstructures. Eventually this style of housing, built by the Nova Scotians, would be the model for the 'bod oses' of their [[Creole peoples|Creole]] descendants.

In 1800, the Nova Scotians rebelled. The colonial authorities used the arrival of about 550 [[Jamaican Maroons]] to suppress the insurrection. Thirty-four Nova Scotians were banished and sent to either the [[Sherbro Island|Sherbro]] or a penal colony at Gore. Some of the Nova Scotians were eventually allowed back into Freetown. After the Maroons captured the Nova Scotian rebels, they were granted their land. Eventually the Maroons had their own district, which came to be known as [[Maroon Town, Sierra Leone|Maroon Town]].

=== Freetown as a Crown Colony (1808–1961) ===
[[File:A view of Freetown, 1803.jpg|thumb|Freetown in 1803]]

Indigenous Africans attacked the colony in 1801 and were repulsed. The British eventually took control of Freetown, making it a [[Sierra Leone Colony and Protectorate|Crown Colony]] in 1808. This act accompanied expansion that led to the creation of Sierra Leone.

From 1808 to 1874, the city served as the capital of [[British West Africa]]. It also served as the base for the [[Royal Navy]]'s [[West Africa Squadron]], which was charged with enforcing the ban on the slave trade. When the squadron liberated slaves on trading ships, they brought most to Sierra Leone, and Freetown in particular; thus, the population grew to include descendants of many different peoples from all over the west coast of Africa. The British also situated three of their [[Mixed Commission Court]]s in Freetown.<ref name=Adderley>{{cite book|last1=Adderley|first1=Rosanne Marion|title="New negroes from Africa" slave trade abolition and free African settlement in the nineteenth-century Caribbean|date=2006|publisher=Indiana University Press|location=Bloomington|isbn=978-0-253-21827-8}}</ref>

[[File:Freetown, Sierra Leone ca 1856.jpg|thumb|Freetown in 1856]]
The liberated Africans established the suburbs of Freetown Peninsula. They were the largest group of immigrants to make up the Creole people of Freetown. The city expanded rapidly. The freed slaves were joined by West Indian and African soldiers, who had fought for Britain in the [[Napoleonic Wars]] and settled here afterwards. Descendants of the freed slaves who settled in Sierra Leone between 1787 and around 1885, are called the [[Sierra Leone Creole people|Creoles]]. The Creoles play a leading role in the city, although they are a minority of the overall Sierra Leone population.

In the 1890s, ethnic tension flared between [[Lebanese people|Lebanese]] residents and traders and the various native ethnicities of Sierra Leone, which led to Lebanese shops being destroyed in cities<ref name=":0" /> including Freetown.

During World War I Freetown became a base for operations of British forces in the Atlantic. Warships came into the port to resupply and German merchant vessels captured in the region were also sent there.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/africa/sierra-leone/|title=The National Archives - Homepage|first=The National|last=Archives|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-date=October 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024020856/http://livelb.nationalarchives.gov.uk/first-world-war/a-global-view/africa/sierra-leone/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], Britain maintained a naval base at Freetown. The base was a staging post for [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] traffic in the South Atlantic and the assembly point for [[SL convoys]] to Britain. An [[RAF]] base was maintained at nearby [[Lungi International Airport|Lungi airfield]]. British fighter aircraft which were shipped into Freetown port, were carried on the [[Sierra Leone Government Railway]] to Makeni to be assembled and flown to Egypt.

=== Civil war, 1990s to early 2000s ===
{{Main|Siege of Freetown}}
The city was the scene of fierce fighting in the late 1990s during the [[Sierra Leone Civil War]]. It was captured by [[Economic Community of West African States|ECOWAS]] troops seeking to restore President [[Ahmad Tejan Kabbah]] in 1998. Later it was unsuccessfully attacked by rebels of the [[Revolutionary United Front]].

===Mudslide disaster, 2017===
{{main|2017 Sierra Leone mudslides}}
In the early morning on 14 August 2017, after much heavy rain, part of Mount Sugar Loaf on an edge of Freetown collapsed in a huge mudslide which drowned over 300 people in Regent town. [[Deforestation]] has been blamed for the landslide.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/14/sierra-leone-landslide-hundreds-feared-buried-houses-submerged/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/14/sierra-leone-landslide-hundreds-feared-buried-houses-submerged/ |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Sierra Leone landslide: More than 300 killed as roads turn into 'churning rivers of mud'|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=August 14, 2017|access-date=August 21, 2017|last1=Boyle|first1=Danny}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/665dd272-8100-11e7-94e2-c5b903247afd |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/665dd272-8100-11e7-94e2-c5b903247afd |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription|title=Hundreds killed in Sierra Leone mudslide|website=Financial Times|date=August 15, 2017 |access-date=August 21, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/08/sierra-leone-mudslide-170816053741558.html|title=Sierra Leone mudslide: What, where and why?|website=Aljazeera|access-date=August 21, 2017}}</ref>

=== Sierra Leone fuel tanker explosion, 2021===
{{main|2021 Sierra Leone fuel tanker explosion}}
On 5 November 2021, a fuel tank truck collided with another truck in Freetown, resulting in an explosion killing at least 99 and injuring around 100.

=== Attempted coup, November 2023===

In the early hours of 26th November the military base at Wilberforce, Freetown was attacked and an attempt made to loot the armoury. Subsequently the Pademba road prison was targetted with some prisoners being released. A nationwide curfew was declared for the day and following evening<ref>{{cite web |title=Sierra Leone lifts curfew after breakout from Freetown's Pademba Road Prison |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-67536147}}</ref>

== Geography ==

{{multiple image
|align = center
|total_width = 1000
|image1 =Freetown SPOT 1094.jpg
|caption1 = Satellite picture of Freetown, 2006
|image3 = Freetown overview map.svg
|caption3 = A map of central Freetown
|image4 = Sierra Leone Freetown location map.png
|caption4 = A map showing the broader area of the Freetown Municipality
}}
Freetown shares border with the Atlantic Ocean and the [[Western Area Rural District]]. Freetown municipality is politically divided into three regions: East End, Central and West End of Freetown. The wards in the East End of Freetown (East I, East II, and East III) contain the city's largest population centre and generally the poorest part of the city. The [[Queen Elizabeth II Quay]] is located within East End.

The two central wards (Central I and Central II) make up Central Freetown, which includes Downtown Freetown and the central business district (Central II). Most of the tallest and most important national government building and foreign embassies are based in Central Freetown.

Sierra Leone's [[Sierra Leone House of Parliament|House of Parliament]] and the [[State House (Sierra Leone)|State House]], the principal workplace of the [[president of Sierra Leone]], are on [[Tower Hill (Sierra Leone)|Tower Hill]] in central Freetown. The [[National Stadium (Sierra Leone)|National Stadium]], the home stadium of the [[Sierra Leone national football team]] (popularly known as the [[Leone Stars]]) is in the Brookfield neighborhood.

The three westernmost wards (West I, West II, and West III) of the city constitute the West End of Freetown. These wards are relatively affluent. Most of the city's luxury hotels, a number of casinos, and Lumley Beach are in the west end of the city. The West End neighbourhood of Hill Station is home to the [[State Lodge]], the official residence of the president of Sierra Leone.

== Climate ==

Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Freetown has a [[tropical climate]] with a [[rainy season]] from May through November; the balance of the year represents the [[dry season]]. The beginning and end of the rainy season is marked by strong [[thunderstorms]]. Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Freetown has a [[tropical monsoon climate]] (''Am'') primarily due to the heavy amount of precipitation it receives during the rainy season.

Freetown's high [[humidity]] is somewhat relieved December through February by the famous [[Harmattan]], a wind blowing from the [[Sahara Desert]], affording Freetown its coolest period of the year. Temperature extremes recorded in Freetown are from {{convert|15|C}} to {{convert|38|C}} all year. The average annual temperature is around {{convert|28|C|}}.
{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Freetown, Sierra Leone (1961–1990, extremes 1947–1990)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 36.0
|Feb record high C = 38.0
|Mar record high C = 38.0
|Apr record high C = 38.5
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 35.0
|Jul record high C = 33.0
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 31.0
|Oct record high C = 35.0
|Nov record high C = 36.5
|Dec record high C = 33.5
|year record high C = 38.5
|Jan high C = 29.9
|Feb high C = 30.3
|Mar high C = 30.9
|Apr high C = 31.2
|May high C = 30.9
|Jun high C = 30.1
|Jul high C = 28.7
|Aug high C = 28.4
|Sep high C = 29.0
|Oct high C = 29.9
|Nov high C = 30.1
|Dec high C = 29.7
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 27.3
|Feb mean C = 27.6
|Mar mean C = 28.1
|Apr mean C = 28.5
|May mean C = 28.3
|Jun mean C = 27.4
|Jul mean C = 26.3
|Aug mean C = 25.9
|Sep mean C = 26.4
|Oct mean C = 27.1
|Nov mean C = 27.7
|Dec mean C = 27.5
|year mean C =
|Jan low C = 23.8
|Feb low C = 24.0
|Mar low C = 24.4
|Apr low C = 24.8
|May low C = 24.4
|Jun low C = 23.6
|Jul low C = 23.1
|Aug low C = 23.0
|Sep low C = 23.1
|Oct low C = 23.4
|Nov low C = 24.0
|Dec low C = 24.1
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = 15.0
|Feb record low C = 17.8
|Mar record low C = 19.4
|Apr record low C = 20.0
|May record low C = 20.6
|Jun record low C = 20.0
|Jul record low C = 19.4
|Aug record low C = 19.4
|Sep record low C = 20.0
|Oct record low C = 19.4
|Nov record low C = 20.0
|Dec record low C = 15.6
|year record low C =
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 8.0
|Feb rain mm = 6.0
|Mar rain mm = 28.0
|Apr rain mm = 68.0
|May rain mm = 214.0
|Jun rain mm = 522.0
|Jul rain mm = 1190.0
|Aug rain mm = 1078.0
|Sep rain mm = 800.0
|Oct rain mm = 333.0
|Nov rain mm = 148.0
|Dec rain mm = 38.0
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 1
|Apr rain days = 4
|May rain days = 15
|Jun rain days = 22
|Jul rain days = 27
|Aug rain days = 27
|Sep rain days = 24
|Oct rain days = 21
|Nov rain days = 9
|Dec rain days = 2
|year rain days =
|Jan humidity = 66
|Feb humidity = 67
|Mar humidity = 67
|Apr humidity = 68
|May humidity = 73
|Jun humidity = 76
|Jul humidity = 81
|Aug humidity = 82
|Sep humidity = 80
|Oct humidity = 78
|Nov humidity = 76
|Dec humidity = 69
|year humidity =
|Jan sun = 226.3
|Feb sun = 215.6
|Mar sun = 232.5
|Apr sun = 207.0
|May sun = 189.1
|Jun sun = 153.0
|Jul sun = 102.3
|Aug sun = 86.8
|Sep sun = 126.0
|Oct sun = 186.0
|Nov sun = 198.0
|Dec sun = 161.2
|year sun =
|source = NOAA,<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/SL/61856.TXT
| title = Freetown Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = February 7, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/w_afr/freetown_e.htm |title=Climatological Information for Freetown, Sierra Leone |publisher=[[Hong Kong Observatory]] |access-date=August 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021124020507/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/africa/w_afr/freetown_e.htm |archive-date=November 24, 2002 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes),<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_618560_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Freetown-Lunghi (Flugh.) / Sierra Leone
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = February 7, 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.globalbioclimatics.org/station/si-freet.htm
|title = Sierra Leone - Freetown
|publisher= Worldwide Bioclimatic Classification System
|accessdate = July 24, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Demographics ==
{{Further|Religion in Sierra Leone|Languages of Sierra Leone}}
Freetown is home to a large population of both Muslims and Christians, though Muslims make up the majority of the population. In both the Muslim and Christian youth population of Freetown can be found a significant [[Progressivism|liberal]] influence. Like the rest of Sierra Leone, Freetown is a religiously tolerant city, with Muslims and Christians living side by side peacefully.

As in many parts of Sierra Leone, the [[Krio language]] (the English-based creole language of the [[Sierra Leone Creole people]] who make up 5% of the country's population) is by far the most widely spoken language in the city. The language is spoken at home as a [[first language]] by over 20% of the city's population and is spoken as a [[lingua franca]] by a large number of the population in the city. English (the country's official language) is also widely spoken, particularly by the well-educated. The [[Temne language|Themne language]] is the second most popular language spoken after Krio. [[Temne people|Themne people]] also make up the largest members of the population of Freetown and the Western Area Region.

{{Historical populations
| 1974 | 276,247
| 1985 | 469,776
| 2004 | 772,873
| 2015 | 1,055,964
| align = none
| footnote = source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/sierraleone/cities/|title=Sierra Leone: Provinces, Districts, Major Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=www.citypopulation.de}}</ref>
}}

== Government ==
The city of Freetown is one of Sierra Leone's six municipalities and is governed by a [[directly elected]] [[city council]], headed by a mayor, in whom [[executive authority]] is vested. The current mayor is [[Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr]]. The mayor is responsible for the general management of the city. The mayor and members of the Freetown City Council are elected directly by the residents of Freetown every four years.

The government of the Freetown Municipality has been dominated by [[All People's Congress]] (APC) since 2004. Since 2004, the residents of Freetown have voted in municipal elections for members of the All People's Congress (APC) by an overwhelming majority. The APC won the city's mayorship and vast majority seats in the Freetown city council in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2018 local elections by more than 67% each.

In Presidential elections Freetown is considered a swing city, as it has a large support base of both the All People's Congress and the [[Sierra Leone People's Party]]. However, the APC has won majority percent of the votes in Freetown in the 2007, 2012 and 2018 Sierra Leone Presidential election, including The APC winning more than 65% of the votes in Freetown in both The 2012 and 2018 Sierra Leone Presidential elections. The APC presidential candidate [[Ernest Bai Koroma]] received 69% of the votes in Freetown in the 2012 Sierra Leone Presidential election; compared to the SLPP presidential candidate [[Julius Maada Bio]] who received 30%. In the 2018 Sierra Leone Presidential election, The APC presidential candidate [[Samura Kamara]] received 65% compared to the SLPP presidential candidate Julius Maada Bio who received 34%, though Maada Bio won the presidential election nationally.

In November 2011, Freetown Mayor [[Herbert George-Williams]] was removed from office and replaced by council member Alhaji Gibril Kanu as acting mayor. Mayor Herbert George-Williams and eight others, including the Chief Administrator of the Freetown city council Bowenson Fredrick Philips; and the Freetown city council Treasurer Sylvester Momoh Konnehi, were arrested and indicted by the [[Sierra Leone Anti-corruption Commission]] on twenty-five counts on [[graft (politics)|graft]] charges, ranging from [[Conspiracy (crime)|conspiracy]] to commit corruption to misappropriation of [[public funds]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7AS0AR20111129 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203083439/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE7AS0AR20111129 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |title=Sierra Leone indicts Freetown mayor for graft |work=Reuters |last=Akam |first=Simon |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref> Mayor [[Herbert George-Williams]] was acquitted of seventeen of the nineteen charges against him. He was convicted of two less serious charges by the Freetown [[High Court]] judge Jon Bosco Katutsi and sentenced to pay a [[fine (penalty)|fine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepatrioticvanguard.com/spip.php?article6638 |title=Freetown: Mayor, Five Others Sentenced |work=The Patriotic Vanguard |date=15 August 2012 |access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201208170197.html |title=Sierra Leone: Mayor, Others to Pay Le455 Million or Risk Three-Year Jail |work=All Africa |last=Kamara |first=Patrick J. |date=16 August 2012 |access-date=19 August 2022}}</ref>

Acting Mayor Kanu lost the APC nomination for the mayor of Freetown in the 2012 Mayoral elections by 56 votes; council member Sam Franklyn Bode Gibson won 106 in a landslide victory.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cocorioko.net/?p=36480 |title=Councillor Bode Gibson Wins The Freetown APC Mayoral Candidate Contest |work=Cocorioko |access-date=2012-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110034409/http://www.cocorioko.net/?p=36480 |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bintumani.forumchitchat.com/post/Acting-Mayor-Blast-Krio-Tribalism-in-Freetown-City-Council-5975300|title=Acting Mayor Blast Krio Tribalism in Freetown City Council|website=bintumani.forumchitchat.com}}</ref>

In the national presidential and parliamentary elections, Freetown is similar to [[swing states]] in [[American politics]]. As the city is so [[ethnically]] diverse, no single ethnic group forms a majority of the population of the city. Historically, the APC and the SLPP, two of the country's major political parties, have had about equal support in the city. In the 2007 Sierra Leone Presidential election, the APC candidate and then main opposition leader, [[Ernest Bai Koroma]], won just over 60% of the votes in the [[Western Area Urban District]], including the city of Freetown, where almost the entire District population reside.

== Culture ==
The city has the [[Sierra Leone National Museum]] and [[Sierra Leone National Railway Museum]]. There are also various historical landmarks connected to its founding by [[African Americans]], [[Liberated African]]s, and [[Afro-Caribbean]]s whose descendants are the [[Sierra Leone Creole]] people.<ref name=Thayer>{{cite journal|last=Thayer|first=James Steel |year=1991 |title=A Dissenting View of Creole Culture in Sierra Leone|journal=Cahiers d'Études Africaines |volume=31 |issue=121 |pages= 215–230 |doi=10.3406/cea.1991.2116 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/cea_0008-0055_1991_num_31_121_2116}}</ref><ref name=Browne-Davies>{{cite journal |last= Browne-Davies|first=Nigel |date=2014 |title=A Precis of Sources relating to genealogical research on the Sierra Leone Krio people |journal=Journal of Sierra Leone Studies |volume=3 |issue=1 |url=https://www.academia.edu/40720522}}</ref><ref name=Walker>{{cite book|last=Walker |first=James W |year=1992 |chapter=Chapter Five: Foundation of Sierra Leone |title=The Black Loyalists: The Search for a Promised Land in Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone, 1783–1870 |location=Toronto |publisher=University of Toronto Press |pages=[https://archive.org/details/blackloyalistsse0000walk/page/94 94]–114 |url=https://archive.org/details/blackloyalistsse0000walk |url-access=registration |isbn=978-0-8020-7402-7}}, originally published by Longman & Dalhousie University Press (1976).</ref><ref name="Taylor">{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Bankole Kamara |title=Sierra Leone: The Land, Its People and History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=I__jAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA68 |date=February 2014 |publisher=New Africa Press |isbn=9789987160389 |page=68}}</ref> The [[Cotton Tree (Sierra Leone)|Cotton Tree]] represents the christening of Freetown in March 1792. In downtown Freetown is the [[Connaught Hospital]], the first hospital constructed in West Africa that incorporated Western medical practices.

Freetown has a long-held tradition of organized cultural events taking place on specific dates to coincide with specific holidays or seasons within the calendar year. One such event is the Eastern Paddle Hunting Society's annual exhibition of a highly sophisticated masquerade, consisting of a costume built, in a fashionable sense, of various materials available: leather, sequins, sea shells, traditional cloths, etc. The masquerade, known as "Paddle", strategically takes to the streets of the eastern and central parts of the city, followed by members of the Eastern Paddle Hunting Society, traditional musical bands and a crowd of supporters. For years this event coincided with the Muslim holiday of [[Eid al-Adha]] until recently, as critics said such an event should not be held on the same day as Muslims celebrate Eid, as Islam is against the practices of secret societies and masquerades.

The "Tangays" Festival is usually held in November, with a traditional theme that involves virtually every aspect of Sierra Leonean culture. It takes place at the National Stadium. Towards the end of the festival, a couple of musical concerts are usually held in the main bowl of the stadium, with performances from local and international musical artists (especially contemporary artists from Nigeria and other African countries or the African diaspora).

Freetown has its own tradition of Christmas street parades, organised in neighbourhoods across the city. The month-long celebration gathers residents in the streets with a variety of [[Sierra Leonean cuisine|food]] and [[Music of Sierra Leone|traditional music]].

==Tourism==
Freetown's tourism sector is an integral part of the city. Although the sector was seriously affected during the [[Sierra Leone Civil War|Civil War]], there has been a steady improvement in recent years. The city has a lot to offer to tourists.<ref>Sylvester Gasopan Goba (August 2014) [https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sylvester-Gasopan-Goba-Sierra-Leone-GW2012.pdf Sierra Leone Torism: sector overview]. [[International Growth Centre]]. [https://www.theigc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Sylvester-Gasopan-Goba-Sierra-Leone-GW2012.pdf Archived]. Retrieved 18 November 2021.</ref> There is a vast expanse of white sand beaches stretching along the Freetown Peninsula. The Lumley-Aberdeen beach stretches all the way from Cape Sierra Leone down to Lumley. There are also other popular beaches like the world renowned River Number 2 Beach, Laka Beach, Tokeh Beach, Bureh Beach, and Mama Beach. The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, which is located within the peninsula's vast rainforest reserve, just a few miles from the centre of Freetown, has a collection of rare and endangered chimpanzees. Other popular destinations for tourists include the Freetown Cotton Tree, located in Central Freetown, a significant national monument and integral to the founding of the city; Bunce Island, which is a boat ride from the city, is home to the ruins of the slave fortress that was being used during the Transatlantic slave trade; the Sierra Leone Museum, which has a collection of both precolonial as well as colonial artifacts and other items of historical significance; the National Railway Museum; or you can take a journey around the city's coastline with the popular Seacoach Express.

The Aberdeen-Lumley area is a favourite destination for those venturing into the city's nightlife. There are nightclubs, restaurants and hotels located close by the beach along the road linking Aberdeen and Lumley.

== Architecture ==

Nearby is the [[King's Yard]] Gate built in stone with a statement inscribed which reads "any slave who passes through this gate is declared a free man", and it was this gate through which liberated Africans passed. Down by the Naval Wharf are slave steps carved out of stone. Before Freetown was established, this was where the Portuguese slave traders transported Africans as slaves to ships.

Freetown is home to [[Fourah Bay College]], the oldest university in West Africa, founded in 1827. The university played a key role in Sierra Leone's colonial history. The college's first student, [[Samuel Ajayi Crowther]], went on to be named as the first indigenous Bishop of West Africa. National Railway Museum has a coach car built for the state visit of [[Elizabeth II]] in 1961. The Big Market on Wallace Johnson Street is the showcase for local artisans' work.

The Freetown peninsula is ringed by long stretches of white sand. Lumley Beach, on the western side of the peninsula, is a popular location for local parties and festivals.

== Places of worship ==
Among the [[places of worship]], Christian churches predominate and the remaining religious institutions are predominantly [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Sierra-Leone Sierra-Leone], britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019</ref> Among the [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Freetown]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[United Methodist Church in Sierra Leone]] ([[World Methodist Council]]), [[Baptist Convention of Sierra Leone]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Assemblies of God]]. and [[St. George's Cathedral, Freetown|St. George's Cathedral (Anglican)]] which opened in 1828.

== Economy ==
[[File:Freetown street (13992704238).jpg|thumb|A local market street in Central Freetown]]

Freetown is the economic and financial centre of Sierra Leone. The country's state television and radio station, the [[Sierra Leone Broadcasting Corporation]], is primarily based in Freetown. The other national broadcasters, such as AYV (African Young Voices) and [[Capital Radio Sierra Leone|Capital Radio]], are also based in Freetown. Many of the national headquarters of the country's largest corporations, as well as the majority of international companies, are located in Freetown - predominately in Central Freetown.

The city's economy revolves largely around its [[natural harbour]], which is the largest natural harbour on the African continent. [[Queen Elizabeth II Quay]] is capable of receiving oceangoing vessels and handles Sierra Leone's main exports.

Industries include food and beverage processing, fish packing, rice milling, petroleum refining, diamond cutting, and the manufacture of cigarettes, paint, textile, and [[Sierra Leone Brewery Limited|beer]]. <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lynch |first1=Kenneth |last2=Maconachie |first2=Roy |last3=Binns |first3=Tony |last4=Tengbe |first4=Paul |last5=Bangura |first5=Kabba |date=2013 |title=Meeting the urban challenge? Urban agriculture and food security in post-conflict Freetown, Sierra Leone |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S014362281200063X |journal=Applied Geography |language=en |volume=36 |pages=31–39 |doi=10.1016/j.apgeog.2012.06.007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Njala University, Njala, Sierra Leone |last2=Kamara |first2=Js |last3=Leigh |first3=Au |last4=Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security, Freetown, Sierra Leone |last5=Cooke |first5=Ra |last6=University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA. |date=2015-12-07 |title=A national survey of rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain quality in Sierra Leone II: Evaluation of physical grain quality. |url=https://www.ajfand.net/Volume15/No5/Kamara15490.pdf |journal=African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development |volume=15 |issue=72 |pages=10559–10577 |doi=10.18697/ajfand.72.15490|s2cid=56077078 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sawe |first=Benjamin Elisha |date=2019-04-16 |title=What Are The Biggest Industries In Sierra Leone? |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-are-the-biggest-industries-in-sierra-leone.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sierra Leone: Economy |url=https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/sierra-leone/economy |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=globaledge.msu.edu |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Sierra Leone |date=2023-03-10 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/sierra-leone/#economy |work=The World Factbook |access-date=2023-03-19 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |language=en}}</ref>

The city is served by the [[Freetown International Airport]], located in [[Lungi, Sierra Leone|Lungi]], across the river estuary from Freetown.

In almost every neighborhood of Freetown there are a number of high streets with shops of various kinds of commercial products and services. Shop traders are diverse, including locals and foreign shop owners. However a majority of locals shop at specific and popular areas of the city, such as Lumley Junction, Eastern Police Junction, PZ area, Shell Junction, etc.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" style="text-align: center;" caption="Some other notable places in Freetown" heights="70px" perrow="4">
File:Freetown Court 1984.jpg|Law Courts Building, Siaka Stevens Street
File:Lumley Beach Freetown.JPG|Lumley Beach
File:Magazine Wharf - home to some of Freetown's hardest-hit Ebola survivors (22772017351).jpg|Freetown's highly congested Magazine Wharf neighbourhood – which was hit hard during the 2014 Ebola crisis
File:Lumley.jpg|Lumley area
File:Atlantic estate.jpg|Aberdeen
File:Central Freetown at night, Sierra Leone. January1 2014.jpg|Night view of Central Freetown
</gallery>

== Education ==
{{See also|Education in Sierra Leone}}

Freetown (as the rest of Sierra Leone) has an education system with six years of primary school (Classes 1 to 6), and six years of secondary school (Forms 1 to 6). Secondary schools are further divided into Junior secondary school (Forms 1 to 3) and Senior secondary school (Forms 4 to 6). This system is known as the 6-3-3-4 education system, which means: 6 years of Primary, 3 years of Junior Secondary, 3 years of Senior Secondary, and 4 years of university.

Primary school pupils are usually aged 6 to 12, and secondary schools are usually aged 13 to 18. Primary Education is free and compulsory in government-sponsored public schools. Freetown is home to one of the country's two main universities, the [[Fourah Bay College]], the oldest university in West Africa, founded in 1827.

== Transportation ==
[[File:Siaka Stevens Street, Freetown.jpg|thumb|300px|A normal day Freetown street with "Keke", regular taxis and private vehicles on the road]]

=== Air transportation ===

[[Freetown International Airport]] is the international airport which serves Freetown and the rest of the country. It is located in the town of [[Lungi, Sierra Leone|Lungi]], about 17 km north-east of Freetown across the sea. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel to and from Sierra Leone. The airport is operated by Sierra Leone Airports Authority. There is a frequent commercial fast boat, [[buses|bus]], and [[ferry]] service to Freetown and other parts of the country. [[Hastings Airport (Sierra Leone)|Hastings Airport]] provides secondary service, but can only handle small aircraft because of its short runway. It is located about 14 km south-east of downtown Freetown (nearly 22 km by road).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maps.google.com/?ll=8.394156,-13.12892&spn=0.020166,0.017166&t=h&z=16|title=Google Maps|website=Google Maps|access-date=August 21, 2017}}</ref>

=== Transfers to Freetown ===
Passengers have the choice of [[hovercraft]], ferry, road (5 hours), [[speedboat]], water taxi, local banana boats and helicopter to cross the river to Freetown. Ferry is the cheapest option. Hovercraft and ferry operations have at times been suspended due to passenger overloads and safety issues.

=== Access by sea ===
Sierra Leone has the largest natural [[harbour]] on the African continent. Ships from all over the globe berth at Freetown's [[Queen Elizabeth II Quay]]. Passenger, cargo, and private craft also utilize Government Wharf nearer to central Freetown. Recent investment has seen the introduction of high-tech [[cargo scanning]] facilities.

=== Access by land ===

====Road====
Sierra Leone's infrastructure is limited, and its highways and roads reflect this. The roads and highways of the country are administered by the Sierra Leone Roads Authority (SLRA) which has often been crippled by corruption. Highway 1 enters the city from the town of Waterloo, several kilometers to the south. Despite the SLRA's limited capabilities, main feeder/trunk roads have been reconstructed to a high standard.

====Railway====
Following a recommendation from the [[International Bank for Reconstruction and Development]], the [[Sierra Leone Government Railway]] which linked Freetown to the rest of the country was permanently closed in 1974. The iron rails were looted in the following years.

== Sports ==
[[File:Sierra Leone National Stadium.jpg|thumb|The National Stadium]]
Like the rest of Sierra Leone, [[association football|football]] is the most popular sport in Freetown. The Sierra Leone national football team, popularly known as the [[Leone Stars]] plays all their home games at Freetown's [[National Stadium (Sierra Leone)|National Stadium]], the largest stadium in Sierra Leone.

Eight of the fifteen clubs in the [[Sierra Leone National Premier League]] are from Freetown, including two of Sierra Leone's biggest and most successful football clubs, [[East End Lions]] and [[Mighty Blackpool]]. A match between these two teams is the biggest domestic-football clash in Sierra Leone. A notable Sierra Leonian footballer is [[Kei Kamara]], who plays for the [[Colorado Rapids]] of [[Major League Soccer]].

== Twin towns/sister cities ==
Freetown is officially [[List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa|twinned]] with five cities:

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; background:white; width:60%;"
|- style="color:black;"
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width: 40%;" | City
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:40%;" | Province / Region / State
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:15%;" | Country
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:10%;" | Year
! ! style="background:#00FF7F; width:10%;" | Ref
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | [[File:Flag of Charleston, South Carolina.svg|30px]] '''[[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[South Carolina]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United States}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | 2019
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Press Release: Freetown & Charleston Sign Sister City Partnership Agreement|url=https://fcc.gov.sl/freetowncharlestonsignsistercitypartnershipagreement/|website=fcc.gov.sl|publisher=Freetown City Council|date=2019-07-15|access-date=2020-10-23}}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | '''[[Hefei]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[Anhui]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|CHN}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Ambassador from China to Sierra Leone Pays the Mayor of Freetown a Courtesy Call|url=https://fcc.gov.sl/ambassador-from-china-to-sierra-leone-pays-the-mayor-of-freetown-a-courtesy-call/|website=fcc.gov.sl|publisher=Freetown City Council|date=2019-08-22|access-date=2020-10-23}}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | [[File:Flag of Kansas City, Missouri.svg|30px]] '''[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[Missouri]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United States}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome|url=https://www.kcsistercities.org/|website=kcsistercities.org|publisher=Kansas City Sister Cities Association|access-date=2020-10-22}}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" | [[File:Coat of Arms of Kingston upon Hull.svg|20px]] '''[[Kingston upon Hull]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[England]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | 1979
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web |title=Mayor of Hull City Pays Courtesy Call on President Julius Maada Bio at State Lodge in Freetown|url=https://statehouse.gov.sl/mayor-of-hull-city-pays-courtesy-call-on-president-julius-maada-bio-at-state-lodge-in-freetown/|website=statehouse.gov.sl|publisher=The Republic of Sierra Leone State House|date=2019-06-11|access-date=2020-10-23}}</ref>
|-
| ! ! style="background:LightCyan;" |'''[[New Haven, Connecticut|New Haven]]'''
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | [[Connecticut]]
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" | {{flagicon|United States}}
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |
| ! ! style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|title=New Haven Sister Cities|url=https://www.newhavenct.gov/arts/neighborhood_n_cultural_development/sister_cities.htm|website=newhavenct.gov|publisher=City of New Haven|access-date=2021-05-16|archive-date=May 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516191920/https://www.newhavenct.gov/arts/neighborhood_n_cultural_development/sister_cities.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Sierra Leone}}
* [[List of people from Freetown]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Freetown#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Freetown}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline|Freetown}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Freetown}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYkTeAaow_s 220 Years of Freetown] on [[YouTube]]

{{List of African capitals|state=expanded}}

{{Geographic location
|title = '''Freetown and neighbouring cities, towns and places'''
|North = Atlantic ocean, Lungi (airport), Masoila
|Northwest = Atlantic ocean, [[Conakry]]
|Northeast = Sierra Leone River (Estuary), Tagrin, Bunce Island, Pepel
|West = Atlantic ocean
|East = Jui, Hastings, Waterloo
|Southwest = Banana Island, Atlantic ocean
|Centre = '''FREETOWN'''
|South = Bureh Town/Bureh Beach, Kent
|Southeast = Tumbu, Yawri Bay
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Freetown| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1792]]
[[Category:Populated places in Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Port cities in Africa]]
[[Category:Western Area]]
[[Category:1790s establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Repatriated Africans]]
[[Category:Repatriated slaves]]
[[Category:People of Liberated African descent]]
[[Category:Populated places established by Sierra Leone Creoles]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods in Freetown]]

Cotonou

2023-12-12T19:42:08Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Largest city in Benin}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Cotonou
| image_skyline = Cotonou vue.jpg
| image_caption = View of downtown Cotonou in 2019
| image_map =
| map_caption = Location of Cotonou in yellow
| pushpin_map = Benin
| coordinates = {{coord|6|22|N|2|26|E|region:BJ|display=inline,title}}
| image_flag = Flag of Cotonou.svg
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Benin}}
| subdivision_type1 = Department
| subdivision_name1 = [[Littoral Department]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = {{ill|Luc Atrokpo|fr}}
| area_total_km2 = 79
| elevation_m = 51
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.populationdata.net/pays/benin/|title=Bénin • Fiche pays • PopulationData.net}}</ref>
| population_total = 679,012
| population_as_of = 2013 census
| population_density_km2 = auto
| image_blank_emblem =
| image_shield = File:Emblem of Cotonou.jpg
}}
'''Cotonou''' ({{IPA-fr|kɔtɔnu}}; {{lang-fon|Kútɔ̀nú}})<ref>Spelt '''Kotonu''' in {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Abomey |volume=1 |page=67}}</ref> is a city in [[Benin]]. Its official population count was 679,012 inhabitants in 2012; however, over two million people live in the larger urban area.<ref>{{Cite web|title=cotonou population 2.4 million - Google Search|url=https://www.google.com/search?q=cotonou+population+2.4+million&safe=active|access-date=2021-07-06|website=www.google.com}}</ref>

The urban area continues to expand, notably toward the west. The city lies in the southeast of the country, between the [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Lake Nokoué]].<ref>[http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html GNS: Country Files] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504031911/http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html |date=May 4, 2012 }}. Earth-info.nga.mil. Retrieved on 2011-06-15.</ref>

In addition to being Benin's [[List of cities in Benin|largest city]], it is the seat of government, although [[Porto-Novo]] is the official capital.

==History==
[[File:Fort de Cotonou-1900 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Fort of Cotonou in 1900]]
{{see also|Timeline of Cotonou}}
The name "Cotonou" means "by the river of death" in the [[Fon language]].<ref name="Bradt">Butler, Stuart (2019) ''Bradt Travel Guide - Benin'', pgs. 74-91</ref> At the beginning of the 19th century, Cotonou (then spelled "Kutonou") was a small fishing village, and is thought to have been formally founded by King [[Ghezo]] of [[Dahomey]] in 1830.<ref name="Bradt"/> It grew as a centre for the [[slave trade]], and later [[palm oil]] and [[cotton]].<ref name="Bradt"/> In 1851 the [[French Second Republic]] made a treaty with King Ghezo that allowed them to establish a trading post at Cotonou.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benin - History|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Benin|access-date=2021-07-06|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref> During the reign of King [[Glele]] (1858–89), the territory was ceded to the [[Second French Empire]] by a treaty signed in 1878.<ref>Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, ''Historical Dictionary of Benin'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2013, p. 117</ref> In 1883, the [[French Navy]] occupied the city to prevent British conquest of the area.

After Glele's death in 1889, King [[Béhanzin]] unsuccessfully tried to challenge the treaty. The town grew rapidly following the building of the harbour in 1908.<ref name="Bradt" />

The population in 1960 was only 70,000.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Benin Population (2021) - Worldometer|url=https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/benin-population/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=www.worldometers.info|language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Lagoon in Cotonou02.jpg|thumb|The [[Ouémé River]] as it flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou]]
Cotonou is on the coastal strip between [[Lake Nokoué]] and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is cut in two by a canal, the lagoon of Cotonou, dug by the French in 1855. Three bridges are in this area. The [[Ouémé River]] flows into the Atlantic Ocean at Cotonou.
[[File:Akpakpa bridge of Cotonou.jpg|thumb|Bridge in Cotonou]]
The city has established transportation infrastructure including air, sea, river (to [[Porto Novo]]), and land routes that facilitate trade with its neighbors [[Nigeria]], [[Niger]], [[Burkina Faso]] and [[Togo]].

[[Coastal erosion]] has been noted for several decades. It worsened in 1961 following construction of the [[Nangbeto Dam]] and deep-water port of Cotonou. A pilot project funded by the [[United Nations Environment Program]] (UNEP) revealed that in 40 years, the coast to the east of Cotonou had retreated by 400 meters.<ref>IRIN Humanitarian News. BENIN: [http://www.irinnews.org/report/80126/benin-coastal-erosion-threatening-to-wipe-out-parts-of-cotonou Coastal erosion threatening to wipe out parts of Cotonou.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208020051/http://www.irinnews.org/report/80126/benin-coastal-erosion-threatening-to-wipe-out-parts-of-cotonou |date=2015-12-08 }}</ref> This erosion has led many people to leave their homes along the coast.<ref>[http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Benins_Cotonou_a_city_slowly_swallowed_by_waves_999.html "Benin's Cotonou – a city slowly swallowed by waves"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516070235/http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Benins_Cotonou_a_city_slowly_swallowed_by_waves_999.html |date=2019-05-16 }}, ''The Terra Daily'', 25 January 2008</ref>

==Climate==
Under [[Köppen climate classification|Köppen's climate classification]], Cotonou features a [[tropical wet and dry climate]], alternating with two rainy seasons (April-July and September–October, totalling {{convert|800|to|1200|mm|0|abbr=on}} of rain per year) and two dry seasons. In December and January, the city is affected by [[harmattan]] winds. Temperatures are relatively constant throughout the year, with the average high temperatures hovering around {{convert|30|°C|0|abbr=on}}, and average low temperatures at around {{convert|25|°C|0|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cotonou climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Cotonou water temperature - Climate-Data.org|url=https://en.climate-data.org/africa/benin/littoral/cotonou-714874/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=en.climate-data.org}}</ref>

{{Weather box | width=auto
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| location = Cotonou (1961–1990, extremes 1910–present)
| Jan record high C = 36.1
| Feb record high C = 38.6
| Mar record high C = 36.0
| Apr record high C = 35.4
| May record high C = 39.0
| Jun record high C = 33.0
| Jul record high C = 33.5
| Aug record high C = 31.8
| Sep record high C = 31.6
| Oct record high C = 33.4
| Nov record high C = 35.4
| Dec record high C = 36.6
| year record high C = 39.0
| Jan high C = 30.8
| Feb high C = 31.6
| Mar high C = 31.9
| Apr high C = 31.6
| May high C = 31.0
| Jun high C = 29.2
| Jul high C = 28.0
| Aug high C = 27.8
| Sep high C = 28.4
| Oct high C = 29.6
| Nov high C = 30.9
| Dec high C = 30.8
| year high C = 30.1
| Jan mean C = 27.3
| Feb mean C = 28.5
| Mar mean C = 28.9
| Apr mean C = 28.6
| May mean C = 27.8
| Jun mean C = 26.5
| Jul mean C = 25.8
| Aug mean C = 25.6
| Sep mean C = 26.0
| Oct mean C = 26.7
| Nov mean C = 27.6
| Dec mean C = 27.3
| year mean C = 27.2
| Jan low C = 23.8
| Feb low C = 25.4
| Mar low C = 25.9
| Apr low C = 25.6
| May low C = 24.6
| Jun low C = 23.7
| Jul low C = 23.7
| Aug low C = 23.4
| Sep low C = 23.6
| Oct low C = 23.8
| Nov low C = 24.3
| Dec low C = 23.8
| year low C = 24.3
| Jan record low C = 17.0
| Feb record low C = 17.9
| Mar record low C = 18.5
| Apr record low C = 20.7
| May record low C = 19.6
| Jun record low C = 20.0
| Jul record low C = 18.8
| Aug record low C = 19.8
| Sep record low C = 20.0
| Oct record low C = 19.1
| Nov record low C = 21.0
| Dec record low C = 17.9
| year record low C = 17.0
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 9.2
| Feb rain mm = 36.8
| Mar rain mm = 73.8
| Apr rain mm = 137.0
| May rain mm = 196.9
| Jun rain mm = 356.0
| Jul rain mm = 147.0
| Aug rain mm = 64.9
| Sep rain mm = 99.0
| Oct rain mm = 126.7
| Nov rain mm = 41.4
| Dec rain mm = 19.6
| Jan humidity = 82
| Feb humidity = 82
| Mar humidity = 80
| Apr humidity = 82
| May humidity = 83
| Jun humidity = 87
| Jul humidity = 86
| Aug humidity = 86
| Sep humidity = 86
| Oct humidity = 86
| Nov humidity = 85
| Dec humidity = 83
| year humidity = 84
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm
| Jan rain days = 1
| Feb rain days = 2
| Mar rain days = 4
| Apr rain days = 7
| May rain days = 11
| Jun rain days = 15
| Jul rain days = 8
| Aug rain days = 5
| Sep rain days = 8
| Oct rain days = 8
| Nov rain days = 4
| Dec rain days = 2
| Jan sun = 213.9
| Feb sun = 210.0
| Mar sun = 223.2
| Apr sun = 219.0
| May sun = 213.9
| Jun sun = 141.0
| Jul sun = 136.4
| Aug sun = 148.8
| Sep sun = 165.0
| Oct sun = 207.7
| Nov sun = 243.0
| Dec sun = 223.2
| year sun = 2345.1
| Jand sun = 6.9
| Febd sun = 7.5
| Mard sun = 7.2
| Aprd sun = 7.3
| Mayd sun = 6.9
| Jund sun = 4.7
| Juld sun = 4.4
| Augd sun = 4.8
| Sepd sun = 5.5
| Octd sun = 6.7
| Novd sun = 8.1
| Decd sun = 7.2
|yeard sun = 6.4
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/B3/65344.TXT
| title = Cotonou, Benin Climate Normals 1961-1990
| access-date = December 19, 2018
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (humidity, 1951–1967),<ref name = DWD>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_653440_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Cotonou, Prov. Atlantique (Süd) / Benin
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 11 June 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200224194408/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_653440_kt.pdf
| archive-date = 24 February 2020
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=812
| title = Station Cotonou
| publisher = Meteo Climat
| language = fr
| access-date = 11 June 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200305160814/http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=812
| archive-date = 5 March 2020
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
| date = March 2011
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Bénin Cotonou Place of Red Star.jpg|thumb|Red Star Square]]
*1979: 320,348 (census count)
*1992: 536,827 (census count)
*2002: 665,100 (census count)
*2013: 679,012 (census count)

[[French language|French]] is the official language of Benin. Other languages spoken in Cotonou include [[Fon language|Fon]], [[Aja language (Niger-Congo)|Aja]] and [[Yoruba language|Yoruba]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.ethnologue.com/country/BJ/languages| title = Languages of Benin| publisher = [[Ethnologue]]| access-date = 26 November 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190524234619/https://www.ethnologue.com/country/bj/languages| archive-date = 24 May 2019| url-status = live}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

==Transport==
{{See|Transport in Benin|Cotonou Lighthouse}}
[[File:Port autonome de Cotonou vu de haut (1).jpg|thumb|Autonomous Port of Cotonou]]
The Autonomous Port of Cotonou is one of the largest in West Africa. The city is connected to [[Parakou]] in the north by the Benin-Niger railway. [[Cadjehoun Airport|Cotonou International Airport]] provides service to the capitals of the region and to France, as well as the major cities of Benin: Parakou, [[Kandi, Benin|Kandi]], [[Natitingou]], [[Djougou]], and [[Savé]]. There are road connections to neighboring countries: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, and [[Togo]]. A prevalent mode of transport in the city is the motorcycle-taxi, known locally as [[zémidjan]].<ref name="Bradt"/>

In 2015 a suburban passenger railway line was being developed between Cotonou and [[Pahou]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bollore-africa-logistics.com/en/media/news/benirail-concession.html |title=Benirail concession: Bolloré Group starts rehabilitation work on the Cotonou-Parakou rail link |date=2 June 2015|publisher=Bolloré Africa Logistics|access-date=2015-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193429/http://www.bollore-africa-logistics.com/en/media/news/benirail-concession.html |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Rue principale de Ganhi-Cotonou.JPG|thumb|Downtown of Cotonou]]
[[File:Palais Des Congres De Cotonou.jpg|thumb|Congress Palace of Cotonou]]
Important manufactured goods include [[palm oil]], [[brewing]], [[textiles]], and [[cement]].<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Cotonou Cotonou] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160422150638/https://www.britannica.com/place/Cotonou |date=2016-04-22 }}, britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019</ref>
[[automobile|Motor vehicles]] and [[bicycle]]s are assembled, and there are [[sawmill]]s in the city. [[Petroleum]] products, [[bauxite]], and [[iron]] are major exports.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cotonou, Benin|url=https://www.affordabletours.com/cruises/search/portsrch/?port=727|access-date=2021-07-06|website=AffordableTours.com|language=en}}</ref> There are offshore platforms drilling for [[Petroleum|oil]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=StackPath|url=https://www.offshore-mag.com/rigs-vessels/article/14036896/total-to-station-fsru-offshore-benin|access-date=2021-07-06|website=www.offshore-mag.com}}</ref> The city is a centre for the automotive trade, with European brands being sold from vast open-air parking lots. In the past, Citroën assembled cars (for instance, the [[Citroën 2CV]] and [[Citroën Ami|Ami 8]]) locally.<ref>''World Cars 1972''. Automobile Club of Italy/Herald Books, New York: 1972. p. 403, {{ISBN|0-910714-04-5}}</ref>

By 2012, [[piracy in the Gulf of Guinea]] had significantly decreased trade at the port of Cotonou.<ref name=ap1>{{cite news| url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/un-says-piracy-off-africas-west-coast-is-increasing-becoming-more-violent/2012/02/27/gIQAdYOmeR_story.html
|agency=Associated Press |title=UN says piracy off Africa's west coast is increasing, becoming more violent |date=2012-02-27| access-date=2012-02-29|newspaper=The Washington Post}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In the {{Interlanguage link|Missebo|fr|Missèbo}} area is a [[textile]] {{Interlanguage link|Missebo market|fr|Marché missèbo|lt=market}} of African prints mainly handled by Indian wholesalers and retailers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://zoneforyourprize.life/?u=tp6p605&o=zlpklzl&t=splitbro2606|access-date=2021-07-06|website=zoneforyourprize.life|title=Archived copy|archive-date=2021-07-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709183530/https://zoneforyourprize.life/?u=tp6p605&o=zlpklzl&t=splitbro2606|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Places of worship ==
<gallery mode="">
File: Cathédrale Notre-Dame-de-Miséricorde de Cotonou.jpg |[[Cotonou Cathedral]] ([[Catholic Church]])
File: Église des Assemblées de Dieu – Temple Salem de Cotonou.jpg| Temple Salem de Cotonou ([[Assemblies of God]])
File: Side view Central Mosque of Cotonou Jonquet in Benin.jpg | Mosquée centrale de Cotonou ([[Islam]])
</gallery>
Among the [[places of worship]], [[Christianity|Christian]] churches are predominant: [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cotonou]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Protestant Methodist Church in Benin]] ([[World Methodist Council]]), [[Union of Baptist Churches of Benin]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Living Faith Church Worldwide]], [[Redeemed Christian Church of God]], [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ‘‘Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices’’, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 338</ref> There are also [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.

==Education==
[[File:U.S.T.B., Domaine Universitaire de Kpondéhou, Cotonou.jpg|thumb|Benin University of Science and Technology]]
The city has a campus of the [[University of Science and Technology of Benin]] (Université des sciences et technologies du Bénin) and a campus of the African University of Technology and Management (Université africaine de technologie et de management). Cotonou is a home to African University Institute Foundation (AUi Foundation) one of the biggest educational philanthropic foundations in Africa, It also hosts some of the most prestigious private universities in Africa which includes, African University of Benin(AUB), Ecole Superieure de Gestion de Technologie (ESGT UNIVERSITY BENIN), Ecole Supérieure D’Administration, D’Economie, De Journalisme Et Des Métiers De L’Audiovisuel (ESAE UNIVERSITY BENIN), Institut Superieur de Communication d’Organisation et de Management, [[Iscom University Benin]].

==Media==
The [[Office de Radiodiffusion et Télévision du Bénin]] (ORTB) — the national television and radio operator — is based in Cotonou.<ref>[https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/private-radio-station Private Radio Station] ''sciencedirect.com''. Retrieved 5 September 2021</ref>

==Sister cities and twin towns==
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Atlanta]], United States
*{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Salvador da Bahia]], Brazil
*{{flagicon|TAI}} [[Taipei|Taipei City]], Taiwan, since 1967

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Africa}}}}
* [[Timeline of Cotonou]]
* [[Cotonou Agreement]]
* [[Deep water port|List of deep water ports]]
* [[Railway stations in Benin]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080820145413/http://cotonou-ca-bouge.net/ Cotonou Internet Portal]
{{Communes of Benin}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cotonou| ]]
[[Category:Communes of Benin]]
[[Category:Port cities in Africa]]
[[Category:French West Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1830]]

Bissau

2023-12-12T19:39:50Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Guinea-Bissau}}
{{About|the capital of Guinea-Bissau|the town in Rajasthan, India|Bissau, Rajasthan}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Bissau
| other_name =
| native_name = 
| nickname =
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| motto = 
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a =Bissau-Stroossenzeen--w.jpg
|photo2a =Ministério da Justiça, Guiné-Bissau.jpg
|photo2b =Consulmar Bissau.jpg
|photo3a =Museu Militar da Luta de Libertação Nacional (13).jpg
|photo3b =Catedral de Bissau 1.jpg
|photo3c =Mausoléu de Amílcar Cabral, novembro de 2017 04.jpg
|photo3d =Hotel Império, Bissau.jpg
|photo4a =20130610 - Monumento aos Heróis da Independência.jpg
|photo4b =Agencia BCEAO em Bissau.jpg
|photo5a =Aeroporto de Bissau, Guinea-Bissau 2.jpg
|photo5b =Agência da Aliança Seguradora, Bissau.jpg
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| image_caption = Traffic in Bissau, Ministério da Justiça, Consulmar, the car of Amílcar Cabral in the Museu Militar da Luta de Libertação Nacional, Cathedral of Bissau, mausoleum of Amílcar Cabral, Monumento aos Heróis da Independência, BCEAO building, Bissau airport, Branch of the Aliança insurance company
| image_flag = Flag of Bissau.svg
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| image_shield = Blason gw Bissau.svg
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| pushpin_label_position = bottom
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| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Bissau in Guinea-Bissau
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Guinea-Bissau]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Guinea-Bissau|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = Bissau Autonomous Sector
| subdivision_type2 = Region
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| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1687
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| area_total_km2 = 77.5
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| population_total = 492,004
| population_density_km2 = auto
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'''Bissau''' ({{IPA-pt|biˈsaw}}) is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] and largest city of [[Guinea-Bissau]]. {{As of|2015|post=,}} it had a population of 492,004.<ref name="internetworldstats.com">{{Cite web |title=Africa by Country Internet User Stats and 2017 Population |url=http://www.internetworldstats.com/africa.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804081757/https://www.internetworldstats.com/africa.htm |archive-date=2019-08-04 |access-date=2017-11-01 |website=internetworldstats.com |language=en}}</ref> Bissau is located on the [[Geba River]] estuary, off the [[Atlantic Ocean]], and is Guinea-Bissau's largest city, major port, its administrative and military center.

==Etymology==
The term Bissau may have come from the name of a clan N'nssassun, in its plural form Bôssassun.<ref name="Nanque"/> Intchassu (Bôssassu) was the name given to the nephew of King Mecau—the first sovereign of the [[island of Bissau]]—son of his sister Pungenhum. Bôssassu formed a clan of the [[Papel people]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=O casamento tradicional na Guiné-Bissau|url=https://www.africaeafricanidades.com.br/documentos/0010260042018.pdf|page=4|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-19|archive-date=2020-07-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712164848/http://www.africaeafricanidades.com.br/documentos/0010260042018.pdf}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Bissau}}
From well before the arrival of Europeans to the early 20th century, the island of Bissau was governed as a kingdom inhabited by the [[Papel people]]. According to oral tradition, the kingdom was founded by Mecau, the son of the king of [[Quinara]] ([[Guinala]]), who moved to the area with his pregnant sister, six wives, and subjects of his father's kingdom. The kingdom was composed of seven clans, descended from the sister and six wives. The Bossassun clan, which descends from the sister, inherited the throne.<ref name="Nanque">{{Cite thesis |last=Nanque |first=Neemias Antonio |title=Revoltas e resistências dos Papéis da Guiné-Bissau contra o Colonialismo Português – 1886–1915 |date=2016 |type=Trabalho de conclusão de curso |publisher=Universidade da Integração Internacional da Lusofonia Afro-Brasileira |url=https://repositorio.unilab.edu.br/jspui/bitstream/123456789/778/3/2016_mono_nnanque.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920143123/https://repositorio.unilab.edu.br/jspui/bitstream/123456789/778/3/2016_mono_nnanque.pdf |archive-date=2022-09-20 |access-date=24 November 2022}}</ref> The Kingdom of Bissau was highly stratified.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=73}} The king's coronation involved the practice of binding and beating the king, as the king should know what punishment felt like before administering it, as well as the presentation of a spear, the royal badge of office.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=66}} When the Portuguese began to trade there in the 16th century, the king of Bissau was among the most supportive monarchs of the region. In 1680 Bissau even helped the Portuguese in a conflict with the Papels of Cacheu.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=304}}

The city was founded in 1687 as a [[Portugal|Portuguese]] trading post.<ref name=Europa2001>{{cite book|publisher=[[Europa Publications]] |title=Political Chronology of Africa |series=Political Chronologies of the World |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0O86sZdHfHUC |isbn=0203409957 |year= 2001 |chapter= Guinea-Bissau |pages= 208–213
}}</ref> During this same period [[France|French]] activities in the area were increasing. Although the king of Bissau Bacompolco refused them permission to build a fort, he did grant them a trading factory, from which they shipped thousands of slaves, among other things. In response the Portuguese {{ill|Conselho Ultramarino|pt}} established the captaincy-general of Bissau, and by 1696 the town had [[Fortaleza de São José da Amura|a fort]], a church, and a hospital.{{sfn|Mendy|Lobban|2013|pp=54}} It was the main emporium for trade on and south of the [[Geba river]],{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=289}} and was rivaling if not eclipsing [[Cacheu]] in importance.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=305}}

Bacompulco died in 1696. King Incinhate emerged from the ensuing succession dispute despite tacit Portuguese opposition, and relations rapidly deteriorated.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=313}} When Captain-General Pinheiro tried to enforce Portugal's monopoly in defiance of the Papel policy of free trade, Incinhate surrounded the incomplete fort and threatened to massacre the inhabitants. Pinheiro later died in Papel custody.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=316}} Unable to enforce a trading monopoly or collect duties from foreign shipping, the Portuguese soon abandoned the fort.{{sfn|Rodney|1966|pp=322}} They returned in 1753 but, faced with determined Papel resistance, were unable to build a new fort and left two years later.{{sfn|Mendy|Lobban|2013|pp=54}}

The [[Fortaleza de São José da Amura|fort]] was rebuilt by the [[Grão Pará and Maranhão Company]] in 1775 to better project Portuguese power and store more slaves for shipment to [[Brazil]].{{sfn|Mendy |Lobban|2013|pp=54}} Real control of the area, however, remained in the hands of the Papel kings.{{sfn|Mendy|Lobban|2013|pp=299}} In 1869, as part of an effort to more efficiently govern the territory, Bissau was raised to the status of commune.{{sfn|Mendy|Lobban|2013|pp=55}}

The decades on either side of the turn of the 20th century saw fierce resistance on the part of the Papels to colonial 'pacification campaigns.' In 1915 after 30 years of war, the Portuguese under the command of Officer [[João Teixeira Pinto|Teixeira Pinto]] and warlord [[Abdul Injai]] defeated the Kingdom of Bissau and permanently incorporated it into [[Portuguese Guinea]].<ref name=":3">{{cite journal |last1=Bowman |first1=Joye L. |date=22 January 2009 |title=Abdul Njai: Ally and Enemy of the Portuguese in Guinea-Bissau, 1895–1919 |journal= The Journal of African History|volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=463–479 |doi=10.1017/S0021853700023276 |s2cid=162344466}}</ref>{{rp|9}} In 1941 the capital was transferred from [[Bolama (town)|Bolama]] to Bissau.<ref name=Europa2001/> 1959 saw the bloody repression of a dockworkers' strike, a key event that pushed the nationalists towards armed resistance.{{sfn|Mendy | Lobban|2013|pp=55}}

After the declaration of independence by the anti-colonial guerrillas of [[African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde|PAIGC]] in 1973, the capital of the rebel territories was declared to be [[Madina do Boe]], while Bissau remained the colonial capital. The city was attacked in 1968 and 1971 by nationalist forces.{{sfn|Mendy|Lobban|2013|pp=56}} When Portugal granted independence, following the [[Carnation Revolution|military coup of April 25]] in [[Lisbon]], Bissau became the capital of the newly independent state.

Bissau was the scene of intense fighting during the beginning and end of the [[Guinea-Bissau Civil War]] in 1998 and 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guinea-Bissau |url=http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=68&regionSelect=2-Southern_Africa# |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231000016/http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/gpcountry.php?id=68&regionSelect=2-Southern_Africa |archive-date=2013-12-31 |access-date=July 12, 2013 |website=[[Uppsala Conflict Data Program]] Conflict Encyclopedia |publisher=Uppsala University}}</ref> Much of the infrastructure was destroyed and most of the population fled. The city rebounded after peace returned, holding more than 25% of the country's population during the 2009 census and witnessing the erection of many new and rehabilitated buildings.{{sfn|Mendy|Lobban|2013|pp=55}}

On October 18, 2023, a city-wide blackout occurred due to an unpaid power bill to the Turkish power firm [[Karpowership]] which was over $15 million.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-18 |title=Guinea-Bissau capital without power over unpaid bill to Turkey's Karpowership |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-67143386 |access-date=2023-10-18}}</ref>

==Geography and climate==
[[File:DC - Foto Serra No 142 - Vista aérea parcial e Ilhéu do Rei - Bissau.jpg|thumb|380px|center|View of downtown Bissau in the 1960s as the capital of Portuguese Guinea]]
Bissau is located at 11°52' North, 15°36' West (11.86667, -15.60) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504031911/http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html GNS: Country Files], on the [[Geba River]] estuary, off the [[Atlantic Ocean]]. The land surrounding Bissau is extremely low-lying, and the river is accessible to ocean-going vessels despite its modest discharge for about {{convert|80|km|mi}} beyond the city.

Bissau has a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Aw''), not quite wet enough to qualify as a [[tropical monsoon climate]] (''Am'') but much wetter than most climates of its type.

Almost no rain falls from November to May, but during the remaining five months of the year, the city receives around {{convert|2000|mm|in}} of rain.

{{Weather box|width = auto
|location = Bissau, Guinea-Bissau (1974–1994)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 36.7
|Feb record high C = 38.3
|Mar record high C = 38.9
|Apr record high C = 41.1
|May record high C = 39.4
|Jun record high C = 35.6
|Jul record high C = 33.3
|Aug record high C = 32.8
|Sep record high C = 33.9
|Oct record high C = 34.4
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 35.6
|year record high C = 41.1
|Jan high C = 31.1
|Feb high C = 32.8
|Mar high C = 33.9
|Apr high C = 33.3
|May high C = 32.8
|Jun high C = 31.1
|Jul high C = 29.4
|Aug high C = 30.0
|Sep high C = 30.0
|Oct high C = 31.1
|Nov high C = 31.7
|Dec high C = 30.6
|year high C = 31.5
|Jan mean C = 24.4
|Feb mean C = 25.6
|Mar mean C = 26.6
|Apr mean C = 27.0
|May mean C = 27.5
|Jun mean C = 26.9
|Jul mean C = 26.1
|Aug mean C = 26.4
|Sep mean C = 26.4
|Oct mean C = 27.0
|Nov mean C = 26.9
|Dec mean C = 24.8
|year mean C = 26.3
|Jan low C = 17.8
|Feb low C = 18.3
|Mar low C = 19.4
|Apr low C = 20.6
|May low C = 22.2
|Jun low C = 22.8
|Jul low C = 22.8
|Aug low C = 22.8
|Sep low C = 22.8
|Oct low C = 22.8
|Nov low C = 22.2
|Dec low C = 18.9
|year low C = 21.1
|Jan record low C = 12.2
|Feb record low C = 13.3
|Mar record low C = 15.6
|Apr record low C = 16.7
|May record low C = 17.2
|Jun record low C = 19.4
|Jul record low C = 19.4
|Aug record low C = 19.4
|Sep record low C = 19.4
|Oct record low C = 20.0
|Nov record low C = 15.0
|Dec record low C = 12.8
|year record low C = 12.2
|Jan rain mm = 0.5
|Feb rain mm = 0.8
|Mar rain mm = 0.5
|Apr rain mm = 0.8
|May rain mm = 17.3
|Jun rain mm = 174.8
|Jul rain mm = 472.5
|Aug rain mm = 682.5
|Sep rain mm = 434.9
|Oct rain mm = 194.8
|Nov rain mm = 41.4
|Dec rain mm = 2.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan sun = 248
|Feb sun = 226
|Mar sun = 279
|Apr sun = 270
|May sun = 248
|Jun sun = 210
|Jul sun = 186
|Aug sun = 155
|Sep sun = 180
|Oct sun = 217
|Nov sun = 240
|Dec sun = 248
|source 1 = Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/gu-bissa.htm
| title = GUINEA-BISSAU - BISSAU
| access-date = 2011-10-04
| publisher = Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas
| archive-date = 2007-08-07
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070807092004/http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/gu-bissa.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = World Climate Guides (sunshine only)<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/gu-bissa.htm
| title = Bissau Climate Guide
| access-date = 2011-10-04
| publisher = Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas
| archive-date = 2007-08-07
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070807092004/http://www.ucm.es/info/cif/station/gu-bissa.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Demographics==

At the 1979 census, Bissau had a population of 109,214. By the 2015 census, Bissau had a population of 492,004.<ref name="internetworldstats.com" />

==Economy==
Bissau is the country's largest city, major port, and educational, administrative, industrial and military center. [[Peanut]]s, [[hardwood]]s, [[copra]], [[palm oil]], [[milk products]], and [[rubber]] are the chief products. Bissau is also the main city of the fishing and agricultural industry in the country.<ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Urbanização na Guiné-Bissau: Morfologia e Estrutura Urbana da sua Capital |date=2010 |degree=Master's |publisher=Lisbon University of Humanities and Technologies |url=https://studylibpt.com/doc/1011241/urbaniza%C3%A7%C3%A3o-na-guin%C3%A9-bissau-morfologia-e |language=pt |trans-title=Urbanization in Guinea-Bissau: Morphology and Urban Structure of its Capital |year=2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106103941/https://studylibpt.com/doc/1011241/urbaniza%C3%A7%C3%A3o-na-guin%C3%A9-bissau-morfologia-e |archive-date=6 January 2021 |access-date=16 October 2020 |pages=93–97}}</ref>

==Transportation==

=== Air ===
Bissau is served by [[Osvaldo Vieira International Airport]], the country's sole international airport, which currently offers flights from six different airlines.

=== Highways ===
The main highway connecting Bissau to the rest of the nation and the continent is the [[Trans–West African Coastal Highway]]. There are also many smaller national highways that connect to other big cities such as [[Bafatá]] and [[Gabu (town)|Gabu]].

==Education==
The main secondary school institutions in Bissau are the [[National Lyceum Kwame N'Krumah]]<ref>{{Cite thesis |last=Furtado |first=Alexandre Brito Ribeiro |title=Administração e Gestão da Educação na Guiné-Bissau: Incoerências e Descontinuidades |date=2005 |degree=Doctorate |publisher=Universidade de Aveiro |language=pt |trans-title=Administration and Management of Education in Guinea-Bissau: Inconsistencies and Discontinuities |hdl=10773/1098 |hdl-access=free}}</ref> and the Bethel-Bissau Adventist School.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2016 |title=Voluntários Fazem Diferença em Projeto em Guiné-Bissau |trans-title=Volunteers Make a Difference in a Project in Guinea-Bissau |url=https://noticias.adventistas.org/pt/noticia/educacao/carioca-participa-de-projeto-missionario-em-guine-bissau-africa/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106104012/https://noticias.adventistas.org/pt/noticia/educacao/carioca-participa-de-projeto-missionario-em-guine-bissau-africa/ |archive-date=2021-01-06 |website=Notícias Adventistas |language=pt}}</ref> The main higher education institutions in the city are the [[Universidade Amílcar Cabral|Amílcar Cabral University]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2015 |title=Equipamento Novo e Desafios Adicionais para Universidade Amílcar Cabral |trans-title=New Equipment and Additional Challenges for Universidade Amílcar Cabral |url=http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/portuguese/2015/05/equipamento-novo-e-desafios-adicionais-para-universidade-amilcar-cabral/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150529161147/http://www.unmultimedia.org/radio/portuguese/2015/05/equipamento-novo-e-desafios-adicionais-para-universidade-amilcar-cabral/ |archive-date=2015-05-29 |access-date=29 May 2015 |website=Rádio das Nações Unidas |language=pt}}</ref> the [[Catholic University of Guinea Bissau]], and the [[Jean Piaget University of Guinea-Bissau]].

The city of Bissau still has two international schools:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Escolas com Currículo Português na Guiné-Bissau |trans-title=Portuguese Curriculum Schools in Guinea-Bissau |url=http://www.dgae.mec.pt/web/14650/guine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150531121415/http://www.dgae.mec.pt/web/14650/guine |archive-date=2015-05-31 |access-date=October 26, 2015 |website=Direção de Serviços de Ensino e Escolas Portuguesas no Estrangeiro (DSEEPE) of the [[Ministry of Education (Portugal)|Portuguese Education Ministry]] |language=pt}}</ref>
* Escola Portuguesa da Guiné-Bissau
* Escola Portuguesa Passo a Passo

== Culture ==
Attractions include the Portuguese-built [[Fortaleza de São José da Amura]] barracks from the 18th century, containing [[Amílcar Cabral]]'s [[mausoleum]], the Pidjiguiti Memorial to the dockers killed in the Bissau Dockers' Strike on August 3, 1959, the Guinea-Bissau National Arts Institute, Bissau New Stadium and local [[beach]]es.

Many buildings in the city were ruined during the [[Guinea-Bissau Civil War]] (1998–1999), including the Guinea-Bissau Presidential Palace and the Bissau French Cultural Centre (now rebuilt), and the city center is still underdeveloped. Because of the large population of Muslims in Bissau, [[Ramadan]] is also an important celebration.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Korité in Guinea-Bissau in 2021|url=https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/eid-al-fitr|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Office Holidays|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Guinea-Bissau Holidays and Festivals |url=https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/africa/guinea-bissau/festivals-and-events |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106103905/https://www.iexplore.com/articles/travel-guides/africa/guinea-bissau/festivals-and-events |archive-date=2021-01-06 |access-date=2020-10-17 |website=iexplore.com}}</ref>

== Sports ==
Football is the most popular sport in the country, as well as in the city. Many teams are based in the city, such as: [[UD Internacional]], [[SC de Bissau]], [[SC Portos de Bissau]], [[Sport Bissau e Benfica]], and [[FC Cuntum]]. Stadiums that are located in the city are [[Estádio Lino Correia]] and [[Estádio 24 de Setembro]].

== Religion ==
The main religions are [[Muslim]] (50%), then [[Christian]] (34%) and [[Animism|animist]] (7.9%).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Guinea-Bissau: socio-cultural characteristics|url=http://www.stat-guinebissau.com/publicacao/caracteristicas_socio_cultural.pdf|publisher=National Statistics Institute|access-date=2020-10-17|archive-date=2017-11-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105140643/http://www.stat-guinebissau.com/publicacao/caracteristicas_socio_cultural.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Places of worship ===
Among the [[places of worship]], [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques are predominant.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Guinea-Bissau {{!}} History - Geography|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Guinea-Bissau|access-date=2020-10-17|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=2015-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419210440/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/248853/Guinea-Bissau|url-status=live}}</ref> There are also some [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples such as the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Bissau]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Evangelical Churches]], and the [[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]].<gallery>
File:Catedral de Bissau (2).jpg|[[Bissau Cathedral]]
File:Mesquita em Bissau.jpg|[[Mosque]] in Bissau
File:BISSAU.jpg|alt=
</gallery>

== Notable people ==


*[[Karyna Gomes]] (born 1976), activist, journalist, and musician
*[[Benvindo António Moreira]] (born 1989), footballer

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa#Guinea-Bissau|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Guinea-Bissau}}

===Twin towns – Sister cities===
Bissau is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*[[Águeda Municipality]], Portugal
*[[Dakar]], Senegal
*[[Chongqing]], People's Republic of China
*[[Agadir]], Morocco
*[[Havana]], Cuba
*[[Lisbon]], Portugal
*[[Lagos]], Nigeria
*[[Luanda]], Angola
*[[Taipei]], Taiwan<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tcc.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=81569D74DD82C7DB |title=Taipei City Council-International Sister Cities |access-date=2017-11-20 |archive-date=2016-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023112126/http://www.tcc.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=81569D74DD82C7DB |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Praia]], Cape Verde
*[[Ankara]], Turkey<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ankara.bel.tr/en/foreign-relations-department/sister-cities-of-ankara#.V6zuCGVvfxs|title=Sister Cities of Ankara|website=www.ankara.bel.tr|access-date=2016-08-11|archive-date=2018-12-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224190520/https://www.ankara.bel.tr/en/foreign-relations-department/sister-cities-of-ankara/#.V6zuCGVvfxs|url-status=live}}</ref>
*[[Sintra Municipality|Sintra]], Portugal

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{See also|Timeline of Bissau#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Bissau}}
*{{cite book |first2=Richard Andrew Jr. |last2=Lobban |first1=Peter Karibe |last1=Mendy |title=Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau |edition=4th |publisher=Scarecrow Press |year=2013 |place=Lanham |isbn=978-0-8108-5310-2}}
*{{cite thesis |last=Rodney |first=Walter |date=May 1966 |title=A History of the Upper Guinea Coast, 1545-1800 |url=https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/31255/1/Rodney_History_Upper_Guinea_Coast.pdf |type= |chapter= |publisher=ProQuest |docket= |oclc= |access-date=}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Africa}}
*{{commons-inline}}
*{{wikivoyage-inline|Bissau}}

{{GuineaBissau-regions}}
{{List of African capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bissau| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1687]]
[[Category:Former Portuguese colonies]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places in Guinea-Bissau]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Guinea-Bissau]]
[[Category:Geba River]]
[[Category:Regions of Guinea-Bissau]]
[[Category:Sectors of Guinea-Bissau]]
[[Category:1687 establishments in Portuguese Guinea]]
[[Category:1687 establishments in Africa]]

Beijing

2023-12-12T19:37:50Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital city of China}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Pp-move}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
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| parts_type = Divisions  - [[County-level division|County-level]]  - [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#Township level|Township- level]]
| parts = [[List of administrative divisions of Beijing|16 districts]] 343 towns and subdistricts
| government_type = [[Direct-administered municipalities of China|Municipality]]
| governing_body = Beijing Municipal People's Congress
| seat_type = Municipal seat
| seat = [[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou District]]
| leader_title = [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|CCP Secretary]]
| leader_name = [[Yin Li (politician)|Yin Li]]
| leader_title1 = Congress Chairman
| leader_name1 = [[Li Xiuling]]
| leader_title2 = Mayor
| leader_name2 = [[Yin Yong (politician)|Yin Yong]]
| leader_title3 = [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference|CPPCC]] Chairman
| leader_name3 = [[Wei Xiaodong]]
| leader_title4 = [[National People's Congress]] Representation
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| area_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |title=Doing Business in China – Survey |url=http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_business/lanmub/ |publisher=[[Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China]] |access-date=5 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140526181645/http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/article/zt_business/lanmub/ |archive-date=26 May 2014}}</ref>
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| tp =
}}

'''Beijing''' ({{IPAc-en|b|eɪ|ˈ|dʒ|ɪ|ŋ}} {{Respell|bay|JING}};<ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Beijing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025042536/https://www.lexico.com/definition/beijing |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2020 |title=Beijing |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref name="longman">{{cite book |last=Wells |first=John |author-link = John C. Wells |title = Longman Pronunciation Dictionary |publisher=Pearson Longman |edition=3rd |date=3 April 2008 |isbn=978-1-4058-8118-0 }}</ref> {{Lang-zh|c=北京|p=Běijīng}}; {{Small|Mandarin pronunciation:}} {{IPAc-cmn|AUD|Beijing pronunciation.ogg|b|ei|3|.|j|ing|1}}), [[Chinese postal romanization|alternatively romanized]] as '''Peking'''<ref>{{Cite book |title = China Postal Album: Showing the Postal Establishments and Postal Routes in Each Province |edition = 1st |location = Shanghai, [[Qing dynasty|China]] |publisher = Directorate General of Posts |year = 1907 }}</ref> ({{IPAc-en|p|iː|ˈ|k|ɪ|ŋ}} {{Respell|pee|KING}}),<ref>{{cite OED|Peking}}</ref> is the [[Capital city|capital]] of the [[China|People's Republic of China]]. With over 21 million residents, Beijing is the world's [[List of national capitals by population|most populous national capital city]] as well as China's second largest [[city]] after [[Shanghai]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/china/cities/|title=China: Provinces and Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=City Population |accessdate=15 August 2023}}</ref> It is located in [[North China|Northern China]], and is governed as a [[Direct-administered municipalities of China|municipality]] under the direct administration of the [[Government of the People's Republic of China|State Council]] with [[List of administrative divisions of Beijing|16 urban, suburban, and rural districts]].<ref name="figures">Figures based on 2006 statistics published in 2007 National Statistical Yearbook of China and available online at {{lang|zh-Hans|[http://www.chinapop.gov.cn/wxzl/rkgk/200806/t20080629_157020.htm 2006年中国乡村人口数中国人口与发展研究中心]}} ([https://web.archive.org/web/20090310163630/http://www.chinapop.gov.cn/wxzl/rkgk/200806/t20080629_157020.htm archive]). Retrieved 21 April 2009.</ref> Beijing is mostly surrounded by [[Hebei Province]] with the exception of neighboring [[Tianjin]] to the southeast; together, the three divisions form the [[Jingjinji]] [[Megalopolises in China|megalopolis]] and the [[national capital region]] of China.<ref name="basic">{{cite web |title=Basic Information |url = http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/esite/bjsq/jbqk/ |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313225759/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/esite/bjsq/jbqk/ |archive-date=13 March 2012 |publisher = Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics |access-date=9 February 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Beijing is a [[global city]] and one of the world's leading centres for [[#Culture|culture]], [[#International relations|diplomacy]], [[Politics of Beijing|politics]], [[Global Financial Centres Index|finance]], [[Economy of Beijing|business and economics]], [[#Education and research|education]], [[List of cities by scientific output|research]], [[Beijing dialect|language]], [[#Places of interest|tourism]], [[#Media|media]], [[#Sports|sport]], [[Science and technology in the People's Republic of China|science and technology]] and [[Transport in China|transportation]]. As a [[megacity]], Beijing is the second largest Chinese city by [[List of cities in the People's Republic of China by urban population|urban population]] after Shanghai.<ref name="columbia encyclopaedia">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Beijing |url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Beijing.aspx |encyclopedia=[[The Columbia Encyclopedia]] |edition=6th |year=2008 |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100212121906/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Beijing.aspx |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is home to the headquarters of most of [[List of the largest companies of China|China's largest state-owned companies]] and houses the largest number of [[Fortune Global 500]] companies in the world, as well as the world's four biggest [[List of largest banks|financial institutions]] by total assets.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Top 100 Banks in the World |url = https://www.relbanks.com/worlds-top-banks/assets |publisher=www.relbanks.com |language=en-gb |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729045255/https://www.relbanks.com/worlds-top-banks/assets |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also a [[transport in Beijing|major hub]] for the [[China National Highways of Beijing|national highway]], [[Expressways of Beijing|expressway]], [[Rail transport in the People's Republic of China#Current network|railway]], and [[High-speed rail in China|high-speed rail]] networks. The [[Beijing Capital International Airport]] has been the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|second busiest in the world by passenger traffic]] ([[List of the busiest airports in Asia|Asia's busiest]]) since 2010,<ref name="ACI aero">{{cite web |title=Year to date Passenger Traffic |url=http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date |publisher=[[Airports Council International]] |access-date=26 June 2014 |date=23 June 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170129021001/http://www.aci.aero/Data-Centre/Monthly-Traffic-Data/Passenger-Summary/Year-to-date |archive-date=29 January 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> and, {{As of|2016|lc=y}}, the city's [[Beijing Subway|subway network]] is the [[List of metro systems|busiest]] and second [[List of metro systems|longest in the world]]. The [[Beijing Daxing International Airport]], which is the second international airport in Beijing, is the largest single-structure [[airport terminal]] in the world.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 April 2019 |title=What does the world's largest single-building airport terminal look like? |publisher=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-47914210/what-does-the-world-s-largest-single-building-airport-terminal-look-like |access-date=20 April 2019 |archive-date=18 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190418003115/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-47914210/what-does-the-world-s-largest-single-building-airport-terminal-look-like |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Alan |title=Photos: The World's Largest Airport-Terminal Building - The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/01/photos-the-worlds-largest-airport-terminal-building/580954/ |access-date=25 September 2019 |website=The Atlantic |language=en |archive-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925225834/https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2019/01/photos-the-worlds-largest-airport-terminal-building/580954/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Combining both modern and traditional style [[#Architecture|architecture]]s, Beijing is [[List of oldest continuously inhabited cities|one of the oldest cities in the world]], with a rich [[History of Beijing|history]] dating back over three millennia. As the last of the [[Historical capitals of China|Four Great Ancient Capitals of China]], Beijing has been the political center of the country for most of the past eight centuries,<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title = Peking (Beijing) |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |edition = ''[[Macropædia]]'', [[Encyclopædia Britannica#Edition summary|15th]] |volume = 25 |page = 468 }}</ref> and was the [[List of largest cities throughout history|largest city in the world by population]] for much of the [[2nd millennium|second millennium CE]].<ref name="Top Ten Cities By Population Throughout History">{{cite web|title=Top Ten Cities Through History |url=http://www.thingsmadethinkable.com/item/top_ten_cities_through_history.php |publisher=things made unthinkable |access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624043713/http://www.thingsmadethinkable.com/item/top_ten_cities_through_history.php |archive-date=24 June 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> With mountains surrounding the inland city on three sides, in addition to the [[Beijing city fortifications|old inner and outer city walls]], Beijing was strategically poised and developed to be the residence of the [[Emperor of China|emperor]] and thus was the perfect location for the imperial capital. The city is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, parks, gardens, tombs, [[Beijing city fortifications|walls and gates]].<ref name="world book">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://worldbookonline.com/wb/Login?ed=wb |title=Beijing |encyclopedia=[[World Book Encyclopedia]] |year = 2008 |access-date=7 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080519232539/http://worldbookonline.com/wb/Login?ed=wb |archive-date=19 May 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Beijing is one of the most important tourist destinations of the world. In 2018, Beijing was the second highest earning tourist city in the world after [[Shanghai]].<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Töre |first=Özgür |title=WTTC reveals the world's best performing tourism cities |date=22 October 2018 |url=https://ftnnews.com/other-news/35281-wttc-reveals-the-world-s-best-performing-tourism-cities |access-date=7 August 2021 |publisher=ftnnews.com |language=en-gb}}</ref> Beijing is home to many national [[List of museums in China#Beijing|monuments and museums]] and has [[List of World Heritage Sites in China|seven]] UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s—the [[Forbidden City]], [[Temple of Heaven]], [[Summer Palace]], [[Ming Tombs]], [[Zhoukoudian]], and parts of the [[Great Wall]] and the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]]—all of which are popular tourist locations.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://beijingww.qianlong.com/1470/2014/08/18/Zt290@228841.htm |script-title=zh:走进北京七大世界文化遗产 – 千龙网 |date=18 August 2014 |website=qianlong.com |language=zh-hans |access-date=21 November 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129035045/http://beijingww.qianlong.com/1470/2014/08/18/Zt290@228841.htm |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Siheyuan]]s, the city's traditional housing style, and [[hutong]]s, the narrow alleys between siheyuans, are major tourist attractions and are common in urban Beijing.

[[List of universities and colleges in Beijing|Beijing's public universities]] make up more than one-fifth of [[Double First Class University Plan#Double First Class Universities listing based on geographical locations|Double First-Class Universities]], and many of them consistently [[Rankings of universities in China|rank]] among the best in the Asia-Pacific and the world.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|title=US News Best Global Universities in Beijing|url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/search?city=beijing|website=US News|access-date=27 September 2020|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106123931/https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/search?city=beijing|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ShanghaiRanking's Academic Ranking of World Universities |url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2023 |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=www.shanghairanking.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=World University Rankings 2024: China creeps closer to top 10 |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/world-university-rankings-2024-china-creeps-closer-top-10 |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref> Beijing is home to the two best [[C9 League]] universities ([[Tsinghua University|Tsinghua]] and [[Peking University|Peking]]) in Asia & Oceania region and [[emerging countries]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-09-25 |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2024/world-ranking |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":8">{{Cite web|date=22 January 2020|title=Emerging Economies|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/emerging-economies-university-rankings|access-date=13 September 2020|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|archive-date=20 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220042605/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/emerging-economies-university-rankings|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Beijing CBD]] is a center for [[Economy of Beijing|Beijing's economic expansion]], with the ongoing or recently completed construction of [[List of tallest buildings in Beijing|multiple skyscrapers]]. Beijing's [[Zhongguancun]] area is a world leading center of scientific and technological innovation as well as entrepreneurship. Beijing has been ranked the city with the largest scientific research output by the [[Nature Index]] since 2016.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":9">{{cite web|author=jknotts|date=25 September 2020|title=Beijing Defends its Title as World's Top City for Scientific Research|url=https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2020/09/25/beijing-defends-its-title-worlds-top-city-scientific-research|access-date=27 September 2020|website=www.thebeijinger.com|language=en|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927011316/https://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2020/09/25/beijing-defends-its-title-worlds-top-city-scientific-research|url-status=live}}</ref> The city has hosted numerous international and national sporting events, the most notable being the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and [[2008 Summer Paralympics]] Games. In 2022, Beijing became the first city ever to host both the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Summer]] and [[2022 Winter Olympics|Winter Olympics]],<ref name=":2" /> and also the [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Summer]] and [[2022 Winter Paralympics|Winter Paralympics]].<ref name=":3" /> Beijing hosts [[List of diplomatic missions in China|175 foreign embassies]] as well as the headquarters of many organizations, including the [[Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank]] (AIIB), the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]] (SCO), the [[Silk Road Fund]], the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]], the [[Chinese Academy of Engineering]], the [[Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]], the [[Central Academy of Fine Arts]], the [[Central Academy of Drama]], the [[Central Conservatory of Music]], and the [[Red Cross Society of China]].

== Etymology ==
{{Main|Names of Beijing}}

Over the past 3,000 years, the city of Beijing has had [[names of Beijing|numerous other names]]. The name ''Beijing'', which means "Northern Capital" (from the [[Chinese characters]] {{lang|zh|北}} {{transl|zh|běi}} for ''north'' and {{lang|zh|京}} {{transl|zh|jīng}} for ''capital''), was applied to the city in 1403 during the [[Ming dynasty]] to distinguish the city from [[Nanjing]] (the "Southern Capital").<ref name="minggov">{{cite journal |jstor = 2718619|title = Governmental Organization of the Ming Dynasty |journal = Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies |volume = 21 |pages = 1–66 |last = Hucker |first = Charles O. |year = 1958 |doi = 10.2307/2718619 }}</ref> The English spelling ''Beijing'' is based on the government's official [[romanization of Chinese|romanization]] (adopted in the 1980s) of the two characters as they are pronounced in [[Standard Mandarin]]. An older English spelling, ''Peking'', was used by Jesuit missionary [[Martino Martini]] in a popular atlas published in Amsterdam in 1655.<ref>Martini, Martino, ''De bello Tartarico historia'', 1654.
* Martini, Martino (1655), ''Novus Atlas Sinensis'', "Prima Provencia Peking Sive Pecheli", p. 17.</ref> Although Peking is no longer the common name for the city, some of the city's older locations and facilities, such as [[Beijing Capital International Airport]], with the [[International Air Transport Association code|IATA code]] PEK, and [[Peking University]], still retain the former romanization.

The single Chinese character abbreviation for Beijing is {{linktext|京}}, which appears on automobile license plates in the city. The official Latin alphabet [[Standardization Administration of China|abbreviation]] for Beijing is "BJ".<ref>[[Standardization Administration of China]] (SAC). "[http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~chgis/work/design/chinastdb_1210.doc GB/T-2260: Codes for the administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China]" (Microsoft Word). {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040305025950/http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~chgis/work/design/chinastdb_1210.doc |date=5 March 2004 }}.</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Beijing}}

=== Early history ===
The earliest traces of human habitation in the Peking municipality were found in the caves of [[Dragon Bone Hill]] near the village of [[Zhoukoudian]] in [[Fangshan District]], where [[Peking Man]] lived. ''[[Homo erectus]]'' fossils from the caves date to 230,000 to 250,000 years ago. [[Paleolithic]] ''[[Homo sapiens]]'' also lived there more recently, about 27,000 years ago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/ext/field/beijing/whc/pkm-site.htm|title=The Peking Man World Heritage Site at Zhoukoudian|access-date=7 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309111645/http://www.unesco.org/ext/field/beijing/whc/pkm-site.htm|archive-date=9 March 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Archaeologists have found [[neolithic]] settlements throughout the municipality, including in [[Wangfujing]], located in central Peking.

The first [[ancient Chinese urban planning|walled city]] in Beijing was [[Jicheng (Beijing)|Jicheng]], the capital city of the [[state of Ji]] which was built in 1045 BC. Within modern Beijing, Jicheng was located around the present [[Guang'anmen]] area in the south of [[Xicheng District]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web |title=Beijing's History |url=http://china.org.cn/english/features/beijing/30785.htm |publisher=China Internet Information Center|access-date=1 May 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080501152800/http://www1.china.org.cn/english/features/beijing/30785.htm|archive-date= 1 May 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> This settlement was later conquered by the [[state of Yan]] and made its capital.<ref>Haw, Stephen. ''Beijing: A Concise History''. Routledge, 2007. p. 136.</ref>

=== Early Imperial China ===
[[File:Tianning Temple Pagoda.jpg|thumb|The [[Pagoda of Tianning Temple (Beijing)|Tianning Pagoda]], built around 1120 during the [[Liao dynasty]]|267x267px]]
After the [[Qin Shi Huang|First Emperor]] [[Qin's wars of unification|unified China]] in 221 BC, Jicheng became a [[zhou (region)|prefectural capital]] and<ref name="hist">{{cite web |title = Township divisions |url=http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Government/Administration_region/t930369.htm |publisher = ebeijing.gov.cn |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090903193329/http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Government/Administration_region/t930369.htm |archive-date=3 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> during the [[Three Kingdoms period]], it was held by [[Gongsun Zan]] and [[Yuan Shao]] before falling to the [[Cao Wei|Wei Kingdom]] of [[Cao Cao]]. The AD third-century [[Jin dynasty (265–420)|Western Jin]] demoted the town, placing the prefectural seat in neighboring [[Zhuo Prefecture|Zhuozhou]]. During the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] period when northern China was conquered and divided by the [[Five Barbarians|Wu Hu]], Jicheng was briefly the capital of the [[Xianbei]] [[Former Yan]] Kingdom.<ref name=Rene>{{cite book |last=Grousset |first=Rene |title = The Empire of the Steppes |url = https://archive.org/details/empireofsteppes00grou |url-access=registration |publisher=Rutgers University Press |year=1970 |isbn=978-0-8135-1304-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/empireofsteppes00grou/page/58 58]}}</ref>

After China was reunified by the [[Sui dynasty]] in 581, Jicheng, also known as [[Zhuo Commandery|Zhuojun]], became the northern terminus of the [[Grand Canal (China)|Grand Canal]]. Under the [[Tang dynasty]], Jicheng as [[Youzhou]], served as a military frontier command center. During the [[An-Shi Rebellion]] and again amidst the turmoil of the late Tang, local military commanders founded their own short-lived Yan dynasties and called the city [[Yanjing]], or the "Yan Capital." Also in the Tang dynasty, the city's name Jicheng was replaced by Youzhou or Yanjing. In 938, after the fall of the Tang, the [[Later Jin (Five Dynasties)|Later Jin]] ceded [[sixteen Prefectures|the frontier territory including what is now Beijing]] to the [[Khitan people|Khitan]] Liao dynasty, which treated the city as [[Liao Nanjing|Nanjing]], or the "Southern Capital", one of four secondary capitals to complement its "Supreme Capital" Shangjing (modern [[Baarin Left Banner]] in [[Inner Mongolia]]). Some of the [[List of pagodas in Beijing|oldest surviving pagodas in Beijing]] date to the Liao period, including the [[Pagoda of Tianning Temple (Beijing)|Tianning Pagoda]].

The Liao fell to the [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)|Jurchen Jin dynasty]] in 1122, which gave the city to the [[Song dynasty]] and then retook it in 1125 during its [[Jin–Song Wars|conquest of northern China]]. In 1153, the Jurchen Jin made Beijing their "Central Capital", or [[Zhongdu]].<ref name="hist" /> The city was besieged by [[Genghis Khan]]'s invading [[Mongol Empire|Mongolian army]] in 1213 and [[battle of Zhongdu|razed to the ground]] two years later.<ref name="economist">{{cite news |title=Beijing – Historical Background |url = http://www.economist.com/cities/findstory.cfm?city_id=BJS&folder=Facts-History |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070522144445/http://www.economist.com/cities/findstory.cfm?city_id=BJS&folder=Facts-History |archive-date=22 May 2007 |newspaper=The Economist |year=2007 }}</ref> Two generations later, [[Kublai Khan]] ordered the construction of [[Khanbaliq|Dadu]] (or Daidu to the Mongols, commonly known as [[Khanbaliq]]), a new capital for his [[Yuan dynasty]] to the northeast of the Zhongdu ruins. The construction took from 1264 to 1293,<ref name="hist" /><ref name="economist" /><ref>Brian Hook, ''Beijing and Tianjin: Towards a Millennial Megalopolis'', p. 2.</ref> but greatly enhanced the status of a city on the northern fringe of [[China proper]]. The city was centered on the [[Drum Tower and Bell Tower of Beijing|Drum Tower]] slightly to the north of modern Beijing and stretched from the present-day [[Chang'an Avenue]] to the northern part of [[Line 10, Beijing Subway|Line 10 subway]]. Remnants of the Yuan [[rammed earth]] wall still stand and are known as the Tucheng.<ref>{{cite web |script-title=zh:元大都土城遗址公园 |url=http://www.tuniu.com/places/17645 |work=Tuniu.com |access-date=15 June 2008 |language=zh |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205205807/http://www.tuniu.com/places/17645 |archive-date=5 February 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Ming dynasty ===
[[File:BeijingWatchTower.jpg|thumb|left|One of the corner towers of the [[Forbidden City]], built by the [[Yongle Emperor]] during the early [[Ming dynasty]]|200x200px]]

In 1368, soon after declaring the new [[Hongwu Emperor|Hongwu era]] of the [[Ming dynasty]], the [[Red Turban rebellion|rebel]] leader [[Zhu Yuanzhang]] captured Dadu/Khanbaliq and razed the Yuan palaces to the ground.<ref name="patbu">Ebrey, Patricia Buckley. ''The Cambridge Illustrated History of China''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. {{ISBN|0-521-66991-X}}</ref> Since the [[Northern Yuan dynasty|Yuan]] continued to occupy [[Xanadu, China|Shangdu]] and [[Mongolia]], Dadu was used to supply the Ming military garrisons in the area and renamed Beiping ([[Wade–Giles]]: Peip'ing, "Northern Peace").<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=23}}</ref> Under the Hongwu Emperor's feudal policies, Beiping was given to his son [[Zhu Di]], who was created "[[Prince of Yan]]".[[File:Beijings layout genom historien.jpg|thumb|Overlapping layout of Beijing during the Liao, Jin, Yuan and Ming dynasties]]

The early death of [[Zhu Yuanzhang]]'s heir led to a [[Jingnan Campaign|succession struggle]] upon his death, one that ended with the victory of [[Zhu Di]] and the declaration of the new [[Yongle Emperor|Yongle era]]. Since his harsh treatment of the Ming capital [[Nanjing|Yingtian]] (modern [[Nanjing]]) alienated many there, he established his fief as a new co-capital. The city of [[Beiping]] became Beijing ("Northern Capital") or [[Shuntian Prefecture|Shuntian]]<ref name=WDL1>{{cite book|title=An Illustrated Survey of Dikes and Dams in Jianghan Region|year=1567|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/4451|publisher=[[World Digital Library]]|access-date=9 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210203250/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/4451/|archive-date=10 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> in 1403.<ref name="minggov"/> The construction of the new imperial residence, the [[Forbidden City]], took from 1406 to 1420;<ref name="economist"/> this period was also responsible for several other of the modern city's major attractions, such as the [[Temple of Heaven]]<ref>{{cite web |title=The Temple of Heaven |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/75120.htm |work=China.org |date=13 April 2001 |access-date=14 June 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080620072750/http://www.china.org.cn/english/kuaixun/75120.htm|archive-date= 20 June 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Tian'anmen]]. On 28 October 1420, the city was officially designated the capital of the [[Ming dynasty]] in the same year that the Forbidden City was completed.<ref name="Hymes">{{cite book |author=[[Robert Hymes]] |url=https://archive.org/details/columbiachronolo00john |title=Columbia Chronologies of Asian History and Culture |publisher=Columbia University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-231-11004-4 |editor=John Stewart Bowman |page=[https://archive.org/details/columbiachronolo00john/page/42 42] |url-access=registration}}</ref> Beijing became the empire's primary capital, and Yingtian, also called [[Nanjing]] ("Southern Capital"), became the co-capital. (A 1425 order by Zhu Di's son, the [[Hongxi Emperor]], to return the primary capital to Nanjing was never carried out: he died, probably of a heart attack, the next month. He was buried, like almost every Ming emperor to follow him, in an [[Ming tombs|elaborate necropolis]] to Beijing's north.)

By the 15th century, Beijing had essentially taken its current shape. The [[Beijing city fortifications|Ming city wall]] continued to serve until modern times, when it was pulled down and the [[2nd Ring Road]] was built in its place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Renewal of Ming Dynasty City Wall |url=http://www.btmbeijing.com/contents/en/btm/2003-02/knowyourbeijing/ming |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050503175902/http://www.btmbeijing.com/contents/en/btm/2003-02/knowyourbeijing/ming |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 May 2005 |work=Beijing This Month |date=1 February 2003 |access-date=14 June 2008
}}</ref> It is generally believed that Beijing was the largest city in the world for most of the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.<ref>
{{cite web |last=Rosenburg |first=Matt T. |title=Largest Cities Through History |url=http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011201a.htm |publisher=[[About.com]] |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050527095609/http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa011201a.htm |archive-date=27 May 2005 |url-status=live }}
</ref> The [[Christianity in China|first known church]] was constructed by [[Jesuit China Missions|Catholics]] in 1652 at the former site of [[Matteo Ricci]]'s chapel; the modern [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing|Nantang Cathedral]] was later built upon the same site.<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=33}}</ref>

The capture of Beijing by [[Li Zicheng]]'s peasant army in 1644 ended the dynasty, but he and his [[Shun dynasty|Shun court]] abandoned the city without a fight when the [[Manchu people|Manchu]] army of Prince [[Dorgon]] arrived 40 days later.

=== Qing dynasty ===
[[File:Summer Palace in Beijing2022 Spring.jpg|thumb|left|[[Summer Palace]] is one of the several palatial gardens built by Qing emperors in the northwest suburb area. ]]

[[Dorgon]] established the [[Qing dynasty]] as a direct successor of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] (delegitimising [[Li Zicheng]] and his followers)<ref name="britannica ming qing">{{cite encyclopedia |title=Beijing – History – The Ming and Qing Dynasties |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448956/Beijing/14708/Centuries-of-growth#toc=toc14709 |encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |year=2008 |access-date=16 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512030123/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448956/Beijing/14708/Centuries-of-growth#toc=toc14709 |archive-date=12 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> and Beijing became China's sole capital.<ref>{{harvnb|Elliott|2001|p=98}}</ref> The Qing emperors made some modifications to the Imperial residence but, in large part, the Ming buildings and the general layout remained unchanged. Facilities for Manchu worship were introduced, but the Qing also continued the traditional state rituals. Signage was bilingual or Chinese. This early Qing Beijing later formed the setting for the [[Four Great Classical Novels|Chinese novel]] ''[[Dream of the Red Chamber]]''. Northwest of the city, Qing emperors built several large palatial gardens including the [[Old Summer Palace]] and the [[Summer Palace]].

During the [[Second Opium War]], Anglo-French forces captured the outskirts of the city, looting and burning the [[Old Summer Palace]] in 1860. Under the [[Convention of Peking]]{{efn|When Europeans first came into sustained contact with China, "Pekin" and "Peking" were the most popular ways of romanizing the [[Names of Beijing|name of Beijing]].<ref>Anville, Jean Baptiste Bourguignon, ''[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g7820m.gct00075 Atlas général de la Chine, de la Tartarie chinoise, et du Tibet : pour servir aux différentes descriptions et histoires de cet empire]'' (1790). This is an expanded edition of an atlas first published in 1737.</ref><ref>Lane Harris, "[http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tcc/summary/v034/34.1.harris.html A 'Lasting Boon to All': A Note on the Postal Romanization of Place Names, 1896–1949] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005145921/http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/tcc/summary/v034/34.1.harris.html |date=2015-10-05 }}". ''Twentieth Century China'' 34.1 (2008): 99.</ref>}} ending that war, Western powers for the first time secured the right to establish [[Beijing Legation Quarter|permanent diplomatic presences]] within the city. From 14 to 15 August 1900 the [[Battle of Peking (1900)|Battle of Peking]] was fought. This battle was part of the [[Boxer Rebellion]].
The attempt by the [[Boxers (group)|Boxers]] to eradicate this presence, as well as [[Chinese christian|Chinese Christian]] converts, led to Beijing's reoccupation by eight [[Eight-Nation Alliance|foreign powers]].<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|pp=119–120}}</ref> During the fighting, several important structures were destroyed, including the [[Hanlin Academy]] and the (new) [[Summer Palace]].
A [[peace agreement]] was concluded between the [[Eight-Nation Alliance]] and representatives of the Chinese government [[Li Hongzhang]] and [[Yikuang]] on 7 September 1901. The treaty required China to pay an indemnity of US$335 million (over US$4 billion in current dollars) plus interest over a period of 39 years. Also required was the execution or exile of government supporters of the Boxers and the destruction of Chinese forts and other defenses in much of northern China. Ten days after the treaty was signed the foreign armies left Beijing, although legation guards would remain there until [[World War II]].<ref>Preston, p. 310–311</ref>

With the treaty signed the [[Empress Dowager Cixi]] returned to Beijing from her "tour of inspection" on 7 January 1902 and the rule of the [[Qing]] dynasty over China was restored, albeit much weakened by the defeat it had suffered in the Boxer Rebellion and by the indemnity and stipulations of the peace treaty.<ref>Preston, pp. 312–315</ref> The Dowager died in 1908 and the dynasty imploded in 1911.

=== Republic of China ===
[[File:Chiang KaiShek Portrait Tiananmen Beijing.jpg|thumb|A large portrait of [[Chiang Kai-shek]] was displayed above [[Tiananmen]] after [[WWII]].]]

The fomenters of the [[Xinhai Revolution]] of 1911 sought to replace Qing rule with a republic and leaders like [[Sun Yat-sen]] originally intended to return the capital to [[Nanjing]]. After the Qing general [[Yuan Shikai]] forced the abdication of the last Qing emperor and ensured the success of the revolution, the revolutionaries accepted him as president of the new [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|Republic of China]]. Yuan maintained his capital at Beijing and quickly consolidated power, declaring himself emperor in 1915. His death less than a year later<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|pp=133–134}}</ref> left China under the control of the warlords commanding the regional armies. Following the success of the [[Kuomintang]]'s [[Northern Expedition (1926–1927)|Northern Expedition]], the capital was formally moved to [[Nanjing]] in 1928. On 28 June the same year, Beijing's name was returned to Beiping (written at the time as "Peiping").<ref name="columbia encyclopaedia"/><ref>{{harvnb|MacKerras|Yorke|1991|p=8}}</ref>

On 7 July 1937, the 29th Army and the Japanese army in China exchanged fire at the [[Marco Polo Bridge]] near the [[Wanping Fortress]] southwest of the city. The [[Marco Polo Bridge Incident]] triggered the [[Second Sino-Japanese War]], [[World War II]] as it is known in China. During the war,<ref name="columbia encyclopaedia"/> Beijing fell to Japan on 29 July 1937<ref>{{cite web |title=Incident on 7 July 1937 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-06/27/content_3141055.htm |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |date=27 June 2005 |access-date=20 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141848/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-06/27/content_3141055.htm |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was made the seat of the [[Provisional Government of the Republic of China (1937–1940)|Provisional Government of the Republic of China]], a [[puppet state]] that ruled the ethnic-Chinese portions of Japanese-occupied [[North China|northern China]].<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=166}}</ref> This government was later merged into the larger [[Reorganized National Government of China|Wang Jingwei government]] based in Nanjing.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cheung|first=Andrew |title=Slogans, Symbols, and Legitimacy: The Case of Wang Jingwei's Nanjing Regime|url=http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/resources/working_paper/noframe_6a_sloga.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071023222730/http://www.indiana.edu/~easc/resources/working_paper/noframe_6a_sloga.htm|archive-date=23 October 2007 |publisher=Indiana University |year=1995 |access-date=20 June 2008}}</ref>

=== People's Republic of China ===
[[File:Tiananmen 13.jpg|thumb|[[Tiananmen]] during People's Republic of China]]
In the final phases of the [[Chinese Civil War]], the [[People's Liberation Army]] seized control of the city peacefully on 31 January 1949 in the course of the [[Pingjin Campaign]]. On 1 October that year, [[Mao Zedong]] announced the creation of the [[People's Republic of China]] from atop [[Tian'anmen]]. He restored the name of the city, as the new capital, to Beijing,<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=168}}</ref> a decision that had been reached by the [[Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference]] just a few days earlier.

In the 1950s, the city began to expand beyond the old walled city and its surrounding neighborhoods, with heavy industries in [[Shijingshan District|the west]] and residential neighborhoods in [[Hepingli Subdistrict, Beijing|the north]]. Many areas of the [[Beijing city fortifications|Beijing city wall]] were torn down in the 1960s to make way for the construction of the [[Beijing Subway]] and the [[2nd Ring Road]].

During the [[Cultural Revolution]] from 1966 to 1976, the [[Red Guard (China)|Red Guard]] movement began in Beijing and the city's government fell victim to one of the first purges. By the autumn of 1966, all city schools were shut down and over a million Red Guards from across the country gathered in Beijing for eight rallies in Tian'anmen Square with Mao.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://dangshi.people.com.cn/GB/85039/14329784.html |script-title=zh:毛主席八次接见红卫兵的组织工作 |script-work=zh:中国共产党新闻网 |date=7 April 2011 |language=zh-CN |access-date=27 December 2011 |archive-date=6 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706102741/http://dangshi.people.com.cn/GB/85039/14329784.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 1976, a large public gathering of Beijing residents against the [[Gang of Four]] and the Cultural Revolution in Tiananmen Square [[1976 Tiananmen Incident|was forcefully suppressed]]. In October 1976, the Gang was arrested in [[Zhongnanhai]] and the Cultural Revolution came to an end. In December 1978, the [[Third Plenary Session of the 11th CPC Central Committee|Third Plenum of the 11th Party Congress]] in Beijing under the leadership of [[Deng Xiaoping]] reversed the verdicts against victims of the Cultural Revolution and instituted the [[Chinese economic reform|"policy of reform and opening up."]]

Since the early 1980s, the urban area of Beijing has expanded greatly with the completion of the 2nd Ring Road in 1981 and the subsequent addition of the [[3rd Ring Road (Beijing)|3rd]], [[4th Ring Road|4th]], [[5th Ring Road|5th]] and [[6th Ring Road]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=217}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=255}}</ref> According to one 2005 newspaper report, the size of newly developed Beijing was one-and-a-half times larger than before.<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=252}}</ref> [[Wangfujing]] and [[Xidan]] have developed into flourishing shopping districts,<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=149}}</ref> while [[Zhongguancun]] has become a major center of electronics in China.<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|pp=249–250}}</ref> In recent years, the expansion of Beijing has also brought to the forefront some problems of urbanization, such as [[Traffic congestion|heavy traffic]], [[Air pollution|poor air quality]], the loss of historic neighborhoods, and a significant influx of migrant workers from less-developed [[rural area]]s of the country.<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|pp=255–256}}</ref> Beijing has also been the location of many significant events in recent Chinese history, principally the [[Tiananmen Square protests of 1989]].<ref name="BBC News">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4313282.stm Picture Power:Tiananmen Standoff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217014228/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4313282.stm |date=17 February 2009 }} BBC News.</ref> The city has also hosted major international events, including the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and the [[2015 World Championships in Athletics]], and the [[2022 Winter Olympics]], making it the first city to ever host both Winter and Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://huffingtonpost.com/entry/2022-winter-olympics_55bb4805e4b06363d5a1aa34|title=IOC: Beijing To Host 2022 Winter Olympics|agency=Associated Press|date=31 July 2015|work=The Huffington Post|access-date=11 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810230449/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/2022-winter-olympics_55bb4805e4b06363d5a1aa34|archive-date=10 August 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
{{Main|Geography of Beijing}}
Beijing is situated at the northern tip of the roughly triangular [[North China Plain]], which opens to the south and east of the city. Mountains to the north, northwest and west shield the city and northern China's agricultural heartland from the encroaching desert steppes. The northwestern part of the municipality, especially [[Yanqing District]] and [[Huairou District]], are dominated by the [[Jundu Mountains]], while the western part is framed by ''Xishan'' or the [[Western Hills]]. The [[Great Wall of China]] across the northern part of Beijing Municipality was built on the rugged topography to defend against nomadic incursions from the steppes. [[Mount Ling (Beijing)|Mount Dongling]], in the Western Hills and on the border with [[Hebei]], is the municipality's highest point, with an altitude of {{convert|2303|m}}.

Major rivers flowing through the municipality, including the [[Chaobai River|Chaobai]], [[Yongding River|Yongding]], [[Juma River (China)|Juma]], are all tributaries in the [[Hai River]] system, and flow in a southeasterly direction. The Miyun Reservoir, on the upper reaches of the Chaobai River, is the largest reservoir within the municipality. Beijing is also the northern terminus of the [[Grand Canal of China|Grand Canal]] to [[Hangzhou]], which was built over 1,400 years ago as a transportation route, and the [[South–North Water Transfer Project]], constructed in the past decade to bring water from the [[Yangtze River]] basin.

The urban area of Beijing, on the plains in the south-central of the municipality with elevation of {{convert|40|to(-)|60|m|ft|abbr=off}}, occupies a relatively small but expanding portion of the municipality's area. The city spreads out in concentric [[Ring Roads of Beijing|ring roads]]. The [[Second Ring Road (Beijing)|Second Ring Road]] traces the [[Beijing city wall|old city walls]] and the [[Sixth Ring Road]] connects satellite towns in the surrounding suburbs. [[Tian'anmen]] and [[Tian'anmen Square]] are at the center of Beijing, directly to the south of the [[Forbidden City]], the former residence of the emperors of China. To the west of [[Tiananmen|Tian'anmen]] is [[Zhongnanhai]], the residence of China's current leaders. [[Chang'an Avenue]], which cuts between Tiananmen and the Square, forms the city's main east–west axis.

Beijing's pattern of development from the old inner city to its urban fringe are frequently described as "spreading like a pancake" (''tan da bing'').<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=135}} This pattern of development is frequently cited as a reason for Beijing's urban problems.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=135}}

=== Climate ===
[[File:Beijing average annual temperatures 1970 to 2019.jpg|thumb|360x380px|Beijing average annual temperatures from 1970 to 2019 during summer (June, July, and August) and winter (December, January, and February). Weather station data from [https://web.archive.org/web/20211009101925/ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/noaa/ NOAA]. For comparison the [[Global temperature record|Global Surface Temperature Anomaly]] rose by approximately one degree over the same time period.|alt=]] Beijing has a monsoon-influenced [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dwa''), bordering on a [[cold semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BSk''), characterized by hot, humid summers due to the East Asian [[monsoon]], and brief but cold, dry winters that reflect the influence of the vast [[Siberian High|Siberian anticyclone]].<ref name="people's daily">{{cite web |date=March 2001 |title=Beijing |url=http://english.people.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518043113/http://english.people.com.cn/data/province/beijing.html |archive-date=18 May 2008 |access-date=22 June 2008 |work=People's Daily}}</ref> Spring can bear witness to sandstorms blowing in from the [[Gobi Desert]] across the [[Mongolian-Manchurian grassland|Mongolian steppe]], accompanied by rapidly warming, but generally dry, conditions. Autumn, similar to spring, is a season of transition and minimal precipitation. The monthly daily average temperature in January is {{convert|−3.5|°C|1}}, while in July it is {{convert|26.8|°C|1}}. [[Precipitation (meteorology)|Precipitation]] averages around {{convert|577|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} annually, with close to three-quarters of that total falling from June to August. With monthly percent possible sunshine ranging from 47% in July to 65% in January and February, the city receives 2,455 hours of bright sunshine annually. Extremes since 1951 have ranged from {{convert|−27.4|°C|1}} on 22 February 1966 to {{convert|41.9|°C|1}} on 24 July 1999 (unofficial record of {{convert|42.6|°C|1}} was set on 15 June 1942).<ref>{{cite web |title=无标题文档 |url=http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag%3DdataLogger |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318113757/http://cdc.cma.gov.cn/dataSetLogger.do?changeFlag=dataLogger |archive-date=18 March 2013 |access-date=18 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="Mherrera" />
{{Beijing weatherbox|Caption=Beijing annual temperature averages during summer (June, July, and August), and winter (December, January, and February). Weather station data from ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/noaa/
For comparison, the [[Global surface record]] temperature rose by approximately one degree over the same time period.}}
<div style="width: 80%;"></div>
{{Graph:Weather monthly history
| table=Ncei.noaa.gov/weather/Beijing.tab
| title=Beijing temperature
}}

== Cityscape ==
{{wide image|2017-05-07 The Forbidden City.jpg|700px|align-cap=center|A panorama of the [[Forbidden City]], viewed from the [[Jingshan Park]]}}

=== Architecture ===
[[File:Views from Jingshan Park 1.jpg|thumb|left|[[The North-South Central Axis of Beijing City]]]]
{{See also|List of tallest buildings in Beijing}}
Three styles of architecture are predominant in urban Beijing. First, there is the traditional architecture of imperial China, perhaps best exemplified by the massive [[Tian'anmen]] (Gate of Heavenly Peace), which remains the People's Republic of China's trademark edifice, the [[Forbidden City]], the [[Imperial Ancestral Temple]] and the [[Temple of Heaven]]. Next, there is what is sometimes referred to as the "Sino-Sov" style, with structures tending to be boxy and sometimes poorly constructed, which were built between the 1950s and the 1970s.<ref>{{cite book |title=Business Guide to Beijing and North-East China |edition=2006–2007 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M2TvFN9DmqkC&q=%22sino-sov%22+%2Barchitecture&pg=PA108 |page=108 |isbn=978-988-98673-3-1 |year=2006 |publisher=China Briefing Media |location=Hong Kong |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-date=7 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307165627/https://books.google.com/books?id=M2TvFN9DmqkC&q=%22sino-sov%22+%2Barchitecture&pg=PA108 |url-status=live }}</ref> Finally, there are much more modern architectural forms, most noticeably in the area of the [[Beijing CBD]] in east Beijing such as the new [[CCTV Headquarters]], in addition to buildings in other locations around the city such as the [[Beijing National Stadium]] and [[National Centre for the Performing Arts (China)|National Center for the Performing Arts]].

Since 2007, buildings in Beijing have received the [[CTBUH Skyscraper Award]] for best overall tall building twice, for the [[Linked Hybrid]] building in 2009 and the [[CCTV Headquarters]] in 2013. The CTBUH Skyscraper award for best tall overall building is given to only one building around the world every year.

In the early 21st century, Beijing has witnessed tremendous growth of new building constructions, exhibiting various modern styles from international designers, most pronounced in the CBD region. A mixture of both 1950s design and [[neofuturistic]] style of architecture can be seen at the [[798 Art Zone]], which mixes the old with the new. Beijing's tallest building is the 528-meter [[China Zun]].

[[File:Wangjing SOHO6.jpg|thumb|[[Wangjing SOHO]]]]
Beijing is famous for its ''[[siheyuan]]s'', a type of residence where a common courtyard is shared by the surrounding buildings. Among the more grand examples are the [[Prince Gong Mansion]] and [[Former Residence of Soong Ching-ling (Beijing)|Residence of Soong Ching-ling]]. These courtyards are usually connected by alleys called ''[[hutong]]s''. The ''hutongs'' are generally straight and run east to west so that doorways face north and south for good [[Feng Shui]]. They vary in width; some are so narrow only a few pedestrians can pass through at a time. Once ubiquitous in Beijing, ''siheyuans'' and ''hutongs'' are rapidly disappearing,<ref>
{{cite news |last=Shen |first=Wei |title=Chorography to record rise and fall of Beijing's Hutongs |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/16/content_306506.htm |work=China Daily |date=16 February 2004 |access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308141253/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-02/16/content_306506.htm |archive-date=8 March 2008 |url-status=live }}
</ref> as entire city blocks of ''hutongs'' are replaced by high-rise buildings.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=1160 |title=Farewell to the Hutongs: Urban Development in Beijing |author=Amy Stone |magazine=[[Dissent (American magazine)|Dissent magazine]] |date=Spring 2008 |access-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519103106/http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/?article=1160 |archive-date=19 May 2011}}</ref> Residents of the ''hutongs'' are entitled to live in the new buildings in apartments of at least the same size as their former residences. Many complain, however, that the traditional sense of community and street life of the ''hutongs'' cannot be replaced,<ref>{{harvnb|Li|Dray-Novey|Kong|2007|p=253}}</ref> and these properties are often government owned.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gallagher |first=Sean |title=Beijing's urban makeover: the 'hutong' destruction |url=http://www.opendemocracy.net/arts-photography/hutong_destruction_3632.jsp |work=Open Democracy |date=6 December 2006 |access-date=27 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080525080332/http://www.opendemocracy.net/arts-photography/hutong_destruction_3632.jsp |archive-date=25 May 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Environmental issues ===
Beijing has a long history of [[environmental problems]].<ref>[[J.R. McNeill]], ''Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History of the 20th-Century World''. New York: Norton, 2000, {{ISBN|978-0-14-029509-2}}.</ref> Between 2000 and 2009 Beijing's urban extent quadrupled, which not only strongly increased the extent of anthropogenic emissions, but also changed the meteorological situation fundamentally, even if [[Exhaust gas|emissions]] of human society are not included. For example, surface [[albedo]], wind speed and [[humidity]] near the surface were decreased, whereas ground and near-surface [[air temperature]]s, vertical air dilution and [[ozone]] levels were increased.<ref>[[Mark Z. Jacobson]], Son V. Nghiem, Alessandro Sorichetta, Natasha Whitney, ''Ring of impact from the mega-urbanization of Beijing between 2000 and 2009''. In: ''[[Journal of Geophysical Research]]: Atmospheres'' 120, Issue 12, (2015), 5740–5756, {{doi|10.1002/2014JD023008}}.</ref> Because of the combined factors of urbanization and pollution caused by burning of [[fossil fuel]], Beijing is often affected by serious environmental problems, which lead to [[health]] issues of many inhabitants. In 2013 heavy [[smog]] struck Beijing and most parts of northern China, impacting a total of 600 million people. After this "pollution shock" [[air pollution]] became an important economic and social concern in China. After that the government of Beijing announced measures to reduce air pollution, for example by lowering the share of coal from 24% in 2012 to 10% in 2017, while the national government ordered heavily polluting vehicles to be removed from 2015 to 2017 and increased its efforts to transition the energy system to clean sources.<ref>Peter Sheehan, Enjiang Cheng, Alex English, Fanghong Sun, ''China's response to the air pollution shock''. In: ''[[Nature Climate Change]]'' 4, (2014), 306–309, {{doi|10.1038/nclimate2197}}.</ref>

==== Air quality ====
Joint research between American and Chinese researchers in 2006 concluded that much of the city's pollution comes from surrounding cities and provinces. On average 35–60% of the [[ozone]] can be traced to sources outside the city. [[Shandong]] Province and [[Tianjin]] Municipality have a "significant influence on Beijing's air quality",<ref>David G. Streetsa, Joshua S. Fub, Carey J. Jangc, Jiming Haod, Kebin Hed, Xiaoyan Tange, Yuanhang Zhange, Zifa Wangf, Zuopan Lib, Qiang Zhanga, Litao Wangd, Binyu Wangc, Carolyne Yua, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130724181603/http://www.cee.mtu.edu/~reh/papers/pubs/non_Honrath/streets07.pdf Air quality during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games] accessed 23 April 2012</ref> partly due to the prevailing south/southeasterly flow during the summer and the mountains to the north and northwest.

In preparation for the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] and to fulfill promises to clean up the city's air, nearly US$17 billion was spent.<ref name=sundance>{{cite web|url=http://www.sundancechannel.com/sunfiltered/2008/08/green-olympics-effort-draws-un-environment-chief-to-beijing/|title=Green Olympics Effort Draws UN Environment Chief to Beijing|publisher=[[Sundance Channel (United States)|Sundance Channel]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320014244/http://www.sundancechannel.com/sunfiltered/2008/08/green-olympics-effort-draws-un-environment-chief-to-beijing/|archive-date=20 March 2012}}</ref> Beijing implemented a number of air improvement schemes for the duration of the Games, including halting work at all construction sites, closing many factories in Beijing permanently, temporarily shutting industry in neighboring regions, closing some gas stations,<ref>{{cite news |title=Beijing petrol stations to close |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7246955.stm |work=BBC News |date=15 February 2008 |access-date=15 February 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080218153943/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7246955.stm|archive-date= 18 February 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> and [[Road space rationing in Beijing|cutting motor traffic by half by limiting drivers to odd or even days (based on their license plate numbers)]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Yardley |first=Jim |title=Smoggy Beijing Plans to Cut Traffic by Half for Olympics, Paper Says |newspaper=The New York Times |date=24 January 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/asia/24beijing.html |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417050854/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/world/asia/24beijing.html |archive-date=17 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> reducing bus and subway fares, opening new subway lines, and banning high-emission vehicles.<ref name=octpoll>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/28/content_10126448.htm |title=Post-Olympics Beijing car restrictions to take effect next month |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date=28 September 2008 |access-date=1 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141853/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/28/content_10126448.htm |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=polluteban>{{cite web|url=http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1010598/Only-green-vehicles-permitted-to-enter-Beijing.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527141518/http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1010598/Only-green-vehicles-permitted-to-enter-Beijing.html |archive-date=27 May 2009 |title=Only 'green' vehicles permitted to enter Beijing |publisher=Autonews.gasgoo.com |date=22 May 2009 |access-date=1 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city further assembled 3,800 [[natural gas]]-powered buses, one of the largest fleets in the world.<ref name=sundance/> Beijing became the first city in China to require the Chinese equivalent to the Euro 4 [[emission standard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.automotiveworld.com/AEM/content.asp?contentid=65589 |title=China: Beijing launches Euro 4 standards |publisher=Automotiveworld.com |date=4 January 2008 |access-date=1 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100427051912/http://www.automotiveworld.com/news/emerging-markets/65589-china-beijing-launches-euro-4-standards |archive-date=27 April 2010}}</ref>

Coal burning accounts for about 40% of the [[particulates|PM 2.5]] in Beijing and is also the chief source of nitrogen and sulphur dioxide.<ref name="MotherJones">[https://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/01/beijing-coal-smog-crisis-chart James West, ''Mother Jones''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429191515/http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/01/beijing-coal-smog-crisis-chart |date=29 April 2017 }}. 18 January 2013.</ref> Since 2012, the city has been converting coal-fired [[List of major power stations in Beijing|power stations]] to burn natural gas<ref name="CNDaily20120308">[http://www.china.org.cn/china/NPC_CPPCC_2012/2012-03/08/content_24838378.htm "Beijing to switch from coal to gas to go green". ''China Daily''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205152207/http://www.china.org.cn/china/NPC_CPPCC_2012/2012-03/08/content_24838378.htm |date=5 December 2013 }}. 8 March 2012.</ref> and aims to cap annual coal consumption at 20 million tons. In 2011, the city burned 26.3 million tons of coal, 73% of which for heating and power generation and the remainder for industry.<ref name="CNDaily20120308"/> Much of the city's air pollutants are emitted by neighboring regions.<ref name="MotherJones"/> Coal consumption in neighboring Tianjin is expected to increase from 48 to 63 million tons from 2011 to 2015.<ref name="SCMP20130205">[http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1143423/beijings-air-quality-will-worsen-without-coal-control-greenpeace-says Li Jing, "Beijing's air quality will worsen without coal control, Greenpeace says". ''South China Morning Post''. 5 February 2013] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131115051634/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1143423/beijings-air-quality-will-worsen-without-coal-control-greenpeace-says |date=15 November 2013 }}.</ref> Hebei Province burned over 300 million tons of coal in 2011, more than all of Germany, of which only 30% were used for power generation and a considerable portion for steel and cement making.<ref>"Detecting the Heavy Metal Concentration of PM2.5 in Beijing", Greenpeace.org. 8 June 2013.</ref> Power plants in the coal-mining regions of Shanxi, Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi, where coal consumption has tripled since 2000, and Shandong also contribute to air pollution in Beijing.<ref name="MotherJones"/> Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei and Inner Mongolia, respectively rank from first to fourth, among Chinese provinces by coal consumption.<ref name="SCMP20130205"/> There were four major coal-fired power plants in the city to provide electricity as well as heating during the winter. The first one (Gaojing Thermal Power Plant) was shut down in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stanway|first1=David|title=Beijing shuts big coal-fired power plant to ease smog –Xinhua|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/china-pollution-beijing-idUKL4N0PY3FF20140723|access-date=31 May 2016|work=Reuters|date=23 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630013015/http://uk.reuters.com/article/china-pollution-beijing-idUKL4N0PY3FF20140723|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Another two were shut in March 2015. The last one (Huaneng Thermal Power Plant) would be shut in 2016.<ref name=ChinaDaily>{{cite news|last1=Chang|first1=Lyu|title=Beijing shuts two more coal-fired power plants|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/beijing/2015-03/24/content_19894259.htm|access-date=31 May 2016|work=The China Daily|date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630071249/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/beijing/2015-03/24/content_19894259.htm|archive-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Between 2013 and 2017, the city planned to reduce 13 million tons of coal consumption and cap coal consumption to 15 million tons in 2015.<ref name=ChinaDaily/>

The government sometimes uses [[cloud-seeding]] measures to increase the likelihood of rain showers in the region to clear the air prior to large events, such as prior to the 60th anniversary parade in 2009 as well as to combat drought conditions in the area.<ref>{{cite news |title=Communist China celebrates 60th anniversary with instruments of war and words of peace |first=Barbara |last=Demick |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=2 October 2009 |url=https://latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-china-parade2-2009oct02,0,5892663.story |access-date=11 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014045438/http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-fg-china-parade2-2009oct02,0,5892663.story |archive-date=14 October 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> More recently, however, the government has increased its usage of such measures as closing factories temporarily and implementing greater restrictions for cars on the road, as in the case of "[[APEC blue]]" and "parade blue," short periods during and immediately preceding the [[APEC China 2014]] and the [[2015 China Victory Day Parade]], respectively.<ref>{{cite news|title="Parade Blue" Joins "APEC Blue" as Distant Memories as Nasty Air Returns to Beijing|url=https://thenanfang.com/beijing-air-quality-quickly-deteriorates-september-3-parade/|work=The Nanfang|first=Charles|last=Liu|date=12 May 2016|access-date=28 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128194925/https://thenanfang.com/beijing-air-quality-quickly-deteriorates-september-3-parade/|archive-date=28 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> During and prior to these events, Beijing's air quality improved dramatically, only to fall back to unhealthy levels shortly after.

Beijing air quality is often poor, especially in winter. In mid-January 2013, Beijing's air quality was measured on top of [[Embassy of the United States, Beijing|the city's US embassy]] at a PM2.5 density of 755 micrograms per cubic meter, which is more than 75 times the safe level established by the [[World Health Organization|WHO]], and went off the US Environmental Protection Agency's air quality index. It was widely reported, originally through a Twitter account, that the category was "crazy bad". This was later changed to "beyond index".<ref>{{cite news|title=Beijing Air Pollution Off the Charts|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/science/earth/beijing-air-pollution-off-the-charts.html|work=The New York Times|first=Edward|last=Wong|date=12 January 2013|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303183741/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/science/earth/beijing-air-pollution-off-the-charts.html|archive-date=3 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 8 and 9 December 2015 Beijing had its first [[smog]] alert which shut down a majority of the industry and other commercial businesses in the city.<ref>{{cite news|title = As Beijing Shuts Down Over Smog Alert, Worse-Off Neighbors Carry On|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/world/asia/beijing-air-pollution-red-alert.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 9 December 2015|access-date = 9 December 2015|issn = 0362-4331|first = Edward|last = Wong|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151209190120/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/10/world/asia/beijing-air-pollution-red-alert.html|archive-date = 9 December 2015|url-status=live|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Later in the month another smog "red alert" was issued.<ref name="abc-2nd-red">{{cite news |title=Beijing issues second red alert for choking smog |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-18/beijing-issues-second-red-alert-for-pollution/7042490?section=environment |access-date=18 December 2015 |work=ABC News |agency=ABC |date=18 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218153144/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-18/beijing-issues-second-red-alert-for-pollution/7042490?section=environment |archive-date=18 December 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to Beijing's environmental protection bureau's announcement in November 2016, starting from 2017 highly polluting old cars will be banned from being driven whenever Smog "red alerts" are issued in the city or neighboring regions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://asiatimes.com/article/beijing-ban-polluting-cars-smog-alerts/|title=Beijing to ban polluting cars during smog alerts|agency=Reuters|date=22 November 2016|website=www.atimes.com|access-date=2 December 2016|archive-date=7 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220307165627/https://asiatimes.com/2016/11/beijing-ban-polluting-cars-smog-alerts/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In recent years, there has been measurable reductions in pollutants after the "war on pollution" was declared in 2014, with Beijing seeing a 35% reduction in fine particulates in 2017<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/upshot/china-pollution-environment-longer-lives.html|title=Four Years After Declaring War on Pollution, China Is Winning|last=Greenstone|first=Michael|date=12 March 2018|work=The New York Times|access-date=15 January 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111192818/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/upshot/china-pollution-environment-longer-lives.html|archive-date=11 January 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> and further reduction by 2020.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Hu |first=Richard |title=Reinventing the Chinese City |date=2023 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=978-0-231-21101-7 |location=New York}}</ref>{{Rp|page=52}}

=== Readings ===
Due to Beijing's high level of air pollution, there are various readings by different sources on the subject. Daily pollution readings at 27 monitoring stations around the city are reported on the website of the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau (BJEPB).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bjepb.gov.cn/ |script-title=zh:首页 |publisher=Beijing Municipal Web |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151229060137/http://www.bjepb.gov.cn/ |archive-date=29 December 2015 }}</ref> [[American Ambassador to China|The American Embassy of Beijing]] also reports hourly [[particulates|fine particulate (PM2.5)]] and [[ozone]] levels on Twitter.<ref name=Demick/> Since the BJEPB and US Embassy measure different pollutants according to different criteria, the pollution levels and the impact to human health reported by the BJEPB are often lower than that reported by the US Embassy.<ref name=Demick>{{cite news |title=U.S. Embassy air quality data undercut China's own assessment |author=Barbara Demick |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=29 October 2011 |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/29/world/la-fg-china-air-quality-20111030 |access-date=7 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111107091929/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/oct/29/world/la-fg-china-air-quality-20111030 |archive-date=7 November 2011 |url-status=live }} (login required)</ref>

The smog is causing harm and danger to the population. The air pollution does directly result in significant impact on the mobility rate of cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease in Beijing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Zhao|first1=Xiaoli|last2=Yu|first2=Xueying|last3=Wang|first3=Ying|last4=Fan|first4=Chunyang|date=1 June 2016|title=Economic evaluation of health losses from air pollution in Beijing, China|journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research|language=en|volume=23|issue=12|pages=11716–11728|doi=10.1007/s11356-016-6270-8|pmid=26944425|bibcode=2016ESPR...2311716Z |s2cid=3075757|issn=0944-1344}}</ref> Exposure to large concentrations of polluted air can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, emergency room visits, and even death.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Maji|first1=Kamal Jyoti|last2=Arora|first2=Mohit|last3=Dikshit|first3=Anil Kumar|date=1 April 2017|title=Burden of disease attributed to ambient PM2.5 and PM10 exposure in 190 cities in China|journal=Environmental Science and Pollution Research|language=en|volume=24|issue=12|pages=11559–11572|doi=10.1007/s11356-017-8575-7|pmid=28321701|bibcode=2017ESPR...2411559M |s2cid=37640939|issn=0944-1344}}</ref>

==== Dust storms ====
Dust from the erosion of deserts in northern and northwestern China results in seasonal [[dust storm]]s that plague the city; the [[Beijing Weather Modification Office]] sometimes artificially induces rainfall to fight such storms and mitigate their effects.<ref>{{cite news |title=China says it made rain to wash off sand |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12644965 |work=[[NBC News]] |date=5 May 2006 |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814115224/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12644965 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the first four months of 2006 alone, there were no fewer than eight such storms.<ref>
{{cite news |title=Beijing hit by eighth sandstorm |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia-pacific/4915690.stm |work=BBC News |date=17 April 2006 |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930013642/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia-pacific/4915690.stm |archive-date=30 September 2009 |url-status=live }}
</ref> In April 2002, one dust storm alone dumped nearly 50,000 tons of dust onto the city before moving on to Japan and Korea.<ref>{{cite news |last=Weaver|first=Lisa Rose |title=More than a dust storm in a Chinese teacup |url=http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2002/WEATHER/04/03/dust.storm/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070113212753/http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/2002/WEATHER/04/03/dust.storm/ |archive-date=13 January 2007 |work=CNN|date=4 April 2002 |access-date=7 February 2008}}</ref>

== Government ==
{{Main|Politics of Beijing}}

The municipal government is regulated by the local [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP), led by the Beijing [[Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary|CCP Secretary]] ({{zh|中共北京市委书记}}). The local CCP issues administrative orders, collects taxes, manages the economy, and directs a standing committee of the Municipal People's Congress in making policy decisions and overseeing the local government.

Government officials include the [[Mayor of Beijing|mayor]] ({{zh|市长}}) and vice-mayor. Numerous bureaus focus on law, public security, and other affairs. Additionally, as the capital of China, Beijing houses all of the important national governmental and political institutions, including the [[National People's Congress]].<ref name="britannica government">{{cite encyclopedia |title = Beijing – Administration and society – Government |url = https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448956/Beijing/232381/Administration-and-society#toc=toc232382 |encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |year=2008 |access-date=16 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609035720/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/448956/Beijing/232381/Administration-and-society#toc=toc232382 |archive-date=9 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Administrative divisions ===
{{Main list|List of administrative divisions of Beijing|List of township-level divisions of Beijing}}

Beijing Municipality currently comprises 16 administrative [[County-level division|county-level subdivisions]] including 16 urban, suburban, and rural [[district of China|districts]]. On 1 July 2010, [[Chongwen District|Chongwen]] and [[Xuanwu District, Beijing|Xuanwu]] were merged into Dongcheng and Xicheng, respectively. On 13 November 2015 [[Miyun District|Miyun]] and [[Yanqing District|Yanqing]] were upgraded to districts.

{|class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; width:90%; text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="14" |'''Administrative divisions of Beijing'''
|-
|colspan="14" |<div class="center" style="position: relative">
{{Image label begin|image=Administrative Division Beijing.svg|width=600|link=}}
{{Image label|x=294|y=420|scale=600/600|text=[[Dongcheng District, Beijing|{{small|'''Dongcheng'''}}]]}}
{{Image label|x=245|y=420|scale=600/600|text=[[Xicheng District|{{small|'''Xicheng'''}}]]}}
{{Image label|x=286|y=388|scale=600/600|text=[[Chaoyang District, Beijing|'''Chaoyang''']]}}
{{Image label|x=230|y=440|scale=600/600|text=[[Fengtai District|'''Fengtai''']]}}
{{Image label|x=190|y=405|scale=600/600|text=[[Shijingshan District|{{small|'''Shijingshan'''}}]]}}
{{Image label|x=230|y=375|scale=600/600|text=[[Haidian District|'''Haidian''']]}}
{{Image label|x=100|y=390|scale=600/600|text=[[Mentougou District|'''Mentougou''']]}}
{{Image label|x=120|y=490|scale=600/600|text=[[Fangshan District|'''Fangshan''']]}}
{{Image label|x=350|y=460|scale=600/600|text=[[Tongzhou District, Beijing|'''Tongzhou''']]}}
{{Image label|x=350|y=335|scale=600/600|text=[[Shunyi District|'''Shunyi''']]}}
{{Image label|x=200|y=310|scale=600/600|text=[[Changping District|'''Changping''']]}}
{{Image label|x=270|y=500|scale=600/600|text=[[Daxing District|'''Daxing''']]}}
{{Image label|x=320|y=205|scale=600/600|text=[[Huairou District|'''Huairou''']]}}
{{Image label|x=470|y=310|scale=600/600|text=[[Pinggu District|'''Pinggu''']]}}
{{Image label|x=430|y=185|scale=600/600|text=[[Miyun District|'''Miyun''']]}}
{{Image label|x=190|y=210|scale=600/600|text=[[Yanqing District|'''Yanqing''']]}}
{{Image label end}}
</div>
|-
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |[[Administrative division codes of the People's Republic of China|Division code]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |script-title=zh:国家统计局统计用区划代码 |publisher=[[National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China]] |access-date=24 November 2015 |archive-date=5 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405092331/http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjbz/cxfldm/2011/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Division
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Area in km2<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ghgtw.beijing.gov.cn/art/2018/9/14/art_1949_560635.html |script-title=zh:2017年度北京市土地利用现状汇总表|website=ghgtw.beijing.gov.cn|access-date=13 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113182323/http://ghgtw.beijing.gov.cn/art/2018/9/14/art_1949_560635.html|archive-date=13 January 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Total population 2010<ref>{{cite book | author1=Census Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China| author2=Population and Employment Statistics Division of the National Bureau of Statistics of the People's Republic of China |script-title=zh:中国2010年人口普查分乡、镇、街道资料 |date=2012|publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |location=Beijing|isbn=978-7-5037-6660-2|edition=1}}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Urban area population 2010<ref name ="2010PRCcensus">{{cite book |author=国务院人口普查办公室、国家统计局人口和社会科技统计司编 |date=2012 |script-title=zh:中国2010年人口普查分县资料 |location=Beijing |publisher=[[:zh:中国统计出版社|China Statistics Print]] |isbn=978-7-5037-6659-6 }}</ref>
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Seat
!! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Postal code
!! scope="col" colspan=8 |Subdivisions<ref>{{lang|zh-hans|《中国民政统计年鉴2012》}}</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=September 2018}}
|-
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[Subdistrict (China)|Subdistricts]]
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[Town (China)|Towns]]
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[Townships of the People's Republic of China|Townships]] {{#tag:ref|Including [[Ethnic townships of the People's Republic of China|Ethnic townships]] & other township related subdivisions.|name=other|group=n}}
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[Residential community|Residential communities]]
!! scope="col" style="width:45px;"|[[Villages of the People's Republic of China|Villages]]
|- style="font-weight: bold"
! 110000 !! Beijing
|16406.16 ||19,612,368 ||16,858,692 ||[[Dongcheng District, Beijing|Dongcheng]] / [[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou]] ||100000 ||149 ||143 ||38 ||2538 ||3857
|-
! 110101 !! [[Dongcheng District, Beijing|Dongcheng]]
|41.82 || colspan="2" |919,253 ||[[Jingshan Subdistrict, Beijing|Jingshan Subdistrict]] ||100000 ||17 ||style="background:gray;"| ||style="background:gray;"| ||216 ||style="background:gray;"| 
|-
! 110102 !! [[Xicheng District|Xicheng]]
|50.33 || colspan="2" |1,243,315 ||[[Jinrong Street Subdistrict]] ||100000 ||15 ||style="background:gray;"| ||style="background:gray;"| ||259 ||style="background:gray;"| 
|-
! 110105 !! [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang]]
|454.78 ||3,545,137 ||3,532,257 ||[[Chaowai Subdistrict]] ||100000 ||24 ||style="background:gray;"| ||19 ||358 ||5
|-
! 110106 !! [[Fengtai District|Fengtai]]
|305.53 ||2,112,162 ||2,098,632 ||[[Fengtai Subdistrict]] ||100000 ||16 ||2 ||3 ||254 ||73
|-
! 110107 !! {{nowrap|[[Shijingshan District|Shijingshan]]}}
|84.38 || colspan="2" |616,083 ||[[Lugu Subdistrict, Beijing|Lugu Subdistrict]] ||100000 ||9 ||style="background:gray;"| ||style="background:gray;"| ||130 ||style="background:gray;"| 
|-
! 110108 !! [[Haidian District|Haidian]]
|430.77 ||3,280,670 ||3,208,563 ||[[Haidian Subdistrict]] ||100000 ||22 ||7 ||style="background:gray;"| ||603 ||84
|-
! 110109 !! [[Mentougou District|Mentougou]]
|1447.85 ||290,476 ||248,547 ||[[Dayu Subdistrict]] ||102300 ||4 ||9 ||style="background:gray;"| ||124 ||179
|-
! 110111 !! [[Fangshan District|Fangshan]]
|1994.73 ||944,832 ||635,282 ||[[Gongchen Subdistrict, Beijing|Gongchen Subdistrict]]||102400 ||8 ||14 ||6 ||108 ||462
|-
! 110112 !! [[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou]]
|905.79 ||1,184,256 ||724,228 ||[[Beiyuan Subdistrict, Beijing|Beiyuan Subdistrict]] ||101100 ||6 ||10 ||1 ||40 ||480
|-
! 110113 !! [[Shunyi District|Shunyi]]
|1019.51 ||876,620 ||471,459 ||[[Shengli Subdistrict, Beijing|Shengli Subdistrict]] ||101300 ||6 ||19 ||style="background:gray;"| ||61 ||449
|-
! 110114 !! [[Changping District|Changping]]
|1342.47 ||1,660,501 ||1,310,617 ||[[Chengbei Subdistrict, Beijing|Chengbei Subdistrict]] ||102200 ||8 ||14 ||style="background:gray;"| ||180 ||303
|-
! 110115 !! [[Daxing District|Daxing]]
|1036.34 ||1,365,112 ||965,683 ||[[Xingfeng Subdistrict]] ||102600 ||5 ||14 ||style="background:gray;"| ||64 ||547
|-
! 110116 !! [[Huairou District|Huairou]]
|2122.82 ||372,887 ||253,088 ||[[Longshan Subdistrict, Beijing|Longshan Subdistrict]] ||101400 ||2 ||12 ||2 ||27 ||286
|-
! 110117 !! [[Pinggu District|Pinggu]]
|948.24 ||415,958 ||219,850 ||[[Binhe Subdistrict, Beijing|Binhe Subdistrict]] ||101200 ||2 ||14 ||2 ||23 ||275
|-
! 110118 !! [[Miyun District|Miyun]]
|2225.92 ||467,680 ||257,449 ||[[Gulou Subdistrict, Beijing|Gulou Subdistrict]] ||101500 ||2 ||17 ||1 ||57 ||338
|-
! 110119 !! [[Yanqing District|Yanqing]]
|1994.89 ||317,426 ||154,386 ||[[Rulin Subdistrict]] ||102100 ||3 ||11 ||4 ||34 ||376
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed" style="margin:1em auto 1em auto; width:90%; text-align:center"
! colspan="5" |Divisions in Chinese
|-
! English
! Chinese
! Pinyin
|-
! Beijing Municipality
|{{lang|zh-hans|北京市}}
|Běijīng Shì
|-
! [[Dongcheng District, Beijing|Dongcheng District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|东城区}}
|Dōngchéng Qū
|-
! [[Xicheng District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|西城区}}
|Xīchéng Qū
|-
! [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|朝阳区}}
|Cháoyáng Qū
|-
! [[Fengtai District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|丰台区}}
|Fēngtái Qū
|-
! [[Shijingshan District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|石景山区}}
|Shíjǐngshān Qū
|-
! [[Haidian District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|海淀区}}
|Hǎidiàn Qū
|-
! [[Mentougou District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|门头沟区}}
|Méntóugōu Qū
|-
! [[Fangshan District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|房山区}}
|Fángshān Qū
|-
! [[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|通州区}}
|Tōngzhōu Qū
|-
! [[Shunyi District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|顺义区}}
|Shùnyì Qū
|-
! [[Changping District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|昌平区}}
|Chāngpíng Qū
|-
! [[Daxing District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|大兴区}}
|Dàxīng Qū
|-
! [[Huairou District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|怀柔区}}
|Huáiróu Qū
|-
! [[Pinggu District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|平谷区}}
|Pínggǔ Qū
|-
! [[Miyun District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|密云区}}
|Mìyún Qū
|-
! [[Yanqing District]]
|{{lang|zh-hans|延庆区}}
|Yánqìng Qū
|}
{{reflist|group=n}}

==== Towns ====
{{Main|List of township-level divisions of Beijing}}
Beijing's 16 county-level divisions (districts) are further subdivided into 273 lower third-level administrative units at the [[Administrative divisions of the People's Republic of China#Township level|township level]]: 119 [[town of China|towns]], 24 [[Townships of the People's Republic of China|townships]], 5 [[ethnic township]]s and 125 [[Subdistricts of China|subdistricts]].
Towns within Beijing Municipality but outside the urban area include (but are not limited to):
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Changping District|Changping]] {{lang|zh|昌平}} 
* [[Huairou]] {{lang|zh-Hans|怀柔}}
* [[Miyun]] {{lang|zh-Hans|密云}}
* [[Liangxiang, Beijing|Liangxiang]] {{lang|zh-Hans|良乡}}
* [[Liulimiao]] {{lang|zh-Hans|琉璃庙}}
* [[Tongzhou District, Beijing|Tongzhou]] {{lang|zh|通州}} 
* [[Yizhuang, Beijing|Yizhuang]] {{lang|zh-Hans|亦庄}}
* [[Tiantongyuan]] {{lang|zh|天通苑}} 
* [[Beiyuan, Beijing|Beiyuan]] {{lang|zh|北苑}} 
* [[Xiaotangshan, Beijing|Xiaotangshan]] {{lang|zh-Hans|小汤山}}
{{div col end}}
Several place names in Beijing end with ''mén'' ({{lang|zh-Hans|门}}), meaning "gate", as they were the locations of gates in the former [[Beijing city fortifications|Beijing city wall]]. Other place names end in ''cūn'' ({{lang|zh|村}}), meaning "village", as they were originally villages outside the city wall.

=== Judiciary and procuracy ===
The [[Judicial system of the People's Republic of China|judicial system]] in Beijing consists of the [[Supreme People's Court]], the highest court in the country, the Beijing Municipal High People's Court, the [[high people's court]] of the municipality, three [[intermediate people's courts]], one intermediate [[Railway Transport Court (People's Republic of China)|railway transport court]], 14 [[basic people's court]] (one for each of the municipality's districts and counties), and one basic railway transport court. The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People's Court in Shijingshan oversees the basic courts of Haidian, Shijingshan, Mentougou, Changping and Yanqing.<ref name="Xinhuacourts"/> The Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court in Fengtai oversees the basic courts of Dongcheng, Xicheng, Fengtai, Fangshan and Daxing.<ref name="Xinhuacourts"/> The Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People's Court in Laiguangying, is the newest of the three intermediate people's courts and opened on 21 August 2013.<ref name="Xinhuacourts"/> It oversees the district courts of Chaoyang, Tongzhou, Shunyi, Huairou, Pinggu and Miyun.<ref name="Xinhuacourts">{{cite news |url=http://www.bj.xinhuanet.com/jzzg/2013-08/06/c_116836392.htm |script-title=zh:北京市第三中级人民法院、北京市人民检察院第三分院同日成立 |work=Xinhua |date=6 August 2013 |language=zh-cn |access-date=21 August 2013 |archive-date=29 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929133838/http://www.bj.xinhuanet.com/jzzg/2013-08/06/c_116836392.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=BJcourts>{{cite web |url=http://bjgy.chinacourt.org/article/detail/2013/08/id/1043607.shtml |script-title=zh:北京市高级人民法院关于我市中级人民法院管辖调整有关问题的规定（暂行） |website=chinacourt.org |date=2 August 2013 |language=zh-cn |access-date=21 August 2013 |archive-date=14 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814035143/http://bjgy.chinacourt.org/article/detail/2013/08/id/1043607.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> Each court in Beijing has a corresponding [[Supreme People's Procuratorate|people's procuratorate]].

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Beijing}}
[[File:Beijing Product Exports (2020).svg|thumb|upright=1.6|Beijing products treemap, 2020]]
{{as of|2022}}, Beijing's [[Gross domestic product|nominal GDP]] was [[Renminbi|CN¥]]4.16 trillion ($619 billion in nominal, $1.016 trillion in [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]), about 3.44% of the country's GDP and ranked [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by GDP|13th]] among [[Administrative divisions of China|province-level administrative units]]; its nominal GDP per capita was US$28,258 (CN¥190,059) and ranked the [[List of Chinese administrative divisions by GDP per capita|1st]] in the country.<ref name="data2022"/><ref name="SNA2008">''Historical GDP of Beijing'' published on Beijing Statistical Yearbook 2017, ALSO see [http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/zwgk/tzgg/201710/t20171010_384290.html Beijing GDP Revision (Chinese)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213144732/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/zwgk/tzgg/201710/t20171010_384290.html |date=13 December 2017}} (10 October 2017)</ref> It also ranks the tenth largest in the metropolitan economies in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Global Wealth PPP Distribution: Who Are The Leaders Of The Global Economy? - Full Size|url=https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Global-Wealth-PPP-Distribution.html|access-date=16 January 2022|website=www.visualcapitalist.com|archive-date=20 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020135357/https://www.visualcapitalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Global-Wealth-PPP-Distribution.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to the concentration of [[List of State-owned enterprises in China|state owned enterprises]] in the national capital, Beijing in 2013 had more [[Fortune Global 500]] Company headquarters than any other city in the world.<ref name="JLL">[http://www.ap.jll.com/asia-pacific/en-gb/Documents/Five_years_after_the_Olympics_EN.pdf "Jones Lang LaSalle Research Report – Five years after the Olympics – Growth in Beijing has continued, what to expect next?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518083246/http://www.ap.jll.com/asia-pacific/en-gb/Documents/Five_years_after_the_Olympics_EN.pdf |date=18 May 2014 }} August 2013</ref> As of August 2022, Beijing has 54 [[Fortune Global 500]] companies, more than Japan (47), the third-place country after China (145) and the United States (124).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2022 Global 500 in Beijing |url=https://fortune.com/global500/2022/ |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chinese companies top list of Fortune 500 |url=http://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202208/04/WS62eb1934a310fd2b29e702ca.html |access-date=2022-08-09 |website=global.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> Beijing has also been described as the "[[billionaire]] capital of the world".<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Ariel R. |title=Beijing is 'Billionaire Capital of the World' |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/beijing-is-billionaire-capital-of-the-world-1519939245 |access-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709153824/https://www.barrons.com/articles/beijing-is-billionaire-capital-of-the-world-1519939245 |archive-date=9 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Beijing is new 'billionaire capital' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35657107 |work=BBC News |date=25 February 2016 |access-date=19 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719162201/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-35657107 |archive-date=19 July 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2020, Beijing is the fifth wealthiest city in the world, with a total wealth amounts to $2 trillion.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wealth|first=New World|title=The Wealthiest Cities in the World 2021|url=https://newworldwealth.com/reports/f/the-wealthiest-cities-in-the-world-2021|access-date=27 January 2022|website=New World Wealth|language=en-ZA|archive-date=22 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220122050955/https://newworldwealth.com/reports/f/the-wealthiest-cities-in-the-world-2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Beijing is classified as an Alpha+ (global first-tier) city by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]], indicating its influence in the region and worldwide and making it one of the world's Top 10 major cities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=GaWC - The World According to GaWC 2020|url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html|access-date=26 February 2021|website=www.lboro.ac.uk|archive-date=24 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2021 [[Global Financial Centres Index]], Beijing was ranked as having the sixth-most competitive financial center in the world and fourth-most competitive in the whole Asia & Oceania region (behind Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore).<ref name="GFCI2">{{cite web|date=March 2021|title=The Global Financial Centres Index 29|url=https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_29_Full_Report_2021.03.17_v1.1.pdf|access-date=18 March 2021|publisher=Long Finance|archive-date=22 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322132130/https://www.longfinance.net/media/documents/GFCI_29_Full_Report_2021.03.17_v1.1.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

As of 2021, Beijing was ranked first globally in terms of "''Global City Competitiveness''" in the ''2020–2021 Global Urban Competitiveness Report'' jointly released by the [[Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]] (CASS) and the [[United Nations Human Settlements Programme|United Nations Programme for Human Settlements]] (UN-Habitat).<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 December 2020|title=Beijing tops the world as most competitive city in the era of Covid-19|url=https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3113168/beijing-rises-worlds-most-competitive-city-covid-19-saps|access-date=12 December 2020|website=South China Morning Post|language=en|archive-date=12 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201212081220/https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3113168/beijing-rises-worlds-most-competitive-city-covid-19-saps|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right;"
|+Historical [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] of Beijing for 1978–present (SNA2008)<ref name="BeijingHistoricalGDP">{{Cite web|url=https://nj.tjj.beijing.gov.cn/nj/main/2022-tjnj/zk/e/zk/indexch.htm|title=北京统计年鉴2022|website=nj.tjj.beijing.gov.cn|accessdate=15 August 2023}}</ref> (purchasing power parity of Chinese Yuan, as [[international dollar]] based on IMF WEO October 2022)<ref>Purchasing power parity (PPP) for Chinese yuan is estimate according to [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]] ''[[World Economic Outlook|WEO]]'' ([https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October]) data; exchange rate of CN¥ to US$ is according to State Administration of Foreign Exchange, published on http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2022/indexch.htm ''China Statistical Yearbook'' .</ref>
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| [[Renminbi|CNY]] {{small|(millions)}}
!scope="col"| USD {{small|(millions)}}
!scope="col"| [[Purchasing power parity|PPP]] ([[International dollar|Int'l$]]) {{small|(millions)}}
!scope="col"| Real growth (%)
!scope="col"| CNY {{small|per capita}}*
!scope="col"| USD {{small|per capita}}*
!scope="col"| PPP (Int'l$.) {{small|per capita}}*
!scope="col"| Reference index: USD 1 to CNY
!scope="col"| Reference index: Int'l$. 1 to CNY

|-
!scope="row"| 2021
| 4,026,960||624,190||957,432||8.5||183,980||28,517||43,742||6.4515||4.206
|-
!scope="row"| 2020
| 3,594,330||521,099||846,920||1.1||164,158||23,799||38,680||6.8976||4.244
|-
!scope="row"| 2019
| 3,544,510||513,809||835,575||6.1||161,776||23,451||38,137||6.8985||4.242
|-
!scope="row"| 2018
| 3,310,600||500,287||782,833||6.7||150,962||22,813||35,697||6.6174||4.229
|-
!scope="row"| 2017
| 2,988,300||442,593||714,221||6.8||136,172||20,168||32,546||6.7518||4.184
|-
!scope="row"| 2016
| 2,704,120||407,106||677,894||6.9||123,391||18,577||30,932||6.6423||3.989
|-
!scope="row"| 2015
| 2,477,910||397,841||640,121||6.9||113,692||18,253||29,370||6.2284||3.871
|-
!scope="row"| 2014
| 2,292,600||373,217||609,846||7.4||106,732||17,375||28,394||6.1428||3.759
|-
!scope="row"| 2013
| 2,113,460||341,255||576,818||7.7||100,569||16,240||27,448||6.1932||3.664
|-
!scope="row"| 2012
| 1,902,470||301,381||534,252||7.7||92,758||14,694||26,048||6.3125||3.561
|-
!scope="row"| 2011
| 1,718,880||266,130||487,764||8.1||86,246||13,353||24,474||6.4588||3.524
|-
!scope="row"| 2010
| 1,496,400||221,050||440,910||10.4||78,307||11,568||23,544||6.7695||3.326
|-
!scope="row"| 2009
| 1,290,900||188,977||407,481||10.0||71,059||10,402||22,430||6.8310||3.168
|-
!scope="row"| 2008
| 1,181,310||170,093||369,969||9.0||68,541||9,869||21,466||6.9451||3.193
|-
!scope="row"| 2007
| 1,042,550||137,105||343,736||14.4||63,629||8,368||20,979||7.6040||3.033
|-
!scope="row"| 2006
| 838,700||105,208||290,308||12.8||53,438||6,703||18,497||7.9718||2.889
|-
!scope="row"| 2005
| 714,980||87,281||249,296||12.3||47,182||5,760||16,451||8.1917||2.868
|-
!scope="row"| 2000
| 327,780||38,809||118,148||12.0||22,054||3,022||8,081||8.2784||2.729
|-
!scope="row"| 1995
| 151,620||18,156||55,275||12.0||12,762||1,529||4,653||8.3510||2.743
|-
!scope="row"| 1990
| 50,080||10,470||29,184||5.2||4,635||969||2,701||4.7832||1.716
|-
!scope="row"| 1985
| 25,710||8,755||18,312||8.7||2,643||972||1,882||2.9367||1.404
|-
!scope="row"| 1980
| 13,910||9,283||9,273||11.8||1,544||1,009||1,029||1.4984||1.500
|-
!scope="row"| 1978
| 10,880||6,462||||10.5||1,257||797||||1.684||
|}
{{asterisk}} Per-capita GDP is based on mid-year population.

=== Sector composition ===
[[File:Sanlitun at dusk.jpg|thumb|The [[Taikoo Li Sanlitun]] shopping arcade is a destination for locals and visitors.]]

The city has a [[post-industrial economy]] that is dominated by the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]] (services), which generated 83.8% of output, followed by the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] (manufacturing, construction) at 15.8% and the [[primary sector]] (agriculture, mining) at 0.26%.<ref name="data2022"/> The services sector is broadly diversified with professional services, wholesale and retail, information technology, commercial real estate, scientific research, and residential real estate each contributing at least 6% to the city's economy in 2022.<ref name="data2022"/><ref name="2013 Beijing Stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/xwgb/tjgb/ndgb/201402/t20140213_267744.htm |author=NBS Beijing investigatory team ({{lang|zh-Hans|国家统计局北京调查总队}}) |script-title=zh:北京市2013年国民经济和社会发展统计公报 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Statistics |date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310101546/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/xwgb/tjgb/ndgb/201402/t20140213_267744.htm |archive-date=10 March 2014 |language=zh-cn}}</ref>

The single largest sub-sector remains industry, whose share of overall output has shrunk to 12.1% in 2022.<ref name="data2022"/> The mix of industrial output has changed significantly since 2010 when the city announced that 140 highly-polluting, energy and water resource intensive enterprises would be relocated from the city in five years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chinanews.com/ny/2010/11-17/2660474.shtml |script-title=zh:北京五年淘汰140余家"三高"企业 |script-work=zh:北京商报 |date=17 November 2010 |language=zh-cn |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129085504/http://www.chinanews.com/ny/2010/11-17/2660474.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> The relocation of [[Shougang Corporation|Capital Steel]] to neighboring Hebei province had begun in 2005.<ref>{{cite news |title=Capital Steel opens new branch to step up eastward relocation |newspaper=[[People's Daily]] Online |date=23 October 2005 |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200510/23/eng20051023_216163.html |access-date=24 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141745/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200510/23/eng20051023_216163.html |archive-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Beijing abandons Mao's dream of workers' paradise |first=Richard |last=Spencer |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=18 July 2008 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/07/18/eachina118.xml |location=London |access-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080819203300/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fearth%2F2008%2F07%2F18%2Feachina118.xml |archive-date=19 August 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2013, output of automobiles, aerospace products, [[Semiconductor|semiconductors]], pharmaceuticals, and food processing all increased.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/>

In the farmland around Beijing, vegetables and fruits have displaced grain as the primary crops under cultivation.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/> In 2013, the tonnage of vegetable, edible fungus and fruit harvested was over three times that of grain.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/> In 2013, overall acreage under cultivation shrank along with most categories of produce as more land was reforested for environmental reasons.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/>

=== Economic zones ===
{{Main list|List of economic and technological development zones in Beijing}}

[[File:Parkview Green and CBD skyline (20210927131419).jpg|alt=|thumb|The skyline of [[Beijing CBD]]]]
[[File:Zhongguancun from Huangzhuang North Footbridge (20201214122926).jpg|thumb|right|[[Zhongguancun]] is a technology hub in [[Haidian District]].]]
In 2006, the city government identified six high-end economic output zones around Beijing as the primary engines for local economic growth. In 2012, the six zones produced 43.3% of the city's GDP, up from 36.5% in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.bjhigh-endarea.gov.cn/gnq/ |script-title = zh:六大功能区 |language = zh-cn |access-date = 18 November 2014 |archive-date = 14 September 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130914061955/http://www.bjhigh-endarea.gov.cn/gnq/ |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url = http://bjrb.bjd.com.cn/html/2013-10/09/content_114683.htm |last=Tu |first = Lufang (涂露芳) |script-title=zh:六大功能区创造北京四成多GDP |work=[[Beijing Daily]] |date=9 October 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131014195346/http://bjrb.bjd.com.cn/html/2013-10/09/content_114683.htm |archive-date=14 October 2013 }}</ref>
The six zones are:
# [[Zhongguancun]], China's silicon village in Haidian District northwest of the city, is home to both established and start-up tech companies. In the first two quarters of 2014, 9,895 companies registered in the six zones, among which 6,150 were based in Zhongguancun.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/sjfb/bssj/jdsj/2014/201408/t20140812_277808.htm |script-title=zh:北京市统计局六大高端产业功能区主要经济指标 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Statistics |date=12 August 2014 |language=zh-cn |access-date=18 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054926/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/sjfb/bssj/jdsj/2014/201408/t20140812_277808.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Zhongguancun is also the center of [[Beijing-Tianjin-Shijiazhuang Hi-Tech Industrial Belt]].
# [[Beijing Financial Street]], in Xicheng District on the west side of the city between Fuxingmen and Fuchengmen, is lined with headquarters of large state banks and insurance companies. The country's financial regulatory agencies including the [[People's Bank of China|central bank]], [[China Banking Regulatory Commission|bank regulator]], [[China Securities Regulatory Commission|securities regulator]], and [[State Administration of Foreign Exchange|foreign exchange authority]] are located in the neighborhood.
# [[Beijing CBD|Beijing Central Business District (CBD)]], is actually located to the east of downtown, near the embassies along the eastern Third Ring Road between Jianguomenwai and Chaoyangmenwai. The CBD is home to most of the [[List of tallest buildings in Beijing|city's skyscraper office buildings]]. Most of the city's foreign companies and professional service firms are based in the CBD.
# [[Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area]], better known as [[Yizhuang, Beijing|Yizhuang]], is an industrial park the straddles the southern Fifth Ring Road in Daxing District. It has attracted pharmaceutical, information technology, and materials engineering companies.<ref name="social economic">{{cite web |title=Statistical Communique on the 2003 National Economic and Social Development of the City of Beijing |url = http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/esite/tjgb/200611/t20061121_77051.html |publisher=Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics |date=12 February 2004 |access-date=15 March 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080305151412/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/esite/tjgb/200611/t20061121_77051.html |archive-date=5 March 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
# Beijing Airport Economic Zone was created in 1993 and surrounds the [[Beijing Capital International Airport]] in Shunyi District northeast of the city. In addition to logistics, airline services, and trading firms, this zone is also home to Beijing's automobile assembly plants.
# Beijing Olympic Center Zone surrounds the [[Olympic Green]] due north of downtown and is developing into an entertainment, sports, tourism and business convention center.

[[Shijingshan]], on the western outskirts of the city, is a traditional heavy industrial base for steel-making.<ref>{{cite web |title=ShiJingShan |url=http://www.bjinvest.gov.cn/english/dac/sjs/ |publisher=Beijing Economic Information Center |access-date=22 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120074109/http://www.bjinvest.gov.cn/english/dac/sjs/ |archive-date=20 November 2008 }}</ref> Chemical plants are concentrated in the far eastern suburbs.

Less legitimate enterprises also exist. Urban Beijing is known for being a center of [[Copyright infringement|infringed]] goods; anything from the latest designer clothing to DVDs can be found in markets all over the city, often marketed to expatriates and international visitors.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pirates weave tangled web on 'Spidey' |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i1ea868cbfd17e7ac48b8fbc3fcc3473c
|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |agency=Reuters |date=27 April 2007 |access-date=15 March 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070429110926/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i1ea868cbfd17e7ac48b8fbc3fcc3473c |archive-date=29 April 2007}}</ref>

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of Beijing}}
{{Historical populations
|type=China
|percentages = pagr
|1953|276,8149
|1964|756,8495
|1982|923,0687
|1990|10,819,407
|2000|13,569,194
|2010|19,612,368
|2020<ref name="BeijingHistoricalGDP"/>|21,893,095

|footnote = Population size may be affected by changes on administrative divisions.
|}}

In 2021, Beijing had a total population of 21.89 million within the municipality, of which 19.16 million (87.5 percent) resided in urban districts or suburban townships and 2.73 million (12.5) lived in rural villages.<ref name="data2022"/> The encompassing [[metropolitan area]] was estimated by the [[OECD]] (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) to have, {{As of|2010|lc=y}}, a population of 24.9 million.<ref>{{cite news|last1=CNBC.com|first1=Justina Crabtree; special to|title=A tale of megacities: China's largest metropolises|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/20/biggest-megacities-in-china.html|work=CNBC|date=20 September 2016|quote=slide 4|access-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044105/https://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/20/biggest-megacities-in-china.html|archive-date=9 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="oecd2015">{{cite book|doi=10.1787/9789264230040-en|title=OECD Urban Policy Reviews: China 2015, OECD READ edition|url=http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/urban-rural-and-regional-development/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015_9789264230040-en#page39|publisher=[[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]]|page=37|language=en|year=2015|issn=2306-9341|isbn=978-92-64-23003-3|access-date=8 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170327210032/http://www.keepeek.com/Digital-Asset-Management/oecd/urban-rural-and-regional-development/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015_9789264230040-en#page39|archive-date=27 March 2017|url-status=live}}Linked from the OECD [http://www.oecd.org/china/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015-9789264230040-en.htm here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209044027/http://www.oecd.org/china/oecd-urban-policy-reviews-china-2015-9789264230040-en.htm |date=9 December 2017 }}</ref>

Within China, the city ranked [[List of cities in China by population|second in urban population]] after Shanghai and the [[Direct-controlled municipalities of China|third in municipal population]] after Shanghai and Chongqing. Beijing also ranks among the most populous cities in the world, a distinction the city has held for much of the past 800 years, especially during the 15th to early 19th centuries when it was [[List of largest cities throughout history|the largest city in the world]].

About 13 million of the city's residents in 2013 had local [[Hukou system|''hukou'' permits]], which entitles them to permanent residence in Beijing.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/> The remaining 8 million residents had ''hukou'' permits elsewhere and were not eligible to receive some social benefits provided by the Beijing municipal government.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/>

The population increased in 2013 by 455,000 or about 7% from the previous year and continued a decade-long trend of rapid growth.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/> The total population in 2004 was 14.213 million.<ref name=2004pop>{{cite web |url=http://www.allcountries.org/china_statistics/4_9_age_composition_and_dependency_ratio.html |title=Age Composition and Dependency Ratio of Population by Region (2004) in China Statistics 2005 |access-date=5 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204033531/http://www.allcountries.org/china_statistics/4_9_age_composition_and_dependency_ratio.html |archive-date=4 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> The population gains are driven largely by migration. The population's [[rate of natural increase]] in 2013 was a mere 0.441%, based on a [[birth rate]] of 8.93 and a [[mortality rate]] of 4.52.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/> The [[Human sex ratio|gender balance]] was 51.6% males and 48.4% females.<ref name="2013 Beijing Stats"/>

Working age people account for nearly 73.6% of the population.<ref name="data2022"/> Compared to 2004, residents age 0–14 as a proportion of the population dropped from 9.95% to 9.92% in 2013, but again increased to 12.1% in 2021.<ref name="data2022"/>
Residents over the age of 65 declined from 11.12% to 8.58%, but increased to 14.2% in 2021.<ref name="data2022"/> From 2002 to 2011, the percentage of city residents with at least some college education nearly doubled, from 20.4% to 37.3%, and further increased to 49.1% by 2021.<ref name="data2022"/> About 66.4% have senior secondary school education and 88.2% had reached middle school.<ref name="data2022"/>

According to the 2010 census, nearly 96% of Beijing's population are ethnic [[Han Chinese]].<ref name=2010census/> Of the 800,000 ethnic minority population living in the capital, [[Manchu people|Manchu]] (336,000), [[Hui people in Beijing|Hui]] (249,000), [[Korean people in Beijing|Korean]] (77,000), [[Mongol]] (37,000) and [[Tujia people|Tujia]] (24,000) constitute the five largest groups.<ref name=2010minorities>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/lhzl/rkpc/201201/t20120109_218572.htm |script-title=zh:北京市少数民族人口状况 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Statistics |date=30 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203152457/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/lhzl/rkpc/201201/t20120109_218572.htm |archive-date=3 February 2014 |language=zh-cn}}</ref> In addition, there were 8,045 Hong Kong residents, 500 [[Macau]] residents, and 7,772 Taiwan residents along with 91,128 registered foreigners living in Beijing.<ref name=2010census>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/xwgb/tjgb/pcgb/201105/t20110504_201364.htm |script-title=zh:北京市2010年第六次全国人口普查主要数据情况 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Statistics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219080018/http://www.bjstats.gov.cn/xwgb/tjgb/pcgb/201105/t20110504_201364.htm |archive-date=19 February 2014 }}</ref> A study by the Beijing Academy of Sciences estimates that in 2010 there were on average 200,000 foreigners living in Beijing on any given day including students, business travellers and tourists that are not counted as registered residents.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.china.com/zh_cn/domestic/945/20101009/16177409.html |script-title=zh:在北京外国人数量或已达20万人超过市人口总数1% |script-work=zh:中国新闻网 |date=9 October 2010 |language=zh-cn |access-date=22 November 2014 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129075245/http://news.china.com/zh_cn/domestic/945/20101009/16177409.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2017 the Chinese government implemented population controls for Beijing and Shanghai to fight what it called the "big city disease" which includes congestion, pollution, and shortages of education and health care services. From this policy, Beijing's population declined by 20,000 from 2016 to 2017.<ref name="cap">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/19/plan-big-city-disease-populations-fall-beijing-shanghai |title=China's radical plan to limit the populations of Beijing and Shanghai |last=Roxburgh |first=Helen |date=19 March 2018 |website=The Guardian |language=en |access-date=16 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409171520/https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2018/mar/19/plan-big-city-disease-populations-fall-beijing-shanghai |archive-date=9 April 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some low-income people are being forcibly removed from the city as both legal and illegal housing is being demolished in some high-density residential neighborhoods.<ref name="cap" /> The population is being redistributed to [[Jing-Jin-Ji]] and [[Xiong'an New Area]], the transfer to the latter expected to include 300,000-500,000 people working in government research, universities, and corporate headquarters.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-to-move-half-a-million-people-from-beijing-to-new-city/articleshow/60191750.cms|title=China to move half a million people from Beijing to new city|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-date=29 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229203309/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/china-to-move-half-a-million-people-from-beijing-to-new-city/articleshow/60191750.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/china/2017/04/06/a-plan-to-build-a-city-from-scratch-that-will-dwarf-new-york|title=A plan to build a city from scratch that will dwarf New York|date=6 April 2017|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=13 December 2019|archive-date=13 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213043535/https://www.economist.com/china/2017/04/06/a-plan-to-build-a-city-from-scratch-that-will-dwarf-new-york|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Education and research ==
{{Main|Education in Beijing|Education in China|Higher education in China}}
{{See also|Rankings of universities in China|List of universities in China|Double First Class University Plan|label 1=}}Beijing is a world leading center for scientific and technological innovation and has been ranked the [[List of cities by scientific output|No.1]] city in the world with the largest scientific research output, as tracked by the [[Nature Index]] since 2016.<ref name=":10">{{Cite journal|last=Jia|first=Hepeng|date=19 September 2020|title=Beijing, the seat of science capital|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=585|issue=7826|pages=S52–S54|doi=10.1038/d41586-020-02577-x|bibcode=2020Natur.585S..52J|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|title=The top cities for research in the Nature Index|url=https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/top-cities-for-scientific-research-nature-index|access-date=27 September 2020|website=www.natureindex.com|date=25 September 2020 |archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020031614/https://www.natureindex.com/news-blog/top-cities-for-scientific-research-nature-index|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":9" /> The city is also leading the world with the highest share of articles published in the fields of [[Physical Sciences|physical sciences]], [[chemistry]], and [[earth and environmental sciences]], especially in the United Nations'17 [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDGs) related output.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Leading 200 science cities in SDG research|url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/top-200-by-sdg|access-date=27 September 2021|website=www.natureindex.com|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927033133/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/top-200-by-sdg|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Leading 25 science cities in Earth & environmental sciences|url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/earth-and-environmental|access-date=27 September 2021|website=www.natureindex.com|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927033133/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/earth-and-environmental|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Leading 50 science cities in physical sciences|url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/physical-sciences|access-date=27 September 2021|website=www.natureindex.com|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927033131/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/physical-sciences|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Leading 50 science cities in chemistry|url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/chemistry|access-date=27 September 2021|website=www.natureindex.com|archive-date=27 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927033131/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2021-science-cities/tables/chemistry|url-status=live}}</ref>

Beijing has over [[List of universities and colleges in Beijing|90 public colleges and universities]], which is the largest urban [[public university]] system in Asia and the first city in China with most higher education [[List of universities and colleges in Beijing|institutions]],<ref name="Beijing's Universities">{{cite web |date=22 May 2015 |script-title=zh:2015年北京市高校名单（共91所） |url=http://www.gaokao.com/e/20150522/555e867ac971b.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130185436/http://www.gaokao.com/e/20150522/555e867ac971b.shtml |archive-date=30 November 2016 |access-date=29 November 2016 |publisher=gaokao.com}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |title=Top 10 Chinese cities with most higher education institutions |url=https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202208/04/WS62eaf941a310fd2b29e7022c.html |access-date=2022-08-08 |website=www.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> and it is home to the two best universities ([[Tsinghua University|Tsinghua]] and [[Peking University|Peking]]) in the whole of Asia-Oceania region and emerging countries with its shared rankings at 16th place in the world by the 2022 [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=25 August 2021|title=World University Rankings 2022|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2022/world-ranking|access-date=3 September 2021|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|archive-date=29 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629020315/https://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings/2015/world-ranking|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=28 May 2020 |title=Asia University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/regional-ranking |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604055001/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/regional-ranking |archive-date=4 June 2020 |access-date=27 September 2020 |website=Times Higher Education (THE) |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> Both are members of the [[C9 League]], an alliance of elite Chinese universities offering comprehensive and leading education.<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 February 2011|title=Eastern stars: Universities of China's C9 League excel in select fields|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/eastern-stars-universities-of-chinas-c9-league-excel-in-select-fields/415193.article|access-date=25 February 2021|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225152504/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/eastern-stars-universities-of-chinas-c9-league-excel-in-select-fields/415193.article|url-status=live}}</ref>

Beijing also has the highest number of universities of any city in the country, representing more than one-fifth of [[Double First Class University Plan|147 Double First-Class Universities]], a national plan to develop elite Chinese universities into world-class institutions by the end of 2050.<ref>{{Cite web |title='World-class' universities list expanded |url=https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202202/15/WS620add2aa310cdd39bc86918.html |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=global.chinadaily.com.cn}}</ref> A number of Beijing's [[Rankings of universities in China|most prestigious universities]] consistently rank among the best in the [[Asia-Pacific]] and the world, including [[Peking University]], [[Tsinghua University]], [[Renmin University of China]], [[Beijing Normal University]], [[University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences]], [[Beihang University]], [[Beijing Institute of Technology]], [[China Agricultural University]], [[Minzu University of China]], [[University of Science and Technology Beijing]], [[Beijing University of Chemical Technology]], [[University of International Business and Economics (Beijing)|University of International Business and Economics]], [[University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]] and [[Central University of Finance and Economics]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Top 10 institutions in Beijing |url=https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2020-science-cities/tables/beijing |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920182600/https://www.natureindex.com/supplements/nature-index-2020-science-cities/tables/beijing |archive-date=20 September 2020 |access-date=27 September 2020 |website=www.natureindex.com}}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":11">{{Cite web|date=29 October 2020|title=Best universities in Beijing|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-beijing|access-date=7 December 2020|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124135711/https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-beijing|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=30 November 2015|title=Beijing|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/beijing|access-date=7 December 2020|website=QS Top Universities|language=en|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030074418/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/qs-best-student-cities/beijing|url-status=live}}</ref> These universities were selected as "[[Project 985|985 universities]]" or "[[Project 211|211 universities]]" by the Chinese government in order to build world-class universities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Beijing 985 Project Universities {{!}} Study in China {{!}} CUCAS|url=https://www.cucas.cn/studyinchina/province/Beijing_1/Beijing_1/985_Project_3_4.html|access-date=25 February 2021|website=www.cucas.cn|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427225208/https://www.cucas.cn/studyinchina/province/Beijing_1/Beijing_1/985_Project_3_4.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Beijing 211 Project Universities {{!}} Study in China {{!}} CUCAS|url=https://www.cucas.cn/studyinchina/province/Beijing_1/Beijing_1/211_Project_3_5.html|access-date=25 February 2021|website=www.cucas.cn|archive-date=27 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427220618/https://www.cucas.cn/studyinchina/province/Beijing_1/Beijing_1/211_Project_3_5.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The city is a seat of the [[Chinese Academy of Sciences]], which has been consistently ranked the No.1 research institute in the world by ''[[Nature Index]]'' since the list's inception in 2014, by [[Nature Research]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=2014 |title=Nature Index tables 2012-2013 |journal=Nature |language=en |volume=515 |issue=7526 |pages=S98–S108 |doi=10.1038/515S98a |issn=1476-4687 |pmid=25390156 |s2cid=205083319 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 tables: Institutions {{!}} 2016 tables {{!}} Institutions {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.natureindex.com/annual-tables/2016/institution/all/all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127054226/https://www.natureindex.com/annual-tables/2016/institution/all/all |archive-date=27 November 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=www.natureindex.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=20 August 2018 |title=Institution outputs {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.natureindex.com/institution-outputs/generate/All/global/All/score |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108231135/https://www.natureindex.com/institution-outputs/generate/All/global/All/score |archive-date=8 January 2020 |access-date=19 November 2020 |website=www.natureindex.com}}</ref> The academy also runs the [[University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences]], which is located in Beijing and ranked among the world's top five research institutions by the [[Nature Index]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 tables: Institutions {{!}} Annual tables {{!}} Nature Index |url=https://www.nature.com/nature-index/annual-tables/2023/institution/all/all/global |access-date=2023-07-27 |website=www.nature.com}}</ref> Beijing is also a site of [[Chinese Academy of Engineering]], [[Chinese Academy of Social Sciences]] and [[National Natural Science Foundation of China]].

Some of the [[List of universities and colleges in Beijing|national key universities]] in Beijing are:{{Div col}}
* [[Beijing Forestry University]]
* [[Beijing Jiaotong University]]
* [[Beijing University of Technology]]
* [[Beijing University of Chinese Medicine]]
* [[Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications]]
* [[Beijing Electronic Science and Technology Institute]]
* [[Beijing Foreign Studies University]]
* [[Beijing Language and Culture University]]
* [[Beijing Sport University]]
* [[Central Conservatory of Music]]
* [[Central Academy of Fine Arts]]
* [[Central Academy of Drama]]
* [[China University of Geosciences (Beijing)]]
* [[China University of Petroleum (Beijing)]]
* [[China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)]]
* [[China University of Political Science and Law]]
* [[China Foreign Affairs University]]
* [[Chinese People's Public Security University]]
* [[China Women's University]]
* [[China Youth University for Political Sciences]]
* [[China Institute of Industrial Relations]]
* [[Communication University of China]]
* [[North China Electric Power University]]
* [[Peking Union Medical College]]
* [[University of International Relations]]{{Div col end}}

Beijing is also home to several religious institutions, Some of them are listed as follows:{{Div col}}
* {{interlanguage link|China Islamic Institute|zh|中国伊斯兰教经学院}} (中国伊斯兰教经学院)
* {{interlanguage link|Beijing Islamic Institute|zh|北京伊斯兰教经学院}} (北京伊斯兰教经学院)
* {{interlanguage link|The Buddhist Academy of China|zh|中国佛学院}} (中国佛学院)
* {{interlanguage link|High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China|zh|中国藏语系高级佛学院}} (中国藏语系高级佛学院)
* [[National Seminary of Catholic Church in China]] (中国天主教神哲学院)
{{Div col end}}

The city's [[compulsory education]] system is among the best in the world: in 2018, 15-year-old students from Beijing (together with [[Shanghai]], [[Zhejiang]] and [[Jiangsu]]) outperformed all of the other 78 participating countries in all categories (math, reading, and science) in the [[Program for International Student Assessment]], a worldwide study of academic performance conducted by the OECD.<ref name="PISA2018">{{citation|title=PISA 2018: Insights and Interpretations|date=3 December 2019|url=http://www.oecd.org/pisa/PISA%202018%20Insights%20and%20Interpretations%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf|publisher=[[OECD]]|access-date=25 February 2021|archive-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209150356/https://www.oecd.org/pisa/PISA%202018%20Insights%20and%20Interpretations%20FINAL%20PDF.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[File:Ancient Beijing observatory 10.jpg|thumb|The [[Beijing Ancient Observatory]]]]

People native to urban Beijing speak the [[Beijing dialect]], which belongs to the Mandarin subdivision of [[Chinese spoken language|spoken Chinese]]. This speech is the basis for ''[[putonghua]]'', the standard spoken language used in mainland China and [[Taiwan]], and one of the four official languages of [[Singapore]]. Rural areas of Beijing Municipality have [[Jilu Mandarin|their own dialects]] akin to those of Hebei province, which surrounds Beijing Municipality.

Beijing or [[Peking opera]] is a traditional form of Chinese theater well known throughout the nation. Commonly lauded as one of the highest achievements of [[Chinese culture]], Beijing opera is performed through a combination of song, spoken dialogue, and codified action sequences involving gestures, movement, fighting and acrobatics. Much of Beijing opera is carried out in an archaic stage dialect quite different from Modern Standard Chinese and from the modern Beijing dialect.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Jingxi |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/112926/jingxi |encyclopedia=Britannica Online Encyclopedia |year=2008 |access-date=16 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503130136/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/112926/jingxi |archive-date=3 May 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Sliced Peking Duck.jpg|thumb|Sliced [[Peking duck]] served with traditional condiments]]
[[Beijing cuisine]] is the local style of cooking. [[Peking duck]] is perhaps the best known dish. [[Fuling jiabing]], a traditional Beijing snack food, is a pancake (''bing'') resembling a flat disk with a filling made from ''[[Fu Ling|fu ling]]'', a fungus used in traditional [[Chinese medicine]]. [[Teahouse]]s are also common in Beijing.

The [[cloisonné]] (or ''Jingtailan'', literally "Blue of [[Jingtai Emperor|Jingtai]]") metalworking technique and tradition is a Beijing art speciality, and is one of the most revered traditional crafts in China. Cloisonné making requires elaborate and complicated processes which include base-hammering, copper-strip inlay, soldering, enamel-filling, enamel-firing, surface polishing and gilding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.khulsey.com/travel/china_beijing_crafts_cloisonne.html |title=Beijing – Chinese Cloisonné Enamelware |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611133538/http://www.khulsey.com/travel/china_beijing_crafts_cloisonne.html |archive-date=11 June 2008}}</ref> Beijing's [[lacquerware]] is also well known for its sophisticated and intricate patterns and images carved into its surface, and the various decoration techniques of lacquer include "carved lacquer" and "engraved gold".

Younger residents of Beijing have become more attracted to the nightlife, which has flourished in recent decades, breaking prior cultural traditions that had practically restricted it to the upper class.<ref>{{cite news |last=Levin |first=Dan |title=Beijing Lights Up the Night |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/fashion/15beijing.html |work=The New York Times |date=15 June 2008 |access-date=15 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417050902/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/fashion/15beijing.html |archive-date=17 April 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Today, [[Houhai]], [[Sanlitun]] and [[Wudaokou]] are Beijing's nightlife hotspots.

In 2012 Beijing was named as City of Design and became part of the [[Creative Cities Network|UNESCO Creative Cities Network]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://culture360.asef.org/news-events/beijing-jeonju-and-norwich-named-unesco-creative-cities|title=Beijing, Jeonju, and Norwich named UNESCO Creative Cities {{!}} ASEF culture360|website=culture360.asef.org|language=en|access-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004021203/https://culture360.asef.org/news-events/beijing-jeonju-and-norwich-named-unesco-creative-cities|archive-date=4 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Places of interest ===
{{See also|Major National Historical and Cultural Sites (Beijing)|List of Beijing landmarks}}

{{blockquote|...the city remains an epicenter of tradition with the treasures of nearly 2,000 years as the imperial capital still on view—in the famed Forbidden City and in the city's lush pavilions and gardens...|[[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]]<ref name="national">{{cite web |url=http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime/beijing.html |title=Beijing, Places of a Lifetime |publisher=[[National Geographic Society]]
|access-date=3 August 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080803044907/http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/places-of-a-lifetime/beijing.html|archive-date= 3 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
[[File:20130830-BJ-Zhengyangmen(Qianmen) 正阳门箭楼 2.JPG|thumb|left|[[Qianmen Avenue]], a traditional commercial street outside Qianmen Gate along the southern Central Axis]]At the historical heart of Beijing lies the [[Forbidden City]], the enormous palace compound that was the home of the emperors of the [[Ming dynasty|Ming]] and [[Qing dynasty|Qing]] dynasties;<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/439.pdf |title=The Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |date=29 December 1986 |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326110017/https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/439.pdf |archive-date=26 March 2009 |url-status=live }}
</ref> the Forbidden City hosts the Palace Museum, which contains imperial collections of Chinese art. Surrounding the Forbidden City are several former imperial gardens, parks and scenic areas, notably [[Beihai Park|Beihai]], [[Shichahai]], [[Zhongnanhai]], [[Jingshan Park|Jingshan]] and [[Zhongshan Park (Beijing)|Zhongshan]]. These places, particularly Beihai Park, are described as masterpieces of [[Chinese garden]]ing art,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/124/ |title=Beihai Park Behind Behai park locates Hou Hai, which is one of the most popular visited tourist places. Hou hai is the largest of the three lakes, along with Qianhai (lit. the "Front Lake") and Xihai (lit. the "Western Lake"), that comprise Shichahai, the collective name for the three northernmost lakes in central Beijing. Since the early 2000s, the hutong neighborhood around Houhai has become known for its nightlife as many residences along the lake shore have been converted into restaurants, bars, and cafes.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702022430/https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/124/ |archive-date=2 July 2007 |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNECO World Heritage]]}}</ref> and are tourist destinations of historical importance;<ref>{{cite book|title=Gateways to Beijing: a travel guide to Beijing|author=Littlewood, Misty and Mark Littlewood|publisher=Armour Publishing Pte Ltd|year=2008|page=182|isbn=978-981-4222-12-9}}</ref> in the modern era, Zhongnanhai has also been the political heart of various Chinese governments and regimes and is now the headquarters of the Chinese Communist Party and the State Council. From Tiananmen Square, right across from the Forbidden City, there are several notable sites, such as the Tiananmen, [[Qianmen]], the [[Great Hall of the People]], the [[National Museum of China]], the [[Monument to the People's Heroes]], and the [[Mausoleum of Mao Zedong]]. The [[Summer Palace]] and the [[Old Summer Palace]] both lie at the western part of the city; the former, a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]],<ref>
{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/880 |title=Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |access-date=4 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724054441/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/880/ |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=live }}
</ref> contains a comprehensive collection of imperial gardens and palaces that served as the summer retreats for the Qing imperial family.

Among the best known religious sites in the city is the [[Temple of Heaven]] (''Tiantan''), located in southeastern Beijing, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/881
|title=Temple of Heaven: an Imperial Sacrificial Altar in Beijing |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |access-date=4 August 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080801071531/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/881|archive-date= 1 August 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties made visits for annual ceremonies of prayers to Heaven for good harvest. In the north of the city is the [[Temple of Earth]] (''Ditan''), while the [[Temple of the Sun]] (''Ritan'') and the [[Temple of the Moon (China)|Temple of the Moon]] (''Yuetan'') lie in the eastern and western urban areas respectively. Other well-known temple sites include the [[Beijing Dongyue Temple|Dongyue Temple]], [[Tanzhe Temple]], [[Miaoying Temple]], [[White Cloud Temple]], [[Yonghe Temple]], [[Fayuan Temple]], [[Wanshou Temple]] and [[Big Bell Temple]]. The city also has its own [[Beijing Temple of Confucius|Confucius Temple]], and a [[Guozijian (Beijing)|Guozijian]] or Imperial Academy. The [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Beijing|Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception]], built in 1605, is the oldest Catholic church in Beijing. The [[Niujie Mosque]] is the oldest mosque in Beijing, with a history stretching back over a thousand years.

[[File:Entrance of Universal Studios Beijing (20210907121707).jpg|thumb|[[Universal Studios Beijing]]]]
[[File:Happy Valley Beijing (5).jpg|thumb|[[Happy Valley Beijing]]]]
Beijing contains several well-preserved pagodas and stone pagodas, such as the towering [[Pagoda of Tianning Temple (Beijing)|Pagoda of Tianning Temple]], which was built during the Liao dynasty from 1100 to 1120, and the [[Pagoda of Cishou Temple]], which was built in 1576 during the Ming dynasty. Historically noteworthy stone bridges include the 12th-century [[Lugou Bridge]], the 17th-century [[Baliqiao]] bridge, and the 18th-century [[Jade Belt Bridge]]. The [[Beijing Ancient Observatory]] displays pre-telescopic spheres dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. The [[Fragrant Hills]] (''Xiangshan'') is a public park that consists of natural landscaped areas as well as traditional and cultural relics. The [[Beijing Botanical Garden]] exhibits over 6,000 species of plants, including a variety of trees, bushes and flowers, and an extensive [[peony]] garden. The [[Taoranting Park|Taoranting]], [[Longtan Park|Longtan]], [[Beijing Chaoyang Park|Chaoyang]], [[Haidian Park|Haidian]], [[Milu Yuan]] and [[Purple Bamboo Park|Zizhu Yuan]] parks are some of the notable recreational parks in the city. The [[Beijing Zoo]] is a center of zoological research that also contains rare animals from various continents, including the Chinese [[giant panda]].

There are 144 museums and galleries ({{As of|2008|06|lc=y}}) in the city.<ref>(Chinese) [{{lang|zh-Hans|北京地区博物馆名录（截止2008年6月）}}] 6 January 2009{{full citation needed|date=May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://english.cri.cn/1702/2005-2-18/119@169894.htm|title= About Beijing
|url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080929065353/http://english.cri.cn/1702/2005-2-18/119@169894.htm |archive-date = 29 September 2008 |df= dmy-all}}</ref><ref name="museum">
{{cite web |url=http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/museums/116909.htm |title=Beijing's Museums & Galleries |access-date=19 August 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813210854/http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/museums/116909.htm |archive-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=live }}
</ref> In addition to the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City and the National Museum of China, other major museums include the [[National Art Museum of China]], the [[Capital Museum]], the [[Wanshou Temple|Beijing Art Museum]], the [[Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution]], the [[Geological Museum of China]], the [[Beijing Museum of Natural History]] and the [[Paleozoological Museum of China]].<ref name="museum"/>

Located at the outskirts of urban Beijing, but within its municipality are the [[Ming tombs|Thirteen Tombs of the Ming dynasty]], the lavish and elaborate burial sites of thirteen Ming emperors, which have been designated as part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site [[Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/archive/decrec03.htm#dec8-c-39 |title=Imperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing Dynasties |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |date=10 December 2003 |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802190831/https://whc.unesco.org/archive/decrec03.htm#dec8-c-39 |archive-date=2 August 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> The archaeological [[Peking Man]] site at [[Zhoukoudian]] is another World Heritage Site within the municipality,<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/449 |title=Peking Man Site at Zhoukoudian |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |access-date=4 August 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080723152123/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/449|archive-date= 23 July 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> containing a wealth of discoveries, among them one of the first specimens of ''[[Homo erectus]]'' and an assemblage of bones of the gigantic [[hyena]] ''[[Pachycrocuta]] brevirostris''. There are several sections of the UNESCO World Heritage Site [[Great Wall of China]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/438
|title=The Great Wall |publisher=[[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |access-date=4 August 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080731174854/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/438|archive-date= 31 July 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> most notably [[Badaling]], [[Jinshanling]], [[Simatai]] and [[Mutianyu]]. According to the [[World Travel and Tourism Council|World Travel & Tourism Council]] (WTTC), Beijing is the second highest earning tourist city in the world after [[Shanghai]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Töre|first=Özgür|title=WTTC reveals the world's best performing tourism cities|url=https://ftnnews.com/other-news/35281-wttc-reveals-the-world-s-best-performing-tourism-cities|access-date=7 August 2021|website=ftnnews.com|date=22 October 2018 |language=en-gb|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807052628/https://ftnnews.com/other-news/35281-wttc-reveals-the-world-s-best-performing-tourism-cities|url-status=live}}</ref> Theme parks located within the city include [[Universal Studios Beijing]] and [[Happy Valley Beijing]], both of which are among the most visited theme parks in Asia.<ref>{{cite web |title=APAC: amusement and theme park attendance by facility 2021 |url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/194300/attendance-at-theme-and-amusement-parks-in-the-asia-pacific-region-since-2010/ |website=Statista |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en |date=2023-01-03}}</ref>

=== Intangible cultural heritage ===
[[File:Beijing-Opera2.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Peking opera]]]]
The cultural heritage of Beijing is rich and diverse. Starting 2006, the Beijing government started the process of selecting and preserving cultural heritages. Five cultural heritage lists have been published over the years. 288 distinct practices are categorized as cultural heritage. These 288 cultural heritages are further divided into ten categories, namely folk music, folk dance, traditional opera, melodious art, juggling and game, folk art, traditional handicraft, traditional medicine, folk literature and folklore.<ref>[http://whlyj.beijing.gov.cn/ggfw/wh/fyml/202010/P020201010563737848152.pdf 第二批市级非物质文化遗产名录] beijing.gov.cn</ref><ref>[http://whlyj.beijing.gov.cn/ggfw/wh/fyml/202010/P020201010563741385357.pdf 第四批市级非物质文化遗产名录] beijing.gov.cn</ref><ref>[http://whlyj.beijing.gov.cn/ggfw/wh/fyml/202110/P020211026621144096433.pdf 第五批市级非物质文化遗产名录] beijing.gov.cn{{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927100935/http://whlyj.beijing.gov.cn/ggfw/wh/fyml/202110/P020211026621144096433.pdf |date=27 September 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists?text=&country[]=00045&multinational=3&display1=inscriptionID#tabs |title=Browse the Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Register of good safeguarding practices |website=Intangible Cultural Heritage |publisher=[[UNESCO]]}}</ref>

{{Colbegin}}

* Folk music
** [[Zhihua Temple]] music
** Tongzhou [[Sea shanty|shanty]]
* Folk dance
** Tongzhou [[Dragon dance]]
** Miliangtun [[Stilts]]
* Traditional opera
** [[Kunqu]]
** [[Peking opera]]
* Melodious art
** [[Xiangsheng]]
* Acrobatic Performance and game
** [[Go (game)|Weiqi(Go)]]
** [[Xiangqi]]
* Folk art
** [[Ivory carving]]
* Traditional handicraft
** [[Peking duck]] manufacturing techniques
** [[Cloisonné]] manufacturing techniques
* Traditional medicine
** [[Tong Ren Tang]] culture
* Folk literature
** [http://english.bjsjs.gov.cn/exploringshijingshan/historyculture/202012/t20201221_35552.html Yongding River legend]{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* Folklore
** [[Miaohui]]
** [[Lantern Festival]]
{{Colend}}

=== Religion ===
The religious heritage of Beijing is rich and diverse as [[Chinese folk religion]], [[Taoism]], [[Buddhism]], [[Confucianism]], [[Islam]] and [[Christianity]] all have significant historical presence in the city. As the national capital, the city also hosts the [[State Administration for Religious Affairs]] and various state-sponsored institutions of the leading religions.<ref name=religion1>{{cite news |url=http://www.china.com.cn/sports/zhuanti/2008ay/2008-07/11/content_15993221.htm |script-title=zh:北京的宗教文化 |script-work=zh:中国网 |date=11 July 2008 |language=zh-cn |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=16 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416200611/http://www.china.com.cn/sports/zhuanti/2008ay/2008-07/11/content_15993221.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> In recent decades, foreign residents have brought other religions to the city.<ref name=religion1/> According to Wang Zhiyun of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in 2010 there were 2.2 million Buddhists in the city, equal to 11.2% of the total population.<ref>Lai, Hongyi. ''China's Governance Model: Flexibility and Durability of Pragmatic Authoritarianism''. Routledge, 2016. {{ISBN|1-317-85952-9}}. p. 167</ref> According to the Chinese General Social Survey of 2009, Christians constitute 0.78% of the city's population.<ref name="Wang2015">China General Social Survey (CGSS) 2009. Report by: [https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/9326/WANG-THESIS-2015.pdf?sequence=1 Xiuhua Wang (2015, p. 15)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925123928/https://baylor-ir.tdl.org/baylor-ir/bitstream/handle/2104/9326/WANG-THESIS-2015.pdf?sequence=1 |date=25 September 2015 }}</ref> According to a 2010 survey, Muslims constitute 1.76% of the population of Beijing.<ref name="2010-Islam">Min Junqing. ''The Present Situation and Characteristics of Contemporary Islam in China''. JISMOR, 8. [https://doors.doshisha.ac.jp/duar/repository/ir/18185/r002000080004.pdf 2010 Islam by province, p. 29] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427140204/https://doors.doshisha.ac.jp/duar/repository/ir/18185/r002000080004.pdf |date=27 April 2017 }}. Data from: Yang Zongde, ''Study on Current Muslim Population in China'', Jinan Muslim, 2, 2010.
china dictatorship</ref>

=== Chinese folk religion and Taoism ===
[[File:Di'anmen Fire God Temple, Beijing 5.jpg|thumb|Fire God Temple in Di'anmen]]
Beijing has many temples dedicated to [[Chinese gods and immortals|folk religious and communal deities]], many of which are being reconstructed or refurbished in the 2000s and 2010s. Yearly sacrifices to the [[Tian|God of Heaven]] ({{zh|labels=no|c={{linktext|祭天}} |p=jìtiān}}) at the [[Temple of Heaven]] have been resumed by [[Confucianism|Confucian]] groups in the 2010s.

There are temples dedicated to the worship of the Goddess ({{zh|labels=no|c={{linktext|娘娘}} |p=Niángniáng}}) in the city, one of them near the [[Beijing Olympic Village|Olympic Village]], and they revolve around a major cult center at [[Mount Miaofeng]]. There are also many temples consecrated to the [[Dragon King|Dragon God]], to the Medicine Master ({{zh|labels=no|s={{linktext|药|王}} |p=Yàowáng}}), to [[Guan Yu|Divus Guan (Guan Yu)]], to the Fire God ({{zh|labels=no|c={{linktext|火神}} |p=Huǒshén}}), to the [[Caishen|Wealth God]], temples of the [[Chenghuangshen|City God]], and at least one temple consecrated to the [[Yellow Emperor|Yellow Deity]] of the [[Big Dipper|Chariot]] [[axis mundi|Shaft]] ({{zh|labels=no|s={{linktext|轩辕|黄帝}} |p=Xuānyuán Huángdì}}) in [[Pinggu District]]. Many of these temples are governed by the Beijing Taoist Association, such as the [[Huode Zhenjun Temple|Fire God Temple of the Shicha Lake]], while many others are not and are governed by popular committees and locals. A great Temple of Xuanyuan Huangdi will be built in Pinggu (possibly as an expansion of the already existing shrine) within 2020, and the temple will feature a statue of the deity which will be amongst the [[list of tallest statues|tallest in the world]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.zsfh.org/a/cases/yuanquguihua/lvyoujingqu/2014/1217/1689.html |script-title=zh:平谷轩辕山国际旅游区概念性规划 |website=zsfh.org |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202063906/http://www.zsfh.org/a/cases/yuanquguihua/lvyoujingqu/2014/1217/1689.html |url-status=dead }}.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fanhuazhida.com/cgal/lvyou-1240-1.html |script-title=zh:2020世界休闲大会战略规划 – 北京平谷旅游发展重大项目储备规划 |website=fanhuazhida.com |access-date=28 January 2017 |archive-date=21 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170121225057/http://fanhuazhida.com/cgal/lvyou-1240-1.html |url-status=dead }}.</ref>

The national [[Chinese Taoist Association]] and Chinese Taoist College have their headquarters at the [[White Cloud Temple]] of [[Quanzhen Taoism]], which was founded in 741 and rebuilt numerous times. The [[Beijing Dongyue Temple]] outside Chaoyangmen is the largest temple of [[Zhengyi Taoism]] in the city. The local Beijing Taoist Association has its headquarters at the [[Lüzu Temple]] near Fuxingmen.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjtaoism.net/html/daoxie/node/2345922-1.htm |script-title=zh:北京市道教协会协会简介 |publisher=Beijing Taoist Association |access-date=14 August 2015 |archive-date=14 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814164944/http://www.bjtaoism.net/html/daoxie/node/2345922-1.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Buddhism ===
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2017}}
[[File:十方普同塔(僧人合葬塔) - Pagoda for Ordinary Monks - 2012.04 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|The tomb pagodas at [[Tanzhe Temple]]]]
[[File:Dongcheng, Beijing, China - panoramio (84).jpg|thumb|[[Yonghe Temple]] of [[Tibetan Buddhism]]]]
11% of the population of Beijing practices [[East Asian Buddhism]]{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}. The [[Buddhist Association of China]], the state's supervisory organ overseeing all [[Buddhist]] institutions in mainland China, is headquartered in the [[Guangji Temple (Beijing)|Guangji Temple]], a temple founded over 800 years ago during the [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)]] in what is now [[Fuchengmen]]nei ({{lang|zh-hans|阜成门内}}). The Beijing Buddhist Association along with the Buddhist Choir and Orchestra are based in the [[Guanghua Temple (Beijing)|Guanghua Temple]], which dates to the Yuan dynasty over 700 years ago. The Buddhist Academy of China and its library are housed in the [[Fayuan Temple]] near [[Caishikou]]. The Fayuan Temple, which dates to the [[Tang dynasty]] 1300 years ago, is the oldest temple in urban Beijing. The [[Tongjiao Temple]] inside [[Dongzhimen]] is the city's only Buddhist nunnery.

The [[Xihuang Temple]] originally dates to the [[Liao dynasty]]. In 1651, the temple was commissioned by the [[Shunzhi Emperor|Qing Emperor Shunzhi]] to host the visit of the [[5th Dalai Lama|Fifth Dalai Lama]] to Beijing. Since then, this temple has hosted the [[13th Dalai Lama]] as well as the [[Lobsang Palden Yeshe, 6th Panchen Lama|Sixth]], [[Thubten Choekyi Nyima, 9th Panchen Lama|Ninth]] and [[Choekyi Gyaltsen, 10th Panchen Lama|Tenth]] Panchen Lamas.

The largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in Beijing is the [[Yonghe Temple]], which was decreed by the [[Qianlong Emperor|Qing Emperor Qianlong]] in 1744 to serve as the residence and research facility for his Buddhist preceptor of [[Changkya Rölpé Dorjé|Rölpé Dorjé]] the third [[Changkya Khutukhtu|Changkya]] (or living Buddha of [[Inner Mongolia]]). The Yonghe Temple is so-named because it was the childhood residence of the [[Yongzheng Emperor]], and retains the [[Chinese glazed roof tile|glazed tiles]] reserved for imperial palaces. While the "High-level Tibetan Buddhism College of China", China's highest institution college of Tibetan Buddhism, situated near the Yonghe Temple. The [[Lingguang Temple (Beijing)|Lingguang Temple]] of [[Badachu]] in the [[Western Hills]] also dates to the Tang dynasty. The temple's Zhaoxian Pagoda ({{lang|zh-hans|招仙塔}}) was first built in 1071 during the Liao dynasty to hold a tooth relic of the [[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]]. The pagoda was destroyed during the [[Boxer Rebellion]] and the tooth was discovered from its foundation. A new pagoda was built in 1964. The six aforementioned temples: Guangji, Guanghua, Tongjiao, Xihuang, Yonghe and Lingguang have been designated [[National Key Buddhist Temples in Han Chinese Area]].

In addition, other notable temples in Beijing include the [[Tanzhe Temple]] (founded in the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)]] is the oldest in the municipality), the [[Tianning Temple (Beijing)|Tianning Temple]] (oldest pagoda in the city), the [[Miaoying Temple]] (famed for [[Yuan dynasty|Yuan]]-era white pagoda), the [[Wanshou Temple]] (home to the [[Beijing Art Museum]]) and the [[Big Bell Temple]] (Dazhong Temple).

=== Islam ===
[[File:Niujie Mosques02.jpg|thumb|[[Niujie Mosque]]]]
Beijing has about 70 mosques recognized by the [[Islamic Association of China]], whose headquarters are located next to the [[Niujie Mosque]], the oldest mosque in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjethnic.gov.cn/zongjiao/zjzhjs/yslj/index.shtml |script-title=zh:伊斯兰教简介 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Ethnic Affairs |language=zh-cn |access-date=3 April 2016 |archive-date=30 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130005328/http://www.bjethnic.gov.cn/zongjiao/zjzhjs/yslj/index.shtml |url-status=dead }} Accessed 4 April 2016</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjethnic.gov.cn/zongjiao/zjzhjs/yslj/wwls4/20140911/849.shtml |script-title=zh:北京市清真寺文物等级 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Ethnic Affairs |language=zh-cn |access-date=3 April 2016 |archive-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416100639/http://www.bjethnic.gov.cn/zongjiao/zjzhjs/yslj/wwls4/20140911/849.shtml |url-status=dead }} Accessed 4 April 2016</ref> The Niujie Mosque was founded in 996 during the Liao dynasty and is frequently visited by Muslim dignitaries. The Chinese Muslim community reportedly celebrated [[Ramadan]] and made [[Eid prayers]] at the mosque on 2021.<ref>{{Citation|title=Beijing's Muslim community celebrates holy month of Ramadan|date=14 April 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loywhvJ4TVY| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/loywhvJ4TVY| archive-date=27 October 2021|work=[[South China Morning Post]]|language=en|access-date=22 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=China: Beijing's Muslim community gathers for Eid prayers at mosque|date=13 May 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nobUrHDtZPM| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211027/nobUrHDtZPM| archive-date=27 October 2021|work=[[Agence France-Presse]]|language=en|access-date=22 May 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The largest mosque<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.risingsun.org.cn/culherit/culold/1970.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924091316/http://www.risingsun.org.cn/culherit/culold/1970.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|script-title=zh:朝阳文化--文化遗产|date=24 September 2015|access-date=21 February 2019}}</ref> in Beijing is ChangYing mosque, located in ChaoYang district, with an area of 8,400 square meters.

Other notable mosques in the old city include the [[Dongsi Mosque]], founded in 1346; the Huashi Mosque, founded in 1415; Nan Douya Mosque, near Chaoyangmen; Jinshifang Street Mosque, in Xicheng District; and the Dongzhimen Mosque.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjethnic.gov.cn/zongjiao/zjzhjs/yslj/wwls4/20150407/1992.shtml |script-title=zh:北京市部分清真寺介绍 |publisher=Beijing Bureau of Ethnic Affairs |language=zh-cn |access-date=3 April 2016 |archive-date=16 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416074958/http://www.bjethnic.gov.cn/zongjiao/zjzhjs/yslj/wwls4/20150407/1992.shtml |url-status=dead }} Accessed 4 April 2016</ref> There are large mosques in outlying Muslim communities in Haidian, [[Madian, Beijing|Madian]], Tongzhou, Changping, Changying, Shijingshan and Miyun. The China Islamic Institute is located in the Niujie neighborhood in Xicheng District.

=== Christianity ===
[[File:Xishikupic1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Church of the Saviour, Beijing|Church of the Saviour]], also known as the Xishiku Church, built in 1703]]

====Catholicism====
In 1289, [[John of Montecorvino]] came to Beijing as a [[Franciscan]] missionary with the order from the Pope. After meeting and receiving the support of [[Kublai Khan]] in 1293, he built the first Catholic church in Beijing in 1305. The [[Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association]] (CPCA), based in [[Houhai]] is the government oversight body for Catholics in mainland China. Notable Catholic churches in Beijing include:
* the Nantang or [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Beijing|Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception]] also known as the Xuanwumen Church, which was founded in 1605 and whose current archbishop, [[Joseph Li Shan]], is one of the few bishops in China to have the support of both the Vatican and the CPCA.
* the Dongtang or [[St. Joseph's Church, Beijing|St. Joseph's Church]], better known as the Wangfujing Church, founded in 1653.
* the Beitang or [[Church of the Saviour, Beijing|Church of the Saviour]], also known as the Xishiku Church, founded in 1703.
* the Xitang or [[Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Beijing|Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] also known as the Xizhimen Church, founded in 1723.
The National Seminary of Catholic Church in China is located in Daxing District.

====Protestantism====
The earliest Protestant churches in Beijing were founded by [[Protestant missions in China 1807–1953|British and American missionaries]] in the second half of the 19th century. Protestant missionaries also opened schools, universities and hospitals which have become important civic institutions. Most of Beijing's Protestant churches were destroyed during the [[Boxer Rebellion]] and afterwards rebuilt. In 1958, the 64 Protestant churches in the city are reorganized into four and overseen by the state through the [[Three-Self Patriotic Movement]].

====Eastern Orthodox====
There was a significant amount of [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox Christians]] in Beijing. Orthodoxy came to Beijing with [[Albazinians|Russian prisoners]] from the [[Sino-Russian border conflicts]] of the 17th century.<ref>Eric Widmer, ''The Russian Ecclesiastical Mission in Peking During the Eighteenth Century'', p. 23, 1976, {{ISBN|0-674-78129-5}} [https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZjnRS1g6zkC&q=church&pg=PA20 Google Books] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906083811/https://books.google.com/books?id=3ZjnRS1g6zkC&pg=PA20#v=onepage&q=church |date=6 September 2015 }}</ref> In 1956, Viktor, the bishop of Beijing returned to the [[Soviet Union]], and the Soviet embassy took over the old cathedral and demolished it. In 2007, the Russian embassy built a new church in its garden to serve the Russian Orthodox Christians in Beijing.

=== Media ===

==== Television and radio ====
[[File:CCTV Headquarters 5.jpg|right|thumb|The [[China Central Television Headquarters building]] in CBD]]
[[Beijing Television]] broadcasts on channels 1 through 10, and [[China Central Television]], China's largest television network, maintains its headquarters in Beijing. Three radio stations feature programmes in English: ''Hit FM'' on FM 88.7, ''Easy FM'' by [[China Radio International]] on FM 91.5, and the newly launched ''Radio 774'' on AM 774. [[Beijing Radio Stations]] is the family of radio stations serving the city.

==== Press ====
The well-known ''[[Beijing Evening News]]'', covering news about Beijing in Chinese, is distributed every afternoon. Other newspapers include ''[[Beijing Daily]]'', ''[[The Beijing News]]'', the ''[[Beijing Star Daily]]'', the ''Beijing Morning News'', and the ''[[Beijing Youth Daily]]'', as well as English-language weeklies ''Beijing Weekend'' and ''[[Beijing Today]]''. The ''[[People's Daily]]'', ''[[Global Times]]'' and the ''[[China Daily]]'' (English) are published in Beijing as well.

Publications primarily aimed at international visitors and the expatriate community include the English-language periodicals ''Time Out Beijing'', ''[[City Weekend]]'', ''[[Beijing This Month]]'', ''Beijing Talk'', ''[[That's Beijing]]'', and ''[[The Beijinger]]''.

==== Beijing rock ====
Beijing rock (Chinese:  北京摇滚) is a wide variety of rock and roll music made by rock bands and solo artists from Beijing. The first rock band in Beijing is [[Peking All-Stars]], which was formed in 1979 by foreigners.

Famous rock bands and solo artists from Beijing include [[Cui Jian]], [[Dou Wei]], [[He Yong (rock musician)|He Yong]], [[Pu Shu]], [[Tang Dynasty (band)|Tang Dynasty]], [[Black Panther (band)|Black Panther]], [[The Flowers (Chinese band)|The Flowers]], [[Wang Feng (singer)|43 Baojia Street]], etc.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Brace |first=Tim |date=1991 |title=Popular Music in Contemporary Beijing: Modernism and Cultural Identity |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/834306 |journal=Asian Music |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=43–66 |doi=10.2307/834306 |jstor=834306 |issn=0044-9202}}</ref>

== Sports ==
{{see also|Football in Beijing}}
=== Events ===
[[File:Beijing Olympics 2008.jpg|thumb|right|A scene from the opening ceremonies of the [[2008 Summer Olympic Games]]]]
[[File:Beijing Workers' Stadium.jpg|right|thumb|[[Beijing Workers' Stadium]] at night as viewed from [[Sanlitun]]]]

Beijing has hosted numerous international and national sporting events, the most notables was the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Summer Olympic]] and [[2008 Summer Paralympics|Paralympic]] Games and the [[2022 Winter Olympics]] and the [[2022 Winter Paralympics|Paralympics]]. Other [[multi-sport event|multi-sport]] international events held in Beijing include the [[2001 Summer Universiade]] and the [[1990 Asian Games]]. Single-sport international competitions include the [[Beijing Marathon]] (annually since 1981), [[China Open (tennis)|China Open of Tennis]] (1993–97, annually since 2004), ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating [[Cup of China]] (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010), World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association [[China Open (snooker)|China Open for Snooker]] (annually since 2005), {{Lang|fr|Union Cycliste Internationale|italic=no}} [[Tour of Beijing]] (since [[2011 Tour of Beijing|2011]]), 1961 [[World Table Tennis Championships]], [[1987 IBF World Championships|1987 IBF Badminton World Championships]], the [[2004 AFC Asian Cup]] (football), and [[2009 Barclays Asia Trophy]] (football). Beijing hosted the [[2015 World Championships in Athletics|2015 IAAF World Championships in Athletics]].

Beijing's [[LeSports Center]] is one of the main venues for the [[2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup]].<ref>[https://www.fiba.basketball/basketballworldcup/2019 The Official website of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170527030949/http://www.fiba.com/basketballworldcup/2019 |date=27 May 2017 }}, FIBA.com, Retrieved 9 March 2016.</ref>

The city hosted the second [[National Games of China|Chinese National Games]] in 1914 and the first four [[National Games of China]] in 1959, 1965, 1975, 1979, respectively, and co-hosted the 1993 National Games with [[Sichuan]] and [[Qingdao]]. Beijing also hosted the inaugural [[National Peasants' Games]] in 1988 and the sixth National Minority Games in 1999.

In November 2013, Beijing made a [[Beijing bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics|bid]] to host the [[2022 Winter Olympics]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web|url=http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/winter-olympics/2022/1016809-beijing-and-zhangjiakou-launch-a-joint-bid-to-host-the-2022-winter-olympic-games|title=Beijing and Zhangjiakou launch joint bid to host 2022 Winter Olympic Games |website=insidethegames.biz|date=5 November 2013 |access-date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105154638/http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/winter-olympics/2022/1016809-beijing-and-zhangjiakou-launch-a-joint-bid-to-host-the-2022-winter-olympic-games|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> On 31 July 2015, the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2022 Winter Olympics to the city becoming the first ever to host both Summer and Winter Olympics also for the [[2022 Winter Paralympics]] becoming the first ever to host both Summer and Winter Paralympics.<ref name=":3">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/07/31/ioc-awards-2022-winter-olympics-to-beijing/|title=IOC awards 2022 Winter Olympics to Beijing|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715143645/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/sports/wp/2015/07/31/ioc-awards-2022-winter-olympics-to-beijing/|archive-date=15 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Venues ===
Major sporting venues in the city include the [[MasterCard Center]] at [[Wukesong station|Wukesong]] west of downtown; the [[Workers' Stadium]] and [[Workers Indoor Arena|Workers' Arena]] in [[Sanlitun]] just east of downtown and the [[Capital Indoor Stadium|Capital Arena]] in Baishiqiao, northeast of downtown. In addition, many universities in the city have their own sport facilities.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}} The [[Olympic Green]] is a stadium cluster centered on the [[Beijing National Stadium|National Stadium]]. It was originally developed for the 2008 Summer Olympics<ref>{{cite web |title=Beijing builds on stadium success by adding to 2008's architectural legacy |url=https://olympics.com/ioc/news/beijing-builds-on-stadium-success-by-adding-to-2008-s-architectural-legacy |website=International Olympic Committee |date=2018-08-15 |access-date=2023-05-01}}</ref> and modified for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The [[Big Air Shougang]] ski jump is in the western suburbs and was built for the 2022 Winter Olympics.<ref>{{Cite news |title=图解北京冬奥场馆：从"雪如意"、"冰丝带"到炼钢厂旧址上的大跳台 |language=zh-hans |work=BBC News 中文 |url=https://www.bbc.com/zhongwen/simp/chinese-news-60150001 |access-date=2023-03-27}}</ref>

=== Clubs ===
Professional sports teams based in Beijing include:
{{Colbegin}}
* [[China Baseball League]]
** [[Beijing Tigers]]
* [[Chinese Basketball Association]]
** [[Beijing Ducks]]
** [[Beijing Royal Fighters]]
* [[Women's Chinese Basketball Association]]
** Beijing Shougang
* [[Kontinental Hockey League]]
** [[HC Kunlun Red Star]]
* [[Chinese Super League]]
** [[Beijing Guoan F.C.|Beijing Guoan]]
* [[China League Two]]
** [[Beijing Institute of Technology F.C.|Beijing BIT]]
* [[Chinese Women's National League]]
** [[Beijing BG Phoenix F.C.|Beijing BG Phoenix]]

{{Colend}}
The [[Beijing Olympians]] of the [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|American Basketball Association]], formerly a [[Chinese Basketball Association]] team, kept their name and maintained a roster of primarily Chinese players after moving to [[Maywood, California]] in 2005.

[[China Bandy Federation]] is based in Beijing, one of several cities in which the potential for [[bandy]] development is explored.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chinabandy.org/|title=Welcome|work=chinabandy.org|access-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304225611/http://www.chinabandy.org/|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Transportation ==
{{Main|Transport in Beijing}}
[[File:Beijing South Railway Station 2094.jpg|thumb|right|[[Beijing South railway station]], one of several rail stations in the city]]
Beijing is an important [[transport hub]] in [[North China]] with six [[Ring roads of Beijing|ring roads]], 1167 km (725 miles) of expressways,<ref name=19nj>{{cite web|author1=Beijing Municipal Bureau of Statistics|title=Statistical Communiqué on the National Economy and Social Development of Beijing in 2019|url=http://tjj.beijing.gov.cn/EnglishSite/SC/202003/P020200331388719611556.doc|website=Beijing Stat Bureau|access-date=31 May 2020|archive-date=21 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721162055/http://tjj.beijing.gov.cn/EnglishSite/SC/202003/P020200331388719611556.doc|url-status=live}}</ref> 15 National Highways, nine conventional railways, and six high-speed railways converging on the city.

=== Rail and high-speed rail ===
Beijing serves as a large rail hub in [[Rail transport in the People's Republic of China|China's railway network]]. Ten conventional rail lines radiate from the city to: [[Beijing–Shanghai railway|Shanghai (Jinghu Line)]], [[Beijing–Guangzhou railway|Guangzhou (Jingguang Line)]], [[Beijing–Kowloon railway|Kowloon (Jingjiu Line)]], [[Beijing–Harbin railway|Harbin (Jingha Line)]] (including [[Beijing–Qinhuangdao railway|Qinhuangdao (Jingqin Line)]]), [[Beijing–Baotou railway|Baotou (Jingbao Line)]], [[Beijing–Chengde railway|Chengde (Jingcheng Line)]], [[Beijing–Tongliao railway|Tongliao, Inner Mongolia (Jingtong Line)]], [[Beijing–Yuanping railway|Yuanping, Shanxi (Jingyuan Line)]] and [[Fengtai–Shacheng railway|Shacheng, Hebei (Fengsha Line)]]. In addition, the [[Datong–Qinhuangdao railway]] passes through the municipality to the north of the city.

Beijing also has six [[high-speed rail]] lines: the [[Beijing–Tianjin intercity railway]], which opened in 2008; the [[Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway]], which opened in 2011; the [[Beijing–Guangzhou high-speed railway]], which opened in 2012; and the [[Beijing–Xiong'an intercity railway]] and the [[Beijing–Zhangjiakou intercity railway]], both of which opened in 2019. The [[Beijing–Shenyang high-speed railway]] was completed in 2021.

The city's main railway stations are the [[Beijing railway station]], which opened in 1959; the [[Beijing West railway station]], which opened in 1996; and the [[Beijing South railway station]], which was rebuilt into the city's high-speed railway station in 2008; The [[Beijing North railway station]], was first built in 1905 and expanded in 2009; The [[Qinghe railway station]], was first built in 1905 and expanded in 2019; The [[Beijing Chaoyang railway station]] opened in 2021; The [[Beijing Fengtai railway station]] opened in 2022; and the [[Beijing Sub-Center railway station]] is under construction.

Smaller stations in the city including [[Beijing East railway station]] and [[Daxing Airport station]] handle mainly commuter passenger traffic. In outlying suburbs and counties of Beijing, there are over 40 railway stations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oklx.com/cn/train/province/1753ac4e025e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060330191134/http://www.oklx.com/cn/train/province/1753ac4e025e.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 March 2006 |script-title=zh:北京市火车站大全 |website=oklx.com |access-date=8 August 2011 }}</ref>

From Beijing, [[Passenger rail transport in China|direct passenger train service]] is available to most large cities in China. International train service is available to [[Mongolia]], Russia, [[Vietnam]] and [[North Korea]]. Passenger trains in China are numbered according to their [[railroad direction|direction]] in relation to Beijing.

=== Roads and expressways ===
{{further|Expressways of Beijing|China National Highways of Beijing}}
[[File:Dongfeng North Bridge (20210502140735).jpg|thumb|View of [[4th Ring Road]] in [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang District]]]]Beijing is connected by road links to all parts of China as part of the National Trunk Road Network. Many [[expressways of China]] serve Beijing, as do 15 [[China National Highway]]s. Beijing's urban transport is dependent upon the [[Ring Roads of Beijing|ring roads]] that concentrically surround the city, with the [[Forbidden City]] area marked as the geographical center for the ring roads. The ring roads appear more rectangular than ring-shaped. There is no official "1st Ring Road". The [[2nd Ring Road]] is located in the inner city. Ring roads tend to resemble [[Controlled-access highway|expressways]] progressively as they extend outwards, with the [[5th Ring Road|5th]] and [[6th Ring Road]]s being full-standard national expressways, linked to other roads only by interchanges. Expressways to other regions of China are generally accessible from the [[3rd Ring Road (Beijing)|3rd Ring Road]] outward. A final outer orbital, the [[G95 Capital Area Loop Expressway|Capital Area Loop Expressway (G95)]], was fully opened in 2018 and will extend into neighboring [[Tianjin]] and [[Hebei]].

[[File:Jingtong Expwy east of Sihui (20230828160357).jpg|thumb|left|Traffic jam on the [[Beijing–Tongzhou Expressway]]]]
Within the urban core, city streets generally follow the checkerboard pattern of the ancient capital. Many of Beijing's boulevards and streets with "inner" and "outer" are still named in relation to gates in the city wall, though most gates no longer stand. Traffic jams are a major concern. Even outside of rush hour, several roads still remain clogged with traffic.

Beijing's urban design layout further exacerbates transportation problems.<ref>
{{cite news |title=Beijingers spend lives on road as traffic congestion worsens |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-10/06/content_269518.htm |work=China Daily |publisher=Xinhua News Agency |date=6 October 2003 |access-date=22 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090724004854/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/en/doc/2003-10/06/content_269518.htm |archive-date=24 July 2009 |url-status=live }}
</ref> The authorities have introduced several bus lanes, which only public buses can use during rush hour. In the beginning of 2010, Beijing had 4 million registered automobiles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Automobile numbers could be capped |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro/2009-10/19/content_8809166.htm |work=China Daily |access-date=13 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109184601/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro/2009-10/19/content_8809166.htm |archive-date=9 November 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of 2010, the government forecast 5 million. In 2010, new car registrations in Beijing averaged 15,500 per week.<ref>{{cite news |title=Beijing city to have five mln cars on roads by year end |url=http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1015147/Beijing-city-to-have-five-mln-cars-on-roads-by-year-end.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102164859/http://autonews.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1015147/Beijing-city-to-have-five-mln-cars-on-roads-by-year-end.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 January 2013 |publisher=Gasgoo |date=12 May 2010 |access-date=13 May 2010}}</ref>

Towards the end of 2010, the city government announced a series of drastic measures to tackle traffic jams, including limiting the number of new license plates issued to passenger cars to 20,000 a month and barring cars with non-Beijing plates from entering areas within the Fifth Ring Road during rush hour.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/12/to-tackle-traffic-jam-beijing-sets-new-car-plate-quota-limits-out-of-towners/ |title=To Tackle Traffic Jam, Beijing Sets New Car Plate Quota, Limits Out-of-Towners |publisher=ChinaAutoWeb.com |access-date=13 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228031411/http://chinaautoweb.com/2010/12/to-tackle-traffic-jam-beijing-sets-new-car-plate-quota-limits-out-of-towners/ |archive-date=28 December 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> More restrictive measures are also reserved during major events or heavily polluted weather.

Road signs began to be standardized with both Chinese and English names displayed, with location names using pinyin, in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://china.org.cn/government/local_governments/2006-03/24/content_1163308.htm|title=Beijing Standardizes Translations of Road Signs|publisher=[[Shanghai Daily]] at [[china.org.cn]]|date=24 March 2006|access-date=28 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110208155329/http://china.org.cn/government/local_governments/2006-03/24/content_1163308.htm|archive-date=8 February 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Air ===

====Beijing Capital International Airport====
[[File:Air China first and business lounge at ZBAA T3C (20170309125425).jpg|thumb|right|Terminal 3 of the [[Beijing Capital International Airport]]]]
Beijing has two of the world's largest airports. The [[Beijing Capital International Airport]] ([[IATA]]: PEK) located {{convert|32|km}} northeast of the city center in [[Chaoyang District, Beijing|Chaoyang District]] bordering [[Shunyi District]], is the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|second busiest airport in the world]] after [[Atlanta]]'s [[Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport|Hartsfield–Jackson International Airport]].<ref name="ACI aero"/> Capital Airport's Terminal 3, built during the expansion for the 2008 Olympics, is one of the largest in the world. Capital Airport is the main hub for [[Air China]] and [[Hainan Airlines]]. The [[Airport Expressway (Beijing)|Airport Expressway]] and [[2nd Airport Expressway|Second Airport Expressway]], connect to Capital Airport from the northeast and east of the city center, respectively. Driving time from city center is about 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions. The [[Capital Airport Express]] line of [[Beijing Subway]] and the [[Beijing Airport Bus|Capital Airport Bus]] serves the Capital Airport.

====Beijing Daxing International Airport====
[[File:Beijing Daxing International Airport 13.jpg|thumb|left|[[Beijing Daxing International Airport]]]]
The [[Beijing Daxing International Airport]] (IATA: PKX) located {{convert|46|km}} south of the city in [[Daxing District]] bordering the city of [[Langfang]], [[Hebei Province]], opened on 25 September 2019.<ref>{{Cite news|script-title=zh:北京大兴国际机场正式投运|url=https://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/gsnews/2019-09-25/doc-iicezueu8248191.shtml|work=Xinhua|via=[[Sina Corp|Sina Finance]]|access-date=28 October 2019|date=25 September 2019|archive-date=25 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925040210/https://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/gsnews/2019-09-25/doc-iicezueu8248191.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="carnoc20160112">{{cite web |url=http://news.carnoc.com/list/302/302606.html |script-title=zh:首都新机场跑道呈三纵一横分布规划7条跑道 |publisher=news.carnoc.com |access-date=12 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305002747/http://news.carnoc.com/list/302/302606.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://in.news.yahoo.com/china-plans-build-worlds-biggest-airport-near-beijing-104338446.html |title=China plans to build world's biggest airport near Beijing |publisher=In.news.yahoo.com |date=10 September 2011 |access-date=31 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519122752/http://in.news.yahoo.com/china-plans-build-worlds-biggest-airport-near-beijing-104338446.html |archive-date=19 May 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Daxing Airport has one of the world's largest terminal buildings and is expected to be a major airport serving Beijing, Tianjin and northern Hebei Province. Daxing Airport is connected to the city via the [[Beijing–Xiong'an intercity railway]], the [[Daxing Airport Express]] line of the Beijing Subway and two expressways.

====Other airports====
With the opening of the Daxing Airport in September 2019, the [[Beijing Nanyuan Airport]] (IATA: NAY), located {{convert|13|km}} south of center in [[Fengtai District]], has been closed to civilian airline service. Other airports in the city at Liangxiang, Xijiao, Shahe and Badaling are primarily for military use.

====Visa requirements for air passengers====
{{As of|2013|01|01|alt=As of 1 January 2013}}, tourists from 45 countries are permitted a 72-hour visa-free stay in Beijing. The 45 countries include Singapore, Japan, the United States, Canada, all EU and EEA countries (except Norway and Liechtenstein), Switzerland, Brazil, Argentina and Australia. The programme benefits transit and business travellers<ref>{{cite news|title=Beijing grants three-day visa-free access|url=http://www.ttgmice.com/article/beijing-grants-three-day-visa-free-access/|access-date=7 December 2012|newspaper=TTGmice|date=6 December 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605142840/http://www.ttgmice.com/article/beijing-grants-three-day-visa-free-access/|archive-date=5 June 2013}}</ref> with the 72 hours calculated starting from the moment visitors receive their transit stay permits rather than the time of their plane's arrival. Foreign visitors are not permitted to leave Beijing for other Chinese cities during the 72 hours.<ref name=Beijing>[http://chinatour.net/news/visa-free-beijing/ "Beijing 72-hour Visa-free" ChinaTour.Net] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318071555/http://chinatour.net/news/visa-free-beijing/ |date=18 March 2015 }} Accessed 6 June 2014</ref>

=== Public transit ===
[[File:Train leaving Xihongmen Station.JPG|thumb|A [[Daxing line]] train on the [[Beijing Subway]], which is among the longest and busiest [[rapid transit]] systems in the world]]
[[File:4838397 at Tian'anmen (20200825105132).jpg|thumb|left|An articulated [[Beijing bus]]]]
The [[Beijing Subway]], which began operating in 1969, now has 25 lines, 459 [[List of Beijing Subway stations|stations]], and {{convert|783|km|abbr=on}} of [[Line length|lines]]. It is the [[List of metro systems|longest subway system in the world]] and [[Metro systems by annual passenger rides|first in annual ridership]] with 3.66 billion rides delivered in 2016. In 2013, with a flat fare of [[Renminbi|¥]]2.00 (US$0.31) per ride with unlimited transfers on all lines except the [[Airport Express, Beijing Subway|Airport Express]], the subway was also the most affordable [[rapid transit in China|rapid transit system in China]]. The subway is undergoing rapid expansion and is expected to reach 30 lines, 450 stations, {{convert|1050|km}} in length by 2022. When fully implemented, 95% of residents inside the [[4th Ring Road|Fourth Ring Road]] will be able to walk to a station in 15 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|title=30 subway lines to cover Beijing by 2020|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/28/content_9905209.htm|newspaper=[[China Daily]]|date=28 May 2010|access-date=30 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823064150/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-05/28/content_9905209.htm|archive-date=23 August 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=October 2021}} The [[Beijing Suburban Railway]] provides commuter rail service to outlying suburbs of the municipality.

As part of the urban re-development for the 2008 Olympics, Beijing's subway system was significantly expanded.<ref name=":02" />{{Rp|page=137}} On 28 December 2014, it switched to a distance-based fare system from a fixed fare for all lines except the [[Airport Express, Beijing Subway|Airport Express]].<ref name="english.cri.cn">{{cite web|title = Beijing to Increase Public Transportation Fare Prices Next Month|url = http://english.cri.cn/12394/2014/11/27/3781s854098.htm|website = english.cri.cn|access-date = 24 December 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151222163718/http://english.cri.cn/12394/2014/11/27/3781s854098.htm|archive-date = 22 December 2015|url-status=dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Under the new system a trip under {{convert|6|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=on}} will cost [[Renminbi|¥]]3.00(US$0.49), an additional [[Renminbi|¥]]1.00 will be added for the next {{convert|6|km|mi|frac=2|abbr=on}} and the next {{convert|10|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} until the distance for the trip reaches {{convert|32|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="english.cri.cn"/> For every {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=off}} after the original {{convert|32|km|mi|abbr=off}} an additional [[Renminbi|¥]]1.00 is added.<ref name="english.cri.cn"/> For example, a {{convert|50|km|mi|abbr=off|adj=on}} trip would cost [[Renminbi|¥]] 8.00.

There are nearly 1,000 [[Beijing Bus|public bus]] and [[trolleybus]] lines in the city, including four [[bus rapid transit]] lines. Standard bus fares are as low as ¥1.00 when purchased with the ''[[Yikatong]]'' metrocard.

=== Taxi ===
Metered [[taxicab|taxi]] in Beijing start at ¥13 for the first {{convert|3|km}}, ¥2.3 [[Renminbi]] per additional {{convert|1|km}} and ¥1 per ride fuel surcharge, not counting idling fees which are ¥2.3 (¥4.6 during rush hours of 7–9 am and 5–7 pm) per 5 minutes of standing or running at speeds lower than {{convert|12|kph}}. Most taxis are [[Hyundai Elantra]]s, [[Hyundai Sonata]]s, [[Peugeot]]s, [[Citroën]]s and [[Volkswagen Jetta]]s. After {{convert|15|km}}, the base fare increases by 50% (but is only applied to the portion ''over'' that distance). Different companies have special colours combinations painted on their vehicles. Usually registered taxis have yellowish brown as basic hue, with another color of Prussian blue, hunter green, white, umber, tyrian purple, rufous, or sea green. Between 11 pm and 5 am, there is also a 20% fee increase. Rides over {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} and between 23:00 and 06:00 incur both charges, for a total increase of 80%. Tolls during trip should be covered by customers and the costs of trips beyond Beijing city limits should be negotiated with the driver. The cost of unregistered taxis is also subject to negotiation with the driver.

=== Bicycles ===
[[File:East start of Huilongguan-Shangdi Bicycle Lane (20190607134646).jpg|thumb|Huilongguan-Shangdi Bicycle Lane]]
Beijing has long been well known for the number of bicycles on its streets. Although the rise of motor traffic has created a great deal of congestion and bicycle use has declined, bicycles are still an important form of local transportation. Many cyclists can be seen on most roads in the city, and most of the main roads have dedicated [[bicycle lanes]]. Beijing is relatively flat, which makes cycling convenient. The rise of [[electric bicycles]] and [[electric scooters]], which have similar speeds and use the same cycle lanes, may have brought about a revival in bicycle-speed two-wheeled transport. It is possible to cycle to most parts of the city. Because of the growing traffic congestion, the authorities have indicated more than once that they wish to encourage cycling, but it is not clear whether there is sufficient will to translate that into action on a significant scale.<ref>{{cite news |title=Campaign to boost cycling in Beijing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/24/beijing-cycling-capital-plans/ |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=24 January 2010 |access-date=10 March 2011 |first=Jonathan |last=Watts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909090335/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/jan/24/beijing-cycling-capital-plans |archive-date=9 September 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 30 March 2019, a 6.5 km (4 mile) bicycle-dedicated lane was opened, easing the traffic congestion between [[Huilongguan]] and [[Shangdi]] where there are many high-tech companies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Xin |first1=Wen |title=Beijing's first dedicated bike lane eases traffic congestion |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/14/WS5d53d1d0a310cf3e35565c29.html |access-date=31 May 2020 |publisher=China Daily |date=14 August 2019 |archive-date=23 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200723164929/http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201908/14/WS5d53d1d0a310cf3e35565c29.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Cycling has seen a resurgence in popularity spurred by the emergence of a large number of dockless app based [[Bicycle-sharing system|bikeshares]] such as [[Mobike]], [[Bluegogo]] and [[Ofo (bike sharing)|Ofo]] since 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.whatsonweibo.com/ofo-mobike-bluegogo-chinas-messy-bikeshare-market/|title=Ofo, Mobike, BlueGogo: China's Messy Bikeshare Market|work=What's on Weibo|access-date=13 August 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806025220/http://www.whatsonweibo.com/ofo-mobike-bluegogo-chinas-messy-bikeshare-market/|archive-date=6 August 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Defence and aerospace ==
[[File:Starting aerial formation of PRC70 Parade (20191001112401).jpg|thumb|left|[[KJ-2000]] and [[Chengdu J-10|J-10]]s started the flypast formation on the [[70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China]].]]

The command headquarters of China's military forces are based in Beijing. The [[Central Military Commission (China)|Central Military Commission]], the political organ in charge of the military, is housed inside the [[Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China|Ministry of National Defense]], located next to the [[Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution]] in western Beijing. The [[People's Liberation Army Rocket Force|Rocket Force]], which controls the country's [[Intercontinental ballistic missile|strategic missile]] and nuclear weapons, has its command in [[Qinghe Subdistrict, Beijing|Qinghe]], Haidian District. The headquarters of the [[Central Theater Command]], one of five nationally, is based further west in Gaojing. The CTR oversees the Beijing Capital Garrison as well as the [[81st Army (People's Republic of China)|81st]], [[82nd Army (People's Republic of China)|82nd]] and [[83rd Army (People's Republic of China)|83rd Armies]], which are based in Hebei.

Military institutions in Beijing also include academies and thinktanks such as the [[PLA National Defence University]] and [[PLA Academy of Military Science|Academy of Military Science]], military hospitals such as the [[301 Military Hospital|301]], [[307 Hospital|307]] and the Academy of Military Medical Sciences, and army-affiliated cultural entities such as 1 August Film Studios and the [[Chinese People's Liberation Army Naval Song and Dance Troupe|PLA Song and Dance Troupe]].

The [[China National Space Administration]], which oversees country's [[Chinese space program|space program]], and several space-related state owned companies such as [[China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation|CASTC]] and [[China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation|CASIC]] are all based in Beijing. The [[Beijing Aerospace Command and Control Center]], in Haidian District tracks the country's [[Shenzhou program|crewed]] and uncrewed flight and other space exploration initiatives.

== Nature and wildlife ==
Beijing Municipality has 20 nature reserves that have a total area of {{convert|1,339.7|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sts.mep.gov.cn/zrbhq/zrbhq/201208/t20120824_235198.htm |script-title=zh:北京市自然保护区名录（截至2011年底） |publisher=[[Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China]] |date=24 August 2012 |access-date=6 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023132747/http://sts.mep.gov.cn/zrbhq/zrbhq/201208/t20120824_235198.htm |archive-date=23 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The mountains to the west and north of the city are home to a number of protected wildlife species including [[leopard]], [[leopard cat]], [[wolf]], [[red fox]], [[wild boar]], [[masked palm civet]], [[raccoon dog]], [[hog badger]], [[Siberian weasel]], [[Amur hedgehog]], [[roe deer]], and [[mandarin rat snake]].<ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://www.bwca.com.cn/Class.asp?ClassID=32 |script-title=zh:北京一级保护野生动物 |publisher=Beijing Wildlife Conservation Association |access-date=4 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130416173150/http://www.bwca.com.cn/Class.asp?ClassID=32 |archive-date=16 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://www.bwca.com.cn/Class.asp?ClassID=33|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226203732/http://www.bwca.com.cn/Class.asp?ClassID=33|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 December 2007|script-title=zh:北京二级保护野生动物 |publisher=Beijing Wildlife Conservation Association |access-date=4 April 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.danwei.org/wildlife/wild_leopards_of_beijing_by_mi.php Michael Rank, Wild leopards of Beijing, Danwei.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502013301/http://www.danwei.org/wildlife/wild_leopards_of_beijing_by_mi.php |date=2 May 2013 }} 31 July 2007</ref> The Beijing Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center protects the [[Chinese giant salamander]], [[Amur stickleback]] and [[mandarin duck]] on the Huaijiu and Huaisha Rivers in [[Huairou District]].<ref>(Chinese) [http://www.bjshuiye.cn/html/200805/26/20080526135128.html Beijing Aquatic Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Center] Accessed 5 April 2013 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823230432/http://www.bjshuiye.cn/html/200805/26/20080526135128.html |date=23 August 2011 }}</ref> The [[Milu Yuan|Beijing Milu Park]] south of the city is home to one of the largest herds of [[Père David's deer]], now extinct in the wild. The [[Beijing barbastelle]], a species of [[vesper bat]] discovered in caves of [[Fangshan District]] in 2001 and identified as a distinct species in 2007, is [[endemic]] to Beijing. The mountains of Fangshan are also habitat for the more common [[Beijing mouse-eared bat]], [[large myotis]], [[greater horseshoe bat]] and [[Rickett's big-footed bat]].<ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://www.sxrb.com/culture/shgc/164836.html |script-title=zh:70年解密大足鼠耳蝠吃鱼 |website=sxrb.com |date=14 April 2007 |access-date=19 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319014300/http://www.sxrb.com/culture/shgc/164836.html |archive-date=19 March 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Each year, Beijing hosts 200–300 species of [[Bird migration|migratory birds]] including the [[common crane]], [[black-headed gull]], [[swan]], [[mallard]], [[common cuckoo]] and the endangered [[yellow-breasted bunting]].<ref>{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://env.people.com.cn/n1/2016/1116/c1010-28871815.html |script-title=zh:北京：候鸟翱翔野鸭湖 Xinhua |date=16 November 2016 |access-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128141650/http://env.people.com.cn/n1/2016/1116/c1010-28871815.html |archive-date=28 November 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="BJ Evening News 2016-10-30">{{cite web |language=zh-hans |url=http://beijing.qianlong.com/2016/1030/1058707.shtml |script-title=zh:北京开始"清网行动"保护候鸟森林公安公布举报电话, 北京晚报 |website=qianlong.com |date=30 October 2016 |access-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128052526/http://beijing.qianlong.com/2016/1030/1058707.shtml |archive-date=28 November 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> In May 2016, Common cuckoos nesting in the wetlands of Cuihu (Haidian), Hanshiqiao (Shunyi), Yeyahu (Yanqing) were tagged and have been traced to far as India, Kenya and [[Mozambique]].<ref>[https://birdingbeijing.com/beijing-cuckoo-project/ Beijing Cuckoo Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128133330/https://birdingbeijing.com/beijing-cuckoo-project/ |date=28 November 2016 }} Accessed 28 November 2016</ref><ref>[http://cn.nytstyle.com/science/20161116/beijing-cuckoos-migration/dual/ "With a Cuckoo's Journey from China, a Mystery is Solved, and Cheers Go Up" ''N.Y. Times''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128050230/http://cn.nytstyle.com/science/20161116/beijing-cuckoos-migration/dual/ |date=28 November 2016 }} 11 November 2016</ref> In the fall of 2016, the Beijing Forest Police undertook a month-long campaign to crack down on illegal hunting and trapping of migratory birds for sale in local bird markets.<ref name="BJ Evening News 2016-10-30"/> Over 1,000 rescued birds of protected species including [[streptopelia]], [[Eurasian siskin]], [[crested myna]], [[coal tit]] and [[great tit]] were handed to the Beijing Wildlife Protection and Rescue Center for repatriation to the wild.<ref name="BJ Evening News 2016-10-30"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-10/31/c_1119815548.htm |script-title=zh:"北京集中一个月打击非法捕售鸟抓获36名违法者" 新京报 |work=[[:zh:新京报|The Beijing News]] |publisher=[[Xinhua News]] |date=31 October 2016 |access-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109022115/http://news.xinhuanet.com/legal/2016-10/31/c_1119815548.htm |archive-date=9 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The city flowers are the [[Rosa chinensis|Chinese rose]] and [[chrysanthemum]].<ref name=cityflowertree>{{cite web|url=http://www.beijing.gov.cn/rwbj/bjgm/shss/t661782.htm|script-title=zh:首都之窗-北京市政务门户网站-市花市树|publisher=eBeijing.gov.cn|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413101041/http://www.beijing.gov.cn/rwbj/bjgm/shss/t661782.htm|archive-date=13 April 2013}}</ref> The city trees are the [[Chinese arborvitae]], an evergreen in the cypress [[Cupressaceae|family]] and the [[pagoda tree]], also called the Chinese scholar tree, a [[deciduous]] tree of the family [[Fabaceae]].<ref name=cityflowertree/> The oldest scholar tree in the city was planted in what is now [[Beihai Park]] during the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bjkp.gov.cn/bjkpzc/tszr/zwdg/zwygs/gsygh/15487.shtml |script-title=zh:北京市市树 – 国槐 |website=bjkp.gov.cn |date=18 February 2004 |access-date=19 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080413033911/http://www.bjkp.gov.cn/bjkpzc/tszr/zwdg/zwygs/gsygh/15487.shtml |archive-date=13 April 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

== International relations ==
The capital is the home of the [[Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank]], a [[multilateral development bank]] that aims to improve economic and social outcomes in Asia<ref>{{cite web|title=AIIB: Who We Are|url=https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/index.html|access-date=21 August 2020|archive-date=30 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930084526/https://www.aiib.org/en/about-aiib/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the [[Silk Road Fund]], an investment fund of the Chinese government to foster increased investment and provide financial supports in countries along the [[One Belt, One Road]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Silk Road Fund_Overview |url=http://www.silkroadfund.com.cn/enweb/23775/23767/index.html |website=Silk Road Fund |access-date=15 October 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030152213/http://www.silkroadfund.com.cn/enweb/23775/23767/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Beijing is also home to the headquarters of the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation|Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)]],<ref>{{cite web |title = Shanghai Cooperation Organisation {{!}} SCO |url = http://eng.sectsco.org/docs/about/contacts.html |access-date = 30 October 2020 |website = eng.sectsco.org |archive-date = 7 March 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220307165619/http://eng.sectsco.org/docs/about/contacts.html |url-status = live }}</ref> making it an important city for [[diplomacy|international diplomacy]].

=== Twin towns and sister cities ===
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in China}}

Beijing is [[Sister city|twinned]] with the following regions, cities, and counties:<ref>{{cite web |title=Sister cities of Beijing |url=http://english.beijing.gov.cn/beijinginfo/sistercities/index.html |access-date=13 October 2020 |website=english.beijing.gov.cn |archive-date=1 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701015335/http://english.beijing.gov.cn/beijinginfo/sistercities/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagdeco|ETH}} [[Addis Ababa]], Ethiopia
*{{flagdeco|TUR}} [[Ankara]], Turkey
*{{flagdeco|KAZ}} [[Astana]], Kazakhstan
*{{flagdeco|GRC}} [[Athens]], Greece
*{{flagdeco|THA}} [[Bangkok]], Thailand
*{{flagdeco|GER}} [[Berlin]], Germany
*{{flagdeco|BEL}} [[Brussels]], Belgium
*{{flagdeco|ROU}} [[Bucharest]], Romania
*{{flagdeco|HUN}} [[Budapest]], Hungary
*{{flagdeco|ARG}} [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina
*{{flagdeco|EGY}} [[Cairo]], Egypt
*{{flagdeco|AUS}} [[Canberra]], Australia
*{{flagdeco|GER}} [[Cologne]], Germany
*{{flagdeco|DEN}} [[Copenhagen]], Denmark
*{{flagdeco|IND}} [[Delhi]], India
*{{flagdeco|QAT}} [[Doha]], Qatar
*{{flagdeco|IRL}} [[Dublin]], Ireland
*{{flagdeco|VIE}} [[Hanoi]], Vietnam
*{{flagdeco|CUB}} [[Havana]], Cuba
*{{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Île-de-France]], France
*{{flagdeco|PAK}} [[Islamabad]], Pakistan
*{{flagdeco|IDN}} [[Jakarta]], Indonesia
*{{flagdeco|RSA}} [[Johannesburg]], South Africa
*{{flagdeco|UKR}} [[Kyiv]], Ukraine
*{{flagdeco|PER}} [[Lima]], Peru
*{{flagdeco|ENG}} [[London]], England, United Kingdom
*{{flagdeco|PHL}} [[Manila]], Philippines
*{{flagdeco|BLR}} [[Minsk]], Belarus
*{{flagdeco|MEX}} [[Mexico City]], Mexico
*{{flagdeco|RUS}} [[Moscow]], Russia
*{{flagdeco|USA}} [[New York City]], United States
*{{flagdeco|CAN}} [[Ottawa]], Canada
*{{flagdeco|KHM}} [[Phnom Penh]], Cambodia
*{{flagdeco|LVA}} [[Riga]], Latvia
*{{flagdeco|BRA}} [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
*{{flagdeco|CRI}} [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]], Costa Rica
*{{flagdeco|CHL}} [[Santiago]], Chile
*{{flagdeco|KOR}} [[Seoul]], South Korea
*{{flagicon|EST}} [[Tallinn]], Estonia
*{{flagdeco|IRN}} [[Tehran]], Iran
*{{flagdeco|ISR}} [[Tel Aviv]], Israel
*{{flagdeco|ALB}} [[Tirana]], Albania
*{{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Tokyo]], Japan
*{{flagdeco|MNG}} [[Ulaanbaatar]], Mongolia
*{{flagdeco|LAO}} [[Vientiane]], Laos
*{{flagdeco|USA}} [[Washington D.C.]], United States
*{{flagdeco|NZL}} [[Wellington]], New Zealand

{{div col end}}

=== Foreign embassies and consulates ===
{{See also|list of diplomatic missions in China|}}In 2019, China had the largest diplomatic network in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|date=27 November 2019|title=China now has more diplomatic posts than any other country|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50569237|access-date=15 October 2020|archive-date=6 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200906012525/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50569237|url-status=live}}</ref> China hosts a [[List of diplomatic missions in China|large diplomatic community]] in its capital city of Beijing. At present, the capital of Beijing hosts 172 embassies, 1 consulate and 3 representatives, excluding [[Hong Kong]] and [[Macau]] trade office.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Foreign Embassies in Beijing|url=http://english.beijing.gov.cn/beijinginfo/facts/embassies/|access-date=13 October 2020|website=english.beijing.gov.cn|archive-date=18 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018080800/http://english.beijing.gov.cn/beijinginfo/facts/embassies/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=EMBASSIES & CONSULATES IN BEIJING|url=https://www.embassypages.com/city/beijing|access-date=13 October 2020|website=www.embassypages.com|language=en|archive-date=6 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106101717/https://www.embassypages.com/city/beijing|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{AFG}}
* {{ALB}}
* {{ALG}}
* {{ANG}}
* {{ARG}}
* {{ARM}}
* {{AUS}}
* {{AUT}}
* {{AZE}}
* {{BAH}}
* {{BHR}}
* {{BAN}}
* {{BRB}}
* {{BLR}}
* {{BEL}}
* {{BEN}}
* {{BOL}}
* {{BIH}}
* {{BOT}}
* {{BRA}}
* {{BRU}}
* {{BUL}}
* {{Flag|Burkina Faso}}
* {{BDI}}
* {{CAM}}
* {{CMR}}
* {{CAN}}
* {{CPV}}
* {{CAF}}
* {{CHA}}
* {{CHI}}
* {{COL}}
* {{COM}}
* {{CGO}}
* {{COD}}
* {{CRC}}
* {{CRO}}
* {{CUB}}
* {{CYP}}
* {{CZE}}
* {{DEN}}
* {{DJI}}
* {{DMA}}
* {{DOM}}
* {{Flag|East Timor}}
* {{ECU}}
* {{EGY}}
* {{SLV}}
* {{GEQ}}
* {{ERI}}
* {{EST}}
* {{ETH}}
* {{FIJ}}
* {{FIN}}
* {{FRA}}
* {{GAB}}
* {{Flag|Gambia}}
* {{GEO}}
* {{GER}}
* {{GHA}}
* {{GRE}}
* {{GRN}}
* {{GUI}}
* {{GBS}}
* {{GUY}}
* {{HON}}
* {{HUN}}
* {{ISL}}
* {{IND}}
* {{INA}}
* {{IRI}}
* {{IRQ}}
* {{IRL}}
* {{ISR}}
* {{ITA}}
* {{Flag|Ivory Coast}}
* {{JAM}}
* {{JPN}}
* {{JOR}}
* {{KAZ}}
* {{KEN}}
* {{KUW}}
* {{KGZ}}
* {{LAO}}
* {{LAT}}
* {{LIB}}
* {{LES}}
* {{LBR}}
* {{LBA}}
* {{LTU}}
* {{LUX}}
* {{MAD}}
* {{MAW}}
* {{MAS}}
* {{MDV}}
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* {{Flag|Micronesia}}
* {{MDA}}
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* {{MCO}} (consulate)
* {{MNE}}
* {{MAR}}
* {{MOZ}}
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* {{NEP}}
* {{NED}}
* {{NZL}}
* {{NIC}}
* {{NIG}}
* {{NGR}}
* {{PRK}}
* {{Flag|North Macedonia}}
* {{NOR}}
* {{OMA}}
* {{PAK}}
* {{PSE}}
* {{PAN}}
* {{PNG}}
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* {{ROU}}
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* {{RWA}}
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* {{Flag|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
* {{KSA}}
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{{div col end}}

=== Representative offices and delegations ===
* {{HTI}} (Representative Office)
* {{FRO}} (Representative Office)
* {{flag|European Union}} ([[European Union Ambassador to China|Delegation of the European Union to China]])

== See also ==
{{portal|China}}
* [[Beijing city fortifications]]
* [[Historical capitals of China]]
* [[Large Cities Climate Leadership Group]]
* [[List of hospitals in Beijing]]
* [[List of mayors of Beijing]]
* [[List of twin towns and sister cities in China]]
* [[List of diplomatic missions in China]]

== Notes ==
{{NoteFoot}}

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last = Elliott |first = Mark C. |title = The Manchu Way: The Eight Banners and Ethnic Identity in Late Imperial China |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC |location = Palo Alto, CA |publisher = Stanford University Press |year = 2001 |isbn = 978-0-8047-4684-7 |access-date = 22 July 2009 |archive-date = 1 August 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200801082809/https://books.google.com/books?id=_qtgoTIAiKUC |url-status = live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Li |first1=Lillian |last2=Dray-Novey |first2=Alison |last3=Kong |first3=Haili |year=2007 |title=Beijing: From Imperial Capital to Olympic City |location=New York, NY |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |isbn=978-1-4039-6473-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/beijingfromimper00lili }}
* {{cite book |last1=MacKerras |first1=Colin |last2=Yorke |first2=Amanda |year=1991 |title=The Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China |url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgehandboo0000mack |url-access=registration |quote=beiping beijing. |location=Cambridge, England |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-521-38755-2 |access-date=22 July 2009 }}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last = Cotterell |first = Arthur. |title = The Imperial Capitals of China: An Inside View of the Celestial Empire |location=London |publisher=Pimlico |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-84595-009-5}}
* {{cite book |last1=Bonino |first1=Michele |last2=De Pieri |first2=Filippo |title=Beijing Danwei: Industrial Heritage in the Contemporary City |year=2015 |publisher=Jovis |location=Berlin |isbn=978-3-86859-382-2 |url=https://www.jovis.de/en/books/beijing-danwei.html |access-date=10 October 2015 |archive-date=22 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210222224938/https://www.jovis.de/en/books/beijing-danwei.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last=Cammelli |first=Stefano |title = Storia di Pechino e di come divenne capitale della Cina |location=Bologna |publisher=Il Mulino |year=2004 |isbn=978-88-15-09910-5 }}
* {{cite book |last=Chen |first=Gaohua |title=The Capital of the Yuan Dynasty |location=[Dadu or Khanbaliq] |publisher=Silkroad Press|year=2015}} {{ISBN|978-981-4332-44-6|978-981-4339-55-1}} (Print & eBook).
* {{cite book |last=Harper|first=Damian|title=Beijing: City Guide|edition=7th|location=Oakland, California|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|year=2007|isbn=978-17-40-59842-2}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sister project links|voy=Beijing|Beijing}}
* [http://info.hktdc.com/mktprof/china/mpbei.htm Economic profile for Beijing] at [[Hong Kong Trade Development Council|HKTDC]]
* [https://www.facebook.com/BeijingChinaOfficial Visit Beijing] – official [[Facebook]] page
* [http://cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/PH-Y-00302-E/4 Photograph of ''The approach to Peking – outside the walls''] taken in 1890 by [[Sir Henry Norman, 1st Baronet|Sir Henry Norman]]

{{S-start}}
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|years=1264–1368|row=1}}
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Bamako

2023-12-12T19:33:53Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Other uses}}
{{Short description|Capital of Mali}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Bamako
| native_name = {{ubl
| {{native name|bm|{{lang|bm|ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬}} Bàmakɔ̌}}
| {{native name|ff|{{lang|ff|𞤄𞤢𞤥𞤢𞤳𞤮}} Bamako}}
}}
| other_name =
| settlement_type = Capital city
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a =Bamako night hills may 2007.jpg
|photo2a =Place de la liberté - Bamako.jpg
|photo2b =
|photo3a =StatueCiteNigerBamako.jpg
|photo3b =
|photo3c =
|photo4a =WesternBridgeOverTheCiteNiger.jpg
|photo4b =Bamako, Mali - panoramio.jpg
|photo5a =
|photo5b =
|size = 270
|spacing = 1
|color = #FFFFFF
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| image_caption = Bamako at night, Place de la Liberté, BCEAO tower, Statue in the Cité du Niger, Nkwame N'krumah statue, NCC tower, western bridge entering into the Cité du Niger, Tower of Africa
| image_seal = Blason ville ml Bamako (Mali).svg
| seal_size =
| image_map =
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Bamako on the Niger River
| pushpin_map = Mali
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Bamako
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|12|38|21|N|8|0|10|W|region:DZ_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Mali}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[List of regions of Mali|Region]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Cercles of Mali|Cercle]]
| subdivision_name1 = Bamako Capital District
| subdivision_name2 = Bamako
| established_title =
| established_date =
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3 =
| parts_type = Subdivisions
| parts_style = list
| parts = Communes
| p1 = [[Commune I, Bamako|Commune I]]<ref name=1&2>[http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21984]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}</ref>
| government_footnotes =
| government_type = Capital District
| leader_title = Maire du District
| leader_name = [[Adama Sangaré]]<ref>[http://www.maliweb.net/category.php?NID=35838 "Coupe du Maire du District : Le Stade reçoit son trophée"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170613084252/http://www.maliweb.net/category.php?NID=35838 |date=13 June 2017 }}. L'Essor, 24 September 2008</ref>
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
| area_footnotes =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 245.0
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_percent =
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_metro_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://population.mongabay.com/population/mali/2460596/bamako |title=Population of Bamako, Mali |work=Mongabay.com |access-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525223123/http://population.mongabay.com/population/mali/2460596/bamako |archive-date=25 May 2015 }}</ref>
| elevation_m = 350
| elevation_ft =
| population_total = 4,227,569<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/mali/cities/ |title=Bamako population}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 Census
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = 16776
| population_urban =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_note =
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| iso_code = ML-BKO
| website =
| footnotes =
| p2 = [[Commune II, Bamako|Commune II]]<ref name="1&2"/>
| p3 = [[Commune III, Bamako|Commune III]]<ref name=3&4>[http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21982]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}</ref>
| p4 = [[Commune IV, Bamako|Commune IV]]<ref name="3&4"/>
| p5 = [[Commune V, Bamako|Commune V]]<ref name=5&6>[http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21983]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}</ref>
| p6 = [[Commune VI, Bamako|Commune VI]]<ref name="5&6"/>
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| leader_title3 =
| leader_name3 =
| leader_title4 =
| leader_name4 =
| timezone = Coordinated Universal Time
| utc_offset = ±00:00{{!}}UTC
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2017)
| blank_info_sec1 = {{Ubl
| 0.623<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13|archive-date=23 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{color|#fc0|medium}} · [[List of regions of Mali by Human Development Index|1st]]
}}
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| image_flag = Flag of Bamako.svg
}}
'''Bamako''' ({{lang-bm|ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬}} ''Bàmakɔ̌'', {{lang-ff|𞤄𞤢𞤥𞤢𞤳𞤮}} ''Bamako'') is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Mali]], with a 2022 population of 4,227,569. It is located on the [[Niger River]], near the rapids that divide the upper and middle Niger valleys in the southwestern part of the country.

Bamako is the nation's administrative center. The city proper is a [[Cercles of Mali|cercle]] in its own right. Bamako's [[Inland port|river port]] is located in nearby [[Koulikoro]], along with a major regional trade and conference center. Bamako is the seventh-largest [[West Africa|West African]] urban center after [[Lagos]], [[Abidjan]], [[Kano (city)|Kano]], [[Ibadan]], [[Dakar]], and [[Accra]]. Locally manufactured goods include textiles, processed meat, and metal goods as well as mining. Commercial fishing occurs on the Niger River.

Bamako is known for its vibrant music scene, with various genres such as Malian blues, traditional music, and Afrobeat flourishing in Bamako. Many renowned Malian musicians and bands have emerged from the city. Some notable artists are [[Salif Keita]], [[Oumou Sangaré]], [[Ali Farka Touré]], [[Toumani Diabaté]] and [[Amadou & Mariam]].

In recent years, Bamako has seen significant urban development, with the construction of modern buildings, shopping malls, and infrastructure projects aimed at improving the quality of life for its residents. The city is home to many notable institutions such as the [[University of Bamako]], the [[National Museum of Mali]], the Mali National Zoo, the [[Grand Mosque of Bamako]], and the [[Modibo Keita International Airport]]. The buildings of Bamako have a unique architectural style. The name Bamako ({{lang|bm|ߓߡߊ߬ߞߐ߬}} ''Bàmakɔ̌'' in [[Bambara language|Bambara]]) comes from the Bambara word meaning "crocodile river".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/03/archives/sudanese-impose-senegal-boycott-traders-told-to-use-port-in-ivory.html|title=SUDANESE IMPOSE SENEGAL BOYCOTT; Traders Told to Use Port in Ivory Coast – Move Is Aimed at Dakar's Trade|newspaper=The New York Times|date=3 September 1960|last=Rosenthal|first=A.M.|author-link=A. M. Rosenthal|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-date=22 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722223148/https://www.nytimes.com/1960/09/03/archives/sudanese-impose-senegal-boycott-traders-told-to-use-port-in-ivory.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Bamako}}
The area of the city has evidence of settlements since the [[Paleolithic|Palaeolithic]] era.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}} The fertile lands of the Niger River Valley provided the people with an abundant food supply and early chiefdoms in the area grew wealthy as they established trade routes linking across west Africa, the [[Sahara]], and leading to northern Africa and Europe as early as 600's BCE. The early inhabitants traded [[gold]], [[ivory]], [[kola nut]]s, and salt.<ref name="AFN">{{cite web|url=http://www.africatravelling.net/mali/bamako/bamako_history.htm |title=Bamako – History |publisher=Africatravelling.net |access-date=23 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923033144/http://www.africatravelling.net/mali/bamako/bamako_history.htm |archive-date=23 September 2009 }}</ref> By the 11th century, the [[Empire of Ghana]] became the first kingdom to dominate the area.<ref name="AFN"/>

The [[Mali Empire]] grew during the early Middle Ages and replaced Ghana as the dominant kingdom in west Africa, dominating [[Senegal]], Gambia, [[Guinea]], and [[Mauritania]].<ref name="AFN"/> In the 14th century, the Mali Empire became increasingly wealthy because of the trade of cotton, gold and salt. Bamako became a center of commerce and Islamic learning, but declined when Mali was overthrown by the Songhai.<ref name="AFN"/><ref name = Wade>{{cite web |last1=Wade |first1=Evan |title=BAMAKO, MALI (11TH CENTURY- ) |url=https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/places-global-african-history/bamako-mali-11th-century/ |website=Black Past |date=2015|access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>

The Scottish explorer [[Mungo Park (explorer)|Mungo Park]] visited Bamako in 1797 and 1806 during his exploration of the Niger River. He estimated that the city at the time held 6000 inhabitants.<ref name = Wade/>

[[File:Fort de Bammakou.jpg|thumb|left|French Fort of Bammakou, built in 1883]]
In February 1882, [[Samory Toure]] defeated the French at the Battle of Samaya outside [[Kinieran]]. Faced with Toure's expanding [[Wassoulou Empire]], some of the leaders of the Dyula community in Bamako began making overtures to join the anti-French alliance. The French commander [[Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes]], eager to possess this key strategic location on the Niger, rushed a force to establish a fort there on February 1st 1883.<ref name = Fofana>{{cite book |last1=Fofana |first1=Khalil |title=L' Almami Samori Touré Empereur |date=1998 |publisher=Présence Africaine |location=Paris |url=https://archive.org/details/lalmamisamoritou00fofa/page/16/mode/2up |access-date=30 September 2023}}</ref>{{rp|76}} Kebe Brema, Samory's brother, led a force to Bamako to lure the French out of their defenses. They fought two [[Battles of Woyowoyanko| battles at Woyo Wayanko creek]] in early April, with Kebe Brema winning the first but eventually being forced to retreat.<ref>{{cite book | last=Person | first=Yves | title=Samori. Une révolution dyula. | publisher=Mémoires de l'Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire | year=1968 |url=http://www.webmande.net/bibliotheque/yperson/011Apogee.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828083347/http://www.webmande.net/bibliotheque/yperson/011Apogee.html | archive-date=2017-08-28 }}</ref>

Bamako began growing quickly upon being named the capital of [[French Sudan]] in 1908. [[Dakar-Niger railroad|A railroad]] connecting Bamako to [[Dakar]] was completed in 1923.<ref name = Wade/>

Mali gained independence from France in April 1960, and the Republic of Mali was later established. At this time, Bamako had a population of around 160,000. During the 1960s, the country became socialist and Bamako was subject to [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] investment and influence.<ref name="AFN" /> However, the economy declined as state enterprises collapsed and unrest was widespread.<ref name="AFN" /> Eventually, [[Moussa Traoré]] led a successful coup and ruled Mali for 23 years. However his rule was characterised by severe droughts and poor government management and problems of food shortages.<ref name="AFN" />

In the late 1980s the people of Bamako and Mali campaigned for a free-market economy and multiparty democracy. In 1990, the [[National Congress for Democratic Initiative]] (''Congrès National d'Initiative démocratique'', CNID) was set up by the lawyer [[Mountaga Tall]], and the [[Alliance for Democracy in Mali]] (''Alliance pour la démocratie au Mali'', ADEMA) by Abdramane Baba and historian [[Alpha Oumar Konaré]]. These with the ''Association des élèves et étudiants du Mali'' (AEEM) and the [[Association Malienne des Droits de l'Homme]] (AMDH) aimed to oust Moussa Traoré. Under the old constitution, all labor unions had to belong to one confederation, the [[National Union of Malian Workers]] (UNTM). When the leadership of the UNTM broke from the government in 1990, the opposition grew. Groups were driven by paycuts and layoffs in the government sector, and the Malian government acceding to pressure from international donors to privatise large swathes of the economy that had remained in public hands even after the overthrow of the socialist government in 1968. Students, even children, played an increasing role in the protest marches in Bamako, and homes and businesses of those associated with the regime were ransacked by crowds.

On 22 March 1991, a large-scale protest march in central Bamako was violently suppressed, with estimates of those killed reaching 300. Four days later, a military coup deposed Traoré. The ''Comité de Transition pour le Salut du Peuple'' was set up, headed by General [[Amadou Toumani Touré]].<ref>Patrick Manning. Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, 1880–1995: 1880–1995. Cambridge University Press (1998) {{ISBN|0-521-64519-0}} pp.198–199</ref> Alpha Oumar Konari officially became president on 26 April 1992.<ref name="AFN"/>

On 20 November 2015, two gunmen [[2015 Bamako hotel attack|took 170 people hostage]] in the [[Radisson Blu]] hotel. Twenty-one people were killed in the [[2015 Bamako hotel attack|Bamako hotel attack]] along with the two gunmen during the seven-hour siege.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/20/mali-attack-highlights-global-spread-extremist-violence Mali attack: more than 20 dead after terrorist raid on Bamako hotel] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129025410/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/20/mali-attack-highlights-global-spread-extremist-violence |date=29 November 2016 }}, Mamadou Tapily et al, 21 November 2015, The Guardian, Retrieved 5 January 2015</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Pont des Martyrs Bamako.jpg|thumb|right|Pont des Martyrs]]
Bamako is situated on the Niger River floodplain, which hampers development along the riverfront and the Niger's tributaries. Bamako is relatively flat, except to the immediate north where an [[escarpment]] is found, being what remains of an extinct volcano. The Presidential Palace and main hospital are located here.

[[File:ViewFromTheSouthernShoreOfCiteDuNiger.jpg|right|thumb|Niger river]]
[[File:Hilltop view over Bamako.jpg|thumb|right|Hills around Bamako]]
[[File:Bamakolooking north from the old bridge.jpg|thumb|left|Road in Bamako. Kuluba hill, with the Presidential Palace, is in the background.]]

Originally, the city developed on the northern side of the river, but as it grew, bridges were developed to connect the north with the south. The first of these was the [[Martyrs Bridge (Bamako)|Pont des Martyrs]] (2-lane with two pedestrian sections) and the [[King Fahd Bridge (Bamako)|King Fahd Bridge]] (four-lane with two motorcycle and two pedestrian sections). Additionally, a seasonal causeway between the eastern neighborhoods of Sotuba and Misabugu was inherited from colonial times (alternated traffic on one lane with five crossing sections). The [[Sotuba Causeway]] (''Chaussée submersible de Sotuba'' in French, and ''Babilikoroni'' in [[Bambara language|Bamanankan]]) is typically under water from July to January. A third bridge (1.4 km long, 24 m wide, four-lane with two motorcycle and two pedestrian sections) is being built at the same location<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maliweb.net/category.php?NID=18466|title=maliweb.net :: Construction du 3e Pont de Bamako : Maliens et Chinois d'accord sur les aspects techniques du projet|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525222445/http://www.maliweb.net/category.php?NID=18466|archive-date=25 May 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> to reduce downtown congestion, notably by trucks.

== Environment ==

=== Waste Management Controversy ===
In 2015, the Bamako city government privatized waste collection in the city. Before the introduction of this program there was a long standing informal waste collection system carried out by "Economic interest groups."<ref>{{Cite web|last=EJOLT|title=QUATRE ANS APRÈS LA SIGNATURE DU CONTRAT OZONE MALI : AUCUNE PARTIE N'EST SATISFAITE|url=http://bamada.net/quatre-ans-apres-la-signature-du-contrat-ozone-mali-aucune-partie-nest-satisfaite|lang=fr|access-date=21 April 2021|archive-date=21 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421160542/http://bamada.net/quatre-ans-apres-la-signature-du-contrat-ozone-mali-aucune-partie-nest-satisfaite|url-status=live}}</ref> Before the privatization these independent groups collected waste throughout the city. After privatization, not only did many waste collectors become unemployed but the corporation that they enlisted to do the job was collecting only 30% of Bamako's waste. The garbage build up creates toxic living conditions and it only worsens when it rains. Due to the prevalence of waste in Bamako's streets, including informal dumping sites near a school, citizens have taken to protesting, marching and it has even escalated to the point of property damage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=EJOLT|title=Waste collection dispute in Bamako, Mali {{!}} EJAtlas|url=https://ejatlas.org/conflict/privatization-of-waste-management-and-displacement-of-informal-recyclers-in-bamako-mali|access-date=2021-04-19|website=[[Environmental Justice Atlas]]|language=en|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419155059/https://ejatlas.org/conflict/privatization-of-waste-management-and-displacement-of-informal-recyclers-in-bamako-mali|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Climate==
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Bamako features a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Aw''). Located in the [[Sudanian Savanna|Sudano]]-[[Sahel]]ian zone, Bamako is very hot on average all year round with the hottest months being between March and May. The mildest months are between November and February. During the dry season, rainfall is scarce: virtually none falls between November and April due to the dominance of the Saharan anticyclone and the dry [[trade winds]]. The rainy season occurs in the summer with the peak occurring with a few storms beginning in May, then transitioning to the monsoon from June to October.

{{Weather box
|location=Bamako (1950–2000, extremes 1949–2015)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 38.9
|Feb record high C = 42.8
|Mar record high C = 43.9
|Apr record high C = 43.5
|May record high C = 45.0
|Jun record high C = 42.0
|Jul record high C = 42.4
|Aug record high C = 37.8
|Sep record high C = 38.4
|Oct record high C = 38.9
|Nov record high C = 42.0
|Dec record high C = 40.0
|year record high C = 45.0
|Jan high C = 33.4
|Feb high C = 36.4
|Mar high C = 38.5
|Apr high C = 39.6
|May high C = 38.5
|Jun high C = 35.3
|Jul high C = 32.1
|Aug high C = 31.1
|Sep high C = 32.2
|Oct high C = 34.6
|Nov high C = 35.3
|Dec high C = 33.4
|year high C = 35.0
|Jan low C = 17.0
|Feb low C = 19.9
|Mar low C = 22.9
|Apr low C = 25.2
|May low C = 25.4
|Jun low C = 23.6
|Jul low C = 22.2
|Aug low C = 21.8
|Sep low C = 21.6
|Oct low C = 21.3
|Nov low C = 18.4
|Dec low C = 16.8
|year low C = 21.3
|Jan record low C = 8.7
|Feb record low C = 9.0
|Mar record low C = 12.0
|Apr record low C = 15.8
|May record low C = 17.8
|Jun record low C = 16.1
|Jul record low C = 17.5
|Aug record low C = 17.2
|Sep record low C = 18.0
|Oct record low C = 14.7
|Nov record low C = 10.8
|Dec record low C = 6.0
|year record low C = 6.0
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 0.6
|Feb rain mm = 0.7
|Mar rain mm = 2.1
|Apr rain mm = 19.7
|May rain mm = 54.1
|Jun rain mm = 132.1
|Jul rain mm = 224.1
|Aug rain mm = 290.2
|Sep rain mm = 195.9
|Oct rain mm = 66.1
|Nov rain mm = 5.2
|Dec rain mm = 0.5
|year rain mm = 991.3
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 0.2
|Feb rain days = 0.2
|Mar rain days = 0.6
|Apr rain days = 3.3
|May rain days = 6.3
|Jun rain days = 7.7
|Jul rain days = 16.7
|Aug rain days = 17.9
|Sep rain days = 14.7
|Oct rain days = 5.7
|Nov rain days = 0.3
|Dec rain days = 0.1
|Jan humidity = 24
|Feb humidity = 20
|Mar humidity = 22
|Apr humidity = 33
|May humidity = 50
|Jun humidity = 67
|Jul humidity = 77
|Aug humidity = 81
|Sep humidity = 78
|Oct humidity = 65
|Nov humidity = 38
|Dec humidity = 27
|year humidity = 49
|Jan sun = 277.4
|Feb sun = 253.0
|Mar sun = 268.1
|Apr sun = 230.4
|May sun = 242.6
|Jun sun = 233.6
|Jul sun = 216.6
|Aug sun = 218.3
|Sep sun = 221.7
|Oct sun = 253.7
|Nov sun = 270.7
|Dec sun = 268.6
|year sun = 2954.7
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]]<ref name= WMO>{{cite web
| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/034/c00129.htm
| title = World Weather Information Service – Bamako
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 20 June 2013
| archive-date = 13 March 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130313214445/http://worldweather.wmo.int/034/c00129.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990),<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/M1/61291.TXT
| title = BKO–s (Bamako) Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 10 September 2015}}</ref> [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]] (extremes and humidity)<ref name = DWD>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_612910_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Bamako (Flughafen) / Mali
| work = Baseline climate means (1961–1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = 3 February 2019
| archive-date = 9 June 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200609162241/https://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_612910_kt.pdf
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|date = June 2013}}

==Administration==
The District of Bamako has been divided into six communes (distinguished by numbers, and not named) since Ordinance No. 78-34/CNLM of 18 August 1978, and amended by a law in February 1982 establishing the new boundaries of Communes III and IV.<ref>[http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21982 Ordonnance n° 78-34/CNLM du 18 août 1978, modifiée par une loi de février 1982 fixant les nouvelles limites des Communes III et IV, cité par Doussou Djiré, Commune IV : entre tradition et modernité]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}, l'Essor, 24 April 2009</ref> Each commune is administered by the municipal council and a mayor elected from among its members. The last elections were held on 26 April 2009 and the [[Alliance for Democracy in Mali]] hold the majority of representatives for the communes.

===Communes and neighborhoods===
[[Commune I, Bamako|Commune I]] has a population of 335,407 people (2009) and covers {{convert|35|km2}}. It is bounded to the north by the rural commune of [[Djalakorodji]] ([[Kati Cercle]]), west by the Commune II, north-east by the rural commune of [[Sangarebougou]] (Kati Cercle), on the east by the rural commune of [[Gabakourou]] and south by the Niger River. Nine neighborhoods comprise this commune: Banconi, Boulkassombougou, Djelibougou, Doumanzana Fadjiguila, Sotuba Korofina North, and South Korofina Sikoroni.<ref>Badiaga, S. (24 April 2009). [http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21984 "Town I: 26 lists in contention, the Rise"]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}</ref>

[[Commune II, Bamako|Commune II]] has a population of 159,805 people (2009) and covers {{convert|18.3|km2}}. It is bounded to the east by the backwater of Korofina at the west foot of the Point G hill, and to the south by [[Niger River]]. The municipality has eleven neighborhoods: Niaréla (the oldest), Bagadadji, Medina-Coura, Bozola, Missira, Hippodrome, Quinzambougou, Bakaribougou, TSF, Industrial Area, and Bougouba. The new [[Cité Niger|Cité du Niger]] island is also located in the Commune II.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DLs1WaRmXBQC&q=quartiers+commune+ii+%22cite+du+niger%22+bamako&pg=PA101|title=Mali: The Bradt Travel Guide|last1=Velton|first1=Ross|last2=Geels|first2=Jolijn|date=2004-01-01|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=9781841620770|language=en|access-date=1 October 2020|archive-date=5 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210205072944/https://books.google.com/books?id=DLs1WaRmXBQC&q=quartiers+commune+ii+%22cite+du+niger%22+bamako&pg=PA101|url-status=live}}</ref> The area is the most important in the industry sector in Bamako.

[[Commune III, Bamako|Commune III]] has a population of 128,872 people (2009) and covers {{convert|20.7|km2}}. It is bounded on the north by the [[Kati]], east by the Boulevard du Peuple, which separates it from the Commune II, south by the portion of the Niger River, between the Pont des Martyrs and the Motel de Bamako, and west by the [[Farako River]] and Avenue Cheick Zayed El Mahyan Ben Sultan with the neighborhood of ACI-2000. Commune III is the administrative and commercial center of Bamako. It accommodates in particular the two largest markets in the capital, the Grand Market and Dibida. Twenty neighborhoods make up this commune and the villages of Koulouninko and Sirakorodounfing were attached to the Commune III.<ref>Cissé, A.M. (24 April 2009). [http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21982 Commune III : dans un mouchoir de poche ?]{{dead link|date=June 2012}} l'Essor</ref>

[[Commune IV, Bamako|Commune IV]] has a population of 300,085 people (2009) and covers {{convert|42|km2}}. It is bounded to the east by Commune III, north, west by Kati Cercle and south by the left bank of the Niger River. Commune IV consists of eight neighborhoods: Taliko, Lassa, Sibiribougou, Djikoroni Para, Sébénikoro, Hamdallaye, Lafiabougou and Kalabambougou.<ref>Djiré, Doussou (24 April 2009), [http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21982 Commune IV : entre tradition et modernité]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}, l'Essor</ref>

[[Commune V, Bamako|Commune V]] has a population of 414,668 people (2009) and covers {{convert|42|km2}}.<ref>Doumbia, B. (24 April 2009). [http://www.essor.gov.ml/jour/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=21983 Commune V : La nécessité d’agir]{{dead link|date=June 2012}}, L’Essor]</ref> It is bounded to the north by the Niger River, south by the airport and the commune of [[Kalabancoro]], and to the east by the Commune VI and Niger. It consists of eight neighborhoods: Badalabougou, Sema I, Quartier Mali, Torokorobougou, Baco-Djicoroni, Sabalibougou, Daoudabougou and Kalaban-Coura.
[[File:Bamako ACI 2000 Aeriel.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of neighbourhood ACI 2000]]
[[Commune VI, Bamako|Commune VI]] has a population of 470,269 people (2009) and covers {{convert|87|km2}}. This is the largest of the communes that make up Bamako. It consists of ten neighborhoods: Banankabougou, Djanékéla, Faladié, Magnambougou, Missabougou, Niamakoro, Sénou, Sogoniko, Sokorodji and Yrimadio.

Bamako contains the following neighborhoods (quartiers): ACI-2000, Badalabugu, Bajalan I, Bajalan II, Bako Jikoroni, Bagadaji, Bamako Kura, Bankoni, Bolibana, Bozola, Bugudani, Bulkasumbugu, Dar Salam, N'tomikorobougou, Dawdabugu, Dravela, Fajigila, Falaje, Garantigibugu, Jalakoroji, Janekela, Janjigila, Jelibugu, Jikoroni Para, Jumanzana, Hamdallaye, [[Hippodrome, Bamako|Hippodrome]], Kalaban Koro, Kalaban Kura, Korofina, Kuluba, Kulubleni, Lafiabugu, Madina Kura, Magnambugu (Magnambugu Faso Kanu), Misabugu, Misira, Niarela, Ntomikorobugu, Point G, Quartier du Fleuve, Quartier Mali, Quinzanbugu, Sabalibugu I, Sabalibugu II, Safo, Same, Sangarebugu, Saranbugu, Sebeninkoro, Sikoroni, Sirakoro, Senu, Sibiribugu, Sokoniko, Sokoroji, Sotuba, Titibugu, Torokorobugu, TSF-Sans Fil, Wolofobugu, Yirimanjo, Zone Industrielle

==Economy==
[[File:033-artisanat.jpg|thumb|right|Craft sellers set up their wares at the ''zone artisanal'' in Bamako city centre.]]

===Industry===
The District of Bamako concentrates 70% of industrial activity in the country.<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Bamako Bamako] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723122657/https://www.britannica.com/place/Bamako |date=23 July 2019 }}, britannica.com, US, accessed on 30 June 2019</ref>
<ref>Industrial Census in 2006, provided the Council of Ministers of 20 December 2006.</ref> The service sector is the most developed, and the city thrives in crafts and trade.

The traditional commercial center of Bamako was located to the north of the river, and contained within a triangle bounded by Avenue du Fleuve, Rue Baba Diarra, and Boulevard du Peuple. This area contains the Marché Rose and Street Market.

The downtown area is highly congested, polluted, and expensive, and urbanization is sprawling at a rapid pace within a radius of {{convert|30|km}}. The largest urbanized area now lies on the southern bank of the Niger River. A modern central business district is rapidly developing immediately west of the downtown area in the ACI-2000 district, taking advantage of a well-designed geometric layout, legacy of the old airport runways and taxiways. A large administrative area is being developed at the junction between ACI-2000 and the King Fadh Bridge, containing most of the state departments (ministries) and administrative services in a central location. Bamako is also the headquarters of many large companies and administrative institutions.{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}} [[Air Mali (2005)|Air Mali]] (formerly Compagnie Aérienne du Mali) has its head office in Bamako.<ref>"[http://www.camaero.com/pages/en/contattaci/contattaci.aspx?language=en Contact-us] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506053454/http://www.camaero.com/pages/en/contattaci/contattaci.aspx?language=en |date=6 May 2015 }}." [[Air Mali (2005)|Air Mali]]. Retrieved 19 October 2009.</ref> Bamako received much investment by [[Saudi Arabia]] for decades which saw a number of important structures being built. In recent years, China has become an important investor in Bamako, developing its infrastructure and facilities.

[[File:Bamako cattle.jpg|thumb|right|Cattle crossing a road in Bamako]]
Agriculture is active in Bamako, with the presence of [[Bozo people|Bozo]] fisherman, and it is common to see cattle crossing the streets.

===Energy===
Much of the electricity is generated from the hydroelectric [[Sélingué Dam]]. The drinking water supply in Bamako and [[Kati]] is also ensured by a pumping station on the Niger River. However, the capacity of {{convert|135000|m3}} to provide drinking water per day is insufficient for the needs estimated at {{convert|152000|m3}} during the hot season between April and June. During this period, frequent water shortages are experienced. A new pumping station was to open in Kabala in 2009.

==Architecture==
[[File:Bamakomali (3).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Ministry buildings]]
The [[BCEAO Tower (Bamako)|BCEAO Tower]] at 20 stories is the tallest building in the West African nation. It sits on the north ("left") bank of the River Niger in the city centre.<ref name="Velton2006">{{Cite book|last=Velton|first=Russ|title=Mali|publisher=Bradt UK / Globe Pequot Press|location=Chalfont St Peter, Bucks / Guilford, Connecticut|year=2006|isbn=978-1-84162-077-0}}</ref> The BCEAO Tower is the Malian headquarters of the [[Central Bank of West African States]], which provides development banking and government financial and currency services in several [[Francophone]] [[West African]] nations. Classified as [[Neo-Sudanic]] architecture, it is modeled on the [[Sudano-Sahelian architecture]] of the famous mosques of [[Djenne]] and [[Timbuktu]]. The building is located in the busy [[Commune III (Bamako)|Commune III]] neighbourhood, where "Avenue Moussa Tavele" meets the waterside boulevard between the two main Bamako bridges: [[King Fahd Bridge]] a block west and [[Martyrs Bridge (Bamako)|Martyrs Bridge]] three blocks east. Just to the east of the BCEAO complex, a park and formal garden mark where the diagonally running "Boulevard du Peuple" reaches the river. By contrast, small market gardens and launching points or river canoes lie along the river front.<ref name="Velton2006" />

The [[Cité Administrative (Bamako)|Cité Administrative]] (Administrative City) is a complex of buildings located just west of the northern end of the King Fahd Bridge. The complex was begun in 2003 by then President [[Alpha Oumar Konaré|Konaré]] with the help of funding from the government of Libya. The {{convert|10|ha|adj=on}} Cité Administrative was completed in 2010 and houses many of the offices of the government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.orangemali.com/cms/?p=10842|title=Orange|access-date=25 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924061309/http://www.orangemali.com/cms/?p=10842|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.journaldumali.com/article.php?aid=2077 |title=JournalDuMali.com: Bamako : la Cité administrative inaugurée par ATT |access-date=25 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016093605/http://www.journaldumali.com/article.php?aid=2077 |archive-date=16 October 2015 }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{historical populations|11=1976|12=419,239|13=1987|14=658,275|15=1998|16=1,016,167|17=2009|18=1,810,366|19=2022|20=4,227,569|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/Mali-Cities.html |title=Regions, Major Cities, and Localities |access-date=25 March 2020 |archive-date=25 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125232127/http://www.citypopulation.de/Mali-Cities.html |url-status=live }}</ref>|align=right}}

[[File:BamakoMali.jpg|thumb|People gathered on a Bamako hillside]]
Bamako has experienced staggering population growth. In 1884, it had only 2,500 inhabitants, 8,000 in 1908, 37,000 in 1945, and 100,000 in 1960. Today, the population is at least 18 times what it was in 1960, with 1,810,366 recorded at the 2009 census, and continues to attract a rural population in search of work.<ref>Institut national de la statistique (Mali),
[http://www.instat-mali.org/nada/index.php/catalog/8 Recensement Général de la Population et de l'Habitat 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105062138/http://www.instat-mali.org/nada/index.php/catalog/8 |date=5 November 2018 }}, instat-mali.org, Mali, 3 Apr 2014</ref>
Including illegal squatters and temporary workers, some experts believe the population today is well over 2 million. This uncontrolled growth has caused significant difficulties in terms of traffic, sanitation (including access to safe water), and pollution. Bamako hosts a diverse population composed of different ethnic groups in Mali and from neighboring countries.

Over 4.2 million people lived in the city in 2022.

==Culture==
The [[National Library of Mali]] was first created by the [[Institut Français d'Afrique Noire]], an arm of the French colonial government, in 1944. Following Mali's 1960 independence, this library became the Government Library; it would later be renamed again as the National Library of Mali. In 1968, the library was transferred from its initial home in Koulouba to Ouolofobougou, a section of Bamako. The library holds more than 60,000 works, including books, periodicals, audio documents, videos, and software. These materials are available free to the public, though a small subscription fee is required for borrowing privileges. The library also hosts some of the exhibits for [[African Photography Encounters]], a biannual Bamako photography festival.

The [[National Museum of Mali]] is an archeological and anthropological museum, presenting permanent and temporary exhibits on the prehistory of Mali, as well as the musical instruments, dress, and ritual objects associated with Mali's various [[ethnic group]]s. The National Museum began under French rule as the Sudanese Museum, part of the [[Institut Français d'Afrique Noire]] (IFAN) under [[Théodore Monod]]. It was opened on 14 February 1953, under the direction of [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] archeologist [[Yuriy Shumovskyi]]. Shumovskyi had worked in the museum for nine years, gathering half (nearly 3,000) of today's finds. The museum also houses indoor and outdoor exhibitions of works by local artists.[[File:BamakoMuseum.jpg|thumb]]

With the independence of the Republic of Mali in 1960, the Sudanese Museum became the National Museum of Mali, with the new objectives of promoting national unity and celebrating Malian traditional culture. However, lack of financial means and absence of qualified personnel caused some deterioration in the museum's collections. On 30 March 1956, the National Museum moved into a new [[cement]]ed structure, created by architect [[Jean-Loup Pivin]] from traditional Malian designs. Since the 1996 election of former archaeologist [[Alpha Oumar Konaré]] to Mali's presidency, the museum's funding has increased considerably, becoming among the best in West Africa. The museum often hosts part of the biannual [[African Photography Encounters]], photography festival held in Bamako since 1994.

Also of note is the [[Muso Kunda Museum]], the [[Bamako Regional Museum]], [[Bamako Zoo]], the [[Bamako Botanical Gardens]], the National Conference Center Tower (NCC), the Souvenir Pyramid, the Independence Monument, Al Quoods Monument, the triangular ''Monument de la paix'', the Hamdallaye obelisk, the Modibo Keita Memorial and many other monuments, the [[Palais de la Culture Amadou Hampaté Ba]] and the [[Point G]] hill, containing caves with [[Rock art|rock paintings]].

In 1988, Bamako was the location of a [[World Health Organization|WHO]] conference known as the [[Bamako Initiative]] that helped reshape health policy of [[sub-Saharan Africa]]. The yearly held [[Budapest-Bamako]] rally has the endpoint in Bamako, with the [[Dakar Rally]] often passing through Bamako.

===Music===
A music boom in Bamako took off in the 1990s, when vocalist [[Salif Keita]] and singer-guitarist [[Ali Farka Touré]] achieved international fame.<ref name="NYT 06">{{cite web|author=Hammer, Joshua |url=http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/travel/02mali.html?ex=1144641600&en=5d9d61a127019b74&ei=5070&emc=eta1/ |title=The Siren Song of Mali |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2 April 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311121110/http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/04/02/travel/02mali.html?ex=1144641600&en=5d9d61a127019b74&ei=5070&emc=eta1%2F |archive-date=11 March 2007 }}</ref> It attracted a number of tourists, record producers, and aspiring musicians to the city to try to follow in their footsteps. It is common to see musicians in the streets with ''[[djembe]]s'' and percussion bands playing traditional Bamana rhythms.<ref name="NYT 06" />

== Education ==
In 2011, four universities were founded; the [[University of Social Sciences and Management of Bamako]] (USSGB), the [[University of Humanities and Social Sciences of Bamako]] (ULSHB), the [[University of Science, Technology and Technologies of Bamako]] (USTTB) and the [[University of Legal and Political Sciences of Bamako]] (USJPB).<ref>Allaye Lam, [http://malijet.com/a_la_une_du_mali/36829-assemblee-nationale-feu-vert-pour-la-modification-du-code-du-t.html Assemblée nationale : FEU VERT POUR LA MODIFICATION DU CODE DU TRAVAIL ET L’ECLATEMENT DE L’UNIVERSITE DE BAMAKO] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721203817/http://malijet.com/a_la_une_du_mali/36829-assemblee-nationale-feu-vert-pour-la-modification-du-code-du-t.html |date=21 July 2019 }}, malijet.com, Mali, 11 December 2011</ref>

In 1972, the [[Union Malienne Des Aveugles]], an integrated school and centre for the blind and partially sighted, was established.

== Places of worship ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">

File:Bamako Cathedral.jpg|[[Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bamako]]
</gallery>

Among the [[places of worship]], they are predominantly [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques. There are also [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples : [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bamako]] ([[Catholic Church]]), Église Chrétienne Évangélique du Mali ([[Alliance World Fellowship]]), [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, "Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices", ABC-CLIO, US, 2010, p. 1793</ref>

=== Islam ===

*[[Eyoub Mosque]]

==Transport==
[[File:Taxi vans in Bamako.jpg|thumb|upright|right|This is a [[Share taxi#Sotrama|sotrama]] stand. The sotrama (taxi van) is what is used as public transportation, many being owned independently.]]
The [[Dakar-Niger Railway]] links Bamako to [[Dakar]] via [[Kati]], [[Négala]], [[Kita, Mali|Kita]], and [[Kayes]].

In 2015, a rail link to [[San-Pédro, Ivory Coast|San-Pédro]] in [[Ivory Coast]] is proposed.<ref>{{cite web |title=San Pedro-Bamako Corridor |url=https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/san-pedro-bamako-corridor |website=Railways Africa |access-date=4 May 2019 |language=en-ZA |date=22 October 2015 |archive-date=4 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504134422/https://www.railwaysafrica.com/news/san-pedro-bamako-corridor |url-status=live }}</ref>

The road network links Bamako to [[Koulikoro]], Kati, [[Kolokani]], [[Ségou]], and [[Sikasso]].

[[File:Aéroport international Modibo Keïta1.jpg|thumb|left|Bamako-Sénou International Airport]]

The [[Bamako-Sénou International Airport]] is {{convert|15|km|4=0}} from the city and opened to passengers in 1974. Passenger traffic steadily increased in the early 2000s. Government figures revealed 403,380 passengers in 1999, 423,506 in 2003, 486,526 in 2004, and 516,000 in 2005, and is predicted to reach over 900,000 by 2015 under a low (4%) yearly growth-rate scenario.<ref name=mcamali2006>[http://www.mcamali.org/IMG/pdf/composante_aeroport.pdf Composante aéroport Bamako-Sénou] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727073200/http://www.mcamali.org/IMG/pdf/composante_aeroport.pdf |date=27 July 2011 }}, Proposition MCA-Mali (2006)</ref> To date this growth rate has been surpassed. Total air traffic the airport increased by 12.4% in 2007 and 14% in 2008. Most of this increase came in passenger transport, with the number of passengers served increasing by 20% in 2007 and 17% in 2008. Twenty-seven airline carriers operated weekly or better at Bamako-Sénou International Airport in the 2007–2008 period. This continued growth was offset by cargo flights' decline of 16.75% in 2007, and 3.93% in 2008.<ref name=pana0109>[http://www.africanmanager.com/site_eng/detail_article.php?art_id=12622 "Air traffic at Bamako airport increases by 14% in 2008"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707093908/http://www.africanmanager.com/site_eng/detail_article.php?art_id=12622 |date=7 July 2011 }}. PANA press. 2009-01-14</ref> The highest frequency route is on the Bamako-Dakar sector with 29 weekly non-stop connections. Domestic flights also serve Mali's regional capitals [[Kayes]], [[Mopti]], [[Timbuktu]], [[Sikasso]], [[Gao]], and [[Kidal]]. Bamako Senou International Airport is managed by [[Aéroports du Mali]] (ADM).<ref name=mcamali2006 /> Its operations are overseen by the Malian Ministry of Equipment and Transports.<ref name=pana0109 />

Today, with the new administrative arrangement,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les nouvelles régions du Mali : Des gouverneurs dans deux déjà ! {{!}} Niarela.net|url=https://niarela.net/societe/les-nouvelles-regions-du-mali-des-gouverneurs-dans-deux-deja|access-date=2021-05-21|language=en-US|archive-date=21 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521214114/https://niarela.net/societe/les-nouvelles-regions-du-mali-des-gouverneurs-dans-deux-deja|url-status=live}}</ref> the territory of Mali will henceforth comprise twenty (20) Regions instead of eight (08), plus the District of Bamako which will henceforth comprise ten (10) urban communes instead of six (06). [https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Mali%20carte%20de%20reference%20sep2013.pdf]

Much of the transportation is either by the Niger River, or by paved roads linking Bamako to other major urban areas. Navigating the river is possible from Koulikoro to Mopti and Gao. The bush taxi is one of the main modes of transport.

Bamako is situated on both sides of the Niger River and three bridges connect the two banks: the Bridge of Martyrs completed in 1960 and renamed in memory of protesters killed in March 1991 by the regime of [[Moussa Traoré]], the [[King Fahd Bridge (Bamako)|King Fahd Bridge]], named after the Saudi Arabian donor, and a third bridge, the ''Pont de l’amitié sino-malienne'' funded by the People's Republic of China. Located in Sotuba area, it has the objective to decongest traffic in the city.<ref>" Troisième pont de Bamako : le compte à rebours a commencé ", ''L'Essor'', 19 November 2007.</ref>

==Healthcare==
The Point G hospital, built between 1906 and 1913, covers {{convert|25|ha}}. A former military hospital, it became a civilian hospital shortly before the independence of Mali, and is situated on a hill overlooking Bamako.<ref>B. Doumbia, " Centenaire du Point G : Un siècle à la pointe des soins et une belle histoire ", ''L'Essor'', 11 December 2006.</ref>

The second hospital of Bamako is the Gabriel Touré Hospital named after a young doctor and humanist Gabriel Touré who was born in 1910 in [[Ouagadougou]] and died in 1935 after having been contaminated by a patient with the [[pneumonic plague]]. The hospital was established in 1959.<ref>B. Doumbia, Board of Directors of the Gabriel Toure hospital: the quality imperative, L'Essor, 26 February 2009</ref>

The contract for the building of a new hospital in Bamako, to relieve pressure on the other hospital resources was signed on 27 December 2008. Located in the district of [[Yirimadio]], the department will include a pediatric and obstetrics-gynecology facilities, a department of internal medicine, medical imagery facilities and hospital care with 150 beds to support the emergency services and intensive care. This hospital, like many recent developments in Bamako is financed and equipped with Chinese investment.<ref>B. Doumbia, Futur " Hôpital du Mali " : les travaux peuvent démarrer, l'Essor, 31 December 2008</ref>

==In popular culture==
Bamako has provided the backdrop or been the subject of books and films such as ''[[Bamako (film)|Bamako]]'', directed by [[Abderrahmane Sissako]]. The film depicts a trial taking place in Bamako, amid the daily life that is going on in the city. In the midst of that trial, two sides argue whether the [[World Bank]] and [[International Monetary Fund]], or perhaps corruption, are guilty of the financial state of many poverty-stricken African countries. The film was first released at the Cannes Film Festival on 21 May 2006 and in [[Manhattan]] by [[New Yorker Films]] on 14 February 2007 and was the recipient of the first [[Film Award of the Council of Europe]] given at the [[Istanbul International Film Festival]] in April 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1118399 |title="Bamako", winner of the first Council of Europe film award in Istanbul |date=14 April 2007 |publisher=[[Council of Europe]] |access-date=14 April 2009 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303191007/https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1118399 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Bamako was one of the cities featured in ''[[Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (1985 video game)|Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?]]'', an educational computer game staple of the 1980s.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Madrigal|first=Alexis C.|date=2011-01-27|title=The Geopolitics of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/the-geopolitics-of-where-in-the-world-is-carmen-sandiego/70369/|access-date=2020-10-30|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|archive-date=4 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204024628/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/01/the-geopolitics-of-where-in-the-world-is-carmen-sandiego/70369/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Notable people==


{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]]
* [[Amadou & Mariam]]
* [[Sangaré Niamoto Ba]]
* [[Ousmane Cisse]]
* [[Idrissa Coulibaly]]
* [[Mohamed Coulibaly (swimmer)|Mohamed Coulibaly]]
* [[Massa Makan Diabaté]]
* [[Sidy Fassara Diabaté]]
* [[Drissa Diakite]]
* [[Mahamadou Diarra]]
* [[Drissa Diarra (footballer, born 1985)|Drissa Diarra]]
* [[Moké Diarra]]
* [[Lamine Diawara]]
* [[Nare Diawara]]
* [[Yaya Dissa]]
* [[Adama Drabo]]
* [[Bakari Fofana]]
* [[Amara Morikè Kallé]]
* [[Ibrahim Kante]]
* [[Salif Keïta (Malian footballer)|Salif Keita]]
* [[Makan Konaté]]
* [[Amadou Konte]]
* [[Seydou Badian Kouyaté]]
* [[Abdoulaye Maïga (officer)|Abdoulaye Maïga]]
* [[Hamchétou Maïga]]
* [[Modibo Maiga]]
* [[Aya Nakamura]]
* [[Adama Sanogo]]
* [[Amadou Sidibé]]
* [[Malick Sidibé]]
* [[Noé Sissoko]]
* [[Bakary Soumaré]]
* [[Tidiani (Jeff) Tall]]
* [[Jean Tigana]]
* [[Meiya Tireira]]
* [[Ali Farka Touré]]
* [[Almamy Toure]]
* [[Sidi Touré]]
* [[Dramane Traoré]]
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
File:Monument de l'hospitalité Bamako Mali.JPG| Monument de l'hospitalité
File:Bamako_Entrance_Arch.jpg|Bamako airport road welcome sign
File:Place de la liberté - Bamako.jpg|Place de la liberté
File:Monument Al Quoods - Bamako.jpg|Al Quoods Monument
File:L'obélisque des idéogrammes, Hamdallaye - Bamako.jpg|Hamdallaye obelisk
File:Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes - Statue place des explorateurs - Koulouba - Bamako.jpg|Statue of [[Gustave Borgnis-Desbordes]]
File:Pyramide du souvenir - Bamako.jpg|Pyramide du souvenir
</gallery>

== Twin towns and sister cities==
Bamako is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web|title=Villes jumelées|url=https://bamako.ml/villes-jumelees/|website=bamako.ml|publisher=Bamako|language=fr|access-date=2020-10-19|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019201959/https://bamako.ml/villes-jumelees/|url-status=live}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Angers]], France (1974)
*{{flagicon|TKM}} [[Ashgabat]], Turkmenistan (1974)
*{{flagicon|BFA}} [[Bobo-Dioulasso]], Burkina Faso (1994)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Bordeaux]], France (1999)
*{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Dakar]], Senegal (1973)
*{{flagicon|MRT}} [[Nouakchott]], Mauritania
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], United States (1975)

{{div col end}}

==See also==

* [[Railway stations in Mali]]
* [[List of cities in Mali]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* Pascal James Imperato. Historical Dictionary of Mali. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ – London (1986) {{ISBN|0-8108-1369-6}}
* Ross Velton. Mali: The Bradt Travel Guide. Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press, 2000.

==Bibliography==
{{See also|Timeline of Bamako#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Bamako}}

==External links==
{{Wikivoyage|Bamako}}
{{Commons category|Bamako}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080621103815/http://www.bamako-culture.org/ Bamako-culture.org (French language)]

{{List of African capitals}}
{{Niger River}}
{{Cercles of Mali}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Bamako| ]]
[[Category:Cercles of Mali]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Capital districts and territories]]
[[Category:Communities on the Niger River]]

Algiers

2023-12-12T19:31:49Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Algeria}}
{{About|the capital of Algeria}}
{{Redirect|Algerine}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Algiers
| native_name = {{native name|ar|الجزائر}} {{transliteration|ar|al-Jazāʾir}}
| other_name =
| official_name =
| nicknames = Algiers the White; Algiers the Dazzling
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| imagesize = 275px
| image_skyline = Algiers Montage.png
| image_caption = '''From top, left to right''': Coast, [[Martyrs' Memorial, Algiers|Martyrs' Memorial]], [[Ministry of Finance (Algeria)|Ahmed Francis Building]], [[Notre-Dame d'Afrique|Basilica of Our Lady of Africa]], [[Grande Poste d'Alger|Central Post Office]], [[Ketchaoua Mosque]], Harbour
| image_flag = Flag of Algiers.svg
| image_shield = Algiers-COA.svg
| pushpin_map = Algeria#Africa
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_mapsize = 275
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Algeria]] and [[Africa]]
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Algeria|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Algiers Province]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Algeria|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Sidi M'Hamed District]]
| subdivision_name = Algeria
| leader_title = [[Wali (administrative title)|Wali]] ([[Governor]])
| leader_name = Ahmed Maâbed (since 2021)
| established_title = Re-founded
| established_date =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 363
| area_metro_km2 = 1190
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref name=citypop>{{Cite web|url=http://citypopulation.de/Algeria.html
|title=Population of the city proper according to the 2008 census|publisher=Citypopulation.de
|access-date=2010-06-27| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100615060640/http://www.citypopulation.de/Algeria.html| archive-date= 15 June 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=wup>{{Cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp?panel=2 |title=UN World Urbanization Prospects
|publisher=Esa.un.org |access-date=2010-06-27 |url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223005931/http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp?panel=2
|archive-date=2009-12-23 }}</ref>
| population_total = 4,510,000
| population_density_km2 = 12,424
| population_density_metro_km2 = 7012
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +01:00
| coordinates = {{coord|36|45|14|N|3|3|32|E|region:DZ_type:city|display=inline}}
| elevation_min_m = 2
| elevation_max_m = 424
| postal_code_type = Postal codes
| postal_code = 16000–16132
| area_code = (+213) 021
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Mediterranean climate|Csa]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Algiers''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|dʒ|ɪər|z}} {{respell|al|JEERZ}}; {{lang-ar|الجزائر|al-Jazāʾir}}; {{lang-fr|Alger}}, {{IPA-fr|alʒe|}}) is the [[capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Algeria]]. The city's population at the 2008 census was 2,988,145<ref name="ReferenceA">Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques de l'Algérie (web).</ref> and in 2020 was estimated to be around 4,500,000. Algiers is in the north-central part of Algeria.<ref name=wup/>

Algiers is situated on the west side of the Bay of Algiers, in the Mediterranean Sea. The modern part of the city is built on the level ground by the seashore; the old part, the ancient city of the [[dey]]s, climbs the steep hill behind the modern town and is crowned by the [[Casbah of Algiers|Casbah]] or citadel (a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]),<ref>[[UNESCO]], [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/565 ''Decision Text''], World Heritage Centre, retrieved 21 July 2017.</ref> {{convert|122|m|0}} above the sea. The Casbah and the two quays form a triangle.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=653}}

{{anchor|Etymology|Toponymy|Name}}

==Names==
The city's name is derived via [[French language|French]] and [[Catalan language|Catalan]] {{lang|ca|Alger}}<ref name=leschi>''Origins of Algiers'' by [[Louis Leschi]], speech delivered June 16, 1941, published in ''El Djezair Sheets'', July 1941 [http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/alger_son_histoire/textes/3_origines_alger_1941_feuillets.htm History of Algeria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116134513/http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/alger_son_histoire/textes/3_origines_alger_1941_feuillets.htm |date=2013-01-16 }} {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> from the Arabic name {{Lang|ar-latn|al-Jazāʾir}} ({{lang|ar|الجزائر}}), "The Islands". This name refers to the four former islands which lay off the city's coast before becoming part of the mainland in 1525. {{Lang|ar-latn|Al-Jazāʾir}} is itself a truncated form of the city's older name {{Lang|ar-latn|Jazaʾir Banī Mazghanna}} ({{lang|ar|جزائر بني مزغانة}}), "islands of {{Lang|ar-latn|[[Banu (Arabic)|Banu]]|italic=no}} Mazghanna", used by early medieval geographers such as [[Muhammad al-Idrisi]] and [[Yaqut al-Hamawi]]. The name was given by [[Buluggin ibn Ziri]] after he established the city on the ruins of the [[Phoenicia|Phoenician]] city of [[Icosium]] in 950.<ref>{{Cite web |title=les origines d'alger,conference faite le 16 juin 1941,comite du vieil alger;venis |url=http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/alger_son_histoire/textes/3_origines_alger_1941_feuillets.htm |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alger-roi.fr}}</ref> During [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule, the name of the capital, ''al-Jazā'ir,'' was extended over the entire country, giving it the English name Algeria derived from the French name Algérie.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-05-17 |title=الجزائر... تُلقب تاريخياً بأرض الإسلام ومنها انطلقت الفتوحات الإسلامية نحو الأندلس وأفريقيا |url=https://www.alraimedia.com/article/324914/متفرقات/الجزائر-تلقب-تاريخيا-بأرض-الإسلام-ومنها-انطلقت-الفتوحات-الإسلامية-نحو-الأندلس-وأفريقيا |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=الجزائر... تُلقب تاريخياً بأرض الإسلام ومنها انطلقت الفتوحات الإسلامية نحو الأندلس وأفريقيا}}</ref>

In [[classical antiquity]], the [[list of Graeco-Roman geographers|ancient Greeks]] knew the town as {{Lang|grc-latn|Ikósion}} ({{lang-grc|Ἰκόσιον}}), which was [[latinization of names|Latinized]] as [[Icosium]] under [[Roman Republic|Roman rule]]. The Greeks [[folk etymology|explained the name]] as coming from their word for "twenty" ({{lang|grc|εἴκοσι}}, {{Lang|grc-latn|eíkosi}}), supposedly because it had been founded by 20 companions of [[Hercules]] when he visited the [[Atlas Mountains]] during [[Labors of Hercules|his labors]].<ref name=backtalk>{{cite book | author = Edward Lipiński | date = 2004 | title = Itineraria Phoenicia | publisher = Peeters Publishers | page = 403 | isbn = 978-90-429-1344-8 | oclc = 1026236463 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SLSzNfdcqfoC&pg=PA403}}</ref>

Algiers is also known as {{Lang|ar-latn|el-Behdja}} ({{lang|ar|البهجة}}, "The Joyous") or "Algiers the White" ({{lang-fr|Alger la Blanche|links=no}}) for its whitewashed buildings.

==History==
{{For timeline}}

===Early history===
{{main|Icosium}}
The city's earliest history was as a small port in [[Ancient Carthage|Carthage]] where [[Phoenicians]] were trading with other Mediterraneans. After the [[Punic Wars]], the [[Roman Republic]] eventually took over administration of the town, which they called [[Icosium]]. Its ruins now form part of the modern city's marine quarter, with the Rue de la Marine following a former [[Roman road]]. Roman cemeteries existed near [[Bab-el-Oued]] and [[Bab Azoun]]. The city was given [[Latin rights]] by the emperor [[Vespasian]]. The [[bishop]]s of Icosium are mentioned as late as the 5th century,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}} but the ancient town fell into obscurity during the [[Muslim conquest of the Maghreb]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Algeria - Key Figures in Algeria's history |url=https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Algeria-history.htm |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=www.nationsonline.org}}</ref>

The present city was founded in 944 by [[Buluggin ibn Ziri]], the founder of the [[Berbers|Berber]] [[Zirid dynasty]]. He had built his own house and a [[Sanhaja]] center at Ashir in 935 just south of Algiers. Although the Zirid dynasty was overthrown by [[Roger II of Sicily]] in 1148, the Zirids had already lost control of Algiers to their cousins the [[Hammadid]]s in 1014.<ref name="Ruedy2005">{{cite book | author = John Ruedy | date = 12 August 2005 | title = Modern Algeria, Second Edition: The Origins and Development of a Nation | publisher = Indiana University Press | pages = 13– | isbn = 978-0-253-21782-0 | oclc = 1025661094 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WIRWgrbE_fEC&pg=PA13}}</ref>

The city was wrested from the Hammadids by the [[Almohad Caliphate]] in 1159, and in the 13th century came under the dominion of the [[Ziyanid]] sultans of the [[Kingdom of Tlemcen]]. Nominally part of the sultanate of Tlemcen, Algiers had a large measure of independence under [[Thaaliba]] [[amir]]s of its own due to [[Oran]] being the chief seaport of the Ziyanids.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}

The [[Peñón of Algiers]], an islet in front of Algiers harbour, had been occupied by the Spaniards as early as 1302. Thereafter, a considerable amount of trade began to flow between Algiers and [[Spain]]. However, Algiers continued to be of comparatively little importance until after the [[Reconquista#Conversions and expulsions|expulsion of the Moors]] from Spain, many of whom sought asylum in the city. In 1510, following their occupation of Oran and other towns on the coast of Africa, the Spaniards fortified the islet of Peñon{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}} and imposed a levy intended to suppress the [[Barbary pirates]].<ref name="Çelik1997">{{cite book | author = Zeynep Çelik | date = 1997 | title = Urban Forms and Colonial Confrontations: Algiers Under French Rule | publisher = University of California Press | page = 13| isbn = 978-0-520-20457-7 | oclc = 208879670 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hSSLQgAACAAJ}}</ref>

===Ottoman rule===
[[File:Civitates orbis terrarum. De praecipuis totius universi urbibus. Liber secundus (page 128).jpg|thumb|Algiers by [[Antonio Salamanca]], circa 1540, published in [[Civitates Orbis Terrarum]]]]
[[File:Duquesne fait liberer des captifs chretiens apres le bombardement d Alger en 1683.jpg|thumb|[[Abraham Duquesne]] delivering Christian captives in Algiers after the bombing in 1683.]]
In 1516, the amir of Algiers, Selim b. Teumi, invited the corsair brothers [[Oruç Reis]] and [[Hayreddin Barbarossa]] to expel the [[Habsburg Spain|Spaniards]]. Oruç Reis came to Algiers, ordered the assassination of Selim, and seized the town and ousted the Spanish in the [[Capture of Algiers (1516)]]. Hayreddin, succeeding Aruj after the latter was killed in battle against the Spaniards in the [[Fall of Tlemcen (1518)|1518 fall of Tlemcen]], was the founder of the ''[[pashaluk]]'', which subsequently became the ''[[bey]]lik'', of Algeria. Barbarossa lost Algiers in 1524 but regained it with the [[Capture of Peñón of Algiers (1529)|1529 Capture of Peñón of Algiers]], and then formally invited the Sultan [[Suleiman the Magnificent]] to accept sovereignty over the territory and to annex Algiers to the [[Ottoman Empire]].

[[File:Algiers and Bejaia by Piri Reis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Historic map of Algiers by [[Piri Reis]]]]
{{Anchor|Algerine}}
Algiers from this time became the chief seat of the [[Barbary pirates]]. In October 1541 in the [[Algiers expedition (1541)|Algiers expedition]], the King of Spain and [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] sought to capture the city, but a storm destroyed a great number of his ships, and his army of some 30,000, chiefly made up of Spaniards, was defeated by the Algerians under their [[pasha]], Hassan.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}
[[File:Sm Bombardment of Algiers, August 1816-Luny.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Bombardment of Algiers (1816)|bombardment of Algiers]] under [[Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth|Viscount Exmouth]], August 1816, painted by [[Thomas Luny]]]]
[[File:Ottoman cannon end of 16th century length 385cm cal 178mm weight 2910 stone projectile founded 8 October 1581 Alger seized 1830.jpg|right|thumb|Ornate [[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman cannon]] found in Algiers on 8 October 1581 by Ca'fer el-Mu'allim. Length: 385 cm, cal:178 mm, weight: 2910 kg, stone projectile. Seized by France during the [[invasion of Algiers in 1830]]. [[Army Museum (Paris)|Army Museum, Paris]].]]

Formally part of the Ottoman Empire but essentially free from Ottoman control, starting in the 16th century Algiers turned to piracy and ransoming. Due to its location on the periphery of both the Ottoman and European economic spheres, and depending for its existence on a Mediterranean that was increasingly controlled by European shipping, backed by European navies, piracy became the primary economic activity. Repeated attempts were made by various nations to subdue the pirates that disturbed shipping in the western Mediterranean and engaged in slave raids as far north as Iceland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heimaslod.is/index.php/Tyrkjar%C3%A1ni%C3%B0 |title=Tyrkjaránið – Heimaslóð |language=is |publisher=Heimaslod.is |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527072348/http://www.heimaslod.is/index.php/Tyrkjar%C3%A1ni%C3%B0 |archive-date=2011-05-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> By the 17th century, up to 40% of the city's 100,000 inhabitants were enslaved Europeans.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4547299|title=From Amrum to Algiers and Back: The Reintegration of a Renegade in the Eighteenth Century|author=Martin Reinheimer|journal=Central European History|year=2003|volume=36|issue=2|pages=209–233|access-date=2021-06-23|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|doi=10.1163/156916103770866121|jstor=4547299|s2cid=143504775}}</ref> The [[United States]] fought two wars (the [[First Barbary War|First]] and [[Second Barbary War]]s) over Algiers' attacks on shipping.

Among the notable people held for ransom was the future Spanish novelist, [[Miguel de Cervantes]], who was held captive in Algiers for almost five years, and wrote two plays set in Algiers of the period. The primary source for knowledge of Algiers of this period, since there are no contemporary local sources, is the ''Topografía e historia general de Argel'' (1612, but written earlier), published by Diego de Haedo, but whose authorship is disputed.<ref>{{cite journal
|first=Daniel
|last=Eisenberg
|author-link=:es:Daniel Eisenberg
|title=Cervantes, autor de la ''Topografía e historia general de Argel'' publicada por Diego de Haedo
|journal=Cervantes: Bulletin of the Cervantes Society of America
|volume=16
|number=1
|year=1996
|pages=32–53
|doi=10.3138/Cervantes.16.1.032
|s2cid=187065952
|url=http://www.h-net.org/~cervantes/csa/artics96/topograf.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318061159/http://www.h-net.org/~cervantes/csa/artics96/topograf.htm |archive-date=2015-03-18}} Others have disputed Eisenberg's attribution of the work to Cervantes.</ref><ref>{{cite book
|author-link=:es:Daniel Eisenberg
|first=Daniel
|last=Eisenberg
|contribution=¿Por qué volvió Cervantes de Argel?" ("Why Did Cervantes return from Algiers?
|title=''Ingeniosa invención'': Essays on Golden Age Spanish Literature for Geoffrey L. Stagg in Honor of his Eighty-Fifth Birthday
|location=[[Newark, Delaware]]
|publisher=Juan de la Cuesta
|year=1999
|isbn=0936388838
|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ingeniosainvenci0000unse/page/241 241–253]
|url=https://archive.org/details/ingeniosainvenci0000unse/page/241
}}</ref> This work describes in detail the city, the behavior of its inhabitants, and its military defenses, with the unsuccessful hope of facilitating an attack by Spain so as to end the piracy.

A significant number of renegades lived in Algiers at the time, Christians converted voluntarily to [[Islam]], many fleeing the law or other problems at home. Once converted to Islam, they were safe in Algiers. Many occupied positions of authority, such as [[Samson Rowlie]], an Englishman who became Treasurer of Algiers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35843991|title=The First Muslims in England|work=BBC News|date=20 March 2016|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321043520/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35843991|archive-date=2016-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

The city under Ottoman control was enclosed by a wall on all sides, including along the seafront. In this wall, five gates allowed access to the city, with five roads from each gate dividing the city and meeting in front of the Ketchaoua Mosque. In 1556, a citadel was constructed at the highest point in the wall. A major road running north to south divided the city in two: The upper city (al-Gabal, or 'the mountain') which consisted of about fifty small quarters of [[Andalusians|Andalusian]], [[Algerian Jews|Jewish]], [[Moors|Moorish]] and [[Kabyle people|Kabyle]] communities, and the lower city (al-Wata, or 'the plains') which was the administrative, military and commercial centre of the city, mostly inhabited by [[Kouloughlis|Ottoman Turkish dignitaries]] and other upper-class families.<ref>Celik, Zeynep, ''Urban Forms and Colonial Confrontations: Algiers Under French Rule'', University of California Press, 1997, pp. 13–14.</ref>

In August 1816, the city was bombarded by a British squadron under [[Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth|Lord Exmouth]] (a descendant of Thomas Pellew, taken in an Algerian slave raid in 1715<ref>{{Cite book|title=Africa (a-z).|last=Godfrey.|first=Mugoti|date=2009|publisher=Lulu Com|isbn=978-1435728905|location=[Place of publication not identified]|oclc=946180025}}{{self-published source|date=February 2020}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}}), assisted by men-of-war from the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], destroying the corsair fleet harboured in Algiers.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}

===French rule===
[[File:Algiers - depot and station grounds of Algerian Railway LCCN2004707260.tif|thumb|Algiers depot and station grounds of Algerian Railway, 1894]]
The history of Algiers from 1830 to 1962 is bound to the larger history of [[Algeria]] and its relationship to [[France]]. On July 4, 1830, under the pretext of an affront to the French consul—whom the [[dey]] had hit with a [[fly-whisk]] when the consul said the French government was not prepared to pay its large outstanding debts to two Algerian merchants—a French army under [[Louis-Auguste-Victor, Count de Ghaisnes de Bourmont|General de Bourmont]] attacked the city in the [[invasion of Algiers in 1830|1830 invasion of Algiers]]. The city capitulated the following day. Algiers became the capital of [[French Algeria]].

Many Europeans settled in Algiers, and by the early 20th century they formed a majority of the city's population.<ref>Albert Habib Hourani, Malise Ruthven (2002). "''[https://books.google.com/books?id=egbOb0mewz4C&pg=PA323 A history of the Arab peoples] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906022938/https://books.google.com/books?id=egbOb0mewz4C&pg=PA323&dq&hl=en |date=2015-09-06 }}''". Harvard University Press. p.323. {{ISBN|0-674-01017-5}}</ref> During the 1930s, the architect [[Le Corbusier]] drew up plans for a complete redesign of the colonial city. Le Corbusier was highly critical of the urban style of Algiers, describing the European district as "nothing but crumbling walls and devastated nature, the whole a sullied blot". He also criticised the difference in living standards he perceived between the European and African residents of the city, describing a situation in which "the 'civilised' live like rats in holes" whereas "the 'barbarians' live in solitude, in well-being".<ref>Celik, Zeynep, ''Urban Forms and Colonial Confrontations: Algiers Under French Rule'', University of California Press, 1997, p. 5.</ref> However, these plans were ultimately ignored by the French administration.

During [[World War II]], Algiers was the first city to be seized from the Axis by the Allies in [[Operation Terminal]], a part of [[Operation Torch]].
[[File:Algiers CNE-v1-p58-J.jpg|thumb|left|City and harbour of Algiers, {{circa|1921}}]]

In 1962, after a bloody independence struggle in which hundreds of thousands (estimates range between 350,000 and 1,500,000) died (mostly Algerians but also French and [[Pied-Noir|Pieds-Noirs]]) during fighting between the [[French Army]] and the Algerian [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|Front de Libération Nationale]], Algeria gained its independence, with Algiers as its capital. Since then, despite losing its entire ''[[pied-noir]]'' population, the city has expanded massively. It now has about five million inhabitants, or 10 percent of Algeria's population—and its suburbs now cover most of the surrounding [[Geography of Algeria|Mitidja]] plain.

===Algerian War===
[[File:1962-03-22 Algeria tense cease fire.ogv|thumb|right|The "tense truce" between Algerian rebels, French army and the OAS in 1962]]
Algiers also played a pivotal role in the [[Algerian War]] (1954–1962), particularly during the [[Algerian War#Battle of Algiers|Battle of Algiers]] when the 10th Parachute Division of the French Army, starting on January 7, 1957, and on the orders of the French Minister of Justice [[François Mitterrand]] (who authorized any means "to eliminate the insurrectionists"{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}), led attacks against the Algerian fighters for independence. Algiers remains marked by this battle, which was characterized by merciless fighting between FLN forces which carried out a guerrilla campaign against the French military and police and pro-French Algerian soldiers, and the French Army which responded with a bloody repression, torture and blanket terrorism against the native population. The demonstrations of May 13 during the crisis of 1958 provoked the fall of the [[French Fourth Republic|Fourth Republic]] in France, as well as the return of General [[Charles de Gaulle|de Gaulle]] to power.

===Independence===
Algeria achieved [[independence]] on July 5, 1962. Run by the FLN that had secured independence, Algiers became a member of [[Non-Aligned Movement]] during the [[Cold War]]. In October 1988, one year before the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], Algiers was the site of demonstrations demanding the end of the single-party system and the creation of a ''real'' [[democracy]] baptized the "Spring of Algier". The demonstrators were repressed by the authorities (more than 300 dead), but the movement constituted a turning point in the political history of modern Algeria. In 1989, a new constitution was adopted that put an end to the one-party rule and saw the creation of more than fifty political parties, as well as official freedom of the press.

===Crisis of the 1990s===
The city became the theatre of many political demonstrations of all descriptions until 1993. In 1991, a political entity dominated by religious conservatives called the [[Islamic Salvation Front]] engaged in a political test of wills with the authorities. In the 1992 elections for the Algerian National Assembly, the Islamists garnered a large amount of support in the first round. Fearing an eventual win by the Islamists, the army canceled the election process, setting off a [[Algerian Civil War|civil war]] between the State and armed religious conservatives which would last for a decade.

On December 11, 2007, two car [[11 December 2007 Algiers bombings|bombs exploded in Algiers]]. One bomb targeted two [[United Nations]] office buildings and the other targeted a government building housing the Supreme Court. The death toll was at least 62, with over two hundred injured in the attacks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les autorités accusent al-Qaïda|publisher=RFI|url=http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/096/article_60149.asp|access-date=2007-12-11| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071213023440/http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/096/article_60149.asp| archive-date= 13 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> However, only 26 remained hospitalized the following day.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Toll in Algiers bombings rises to 31 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071212/ap_on_re_af/algeria_explosion |access-date=2007-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214021257/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071212/ap_on_re_af/algeria_explosion |archive-date=2007-12-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{as of|2008}}, it is speculated that the attack was carried out by the Al Qaida cell within the city.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda blamed for Algeria bombs|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/12/11/algeria.blast/index.html|access-date=2007-12-11 | date=2007-12-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071212153122/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/12/11/algeria.blast/index.html| archive-date= 12 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Indigenous terrorist groups have been actively [[Islamic insurgency in Algeria (2002–present)#2007|operating in Algeria since around 2002]].

==Geography==

===Districts of Algiers===
[[File:NOTRE DAME D'AFRIQUE.ALGER.jpg|thumb|[[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], built by European settlers in 1872<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8766/ |title = Notre Dame d'Afrique and Carmelite Convent, Algiers, Algeria |website = [[World Digital Library]] |year = 1899 |access-date = 2013-09-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927125818/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8766/ |archive-date = 2013-09-27 |url-status = live }}</ref>]]
* '''[[Casbah of Algiers|The Casbah]]''' (of ''Al Qasbah'', "the Citadel"), Ier District of Algiers: called ''Al-Djazaïr Al Mahroussa'' ("Well Kept Algiers"), is founded on the ruins of old Icosium. It is a small city which, built on a hill, goes down towards the sea, divided in two: the High city and the Low city. One finds there masonries and mosques of the 17th century; Ketchaoua mosque (built in 1794 by the Dey Baba Hassan) flanked by two minarets, mosque el Djedid (built in 1660, at the time of Turkish regency) with its large finished ovoid cupola points some and its four coupolettes, mosque El Kébir (oldest of the mosques, it was built by [[Almoravid]] [[Youssef Ibn Tachfin]] and rebuilt later in 1794), mosque Ali Betchnin (Raïs, 1623), Dar Aziza, palate of Jénina. In the Kasbah, there are also labyrinths of lanes and houses that are very picturesque, and if one gets lost there, it is enough to go down again towards the sea to reposition oneself.
* ''' [[Bab El Oued]]''': Literally ''the River's Gate'', the popular district which extends from the Casbah beyond "the gate of the river". It is the capital's darling and best liked borough. Famous for its square with "the three clocks" and for its "market Triplet", it is also a district of workshops and manufacturing plants.
* ''' [[Edge of sea]]''': from 1840, the architects Pierre-August Guiauchain and [[Charles Frédéric Chassériau]] designed new buildings apart from the Casbah, town hall, law courts, buildings, theatre, palace of the Governor, and casino, to form an elegant walk bordered by arcades which is today the boulevard [[Che Guevara]] (formerly the Boulevard of the [[Republic]]).
* ''' [[Kouba, Algeria|Kouba]]''' ([[will daira]] of [[Hussein-dey]]): Kouba is an old village which was absorbed by the expansion of the town of Algiers. Kouba quickly developed under the French colonial era then continued growing due to formidable demographic expansion that Algiers saw after the independence of Algeria in 1962. It is today a district of Algiers which is largely made up of houses, villas, and buildings not exceeding five stories.
* [[El Harrach]], a suburb of Algiers, is located about {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=off}} to the east of the city.
* The communes of [[Hydra (Algiers) will|Hydra]], [[Ben Aknoun]], [[El-Biar]] and [[Bouzareah]] form what the inhabitants of Algiers call the "Heights of Algiers". These communes shelter the majority of the foreign embassies of Algiers, of many ministries and university centres, which makes it one of the administrative and policy centres of the country.
* The '''Didouche Mourad street''' is located in the 3rd district Of Algiers. It extends from the '''Grande Post office''' to the Heights of Algiers. It crosses in particular the '''place Audin''', '''the [[Algiers 1 University|Faculty of Algiers]]''', '''The Crowned Heart''' and '''the Freedom Park (formerly Galland)'''. It is bordered by smart stores and restaurants along most of its length. It is regarded as the heart of the capital.
[[File:Algiers, Algeria.jpg|thumb|Astronautical view of Algiers]]

===Climate===
Algiers has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csa''). Its proximity to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] aids in moderating the city's temperatures. As a result, Algiers usually does not see the extreme temperatures that are experienced in the adjacent interior. Algiers on average receives roughly {{convert|600|mm|in|0}} of rain per year, the bulk of which is seen between October and April. The precipitation is higher than in most of coastal Mediterranean [[Spain]], and similar to most of coastal Mediterranean [[France]], as opposed to the interior North African semi-arid or arid climate.

Snow is very rare; in 2012, the city received {{convert|100|mm|in|0}} of snowfall, its first snowfall in eight years.<ref>{{cite news |title=European Chill Moves West, 122 Die in Ukraine |first=Richard |last=Balmforth |date=4 February 2012 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-weather-idUSTRE8130NK20120204 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914142912/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/04/us-europe-weather-idUSTRE8130NK20120204 |archive-date=14 September 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Algiers ([[Houari Boumediene Airport]]) 1991–2020 averages, extremes 1838–present
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 27.6
|Feb record high C = 31.4
|Mar record high C = 36.3
|Apr record high C = 36.5
|May record high C = 41.1
|Jun record high C = 44.6
|Jul record high C = 48.7
|Aug record high C = 47.5
|Sep record high C = 44.4
|Oct record high C = 39.5
|Nov record high C = 34.4
|Dec record high C = 30.4
|year record high C = 47.5
|Jan high C = 17.1
|Feb high C = 17.5
|Mar high C = 19.7
|Apr high C = 21.8
|May high C = 25.0
|Jun high C = 29.0
|Jul high C = 32.1
|Aug high C = 32.9
|Sep high C = 29.8
|Oct high C = 26.5
|Nov high C = 21.2
|Dec high C = 18.2
|year high C = 24.2
|Jan mean C = 11.3
|Feb mean C = 11.5
|Mar mean C = 13.6
|Apr mean C = 15.6
|May mean C = 18.8
|Jun mean C = 22.6
|Jul mean C = 25.7
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 23.9
|Oct mean C = 20.4
|Nov mean C = 15.7
|Dec mean C = 12.6
|year mean C = 18.2
|Jan low C = 5.5
|Feb low C = 5.6
|Mar low C = 7.5
|Apr low C = 9.4
|May low C = 12.6
|Jun low C = 16.2
|Jul low C = 19.4
|Aug low C = 20.4
|Sep low C = 17.9
|Oct low C = 14.3
|Nov low C = 10.1
|Dec low C = 7.0
|year low C = 12.2
|Jan record low C = -3.3
|Feb record low C = -1.9
|Mar record low C = -1.0
|Apr record low C = -0.8
|May record low C = 2.6
|Jun record low C = 5.5
|Jul record low C = 9.0
|Aug record low C = 9.5
|Sep record low C = 8.2
|Oct record low C = 4.1
|Nov record low C = -0.1
|Dec record low C = -2.3
|year record low C = -3.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 84.2
|Feb precipitation mm = 72.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 58.9
|Apr precipitation mm = 58.0
|May precipitation mm = 39.0
|Jun precipitation mm = 8.6
|Jul precipitation mm = 1.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 10.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 27.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 51.5
|Nov precipitation mm = 102.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 86.4
|year precipitation mm = 601
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 8.4
|Feb precipitation days = 8.7
|Mar precipitation days = 7.0
|Apr precipitation days = 6.1
|May precipitation days = 4.3
|Jun precipitation days = 1.4
|Jul precipitation days = 0.4
|Aug precipitation days = 1.4
|Sep precipitation days = 4.0
|Oct precipitation days = 5.4
|Nov precipitation days = 9.2
|Dec precipitation days = 8.2
|year precipitation days = 64.5
|Jan humidity = 71
|Feb humidity = 66
|Mar humidity = 65
|Apr humidity = 62
|May humidity = 66
|Jun humidity = 66
|Jul humidity = 67
|Aug humidity = 65
|Sep humidity = 68
|Oct humidity = 66
|Nov humidity = 68
|Dec humidity = 68
|year humidity = 67
|Jan sun = 139.5
|Feb sun = 158.2
|Mar sun = 207.7
|Apr sun = 228.0
|May sun = 300.7
|Jun sun = 300.0
|Jul sun = 353.4
|Aug sun = 325.5
|Sep sun = 267.0
|Oct sun = 198.4
|Nov sun = 153.0
|Dec sun = 145.7
|year sun = 2777.1
|Jand sun = 4.5
|Febd sun = 5.6
|Mard sun = 6.7
|Aprd sun = 7.6
|Mayd sun = 9.7
|Jund sun = 10.0
|Juld sun = 11.4
|Augd sun = 10.5
|Sepd sun = 8.9
|Octd sun = 6.4
|Novd sun = 5.1
|Decd sun = 4.7
|yeard sun = 7.6
|source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name=WMOCLINO>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230826215631/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Algeria/CSV/AlgerDarElBeida_60390.csv
| archive-date = 26 August 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Algeria/CSV/AlgerDarElBeida_60390.csv
| title = Alger Dar-el-Beida Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 26 August 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Arab Meteorology Book (humidity and sun),<ref name=climate>{{cite web
| url = http://extras.springer.com/2007/978-1-4020-4577-6/Book_Shahin_ISBN_9781402045776_Appendix.pdf
| title = Appendix I: Meteorological Data
| publisher = Springer
| access-date = 16 October 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072830/http://extras.springer.com/2007/978-1-4020-4577-6/Book_Shahin_ISBN_9781402045776_Appendix.pdf
| archive-date = 4 March 2016
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=15
| title = Station Alger
| publisher = Meteo Climat
|language = fr
| access-date = 16 October 2016}}</ref>
|date=January 2011}}

==== Climate change ====
A 2019 paper published in [[PLOS One]] estimated that under [[Representative Concentration Pathway#4.5|Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5]], a "moderate" scenario of [[climate change]] where global warming reaches ~{{convert|2.5-3|C-change|F-change}} by 2100, the climate of Algiers in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of [[Perth]] in [[Australia]]. The annual temperature would increase by {{convert|2.6|C-change|F-change}}, and the temperature of the warmest month by {{convert|1.9|C-change|F-change}}, while the temperature of the coldest month would be {{convert|3.8|C-change|F-change}} higher.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bastin |first1=Jean-Francois |last2=Clark |first2=Emily |last3=Elliott |first3=Thomas |last4=Hart |first4=Simon |last5=van den Hoogen |first5=Johan |last6=Hordijk |first6=Iris |last7=Ma |first7=Haozhi |last8=Majumder |first8=Sabiha |last9=Manoli |first9=Gabriele |last10=Maschler |first10=Julia |last11=Mo |first11=Lidong |last12=Routh |first12=Devin |last13=Yu |first13=Kailiang |last14=Zohner |first14=Constantin M. |last15=Thomas W. |first15=Crowther |title=Understanding climate change from a global analysis of city analogues |journal=PLOS ONE |date=10 July 2019 |volume=14 |issue=7 |at=S2 Table. Summary statistics of the global analysis of city analogues. |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0217592 |pmid=31291249 |pmc=6619606 |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1417592B |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://crowtherlab.pageflow.io/cities-of-the-future-visualizing-climate-change-to-inspire-action |title=Cities of the future: visualizing climate change to inspire action |at=Current vs. future cities |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> According to [[Climate Action Tracker]], the current warming trajectory appears consistent with {{convert|2.7|C-change|F-change}}, which closely matches [[Representative Concentration Pathway]] (RCP) 4.5.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-thermometer/ |title=The CAT Thermometer |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref>

Moreover, according to the 2022 [[IPCC Sixth Assessment Report]], Algiers is one of 12 major African cities ([[Abidjan]], [[Alexandria]], Algiers, [[Cape Town]], [[Casablanca]], [[Dakar]], [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Durban]], [[Lagos]], [[Lomé]], [[Luanda]] and [[Maputo]]) which would be the most severely affected by the future [[sea level rise]]. It estimates that they would collectively sustain cumulative damages of U$65 billion under RCP 4.5 and US$86.5 billion for the high-emission scenario RCP 8.5 by the year 2050. Additionally, RCP 8.5 combined with the hypothetical impact from [[marine ice sheet instability]] at high levels of warming would involve up to US$137.5 billion in damages, while the additional accounting for the "low-probability, high-damage events" may increase aggregate risks to $187 billion for the "moderate" RCP 4.5, $206 billion for RCP 8.5 and $397 billion under the high-end ice sheet instability scenario.<ref name="AR6Ch9"/> Since sea level rise would continue for about 10,000 years under every scenario of climate change, future costs of sea level rise would only increase, especially without adaptation measures.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Full_Report.pdf |title=Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |date=August 2021 |publisher=IPCC |page=TS14 |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> The Casbah is on a list of 10 African [[World Heritage Site]] most threatened by sea level rise.<ref name="AR6Ch9">Trisos, C.H., I.O. Adelekan, E. Totin, A. Ayanlade, J. Efitre, A. Gemeda, K. Kalaba, C. Lennard, C. Masao, Y. Mgaya, G. Ngaruiya, D. Olago, N.P. Simpson, and S. Zakieldeen 2022: [https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_Chapter09.pdf Chapter 9: Africa]. In [https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/ Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability] [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke,V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 2043–2121 </ref>

==Government==
{{further|List of mayors of Algiers}}
{{See also|:fr:Alger#Administration et politique}}
The city (and province) of Algiers is composed of 13 administrative districts, sub-divided into 57 ''communes'' listed below with their populations at the 1998 and 2008 Censuses:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name'''
! '''Name in Arabic '''
! '''Population (1998)'''<ref>Census of 25 June 1998: Office National des Statistiques de l'Algérie (web).</ref>
! '''Population (2008)'''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|-
| [[Bab El Oued]]
| باب الوادي
| align=right | 87,557
| align=right | 64,732
|-
| [[Bologhine]]
| بولوغين
| align=right | 43,283
| align=right | 43,835
|-
| [[Casbah of Algiers|Casbah]]
| القصبة
| align=right | 50,453
| align=right | 36,762
|-
| [[Oued Koriche]]
| وادي قريش
| align=right | 53,378
| align=right | 46,182
|-
| [[Raïs Hamidou, Algeria|Raïs Hamidou]]
| الرايس حميدو
| align=right | 21,518
| align=right | 28,451
|-
| '''''[[Bab El Oued District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 256,189
| align=right | 219,962
|-
| [[Baraki, Algiers|Baraki]]
| براقي
| align=right | 95,247
| align=right | 116,375
|-
| [[Les Eucalyptus]]
| الكليتوس
| align=right | 96,310
| align=right | 116,107
|-
| [[Sidi Moussa, Algeria|Sidi Moussa]]
| سيدي موسى
| align=right | 27,888
| align=right | 40,750
|-
| '''''[[Baraki District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 219,445
| align=right | 273,232
|-
| [[Bir Mourad Raïs]]
| بئر مراد رايس
| align=right | 43,254
| align=right | 45,345
|-
| [[Birkhadem]]
| بئر خادم
| align=right | 55,084
| align=right | 77,749
|-
| [[Djasr Kasentina]]
| جسر قسنطينة
| align=right | 82,729
| align=right | 133,247
|-
| [[Hydra (Algiers) will|Hydra]]
| حيدرة
| align=right | 35,727
| align=right | 31,133
|-
| [[Saoula]]
| سحاولة
| align=right | 31,388
| align=right | 41,690
|-
| '''''[[Bir Mourad Raïs District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 248,182
| align=right | 329,164
|-
| [[Birtouta]]
| بئر توتة
| align=right | 21,808
| align=right | 30,575
|-
| [[Ouled Chebel]]
| أولاد الشبل
| align=right | 16,335
| align=right | 20,006
|-
| [[Tessala El Merdja]]
| تسالة المرجى
| align=right | 10,792
| align=right | 15,847
|-
| '''''[[Birtouta District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 48,935
| align=right | 66,428
|-
| [[Ben Aknoun]]
| بن عكنون
| align=right | 19,404
| align=right | 18,838
|-
| [[Beni Messous]]
| بني مسوس
| align=right | 17,490
| align=right | 36,191
|-
| [[Bouzareah]]
| بوزريعة
| align=right | 69,153
| align=right | 83,797
|-
| [[El-Biar|El Biar]]
| الأبيار
| align=right | 52,582
| align=right | 47,332
|-
| '''''[[Bouzareah District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 158,629
| align=right | 186,158
|-
| [[Aïn Bénian, Algiers|Aïn Bénian]]
| عين البنيان
| align=right | 52,343
| align=right | 68,354
|-
| [[Chéraga]]
| الشراقة
| align=right | 60,374
| align=right | 80,824
|-
| [[Dely Ibrahim]]
| دالي إبرهيم
| align=right | 30,576
| align=right | 35,230
|-
| [[El Hammamet]]
| الحمامات الرومانية
| align=right | 19,651
| align=right | 23,990
|-
| [[Ouled Fayet]]
| أولاد فايت
| align=right | 15,209
| align=right | 27,593
|-
| '''''[[Chéraga District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 178,153
| align=right | 235,991
|-
| [[Aïn Taya]]
| عين طاية
| align=right | 29,515
| align=right | 34,501
|-
| [[Bab Ezzouar]]
| باب الزوار
| align=right | 92,157
| align=right | 96,597
|-
| [[Bordj El Bahri]]
| برج البحري
| align=right | 27,905
| align=right | 52,816
|-
| [[Bordj El Kiffan]]
| برج الكيفان
| align=right | 103,690
| align=right | 151,950
|-
| [[Dar El Beïda]]
| الدار البيضاء
| align=right | 44,753
| align=right | 80,033
|-
| [[El Marsa, Algiers|El Marsa]]
| المرسى
| align=right | 8,784
| align=right | 12,100
|-
| [[Mohammedia, Algiers|Mohammedia]]
| المحمدية
| align=right | 42,079
| align=right | 62,543
|-
| '''''[[Dar El Beïda District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 348,883
| align=right | 490,540
|-
| [[Baba Hassen]]
| بابا حسن
| align=right | 13,827
| align=right | 23,756
|-
| [[Douera]]
| دويرة
| align=right | 41,804
| align=right | 56,998
|-
| [[Draria]]
| درارية
| align=right | 23,050
| align=right | 44,141
|-
| [[El Achour]]
| العاشور
| align=right | 19,524
| align=right | 41,070
|-
| [[Khraicia]]
| خراسية
| align=right | 17,690
| align=right | 27,910
|-
| '''''[[Draria District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 115,895
| align=right | 193,875
|-
| [[Bachdjerrah]]
| باش جراح
| align=right | 90,073
| align=right | 93,289
|-
| [[Bourouba]]
| بوروبة
| align=right | 77,498
| align=right | 71,661
|-
| [[El Harrach]]
| الحراش
| align=right | 48,167
| align=right | 48,869
|-
| [[Oued Smar]]
| وادي سمار
| align=right | 21,397
| align=right | 32,062
|-
| '''''[[El Harrach District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 237,135
| align=right | 245,881
|-
| [[El Magharia]]
| المغارية
| align=right | 30,457
| align=right | 31,453
|-
| [[Hussein Dey (commune)|Hussein Dey]]
| حسين داي
| align=right | 49,921
| align=right | 40,698
|-
| [[Kouba, Algeria|Kouba]]
| القبة
| align=right | 105,253
| align=right | 104,708
|-
| [[Mohamed Belouizdad]] (Hamma Annassers)
| الحامة العناصر
| align=right | 59,248
| align=right | 44,050
|-
| '''''[[Hussein Dey District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 244,879
| align=right | 220,909
|-
| [[Haraoua]]
| الهراوة
| align=right | 18,167
| align=right | 27,565
|-
| [[Reghaïa]]
| رغاية
| align=right | 66,215
| align=right | 85,452
|-
| [[Rouïba]]
| الرويبة
| align=right | 49,881
| align=right | 61,984
|-
| '''''[[Rouïba District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 134,263
| align=right | 175,001
|-
| [[Alger Centre]]
| الجزائرالوسطى
| align=right | 96,329
| align=right | 75,541
|-
| [[El Madania]]
| المدنية
| align=right | 51,404
| align=right | 40,301
|-
| [[El Mouradia]]
| المرادية
| align=right | 29,503
| align=right | 22,813
|-
| [[Sidi M'Hamed]]
| سيدي امحمد
| align=right | 90,455
| align=right | 67,873
|-
| '''''[[Sidi M'Hamed District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 267,691
| align=right | 206,528
|-
| [[Mahelma]]
| محالمة
| align=right | 14,810
| align=right | 20,758
|-
| [[Rahmania]]
| الرحمانية
| align=right | 5,759
| align=right | 7,396
|-
| [[Souidania]]
| سويدانية
| align=right | 11,620
| align=right | 17,105
|-
| [[Staoueli]]
| سطاوالي
| align=right | 38,915
| align=right | 47,664
|-
| [[Zéralda]]
| زرالدة
| align=right | 33,047
| align=right | 51,552
|-
| '''''[[Zéralda District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 104,151
| align=right | 144,475
|-
| '''''Totals'''''
| الجزائر
| align=right | 2,562,428
| align=right | 2,988,145
|-
|}

==Local architecture==
[[File:Alger front de mer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.65|Algiers waterfront]]
[[File:Algeri04.jpg|thumb|Cosmopolitan Algiers]]
{{Further|List of mosques in Algeria}}
There are many public buildings of interest, including the whole [[Kasbah]] quarter, Martyrs Square (''Sahat ech-Chouhada'' ساحة الشهداء), the government offices (formerly the [[United Kingdom|British]] consulate), the "[[Djamaa el Kebir|Grand]]", "[[Djamaa el Djedid|New]]", and [[Ketchaoua Mosque|Ketchaoua]] [[Mosque]]s, the [[Roman Catholic]] cathedral of [[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], the [[Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography|Bardo Museum]], the old ''Bibliothèque Nationale d'Alger''—a moorish palace built in 1799–1800 and the new [[National Library of Algeria|National Library]], built in a style reminiscent of the [[British Library]].

The main building in the Kasbah was begun in 1516 on the site of an older building, and served as the palace of the deys until the French conquest. A road has been cut through the centre of the building, the mosque turned into [[barracks]], and the hall of audience allowed to fall into ruin. There still remain a [[minaret]] and some marble arches and columns. Traces exist of the vaults in which were stored the treasures of the dey.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

[[Djamaa el Kebir]] (''Jamaa-el-Kebir'' الجامع الكبير) is the oldest mosque in Algiers. It was first built by [[Yusuf ibn Tashfin]], but reconstructed many times. The pulpit (''[[minbar]]'' منبر) bears an inscription showing that the building existed in 1097. The minaret was built by the sultan of [[Tlemcen]], in 1324.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8764/ |title = Fountain in Mosque of El Kebir, Algiers, Algeria |website = [[World Digital Library]] |year = 1899 |access-date = 2013-09-24 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927125712/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8764/ |archive-date = 2013-09-27 |url-status = live }}</ref> The interior of the mosque is square and is divided into aisles by columns joined by [[Moors|Moorish]] arches.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

The [[Djamaa el Djedid|New Mosque]] (''Jamaa-el-Jedid'' الجامع الجديد), dating from the 17th century, is in the form of a [[Greek cross]], surmounted by a large white cupola, with four small cupolas at the corners. The minaret is {{convert|27|m|0}} high. The interior resembles that of the Grand Mosque.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

The church of the Holy Trinity (built in 1870) stands at the southern end of the ''rue d'Isly'' near the site of the demolished Fort Bab Azoun باب عزون. The interior is richly decorated with various coloured marbles. Many of these marbles contain memorial inscriptions relating to the British residents (voluntary and involuntary) of Algiers from the time of John Tipton, the first English consul, in 1580 (NB Some sources give 1585). One tablet records that in 1631 two Algerine pirate crews landed in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], sacked [[Baltimore, County Cork|Baltimore]], and enslaved its inhabitants.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

[[File:Mosquée Ketchaoua.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Ketchaoua Mosque]]
[[File:Algiers new mosque 1.jpg | thumb | right | Mosque in the City of Algiers.]]

The [[Ketchaoua Mosque]] (''Djamaa Ketchaoua'' جامع كتشاوة), at the foot of the Casbah, was before independence in 1962 the cathedral of St Philippe, itself made in 1845 from a mosque dating from 1612. The principal entrance, reached by a flight of 23 steps, is ornamented with a [[portico]] supported by four black-veined marble columns. The roof of the nave is of [[Moorish Empire|Moorish]] [[plaster]] work. It rests on a series of arcades supported by white marble columns. Several of these columns belonged to the original mosque. In one of the chapels was a tomb containing the bones of [[Geronimo (martyr)|Geronimo]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}} The building seems a curious blend of Moorish and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] styles.

Algiers possesses a college with schools of law, medicine, science and letters. The college buildings are large and handsome. The [[Bardo National Museum (Algiers)|Bardo Museum]] holds some of the ancient sculptures and mosaics discovered in Algeria, together with medals and Algerian money.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

The port of Algiers is sheltered from all winds. There are two harbours, both artificial—the old or northern harbour and the southern or Agha harbour. The northern harbour covers an area of {{convert|95|ha|acre|0}}. An opening in the south [[jetty]] affords an entrance into Agha harbour, constructed in Agha Bay. Agha harbour has also an independent entrance on its southern side. The inner harbour was begun in 1518 by [[Khair-ad-Din Barbarossa]] (see History, below), who, to accommodated his pirate vessels, caused the island on which was Fort Penon to be connected with the mainland by a [[mole (architecture)|mole]]. The lighthouse which occupies the site of [[Fort Penon]] was built in 1544.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

Algiers was a walled city from the time of the deys until the close of the 19th century. The French, after their occupation of the city (1830), built a [[Defensive wall|rampart]], [[parapet]] and [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]], with two terminal forts, [[Bab Azoun]] باب عزون to the south and [[Bab-el-Oued]] اد to the north. The forts and part of the ramparts were demolished at the beginning of the 20th century, when a line of forts occupying the heights of [[Bouzareah]] بوزريعة (at an elevation of {{convert|396|m|0}} above the sea) took their place.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

[[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], a church built (1858–1872) in a mixture of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] styles, is conspicuously situated overlooking the sea, on the shoulder of the [[Bouzareah]] hills, {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=on}}
to the north of the city. Above the altar is a statue of the [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Virgin]] depicted as a black woman. The church also contains a solid silver statue of the [[archangel Michael]], belonging to the confraternity of [[Naples|Neapolitan]] fishermen.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}

[[Villa Abd-el-Tif]], former residence of the [[dey]], was used during the French period, to accommodate French artists, chiefly painters, and winners of the [[Abd-el-Tif prize]], among whom [[Maurice Boitel]], for a while of two years. Nowadays, Algerian artists are back in the villa's studios.

===Monuments===
[[File:Makamelchahid.JPG|thumb|right|The Monument of the Martyrs (Maquam E'chahid)]]
[[File:Alger - Grande Poste.jpg|thumb|right|Grand Post Office]]
* [[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], accessible by one [[Aerial tramway|cable car]], is one of the city's most outstanding monuments: located in the district of Z' will ghara, the basilica was built around 1858.
* [[Monument des Martyrs]] (''Marquand E' chahid''): an iconic concrete monument commemorating the [[Algerian War|Algerian war for independence]]. The monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves which shelter the "Eternal Flame" beneath. At the edge of each palm leaf stands a statue of a soldier, each representing a stage of Algeria's struggle.
[[File:Algiers mosque.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The El Jedid mosque at the Place des Martyrs]]
* The El Jedid mosque at the Place des Martyrs near the port.
* Place of the Emir Abdelkader (formerly [[Thomas-Robert Bugeaud|Bugeaud]]): in memory of the famous emir [[Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri|Abd El-Kader]], resistant during [[French conquest of Algeria]].
* Grand Post Office (1910, by [[Voinot]] and [[Tondoire]]): construction of the neo-Moorish type which is in full centre town of Algiers.
* The Jardin d'essai (''Garden of Test''; ''El-Hamma''): situated in the east of Algiers, it extends over {{convert|80|ha|acre|0}} and contains exotic plants and gardens. It was created in 1832 by A. Hardy.
* Villa Abd-el-Hair, with the top of the Garden of test, one of the old residences of the dey, where until 1962, were placed the artists prizes winner of [[Price Abd-el-Hair]], and in particular [[Maurice Boitel]] and [[Andre Hamburg]].
* Citadel.
* Riadh El-Feth (shopping centre and art gallery).
* [[Ketchaoua Mosque]] (This mosque became the Saint-Philippe cathedral during colonization before becoming again a mosque).
* [[National Library of Algeria|National Library]], is in the district of El HAMMA and was built in the 1990s.
* [[Djamaa el Kebir]] at the [[Rue de la Marine]]. It is the oldest mosque of Algiers and was built during the reign of the [[Almoravid]] sultan [[Yusuf ibn Tashfin]].
* [[Palais des Rais|Le Bastion 23 – Palais des Rais]], built in 1576 by Dey Ramdhan Pacha and located in the lower Casbah in the Bab El Oued neighborhood.

==Demographics==
{{Outdated section|date=July 2023}}
{| style="float: right; border:1"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1977 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 1,523,000<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |url=http://citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html |title=Algeria: Provinces & Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |access-date=2019-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001025954/http://citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html |archive-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 1987 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 1,507,241<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|-
| 1998 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 2,086,212<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|-
| 2008 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 2,364,230<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|}

As of 2012, Algiers has a population of about 3,335,418.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gadm&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-66&srt=npan&col=aohdq |title=Algiers in the World Gazetteer |publisher=World-gazetteer.com |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930225838/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gadm&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-66&srt=npan&col=aohdq |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ethnic distribution is 53% from an Arabic-speaking background, 44% from a Berber-speaking background and 3% foreign-born.

==Economy==
[[File:Ministerefinacealger.jpg|thumb|Ministry of Finance of Algeria]]
Algiers is an important economic, commercial and financial center, with a stock exchange capitalized at 60 million euros. The city has the highest cost of living of any city in [[North Africa]], as well as the 50th highest worldwide, as of March 2007, having gained one position compared to the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mercerhr.com/costofliving |title=MERCER Human Resources Consulting – Moscow tops Mercer's cost of living list; London is close behind |publisher=Mercerhr.com |access-date=2010-06-27| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100701021708/http://www.mercerhr.com/costofliving| archive-date= 1 July 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Mohamed Ben Ali El Abbar, president of the Council of Administration of the Emirate Group EMAAR, presented five "megaprojects" to Algerian President [[Abdelaziz Bouteflika]], during a ceremony which took place Saturday, July 15, in the [[People's Palace (Algiers)|People's Palace]] of Algiers. These projects will transform the city of Algiers and its surroundings by equipping them with a retail area and restoration and leisure facilities.

The first project will concentrate on the reorganization and the development of the infrastructures of the railway station "Aga" located in the downtown area. The ultramodern station intended to accommodate more than 80.000 passengers per day, will become a centre of circulation in the heart of the grid system, surrounded by commercial offices and buildings and hotels intended for travellers in transit. A shopping centre and three high-rise office buildings rising with the top of the commercial zone will accompany the project.

The second project will not relate to the bay of Algiers and aims to revitalize the sea front. The development of the {{convert|44|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} sea front will include marinas, channels, luxury hotels, offices, apartments of great standing, luxury stores and leisure amenities. A crescent-shaped peninsula will be set up on the open sea. The project of the bay of Algiers will also comprise six small islands, of which four of round form, connected to each other by bridges and marinas and will include tourist and residential complexes.
[[File:Alger Tunnel-des-Facultes - Place-Maurice-Audin IMG 0236.JPG|thumb|left|[[Air Algérie]] head office in Place [[Maurice Audin|Audin]] near the [[University of Algiers]], in Alger-Centre]]
The third project will relate to restructuring an area of Algiers, qualified by the originators of the project of "city of wellness". El Abbar indicated to the journalists that the complex would be "agreeable for all those which will want to combine tourism and well-being or tourism and relaxation". The complex will include a university, a research center and a medical centre. It should also include a hospital complex, a care centre, a hotel zone, an urban centre and a thermal spa with villas and apartments. The university will include a medical school and a school for care male nurses which will be able to accommodate 500 students. The university campus will have the possibility of seeing setting up broad ranges of buildings of research laboratories and residences.

Another project relates to technological implantation of a campus in Sidi Abdellah, {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south-east from Algiers. This {{convert|90|ha|acre|0|}} site will include shopping centres, residential zones with high standard apartments and a golf course surrounded by villas and hotels. Two other residential zones, including 1.800 apartments and 40 high standard villas, will be built on the surrounding hills.

The fifth project is that of the tourist complex Colonel Abbès, which will be located {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west from Algiers. This complex will include several retail zones, meeting places, and residential zones composed of apartments and villas with views of the sea.<ref>{{cite book |title=The report 2008 : Algeria. |publisher=Oxford Business Group |isbn=978-1-902339-09-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zPz9FHXJVLUC&q=Colonel+Abbes++tourist+complex&pg=PA32 |language=en|year=2008 }}</ref>

There is another project under construction, by the name of Algiers Medina. The first step of the project is nearly complete.

A [[Hewlett-Packard]] office for French-speaking countries in Africa is in Algiers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://welcome.hp.com/gms/emea_africa/en/contact/office_locs.html |title=HP Office locations |publisher=Welcome.hp.com |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928005628/http://welcome.hp.com/gms/emea_africa/en/contact/office_locs.html |archive-date=2009-09-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Tourist installations==
[[File:Algeri08.jpg|thumb|Panorama of the city as seen from [[Bologhine]] district]]

Some {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the west of Algiers are such seaside resorts as [[Sidi-Ferruch|Sidi Fredj]] (ex-Sidi Ferruch), [[Palm Beach (Algeria)|Palm Beach]], [[Douaouda]], [[Zéralda]], and the ''Club of the Pines'' (residence of State); there are tourist complexes, Algerian and other restaurants, souvenir shops, supervised beaches, and other amenities. The city is also equipped with important hotel complexes such as the hotel Hilton, El-Aurassi or El Djazair. Algiers also has the first [[water park]] in the country. The [[tourism]] of Algiers is growing but is not as developed as that of the larger cities in [[Morocco]] or [[Tunisia]].

==Education==
{{expand section|date=January 2017}}

The presence of a large diplomatic community in Algiers prompted the creation of multiple international educational institutions. These schools include :

* [[American International School of Algiers]];
* British School Algiers
* El Kalimat School (English-language school);
* [[Lycée International Alexandre-Dumas|Lycée International Alexandre-Dumas d'Alger]] (French school);
* Roma Italian School of Algiers;
* Russian Embassy School in Algiers.

There was formerly the École japonaise d'Alger (アルジェ日本人学校 ''Aruje Nihonjin Gakkō''), a [[Nihonjin gakko|school for Japanese children]].<ref>Kobori, Iwao (Conseiller aupres del'Universite des Nations Unies). "[http://www.japan-algeria-center.jp/andalg/fr/andalg20010705f.html L'Algerie et moi]" ( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116182909/http://www.japan-algeria-center.jp/andalg/fr/andalg20010705f.html |date=2015-01-16 }}). Japan-Algeria Center. Retrieved on 16 January 2015.</ref><ref>"[http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/1338806.htm 過去に指定・認定していた在外教育施設]" ( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115030344/http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/1338806.htm |date=2015-01-15 }}). [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]]. Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>

==Public transport==
[[File:Metro, suburban train and tramway map of Algiers.png|thumb|left|Public transport of Algiers]]
[[File:Transportations in algiers.jpg|thumb|Various means of transport in Algiers]]
* [[ETUSA]] (urban and suburban bus transportation for Algiers) operates bus service in Algiers and the surrounding suburbs. 54 lines are operating, with service from 5:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m.
* [[SNTF]] (national railroad company) operates commuter-rail lines connecting the capital to the surrounding suburbs.
* [[Algiers Metro]], opened November 1, 2011.
* [[Algiers tramway]], opened on May 8, 2011.
* [[Houari Boumediene Airport]] is located {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the city. The airport serves domestics, many European cities, [[West Africa]], the [[Middle East]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]]. On July 5, 2006, a new international air terminal was opened for service. The terminal is managed by [[Aéroports de Paris]].

4 urban beltways:
* El Madania – Belouizdad
* Notre Dame d'Afrique – Bologhine
* Memorial des Martyres/Riad el Feth – Jardin d'essais
* Palais de la culture – Oued Kniss

==Sports==
Algiers is the sporting centre of [[Algeria]]. The city has a number of professional clubs in the variety of sports, which have won national and international titles. Among the sports facilities within the city, there is an enormous sporting complex – Complex of OCO – [[Mohamed Boudiaf]]. This includes the [[Stade 5 Juillet 1962]] (capacity {{Formatnum:64000}}), a venue for [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]], an Olympic [[swimming pool]], a multisports room (the Cupola), an 18-hole golf course, and several tennis courts.

The following major sporting events have been held in Algiers (not-exhaustive list):
{{div col|content=
* [[Mediterranean Games]] 1975.
* [[All-Africa Games]] 1978, 2007.
* [[African Cup of Nations]] [[1990 African Cup of Nations|1990]].
* [[African Handball Nations Championship]] 1989, 2001.
* [[Pan Arab Games]] 2004.
* [[FIBA Africa Championship]] 2005.
* [[Boys' U19 Volleyball World Championship|Men's U19 World Championship]] 2005.
}}

===Football clubs===
Major [[association football]] club based in Algiers include:

{{div col|content=
* [[MC Alger]]
* [[CR Belouizdad]]
* [[USM Alger]]
}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa#Algeria|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Algeria}}
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2015}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Algiers is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

*[[Montreal]], Canada<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www11.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sherlock2/servlet/template/sherlock%2CAfficherDocumentInternet.vm/nodocument/20146;jsessionid=24C10045060CDD0AA23BD919B260FD0F|title=Sherlock, banque d'information de la Ville de Montréal|publisher=1.ville.montreal.qc.ca|access-date=2010-06-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223231510/http://www11.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sherlock2/servlet/template/sherlock%2CAfficherDocumentInternet.vm/nodocument/20146%3Bjsessionid%3D24C10045060CDD0AA23BD919B260FD0F|archive-date=2009-02-23 }}</ref>
*[[Moscow]], Russia{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
*[[Sofia]], Bulgaria<ref>{{cite web |title=Градина "Алжир" – София|url=https://opoznai.bg/view/gradina-aljir-sofiia|website=opoznai.bg|language=bg|date=2015-06-19|access-date=2021-05-19}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

In addition, many of the wards and cities within Algiers maintain sister-city relationships with other foreign cities.

===Cooperation agreements===
Algiers has cooperation agreements with:
*[[Lisbon]], Portugal<ref name="Lisbon twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M1100|title=Lisboa – Geminações de Cidades e Vilas|access-date=2013-08-23|work=Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses [National Association of Portuguese Municipalities]|language=pt|trans-title=Lisbon – Twinning of Cities and Towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201175323/http://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M1100|archive-date=2015-02-01|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lisbon twinnings 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionais |title=Acordos de Geminação, de Cooperação e/ou Amizade da Cidade de Lisboa |access-date=2013-08-23 |work=Camara Municipal de Lisboa |language=pt |trans-title=Lisbon – Twinning Agreements, Cooperation and Friendship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031202617/http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionais |archive-date=2013-10-31 }}</ref>
*[[Paris]], France<ref>{{cite web|url=http://next.paris.fr/english/paris-a-city-with-an-international-profile/international-action-cooperation/friendship-and-cooperation-agreements/rub_8139_stand_29940_port_18784 |title=Friendship and cooperation agreements |publisher=Marie de Paris |location=Paris |access-date=2016-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701024003/http://next.paris.fr/english/paris-a-city-with-an-international-profile/international-action-cooperation/friendship-and-cooperation-agreements/rub_8139_stand_29940_port_18784 |archive-date=2016-07-01 }}</ref>

==Films about Algiers==
[[File:Battle-of-Algiers-screenshot.jpg|thumb|''[[The Battle of Algiers]]'' (1966), Italian-Algerian movie by [[Gillo Pontecorvo]].]]
* ''[[Algiers (film)|Algiers]]'', 1938, starring Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr, and directed by [[John Cromwell (director)|John Cromwell]];
* ''[[The Battle of Algiers (film)|The Battle of Algiers]]'', 1966, directed by [[Gillo Pontecorvo]];
* ''Tahya ya Didou, Alger Insolite'', 1970, Mohammed Zinet;
* ''[[Bab El-Oued City]]'', 1994, directed by [[Merzak Allouache]];
* ''Viva Laldjérie'', 2003, directed by Nadir Moknèche, with [[Biyouna]] and [[Lubna Azabal]];
* ''Bab el Web'', 2004, directed by Merzak Allouache, with [[Samy Naceri]], [[Julie Gayet]], [[Faudel]];
* ''Once upon a time in the Oued'', 2005, directed by Djamel Bensalah;
* ''Beur, White, Red'', 2005, directed by Mahmoud Zemmouri.
* ''[[Delice Paloma]]'', 2007, directed by Nadir Moknèche, with [[Biyouna]] and Nadia Kaci.
* ''[[Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion]]'', 1950, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
* ''[[Carry on Spying]]'' 1964, directed by [[Gerald Thomas]] with [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Charles Hawtrey (actor, born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]], [[Barbara Windsor]] & [[Renee Houston]]

==Notable people==


{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|
*[[Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi|Sidi Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi]], 15th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Ahmed Zouaoui|Sidi Ahmed Zouaoui]], 15th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Raphael Zeror]] (1681-1737), Algerian rabbi<ref>{{Jewish Encyclopedia|article=Ẓeror, Raphael Jedidiah Solomon ben Jeshua|url=https://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/15250-zeror-raphael-jedidiah-solomon-ben-jeshua|first1= Joseph|last1=Jacobs|first2=M.|last2=Seligsohn|volume=12|page=662}}</ref>
*[[Sidi M'hamed Bou Qobrine]], 18th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Mohamed ben Zamoum]], 19th-century resistant against French colonization.
*[[Khalid ibn Hashim]], 19th-20th-century resistant against French colonization.
* [[Albert Camus]] 20th-century Nobel Laureate
*[[Abdelhalim Bensmaia]], 20th-century scholar, reformist, humanist and musician.
*[[Lyès Deriche]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Brahim Boushaki]], 20th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Ali La Pointe]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Aïchaoui]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Seghir Boushaki]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka]], 20th-century artist.
*[[Ahmed Mahsas]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Hocine Mezali]], 20th-21st-century journalist and writer.
*[[Djamila Bouhired]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Hassiba Ben Bouali]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Belouizdad]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement against the French.
*[[Djamila Boupacha]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Bencheneb]], 20th-century professor, writer and historian.
*[[Mourad Didouche]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Islam Slimani]], footballer
*[[Ali Haroun]], 20th-century politician and lawyer.
*[[Mohamed Missouri]], 20th-century boxer and coach.
*[[Hamdan Khodja]], 19th-century dignitary and scholar.
*[[Mohamed Belhocine]], 20th-21st-century professor of internal medicine and epidemiology.
*[[Amine ibn El Boushaki]], 20th-21st-century judoka.
*[[Amina Belouizdad]], 20th-century television presenter.
*[[Ali Fawzi Rebaine]], 21st-century politician and doctor.
*[[Mohamed Arkab]], 20th-21st-century politician and engineer.
*[[Rezki Zerarti]], 20th-21st-century politician and engineer.
*[[Gaston Ricci]] (1869–1952), French politician, born in Algiers.
*[[Raymond Laquière]] (1881–1973), French politician, born in Algiers.
*[[Jean-Marie Guastavino]] (1886-1960), French politician, born in Algiers.
*[[Mustapha Khedali]] (1934 in Alger; died 2008), Algerian football player and manager
*[[Mohamed Harrat]] (born 1976), footballer
*[[Lotfi Laggoun]] (born 1984 in Alger), footballer
*[[Arezki Hamza Dembri]] (born 2004), Algerian footballer
}}

==See also==
* [[Barbary pirates]]
* [[Botanical Garden Hamma]]
* [[List of Ottoman governors of Algiers]]

==References==
{{Portal|Algeria}}
{{hatnote|This article was originally based on a translation of the [[French Wikipedia]]'s [[:fr:Alger|article "Alger"]].}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{See also|Timeline of Algiers#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Algiers}}
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Algiers|volume=1|pages=653–655}}
* Carroll, David. ''Albert Camus the Algerian'' (Columbia University Press, 2007).
* Emerson, Charles. ''1913: In Search of the World Before the Great War'' (2013) compares Algiers to 20 major world cities; pp 267–79.
* {{citation |first=Nacéra |last=Benseddik |contribution=Chronique d'une Cité Antique |title=Alger: Lumières sur la Ville |series=''Actes du Colloque de l'EPAU 4–6 May 2001'' |location=Algiers |date=2004 |pages=29–34 }}. {{in lang|fr}}
* {{citation |last=Ghaki |first=Mansour |contribution=Toponymie et Onomastique Libyques: L'Apport de l'Écriture Punique/Néopunique |contribution-url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/50105050/Toponymie_et_onomastique_Lapport_de_lecriture_punique_neopunique.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/50105050/Toponymie_et_onomastique_Lapport_de_lecriture_punique_neopunique.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |pages=65–71 |date=2015 |location=Naples |publisher=Unior |editor=Anna Maria di Tolla |display-editors=0 |title=La Lingua nella Vita e la Vita della Lingua: Itinerari e Percorsi degli Studi Berberi |series=Studi Africanistici: Quaderni di Studi Berberi e Libico-Berberi |volume=No. 4 |isbn=978-88-6719-125-3 |issn=2283-5636 }}. {{in lang|fr}}
* {{citation |last=Lipiński |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Lipinski (orientalist) |title=Itineraria Phoenicia |series=''Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta'', No.{{nbsp}}127, ''Studia Phoenicia'', Vol.{{nbsp}}XVIII |publisher=Uitgeverij Peeters |location=Leuven |date=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLSzNfdcqfoC |isbn=9789042913448 }}.

==External links==
*{{wikivoyage-inline}}
*{{Commonscatinline}}

{{Algiers}}
{{Algiers Province}}
{{Province seats of Algeria}}
{{Phoenician cities and colonies navbox|state=collapsed}}
{{Capitals of Arab countries}}
{{List of African capitals}}
{{All-Africa Games Host Cities}}
{{Arab Capital of Culture}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Algiers| ]]
[[Category:944 establishments]]
[[Category:Barbary Wars]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Former Spanish colonies]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Algeria]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Algeria]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated places in Algiers Province]]
[[Category:Province seats of Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 10th century]]
[[Category:10th-century establishments in Africa]]

Abidjan

2023-12-12T19:29:32Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Largest city and district of Ivory Coast}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement


| name = Abidjan
| official_name = Autonomous District of Abidjan {{native name|fr|District Autonome d'Abidjan}}
| other_name =
| native_name =
| nickname="Babi"
| settlement_type = City and [[districts of Côte d'Ivoire|autonomous district]]
| motto="District d'Abidjan, acteur de développement"

|image_skyline = Abidjan City Collage.jpg
|image_caption = Clockwise from top: Skyline of the [[Plateau, Ivory Coast|Plateau commune]], entrance of the Banco forest, pool of the Hotel Ivoire, a dock of the [[Autonomous Port of Abidjan]], a main street of the [[Koumassi|Koumassi commune]], a main avenue of Abidjan, St. Paul's Cathedral of Abidjan, the [[Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny]], Abidjan Great "Salam" Mosque
| image_flag = Flag of Abidjan.svg
| flag_size =
| image_seal = AbidjanLogo.png
| sealsize =
| shield_size =
| image_map = Abidjan Communes.svg
| mapsize =
| map_caption =Map of the 10 communes which formed the former City of Abidjan (422 km2), now included in the larger Autonomous District of Abidjan (2119 km2)
| pushpin_map = Côte d'Ivoire
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Cote d'Ivoire

| coordinates_footnotes =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sphereinfo.com/longitude~latitude/ivory_coast |title=Côte d'Ivoire Cities Longitude & Latitude |publisher=sphereinfo.com |access-date=18 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913021146/http://www.sphereinfo.com/longitude~latitude/ivory_coast |archive-date=13 September 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Ivory Coast}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Côte d'Ivoire|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = Abidjan
| subdivision_type2 = [[Departments of Côte d'Ivoire|Department]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Abidjan Department|Abidjan]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =

| government_footnotes =<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.districtabidjan.org/gouverneur.php |title=District d'Abidjan ::: Site Officiel |publisher=Districtabidjan.org |access-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506043624/http://www.districtabidjan.org/gouverneur.php |archive-date=6 May 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| government_type =
| leader_title = Governor
| leader_name = [[Robert Beugré Mambé]]
| leader_title1 = 
| leader_name1 =
| established_title = 
| established_date =

| area_magnitude =
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 2119
| area_land_km2 =
| area_blank1_title = City
| area_blank1_km2 = 422
| population_as_of = Dec. 14, 2021 census
| population_footnotes =<ref name=census_2021>{{cite web |url=https://www.ins.ci/RGP2021/RGPH2021-RESULTATS%20GLOBAUX_VF.pdf |title=RGPH 2021 Résultats globaux|author=[[Institut National de la Statistique de Côte d'Ivoire]]|access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>
| population_total = 6,321,017
| population_urban =
| population_note =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 = auto
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title = City
| population_blank1 = 5616633
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi=
| population_demonym = Abidjanais
| demographics_type1 = [[Human Development Index]]
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = HDI (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/CIV/?interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0|title=Subnational Human Development Index (4.0) [Sud, Abidjan – Côte d'Ivoire]|publisher=Global Data Lab of Institute for Management Research, [[Radboud University Nijmegen|Radboud University]]|access-date=12 November 2018}}</ref>
| demographics1_info1 = 0.619 (medium)
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| blank1_name_sec2 =
| blank1_info_sec2 =

| timezone = [[GMT]]
| utc_offset = +0
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{Coord|5|19|N|4|2|W|region:CI-AB_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 18
| elevation_ft =

| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| area_code = +225
| blank_name =
| blank_info =
| blank1_name =
| blank1_info =
| website = {{URL|http://www.abidjan.district.ci|abidjan.district.ci}} {{in lang|fr}}
| footnotes =
}}

'''Abidjan''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|b|ɪ|ˈ|dʒ|ɑː|n}} {{respell|AB|ih|JAHN}}, {{IPA-fr|abidʒɑ̃|lang}}; [[N'Ko script|N'ko]]: ߊߓߌߖߊ߲߬) is the largest city and the economic capital of the [[Ivory Coast]]. As of the [[Demographics of Ivory Coast|2021 census]], Abidjan's population was 6.3 million,<ref name=census_2021 /> which is 21.5 percent of overall population of the country, making it the sixth most populous city proper in [[Africa]], after [[Lagos]], [[Cairo]], [[Kinshasa]], [[Dar es Salaam]], and [[Johannesburg]]. A cultural crossroads of [[West Africa]], Abidjan is characterised by a high level of industrialisation and urbanisation. It is also the most populous [[Dioula language|Dioula-speaking]] and [[French language|French-speaking]] city in Africa (Kinshasa being mainly Lingala-speaking).

The city expanded quickly after the construction of a new wharf in 1931, followed by its designation as the capital city of the then-French colony in 1933. The completion of the [[Vridi Canal]] in 1951 enabled Abidjan to become an important [[sea port]]. Abidjan remained the capital of the Ivory Coast after its independence from France in 1960. In 1983, the city of [[Yamoussoukro]] was designated as the official political capital of Ivory Coast.

However, Abidjan has officially been designated as the "economic capital" of the country, because it is the largest city in the country and the centre of its economic activity. Many political institutions and all foreign embassies continue to be located in Abidjan as well. The [[Abidjan Autonomous District]], which encompasses the city and some of its suburbs, is one of the 14 [[districts of Ivory Coast]].

== Etymology ==
According to [[oral tradition]] of the [[Tchaman]] as reported in the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Côte d'Ivoire,<ref>de R. Borremans (1986)</ref> the name "Abidjan" results from a misunderstanding. Legend states that an old man carrying branches to repair the roof of his house met a European explorer who asked him the name of the nearest village. The old man did not speak the language of the explorer, and thought that he was being asked to justify his presence in that place. Terrified by this unexpected meeting, he fled shouting "''min-chan m'bidjan''", which means in the Ébrié language: "I just cut the leaves." The explorer, thinking that his question had been answered, recorded the name of the locale as ''Abidjan''.

A slightly different and less elaborate version of the legend: When the first colonists asked a native man the name of the place, the man misunderstood and replied "''M'bi min djan''": "I've just been cutting leaves".<ref name="statoids1">{{cite web |url=http://www.statoids.com/uci.html |title=Côte d'Ivoire Regions |publisher=Statoids.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427104110/http://www.statoids.com/uci.html |archive-date=27 April 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==
{{See also|Timeline of Abidjan}}

=== Colonial era ===
[[File:Piroguiers - cleaned b&w.jpg|thumb|Abidjan boatmen.]]
Monki
Abidjan was originally a small [[Tchaman|Atchan]] fishing village. In 1896, following a series of deadly [[yellow fever]] [[epidemics]], French [[colonist]]s who had initially settled in [[Grand-Bassam]] decided to move to a safer place and in 1898 chose the current location of Abidjan.<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Abidjan Abidjan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710090607/https://www.britannica.com/place/Abidjan |date=10 July 2019 }}, britannica.com, USA, accessed on 7 July 2019</ref>
In 1903 it officially became a town.<ref>Cyril K. Daddieh, ''Historical Dictionary of Cote d'Ivoire (The Ivory Coast)'', Rowman & Littlefield, USA, 2016, p. 46</ref><ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Dale H. |editor-last=Hoiberg |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=Abidjan |edition=15th |year=2010 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. |volume=I: A-ak Bayes |location=Chicago, IL |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/32 32] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/32 }}</ref> The settlers were followed by the colonial government, created in 1899. But then nearby [[Bingerville]] became the capital of the French [[colony]], from 1900 until 1934.

The future Abidjan, situated on the edge of the ''lagoon n'doupé'' ("the lagoon in hot water"), offered more land and greater opportunities for trade expansion. The wharf in Petit Bassam (now [[Port-Bouet]]) south of town quickly overtook the wharf of [[Grand-Bassam]] in importance, and became the main point of economic access to the colony. In 1904, the rail terminus was located in the [[Port-Bouet]] area of Abidjan.<ref name=EB /> Starting in 1904, when [[Bingerville]] was not yet complete, Abidjan became the main economic hub of the colony of Ivory Coast and a prime channel for distributing products to the European [[hinterland]], particularly through the Lebanese community, which was increasing in importance.

{{Interlanguage link multi|Henri de Fougères|fr|3=Henri Terrasson de Fougères}} became governor of [[French Sudan]] in 1924, and remained governor until his death in 1931. One of the main streets of Abidjan still bears his name.

In 1931, Plateau and what would become [[Treichville]] were connected by a floating bridge, more or less where the [[Houphouët-Boigny Bridge]] stands today. The year 1931 also saw [[Address (geography)|addresses]] begin to be assigned to the streets of Abidjan for the first time. The addressing project was temporarily concluded in 1964, under the leadership of Mayor Konan Kanga, then badly redone American-style in 1993.

Abidjan became the third capital of Ivory Coast by a 1934 decree, following [[Grand-Bassam]] and [[Bingerville]].<ref name=EB /> Several villages in Tchaman were then deserted. The leader of the Tchaman community can still be found in Adjame ("center" or "meeting" in Tchaman), north of the Plateau.

South of the Plateau district (the current central district of the city of Abidjan), the village of ''Dugbeo'' was moved across the lagoon to Anoumabo, "the forest of fruit bats", which became the neighborhood of [[Treichville]] (now known as Commikro, city of clerks). Treichville was renamed in 1934, in honour of [[Marcel Treich-Laplénie]] (1860–1890), the first explorer of the Ivory Coast and its first colonial administrator, considered its founder. Instead of Dugbeyo, is the current Treich-Laplénie Avenue, the bus station and water lagoon buses in Plateau, and the Avenue [[Charles de Gaulle]] (commonly called Rue du Commerce).

The city was laid out like most colonial towns, on a [[grid plan]]. [[Plateau, Côte d'Ivoire|Le Plateau]] ("m'brato" in Tchaman) were inhabited by settlers. In the north, the city was inhabited by the colonized. The two zones were separated by the [[Gallieni]] Military Barracks, where now there is the current courthouse.

Near the port, originally named Boulevard de Marseille, settlers became defensive and stole a street sign of a famous street of Marseille renamed the street Canebière, a sand track. This is the legend behind the first Blohorn oil mills, in [[Cocody]] and a racetrack was built in the south of the city.

In Le Plateau in the 1940s, the Bardon Park Hotel was built, the first air-conditioned hotel working in [[francophone Africa]].

Abidjan's lagoon became connected to the sea once the 15m-deep {{Interlanguage link multi|Vridi|fr}} canal was completed in 1950.<ref name=EB /> Soon Abidjan became the financial center of West Africa. In 1958, the first bridge to connect [[Petit Bassam|Petit-Bassam Island]] with the mainland was completed.<ref name=EB />

=== After independence ===
When Côte d'Ivoire became independent in 1960, Abidjan became the new country's administrative and economic center. The axis south of Treichville, towards the international airport and the beaches, became the heart of European and middle-class Abidjan. The city saw considerable population growth in the decades following independence, expanding from 180,000 inhabitants in 1960 to 1,269,000 in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackpast.org/gah/abidjan-cote-divoire-1903|title=Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire (1903– ) {{!}} The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed|website=www.blackpast.org|date=6 July 2010 |access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202035609/http://www.blackpast.org/gah/abidjan-cote-divoire-1903|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Abidjan's skyline dates back to the economic prosperity of this period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/review/CIV_Port_of_Abidjan_1422.php|title=Port of Abidjan|website=World Port Source|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605071256/http://worldportsource.com/ports/review/CIV_Port_of_Abidjan_1422.php|archive-date=5 June 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

New districts such as the upmarket Cocody were founded during this period; built to a large extent in a colonial style, Cocody has since become home to Côte d'Ivoire's wealthy classes as well as expatriates and foreign diplomats. The district is home to the embassy of France, Hotel Ivoire (which for a long time, was the only African hotel to have a skating rink), and, since 2009, the largest U.S. embassy in West Africa.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-07-12-voa68-66931712/264223.html|title=Massive New US Embassy Opens in Ivory Coast|newspaper=VOA|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202040418/http://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2005-07-12-voa68-66931712/264223.html|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Construction on St. Paul's Cathedral, designed by Italian architect Aldo Spirito, began with the 1980 groundbreaking by Pope John Paul II and was completed in 1985. From the 1980s, Abidjan's fortunes declined as a result of negligence on the part of officials as well as corruption and general degradation. In 1983, the village of Yamoussoukro became the new political capital of Ivory Coast under the leadership of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was born in Yamoussoukro.

From 2002 to 2007 and especially from 2010 to 2011, Abidjan suffered from the consequences of the First and Second Ivorian Civil Wars. In November 2004, armed conflict broke out between French forces and Ivorian forces loyal to Laurent Gbagbo after the Ivorian Air Force attacked French peacekeepers in northern Côte d'Ivoire. After France destroyed Côte d'Ivoire's air capabilities in retaliation, pro-Gbagbo groups staged riots and looting in Abidjan and targeted French homes, schools, and businesses.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Carroll |first1=Rory |last2=Henley |first2=Jon |title=French attack sparks riots in Ivory Coast |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/08/france.westafrica |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=8 November 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731215636/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/nov/08/france.westafrica |archive-date=31 July 2020 |language=en}}</ref> French peacekeepers moved into the city to calm the situation. Other crises during the first civil war period include the case of the Probo Koala in 2006,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://probo-koala.com/probo-koala-the-cargo-and-journey-of-the-trafigura-chartered-supertanker/?lang=en|title=Probo Koala: the cargo and journey of the Trafigura-chartered supertanker – LE SCANDALE DU PROBO KOALA|date=2016-08-08|newspaper=LE SCANDALE DU PROBO KOALA|language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-01}}{{dead link|date=August 2018|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> in which disposed products caused thousands of residents to seek medical attention. Côte d'Ivoire's civil conflicts seriously impacted the security situation in Abidjan. Amidst the anti-French riots in November 2004, 4,000 prisoners in Abidjan escaped from the country's largest prison.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/world/africa/ivory-coast-says-4000-prison-inmates-escaped.html|title=Ivory Coast Says 4,000 Prison Inmates Escaped|last=Associated Press|date=2004-11-12|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918064531/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/12/world/africa/ivory-coast-says-4000-prison-inmates-escaped.html|archive-date=18 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Abidjan was one of the main theaters of the 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis and the site of major demonstrations against incumbent president Gbagbo, including one on International Women's Day in 2011 that saw several demonstrators killed by Gbagbo's forces. The end of the crisis came with Gbagbo's capture in Abidjan in April 2011, following a major offensive by forces loyal to election winner [[Alassane Ouattara]] with support from France and the UN.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ivory-coast-strongman-laurent-gbagbo-arrested/|title=Ivory Coast strongman Laurent Gbagbo arrested|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202101406/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ivory-coast-strongman-laurent-gbagbo-arrested/|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:CarteSituationAbidjan.svg|thumb|Location map of Abidjan]]
Abidjan lies on the south-east coast of the country, on the [[Gulf of Guinea]]. The city is located on the [[Ébrié Lagoon]]. The business district, [[Plateau, Ivory Coast|Le Plateau]], is the center of the city, along with [[Cocody]], Deux Plateaux (the city's wealthiest neighborhood and a hub for diplomats), and [[Adjamé]], a [[slum]] on the north shore of the lagoon. [[Treichville]] and [[Marcory]] lie to the south, [[Attecoube]], Locodjro, Abobo Doume and [[Yopougon]] to the west, and [[Île Boulay]] is located in the middle of the lagoon. Further south lies [[Port Bouët]], home to the [[Port Bouet Airport|airport]] and main [[seaport]]. Abidjan is located at 5°25' North, 4°2' West (5.41667, –4.03333).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html |title=GNS: Country Files |publisher=Earth-info.nga.mil |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509082929/http://earth-info.nga.mil/gns/html/cntry_files.html |archive-date=9 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Abidjan experiences a [[tropical wet and dry climate]], according to the [[Köppen climate classification]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: '''Aw'''), closely bordering a [[tropical monsoon climate]]. Abidjan has nonconsecutive rainy seasons (precipitation above {{convert|60|mm}} with a long rainy season from March to July and a short rainy season from September to December, and three dry months (January, February and August). Precipitation is abundant during the summer months, except for August, due to activation of the [[Benguela Current]], which reduces the precipitation total throughout the month.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/benguela.html| title = The Benguela Current| publisher = Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) and Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbons in the Environment (CARTHE)| access-date = 8 November 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160507192952/http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/benguela.html| archive-date = 7 May 2016| url-status = live}}</ref> The Benguela Current also lowers the mean temperature during August, making it the coolest month of the year, averaging {{convert|24.5|C}}. Abidjan has two additional dry months (January and February). Abidjan is generally humid, with average relative humidity above 80% throughout the year.

{{Weather box
|location = Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 35.0
|Feb record high C = 35.7
|Mar record high C = 34.9
|Apr record high C = 35.0
|May record high C = 34.9
|Jun record high C = 36.2
|Jul record high C = 34.0
|Aug record high C = 32.0
|Sep record high C = 32.1
|Oct record high C = 32.8
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 33.7
|Jan high C = 30.5
|Feb high C = 31.0
|Mar high C = 31.1
|Apr high C = 31.2
|May high C = 30.4
|Jun high C = 28.7
|Jul high C = 27.4
|Aug high C = 26.9
|Sep high C = 27.6
|Oct high C = 29.2
|Nov high C = 30.5
|Dec high C = 30.3
|year high C = 29.6
|Jan mean C = 26.8
|Feb mean C = 27.7
|Mar mean C = 27.9
|Apr mean C = 27.7
|May mean C = 26.9
|Jun mean C = 25.8
|Jul mean C = 24.7
|Aug mean C = 24.5
|Sep mean C = 25.6
|Oct mean C = 26.8
|Nov mean C = 27.4
|Dec mean C = 27.0
|year mean C = 26.6
|Jan low C = 23.5
|Feb low C = 24.6
|Mar low C = 24.9
|Apr low C = 24.9
|May low C = 24.6
|Jun low C = 23.7
|Jul low C = 22.9
|Aug low C = 22.1
|Sep low C = 22.3
|Oct low C = 23.6
|Nov low C = 24.4
|Dec low C = 23.8
|year low C = 23.8
|Jan record low C = 14.7
|Feb record low C = 16.0
|Mar record low C = 19.0
|Apr record low C = 15.9
|May record low C = 18.5
|Jun record low C = 18.6
|Jul record low C = 17.1
|Aug record low C = 17.2
|Sep record low C = 15.2
|Oct record low C = 17.5
|Nov record low C = 19.5
|Dec record low C = 16.5
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 16.3
|Feb rain mm = 48.9
|Mar rain mm = 106.7
|Apr rain mm = 141.3
|May rain mm = 293.5
|Jun rain mm = 561.8
|Jul rain mm = 205.7
|Aug rain mm = 36.8
|Sep rain mm = 80.5
|Oct rain mm = 137.7
|Nov rain mm = 143.3
|Dec rain mm = 75.1
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 3
|Feb rain days = 4
|Mar rain days = 9
|Apr rain days = 11
|May rain days = 19
|Jun rain days = 22
|Jul rain days = 12
|Aug rain days = 8
|Sep rain days = 11
|Oct rain days = 14
|Nov rain days = 16
|Dec rain days = 9
|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 86
|Mar humidity = 83
|Apr humidity = 82
|May humidity = 84
|Jun humidity = 86
|Jul humidity = 85
|Aug humidity = 86
|Sep humidity = 89
|Oct humidity = 87
|Nov humidity = 83
|Dec humidity = 83
|Jan sun = 183
|Feb sun = 212
|Mar sun = 226
|Apr sun = 210
|May sun = 192
|Jun sun = 117
|Jul sun = 115
|Aug sun = 121
|Sep sun = 141
|Oct sun = 202
|Nov sun = 225
|Dec sun = 208
| source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_655780_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Abidjan / Elfenbeinküste
| publisher = Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
| access-date = 8 November 2016}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Danish Meteorological Institute]]<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130116071752/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = 16 January 2013
| title = STATIONSNUMMER 65578
| publisher = Ministry of Energy, Utilities and Climate
| access-date = 8 November 2016}}</ref>
}}

{|class="wikitable"
|+Abidjan mean sea temperature<ref name="World Climate Guide">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldclimateguide.co.uk/climateguides/cotedivoireivorycoast/abidjan.php |title=Abidjan Climate Guide, Cote D'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) |publisher=World Climate Guide |access-date=20 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201122733/http://www.worldclimateguide.co.uk/climateguides/cotedivoireivorycoast/abidjan.php |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Weather2Travel">{{cite web |url=http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/ivory-coast/abidjan.php |title=Abidjan Climate and Weather Averages, Ivory Coast |publisher=Weather2Travel |access-date=20 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201171302/http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/ivory-coast/abidjan.php |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
|-
|{{convert|28|°C}}
|{{convert|28|°C}}
|{{convert|28|°C}}
|{{convert|29|°C}}
|{{convert|29|°C}}
|{{convert|28|°C}}
|{{convert|26|°C}}
|{{convert|25|°C}}
|{{convert|25|°C}}
|{{convert|26|°C}}
|{{convert|28|°C}}
|{{convert|28|°C}}
|}

==== Climate change ====
A 2019 paper published in [[PLOS One]] estimates that under [[Representative Concentration Pathway#4.5|Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5]], a "moderate" scenario of [[climate change]] where global warming reaches ~{{convert|2.5-3|C-change|F-change}} by 2100, the climate of Abidjan in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of [[Manila]] in the [[Philippines]]. The annual temperature would increase by {{convert|1.8|C-change|F-change}}, and the temperature of the coldest month by {{convert|1.9|C-change|F-change}}, but the temperature of the warmest month would be {{convert|3.4|C-change|F-change}} higher.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bastin |first1=Jean-Francois |last2=Clark |first2=Emily |last3=Elliott |first3=Thomas |last4=Hart |first4=Simon |last5=van den Hoogen |first5=Johan |last6=Hordijk |first6=Iris |last7=Ma |first7=Haozhi |last8=Majumder |first8=Sabiha |last9=Manoli |first9=Gabriele |last10=Maschler |first10=Julia |last11=Mo |first11=Lidong |last12=Routh |first12=Devin |last13=Yu |first13=Kailiang |last14=Zohner |first14=Constantin M. |last15=Thomas W. |first15=Crowther |title=Understanding climate change from a global analysis of city analogues |journal=PLOS ONE |date=10 July 2019 |volume=14 |issue=7 |at=S2 Table. Summary statistics of the global analysis of city analogues. |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0217592 |pmid=31291249 |pmc=6619606 |bibcode=2019PLoSO..1417592B |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://crowtherlab.pageflow.io/cities-of-the-future-visualizing-climate-change-to-inspire-action |title=Cities of the future: visualizing climate change to inspire action |at=Current vs. future cities |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> According to [[Climate Action Tracker]], the current warming trajectory appears consistent with {{convert|2.7|C-change|F-change}}, which closely matches RCP 4.5.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-thermometer/ |title=The CAT Thermometer |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref>

Moreover, according to the 2022 [[IPCC Sixth Assessment Report]], Abidjan is one of 12 major African cities (Abidjan, [[Alexandria]], [[Algiers]], [[Cape Town]], [[Casablanca]], [[Dakar]], [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Durban]], [[Lagos]], [[Lomé]], [[Luanda]] and [[Maputo]]) which would be the most severely affected by the future [[sea level rise]]. It estimates that they would collectively sustain cumulative damages of USD 65 billion under RCP 4.5 and USD 86.5 billion for the high-emission scenario RCP 8.5 by the year 2050. Additionally, RCP 8.5 combined with the hypothetical impact from [[marine ice sheet instability]] at high levels of warming would involve up to 137.5 billion USD in damages, while the additional accounting for the "low-probability, high-damage events" may increase aggregate risks to USD 187 billion for the "moderate" RCP4.5, USD 206 billion for RCP8.5 and USD 397 billion under the high-end ice sheet instability scenario.<ref>Trisos, C.H., I.O. Adelekan, E. Totin, A. Ayanlade, J. Efitre, A. Gemeda, K. Kalaba, C. Lennard, C. Masao, Y. Mgaya, G. Ngaruiya, D. Olago, N.P. Simpson, and S. Zakieldeen 2022: [https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_Chapter09.pdf Chapter 9: Africa]. In [https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/ Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability] [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke,V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 2043–2121 </ref> Since sea level rise would continue for about 10,000 years under every scenario of climate change, future costs of sea level rise would only increase, especially without adaptation measures.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Full_Report.pdf |title=Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |date=August 2021 |publisher=IPCC |page=TS14 |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>

=== Territorial divisions ===
The Autonomous District of Abidjan (''District Autonome d'Abidjan''), which superseded the former City of Abidjan (''Ville d'Abidjan'') in 2001, is made up of 10 central [[Communes of Ivory Coast|communes]], whose territory corresponds to the former City of Abidjan, and 4 outlying sub-prefectures: [[Anyama]], [[Bingerville]], [[Brofodoumé]], and [[Songon]].

The 10 communes of the former City of Abidjan are traditionally divided into northern Abidjan and southern Abidjan, with the Ébrié Lagoon separating both halves of the city.

==== Communes of Northern Abidjan ====
[[File:Abidjan's plateau district view.jpg|thumb|A view of the Plateau district in Abidjan]]
*'''[[Abobo]]''' consists mainly of public housing. Abobo has a large population of low-income migrants. This area has developed spontaneously.
*'''[[Adjamé]]''' developed from the village of Ébrié, which existed before Abidjan developed. Although polluted and small in size, this commune is commercially very important for the Ivorian economy. It contains a varied shopping district and its bus station is the Côte d'Ivoire's main hub for international bus lines.
*'''[[Yopougon]]''' is the most populous commune of Abidjan, lying partly in Northern Abidjan and partly across the lagoon in Southern Abidjan. It is home to both industrial and residential areas. The research station [[ORSTOM]], the [[Pasteur Institute]], and a training hospital are located in this commune.
*'''[[Plateau, Côte d'Ivoire|Plateau]]''' is Ivory Coast's business center, with very modern, tall buildings. Although the governmental and administrative capital of Côte d'Ivoire officially transferred to [[Yamoussoukro]] in 1983, the institutions of the republic such as the Presidency and National Assembly are still located in Plateau. It is the main administrative, commercial and financial center of Ivory Coast.
*'''[[Attécoubé]]''' contains [[Banco National Park|Banco]] forest, classified as a national park.
*'''[[Cocody]]''' is famous for its residential districts, Deux-Plateaux and Riviera. The [[Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny]], a public institution, and some private universities are also located within the commune. [[Radio Television Ivoirienne (RTI)]] is located in Cocody. The President of the Republic also resides in this commune, which contains the embassy district.

==== Communes of Southern Abidjan ====
[[File:Vridi1.jpg|thumb|Beach of Vridi|upright]]

*'''[[Koumassi]]''': This commune has an important industrial area.
*'''[[Marcory]]''': This commune is mainly residential, and contains the upscale {{Interlanguage link multi|Biétry|fr}} and [[:fr:Zone 4|Zone 4]] neighborhoods where many foreigners live.
*'''[[Port-Bouët]]''': This commune includes the ([[:fr:Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage|SIR]] refinery and the Félix Houphouët-Boigny International [[Port Bouet Airport|airport]]. There is also an established office of the [[Institut de Recherche pour le Développement|IRD]], the centre of Little Bassam.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ird.ci/ird/petitbassam.html |title=Centre des Sciences Sociales |website=[[Institut de recherche pour le développement|IRD]] |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207201015/http://www.ird.ci/ird/petitbassam.html |archive-date=7 December 2008}}</ref> The famous [[lighthouse]] sweeps the [[Gulf of Guinea]] for several nautical miles out. The [[Vridi]] beach area is busy every weekend although the ocean is very rough; this phenomenon widely holds all along the [[Gulf of Guinea]]. From 1950 on, Vridi has been the primary employment hub in Abidjan because of its increasing number of factories and warehouses.
*'''[[Treichville]]''': This commune is home to the [[Autonomous Port of Abidjan]] and to many stores. The port area is also industrial. There is also the Treichville state swimming pool (PET), the Treichville sports palace, the [[Palace of Culture of Abidjan|Palace of Culture]], and the Abidjan [[racetrack]].
** [[Île Boulay]].

==== Suburbs ====
Towns near Abidjan include [[Jacqueville]], [[Grand-Lahou]] and [[Dabou]] in the west; [[Sikensi]], [[Tiassalé]], [[Agboville]], [[Adzopé]] and [[Alépé]] in the north; and [[Grand-Bassam]] to the east.

The towns (or [[sub-prefectures of Ivory Coast|sub-prefectures]]) of [[Anyama]], [[Bingerville]], [[Brofodoumé]] and [[Songon]] are within the [[Abidjan Department]], which is co-extensive with the autonomous district.

== Politics ==
=== Administration ===

==== Organisation ====
Formerly managed by the French colonial administration, Abidjan became a municipality ([[Communes of Ivory Coast|commune]]) in 1956, divided into administrative areas by lagoons. Its first municipal council was elected on 18 November 1956, and the first mayor in the context of the Loi-Cadre of 1956<ref>{{cite web |title=Loi n°56-619 du 23 juin 1956: MESURES PROPRES A ASSURER L'EVOLUTION DES TERRITOIRES RELEVANT DU MINISTERE DE LA FRANCE D'OUTRE-MER |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000692222 |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308010331/https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do?cidTexte=JORFTEXT000000692222 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> was president [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]].

{| rules="all" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" style="margin:auto; border:1px solid #999; border-right:2px solid #999; border-bottom:2px solid #999; background:#f3fff3;"
|+ style="font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 0.5em"|List of successive mayors
|- style="background:#dfd;"
! Date of election !! Name !! Party !! Background !! Status
|-
|align=right|1956 ||[[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]] || style="text-align:center;"|[[PDCI-RDA]] ||Politician||Elected
|-
|align=right| ||Antoine Filidori |||||Industry ||Appointed
|-
|align=right| ||Jean Porquet |||||Industry ||Appointed
|-
|align=right| ||Antoine Konan Kanga || style="text-align:center;"|[[PDCI-RDA]]||Politician||Appointed
|-
|align=right|1980 ||Emmanuel Dioulo || style="text-align:center;"|[[PDCI-RDA]]||Politician||Elected
|-
|align=right|1985 ||Mobio N'Koumo || style="text-align:center;"|[[PDCI-RDA]]||Politician ||Elected
|}

In 1980, the municipality of Abidjan (''commune d'Abidjan'') was transformed into the City of Abidjan (''Ville d'Abidjan''), and its territory was divided in 10 [[Communes of Ivory Coast|communes]]. A city council and mayor of the City of Abidjan elected by the population oversaw the entire city, whereas 10 municipal councils also elected by the population managed each commune. Dioulo Emmanuel was elected mayor of the City of Abidjan on 30 November 1980.

In 2001, the City of Abidjan was disbanded and replaced by a larger Autonomous District of Abidjan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=LE STATUT DU DISTRICT D'ABIDJAN|url=https://loidici.biz/2018/09/18/le-statut-du-district-dabidjan/lois-article-par-article/plus-de-textes-de-lois/|access-date=2022-09-17|language=fr-FR}}</ref> The autonomous district overlaps the [[Abidjan Department]], which was established in 1969 and has had its current boundaries since 1998. The district is made up of the 10 communes of the former City of Abidjan, and of 4 outlying sub-prefectures: [[Anyama]], [[Bingerville]], [[Brofodoumé]], and [[Songon]]. Since the 2000s, the built-up area of Abidjan has largely expanded into these 4 formerly rural sub-prefectures.

As a result of the creation of the Autonomous District of Abidjan in 2001, the post of Mayor of City of Abidjan was replaced by that of District Governor, appointed by the head of state. The position has been occupied by [[Robert Beugré Mambé]] since 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abidjan.district.ci/index2.php?page=gou |title=Anciens Maires et Gouverneurs |trans-title=Former Mayors and Governors |publisher=Abidjan |access-date=2 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412183502/http://www.abidjan.district.ci/index2.php?page=gou |archive-date=12 April 2016 |url-status=live }}</ref> The District Governor manages Abidjan along with an assembly, the Autonomous District Council (''Conseil du District Autonome''), one-third of whose members are appointed by the government of Côte d'Ivoire, and two-third are representatives from the municipal councils of the communes making up the district. Each of the ten communes of Abidjan has its own municipal council, headed by a mayor. The last municipal elections were held in 2018. The sub-prefectures of the autonomous district also have their own mayors and councils.
[[File:Côte d'Ivoire - District autonome Abidjan.svg|left|thumb|Location of the autonomous district of Abidjan]]
[[File:Abidjan Communes.svg|thumb|{{center|The 10 communes of the former City of Abidjan, now included in the larger Autonomous District of Abidjan}}]]

{|class=wikitable
|-
! Commune
! Mayor
! Political party
|-
|[[Abobo]]
|Adama Toungara
|[[Rally of the Republicans|RDR]]
|-
|[[Adjamé]]
|Youssouf Sylla
|[[Rally of the Republicans|RDR]]
|-
|[[Attécoubé]]
|Danho Paulin
|[[PDCI-RDA]]
|-
|[[Cocody]]
|{{Interlanguage link multi|Jean-Baptiste Gomont Diagou|fr}}
|[[Ivorian Popular Front|FPI]]
|-
|[[Plateau, Ivory Coast|Le Plateau]]
|Akossi Noel Bendjo
|[[PDCI-RDA]]
|-
|[[Yopougon]]
|Gbamnan Djidan Jean Félicien
|[[Ivorian Popular Front|FPI]]
|-
|[[Treichville]]
|[[François Amichia]]
|[[PDCI-RDA]]
|-
|[[Koumassi]]
|N'Dohi Yapi Raymond
|[[PDCI-RDA]]
|-
|[[Marcory]]
|Marcellin Akanda Assi
|[[Ivorian Popular Front|FPI]]
|-
|[[Port-Bouët]]
|[[Hortense Aka-Anghui]]
|[[PDCI-RDA]]
|}

The communes of Abobo, Adjamé, Attécoubé, Cocody, and Plateau are located north of the Ébrié Lagoon (hence the name "Abidjan North"). This is the continental part of Abidjan.
The commune of Yopougon straddles the lagoon, with part lying north and part south of that body of water. The communes of [[Treichville]], [[Koumassi]], [[Marcory]], and [[Port-Bouet]] in Abidjan are south of the lagoon. [[Blokosso]] and [[Locodjro]] villages are included within the city and maintain cultural identity in urban areas.
[[File:Quartier d'Affaires au Plateau à Abidjan (29916932210).jpg|thumb|right|Le Plateau, Abidjan]]

== Education ==
{{See also|List of schools in Abidjan}}
The [[Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny]] was founded in 1964.

In Côte d'Ivoire, the enrollment rate is 74%<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bibliotheque.refer.org/livre244/l24424.pdf |title=La Scolarisation en Côte d'Ivoire |first=Noël Kouassi |last=Ayewa |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070625164113/http://www.bibliotheque.refer.org/livre244/l24424.pdf |archive-date=25 June 2007}}</ref> and access to secondary education is limited by an entrance assessment at the 6th stage after which one-third of students are allowed to continue their studies. 24% of the student population resides in Abidjan, which comprises 20% of the total population. Abidjan is the location of the main educational institutions in the Côte d'Ivoire. These include the Lycée Classique d'Abidjan, the Lycée Sainte-Marie de Cocody, Lycée garçon de Bingerville, Mami Adjoua the Lyceum, the Blaise Pascal Abidjan school is a French school – a school who has signed an agreement with the ADFE. Recently the Lycée International Jean-Mermoz re-opened which was initially called College International Jean-Mermoz, founded by Pierre Padovani. The Institution suffered from a devastating war and was forced to close.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://adfe.org |title=Site de l'ADFE |publisher=Adfe.org |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513033103/http://adfe.org/ |archive-date=13 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Government institutions ==
[[File:Asnat codivoire.jpg|thumb|Seat of the [[National Assembly of Cote d'Ivoire]]]]

The majority of Ivorian government institutions are still located in Abidjan and have not been transferred to the political capital, [[Yamoussoukro]]. The President's office is in [[Cocody]],<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.présidence.ci Le site officiel de la présidence de Côte d'Ivoire]{{dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and the parliament,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://primature.ci//|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609104659/http://www.premierministre.ci/|url-status=dead|title=Cabinet du Premier Ministre de Côte d'Ivoire|archivedate=9 June 2012|website=primature.ci|accessdate=19 December 2022}}</ref> the [[Constitutional Council (Côte d'Ivoire)|Constitutional Council]], the Supreme Court, and the Chancellery of the National Order are all in [[Plateau, Côte d'Ivoire|Le Plateau]]. Under the presidency of [[Laurent Gbagbo]] (2000–11), efforts were made to give effect to the project of making the political capital Yamoussoukro in Côte d'Ivoire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.courrierinternational.com/article.asp?obj_id=13683 |title=Article de Courrier International |work=Courrier International |location=France |date=24 March 2011 |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201093458/http://www.courrierinternational.com/article.asp?obj_id=13683 |archive-date=1 December 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> This goal continues to be the consensus of the country's political leaders.

Government offices are located in Le Plateau<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://www.gouv.ci/ Portail officiel du gouvernement ivoirien] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611065145/http://www.gouv.ci/ |date=11 June 2012 }}</ref> in the administrative district of Abidjan, Boulevard Carde or Angoulvant Boulevard (near the Cathedral of St. Paul of Abidjan), or elsewhere in the great buildings of the town.

== Security ==
The instability of the 2002–2007 civil war and 2010–2011 crisis saw foreign peacekeeping forces stationed in Abidjan. The United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire ([[United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|UNOCI]]), established in April 2004, has its headquarters at the former Hotel Sebroko in Attécoubé. While the size of the force has been reduced since the end of the 2011 crisis, UNOCI's mandate was extended in 2013 and again in 2015. The force remains authorized to maintain up to 5,245 troops, 192 observers, 1,500 police and eight customs officers in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unoci/background.shtml|title=UNOCI Background – United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire|website=www.un.org|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708043957/http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/unoci/background.shtml|archive-date=8 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

France's peacekeeping operations in Côte d'Ivoire continued under the aegis of Operation Unicorn until 2015 and then as the French forces in Côte d'Ivoire from 2015 onward. In 2014, French defense minister [[Jean-Yves Le Drian]] announced that Abidjan would be reinforced as the entry point for France's military presence and counterterrorism operations in the Sahel region.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/france-to-create-new-africa-outposts-to-better-fight-terrorism-1.1649084|title=France to create new Africa outposts to better fight terrorism|last=Keaten|first=Jamey|newspaper=CTVNews|language=en-CA|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202171658/http://www.ctvnews.ca/world/france-to-create-new-africa-outposts-to-better-fight-terrorism-1.1649084|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> After al-Qaeda militants targeted beachgoers at Grand Bassam in March 2016, the French government announced it would increase its troop deployment in Côte d'Ivoire from 500 to 900.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-04-30-france-says-it-will-increase-forces-in-ivory-coast-as-region-faces-growing-islamist-threat|title=France says it will increase forces in Côte d'Ivoire, as region faces growing Islamist threat|date=2016-04-30|newspaper=MG Africa|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202040140/http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-04-30-france-says-it-will-increase-forces-in-ivory-coast-as-region-faces-growing-islamist-threat|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> French soldiers are based in Port-Bouet as well as at the Abidjan airport.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.defense.gouv.fr/ema/forces-prepositionnees/cote-d-ivoire/dossier/les-forces-francaises-en-cote-d-ivoire|title=Les forces françaises en Côte d'Ivoire|website=www.defense.gouv.fr|access-date=2016-12-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202035643/http://www.defense.gouv.fr/ema/forces-prepositionnees/cote-d-ivoire/dossier/les-forces-francaises-en-cote-d-ivoire|archive-date=2 December 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2007, Pierre Laba's comedy film ''Permanent Danger'' explored the laxity of the police against banditry in major African cities, specifically in Abidjan.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Africiné - Danger Permanent |url=http://www.africine.org/film/danger-permanent/11171 |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Africiné |language=fr}}</ref>

=== Police ===
Abidjan is divided into districts, each of which has a police station. The municipal police and national police are separate.

All police are trained at the National Police Academy in the town of Cocody. They are recruited by competitive examination held by the police administration. The police include several sections, such as the BAE (Anti Riot Squad), whose base is located in Yopougon north of the city, the CRS (Republican Security Company), whose main base is located in Williamsville (Adjame) and also includes a secondary base called CRS2, which is located in zone 4 in the town of [[Marcory]] in the central capital. The Force{{who|date=October 2016}} and CECOS accompany the police.

The main base of the gendarmerie is at Agban (commonly Adjamé). There are others in [[Abobo]] and [[Kumasi]], It also has a training school in Cocody and the city{{clarify|date=October 2016}}.

=== Drugs ===
Since 2000, Côte d'Ivoire has experienced a sharp rise in drug trafficking. Drug dens arise mainly in informal settlements and there has been a recent spike in demand among unemployed youth and Ivorian vagrants. The Ivorian police increasingly focus on the fight against trafficking and drug use in the district of Abidjan. A report by the Office of the UN says West Africa plays an increasingly important role in the transit of cocaine to Latin America and Europe.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/09/21/africa.drug.cartels/
|title=Latin American drug cartels find home in West Africa
|first=Arthur
|last=Brice
|date=21 September 2009
|website=[[CNN]].com
|access-date=28 December 2014
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228061324/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/09/21/africa.drug.cartels/
|archive-date=28 December 2014
|url-status=live
}}</ref> In May 2007, seven drug houses were dismantled and 191 people arrested including a military officer.<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://news.abidjan.net/article/index.asp?n=251239 Lutte contre la drogue : destruction de sept "fumoirs", 191 personnes interpellées dont un militaire]{{dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Le Patriote'', 30 May 2007</ref><ref>{{in lang|fr}} [http://news.abidjan.net/article/index.asp?n=251106 Lutte contre la drogue, Visite du ministre de l'intérieur dans les fumoirs, 189 personnes interpellées]{{dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Le Front'', 30 May 2007</ref>

=== French military base ===
Abidjan is home to [[Port-Bouet]], one of the six French military bases that still exist in Africa ([[Dakar]], [[Libreville]], [[Bouar]] CAR, [[N'Djamena]] and [[Djibouti]]). Thousands of people live there, around the 43rd BIMA which is permanently in place in accordance with established defense agreements on 24 April 1961 linking the two countries.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.doc.diplomatie.gouv.fr/BASIS/pacte/webext/bilat/SDF?TOUSTI=d%E9fense
|title=Accords et Traités
|publisher=Doc.diplomatie.gouv.fr
|access-date=9 March 2014
}}</ref>

== Relationships and partnerships ==
=== Diplomacy and international bodies ===
Abidjan is the regional headquarters of major international institutions, including [[UNICEF]], [[UN Development Program]], [[World Health Organization]], [[World Food Program]], [[UNOPS]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unops.org/english/where-we-work/africa/Pages/default.aspx |title=UNOPS in Africa |website=[[United Nations Office for Project Services|UNOPS]] |access-date=28 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141202053228/https://www.unops.org/english/where-we-work/africa/Pages/default.aspx |archive-date=2 December 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[UNFPA]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://data.unfpa.org/docs/civ |title=Cote D'Ivoire |website=[[United Nations Population Fund|UNFPA]] |access-date=28 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228070444/https://data.unfpa.org/docs/civ |archive-date=28 December 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[International Labour Organization]] (ILO), [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF), and [[IFAD]]. [[List of diplomatic missions in Ivory Coast|Diplomatic missions in Ivory Coast]] are mostly located in Abidjan.

The [[African Development Bank]] (ADB),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.izf.net/IZF/FicheIdentite/BAD.htm |title=La BAD |publisher=Izf.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928021955/http://www.izf.net/IZF/FicheIdentite/BAD.htm |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the largest financial institution in Africa, is headquartered in Abidjan.

==== Twin towns – Sister cities ====
Abidjan is [[Twin towns and sister cities|sisters]] with:
{{Div col|colwidth=27em}}
* {{flagdeco|CHN}} [[Tianjin]], China
* {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Marseille]], France
* {{flagdeco|BRA}} [[São Paulo]], Brazil
* {{flagdeco|USA}} [[San Francisco]], United States
* {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Alfortville]], France (''twinned with [[Cocody]]'')
* {{flagdeco|GHA}} [[Kumasi]], Ghana (''twinned with [[Treichville]]'')
* {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Pontault-Combault]], France (''twinned with [[Anyama]]'')
* {{flagdeco|FRA}} [[Boulogne-Billancourt]], France
* {{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Yokohama]], Japan
* {{flagdeco|CHE}} [[Basel]], Switzerland
{{colend}}

== Society ==
The 2021 census recorded Abidjan's population as 6,321,017. As Abidjan is inhabited by people from a wide array of different [[ethnicity|ethnicities]], French is commonly spoken in the [[metropolitan area]], which is the third largest French speaking metropolitan area in the world after [[Kinshasa]] and [[Paris]].{{Citation needed|reason=Reference needed. An authoritative reference is needed so that the relative sizes of these Francophone cities is acknowledged in the different articles|date=June 2009}} Colloquial Abidjan French has even appeared, which has a different pronunciation and some slang words different from standard French. Abidjan is recognized as one of the few areas in Africa where French (colloquial Abidjan French) is truly a native tongue,<ref>{{in lang|fr}} [https://www.amazon.fr/dp/2271059682 ''Le français à Abidjan : Pour une approche syntaxique du non-standard''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120083936/http://www.amazon.fr/dp/2271059682 |date=20 January 2016 }} by Katja Ploog, [[Centre national de la recherche scientifique|CNRS Editions]], Paris, 2002.</ref> along with [[Libreville]], Gabon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/Gabon.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100529221022/http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/gabon.htm|url-status=dead|title="De plus, le français est également devenu la langue maternelle de plus de 30% des Librevillois et il est de plus en plus perçu comme une langue gabonaise."|archivedate=29 May 2010|access-date=19 December 2022|language=fr}}</ref>

=== Demographics ===
The District of Abidjan's population was 6,321,017 at the December 14, 2021 census,<ref name=census_2021 /> up from 4,707,404 at the May 15, 2014 census.<ref name=census_2014>{{cite web |url=https://www.ins.ci/documents/rgph/ivoirien18plus.pdf |title=RGPH 2014 Résultats globaux|author=[[Institut National de la Statistique de Côte d'Ivoire]]|access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref>

Population increase, lower in the 2000s due to the economic crisis and [[First Ivorian Civil War|Ivorian Civil War]], has picked up in the 2010s to levels unseen since the 1980s thanks to the rapid economic growth experienced by Abidjan after the return of peace in 2012. Many inhabitants come to live in Abidjan for employment and better standards of living.

{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center; width: 450px;"
|+ Demographic evolution
! Year
! City of Abidjan (422 km2) (disbanded in 2001)
! District of Abidjan (2,119 km2) (created in 2001)
! Yearly growth
|-
! 1912
| 1,400
| —
| —
|-
! 1928
| 5,400
| —
| +8.80%
|-
! 1939
| 22,000
| —
| +13.62%
|-
! 1948
| 48,000
| —
| +9.06%
|-
! 1955
| 125,000
| —
| +14.65%
|-
! 1963
| 254,000
| —
| +8.70%
|-
! 1975
| 951,216
| —
| +11.81%
|-
! 1988
| 1,929,079
| —
| +5.65%
|-
! 1998
| 2,877,948
| 3,133,608
| +3.79%
|-
! 2014
| —
| 4,707,404
| +2.68%
|-
! 2021
| —
| 6,321,017
| +3.96%
|-
| Colspan=4 | Sources: City: 1912–1948 administrative estimates,<ref name=brief>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j-0eAQAAMAAJ&dq=population+abidjan+1955+1963&pg=PT2 |title=Statistical Briefs from Around the World|author=[[US Department of Commerce]]|page=3|date=July 31, 1964|access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref> 1955 [[INSEE]] census,<ref name=brief /> 1963 [[Sema Group|SEMA]] demographic survey,<ref name=brief />1975–1998 [[Institut National de la Statistique de Côte d'Ivoire|INS]] censuses.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ireda.ceped.org/inventaire/ressources/civ-1998-rec-o13_t13_urbanisation.pdf |title=Recensement général de la population et de l'habitation de 1998 – Volume IV : Analyse des résultats – Tome 13 : Urbanisation|author=[[Institut National de la Statistique de Côte d'Ivoire]]|page=23|date=July 2001|access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref> District: 1998 INS census,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://transports.gouv.ci/sites/default/files/3-echangeurs-version-finale-a-publier.pdf|title=Projet de construction de trois échangeurs d'Abidjan – Etude d'Impact Environnemental et Social (EIES)|author=République de Côte d'Ivoire, Ministère de l'Équipement et de l'Entretien routier|page=141 (207)|date=February 2019|access-date=2022-08-09}}</ref> 2014 INS census,<ref name=census_2014 /> 2021 INS census.<ref name=census_2021 />
|}

[[File:Abidjan Centre1.JPG|thumb|right|Abidjan Centre]]
By 1950, Abidjan had just exceeded a population of 50,000 (at the end of 1948). Reaching a population of a million by the end of 1975, the city grew at a rate of 10 to 12% per year, doubling every six or seven years. However, this growth underwent a sharp decline due to the crises of the 1980s and 1990s. In the last 20 years of the 20th century, the growth rate dropped to 3–6%. Birth rate growth was supplemented by migration, with the influx being substantial and the outflow only partly offseting the arrivals. The migration, prior to the census of 1988, contributed a growth of about 80,000 with 50,000 people from within Côte d'Ivoire, and about 30,000 from abroad per year.

From within Côte d'Ivoire, the migration pattern was dominated by [[Akan people|Akan]] (South-east, 48%), then [[Mandé peoples|Mandé]] (North-west, 24%) and [[Krumen people|Krou]] (South-west, 20%). From abroad, the migration was [[Burkina Faso|Burkinabes]] (30%), [[Mali]]ans (22%), [[Ghana]]ians (19%), [[Niger]]ien (11%), and [[Guinea]]ns (9%).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cicred.org/Eng/Seminars/Details/Seminars/education/ACTES/Com_Zanou.PDF |title=Strategies Educatives En Milieu Emigre De La Cote-D'Ivoire |access-date=9 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130727150448/http://www.cicred.org/Eng/Seminars/Details/Seminars/education/ACTES/Com_Zanou.PDF |archive-date=27 July 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Of the non-African migration, [[Lebanon|Lebanese]] migration was highest, followed by European migration, with the French being largest of this latter group. All in all, people of non-African origin represent 3% of the total population of Abidjan, which remains the highest in the region.

=== Languages ===
The traditional language of the city was [[Ebrié language|Ebrié]]. Since independence, the [[official language]] in Abidjan and throughout Côte d'Ivoire has been [[French language|French]]. While the official language is a formal variety of standard French similar to that of Paris, the most commonly spoken form of [[African French#Abidjan French|French in Abidjan]] is a colloquial dialect known as ''français de Treichville'' or ''français de Moussa'' which differs from standard French in pronunciation and in some of its vocabulary. Another form of spoken French in Abidjan is ''[[Nouchi]]'', a highly informal variety used as adolescent slang. The historical lingua franca, still spoken and understood by most of the trading population of Abidjan, is [[Dioula language|Dioula]]. The city hosts many Ivorians from all over the country and about sixty vernacular languages are spoken, such as [[Attié language|Attié]], [[Baoulé language|Baoulé]], [[Bété language|Bété]], and [[Wobé language|Wobé]]. Abidjan is surrounded by more than thirty villages where Baoulé and Ébrié are still commonly spoken.

=== Health ===
Some traditional medicine establishments sell traditional drugs in the street.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} There are numerous health centers, pharmacies and pharmacopoeias.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} The city has more than fifty clinics, and over sixty specialist locations ([[veterinary]], [[dermatology]], [[Dentistry|dental]], [[optometry]], motherhood, [[psychology]], [[pediatrics]], etc.){{Citation needed|date=March 2011}}.

=== Urbanism and habitat ===
Modern districts like [[Le Plateau, Abidjan|Plateau]] or [[Cocody]] have developed similar to those in Europe with the construction of large office towers and apartment buildings between the 1970s and the mid-1980s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emporis.com/fr/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=100024&bt=5&ht=2&sro=0 |title=Abidjan – Immeubles de grandes hauteurs existant |publisher=Emporis |date=15 June 2009 |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629190249/http://www.emporis.com/fr/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=100024&bt=5&ht=2&sro=0 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[CCIA Building|CCIA building]] (Abidjan International Trade Center Building), a skyscraper, was completed in 1982.

Traditional neighborhoods like [[Treichville]] or [[Marcory]] maintained the system of "concessions" where housing is adjacent to the plant and an area of several houses, within the normal organization and multi centuries-old African villages.<ref>Haeringer Ph., Vingt-cinq ans de politique urbaine à Abidjan ou la tentation de l'urbanisme intégral, Politique Africaine, n°17, 20–40, 1985</ref>

The district of [[Cocody]] is also home to many single-storey wooden villas, surrounded by vast gardens of lush vegetation, fed by the heavy rains that water the city. Wealthier inhabitants constructed villas in imitation of Greek temples in this district. In addition, many houses were built on stilts on the edge of the [[Ébrié Lagoon]]. The town hall, a fine example of [[modernist]] architecture, was designed by architect {{Interlanguage link multi|Henri Chomette(architect)|fr|3=Henri Chomette (architecte)|lt=Henri Chomette}}.

==== Problems with urban network ====
[[File:Abidjan-Plateau1.JPG|thumb|Urban Network in Le Plateau]]

The urban network is disrupted, as Abidjan has seen its population double every seven years since 1945. Rural people are attracted by the opportunities of the city. Abidjan represents 45% of city dwellers in the Côte d'Ivoire and 20% of the overall population. The city is by far the country's largest, dwarfing the second-largest city, [[Bouaké]] (which had 542,082 inhabitants in 2014) as well as the political capital, [[Yamoussoukro]] (207,412 inhabitants).

==== Urban squalor ====

Since the [[2006 Ivory Coast toxic waste dump|2006 Probo Koala toxic waste dumping incident]],<ref>Probo-Koala : la mortelle errance d'un bateau-poubelle, ''Le Monde'', 29 septembre 2006</ref> significant efforts have been made to address waste management issues in Abidjan. In 2006, a contract was signed between [[China]] and Côte d'Ivoire: a Chinese company handling urban waste and industrial plans to treat all waste district this transformation also create daily cleaning.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.abidjan.net/videos/video_wm.asp?n=4467&cat=pol |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210206/http://news.abidjan.net/videos/video_wm.asp?n=4467&cat=pol |title=Salubrité urbaine : Signature d'un accord entre la chine et le District d'Abidjan |website=Abidjan.net |language=fr |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>

French nongovernmental organisation ACTED rolled out a three-part project across three districts of Abidjan in 2016, establishing street cleaning, waste collection and hygiene training. ACTED spokesperson Jérémy Lescot described the project as "a fine success".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ready-for-the-resource-revolution.com/en/acted-sustainable-access-to-sanitation-in-ivory-coast/ |title="ACTED: sustainable access to sanitation in Ivory Coast" |website=Ready for the Rescue |access-date=28 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707133812/http://www.ready-for-the-resource-revolution.com/en/acted-sustainable-access-to-sanitation-in-ivory-coast/ |archive-date=7 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==== Urban rehabilitation ====
The last transportation upgrade in Abidjan led to the repaving of certain roads in the capital in 1994. Since May 2007, the company {{Interlanguage link multi|Ageroute|fr}} (Road Management Agency) is undertaking major operations in Abidjan and [[Anyama]] relating to badly damaged roads, suffering from lack of maintenance, heavy rain and protests. It is also addressing the gutters and unpaved roads.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaf.org/fr/pays/fiche.php?itm=2124&md=&thm=&p=16 |title=Article du Matin d'Abidjan
|publisher=Mediaf.org
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206231145/http://www.mediaf.org/fr/pays/fiche.php?itm=2124&md=&thm=&p=16
|archive-date=6 February 2008
}}</ref> The District and BNETD plan to rehabilitate and construct {{convert|400|to(-)|500|mi|km|abbr=off}}, providing them with a quality to last 15–20 years of life. Improvements include the rehabilitation of roads in Abidjan and [[Anyama]], construction of drains, the tarring of gravel roads and sanitation of the city by the construction of sewers. These rehabilitations affect all municipalities in Abidjan:

* In [[Cocody]], at a cost of 3 billion [[CFA franc]], reconstruction of the [[Corniche]], one of the busiest roads in the municipality. Reconstruction has been extended by the dam of the limit, located at the ''Carrefour de la vie'', to filter all waste dumped into the lagoon.
* At [[Yopougon]], the rehabilitation nerve Sand continues with the construction of a culvert {{convert|200|ft|m|abbr=off}} long designed to slow the streaking wastewater, the main cause of the degradation of pathways.
* In [[Abobo]] the degradation of the roads requires a significant investment in manufacturing and installation of gutters to ensure proper sanitation. The rehabilitation of roads and highways continues.

== Notable people ==


*[[Lassina Diomandé]] (born 1979), footballer
*[[Didier Drogba]] (born 1978), footballer
*[[Modeste Gnakpa]] (born 1988), footballer
*[[Kader Kohou]] (born 1998), American football player
*[[Arnaud Monney]] (born 1981), football player
*[[Anderson Lago Zeze]] (born 1989), football player

== Economy ==
[[File:Le marché d'adjamé.jpg|thumb|Market in [[Adjamé]]]]
The principal stock exchange of the Côte d'Ivoire and the other seven countries of the Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA),<ref group=note>Bénin, Burkina Faso, Guinée-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Sénégal, and Togo.</ref> [[Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières]] (BRVM), is located in Abidjan.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=http://www.brvm.org/en/node/6
|title=Historique
|author=Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières needed
|date=October 2009
|access-date=18 October 2016
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161028065424/http://www.brvm.org/en/node/6
|archive-date=28 October 2016
|url-status=live
}}</ref> [[Air Ivoire]] has its head office in Abidjan.<ref>{{Cite web|title=airivoire.com|url=http://ww1.airivoire.com/?subid1=8cf4d64e-3661-11ed-9b3b-bcf4dda08977|access-date=2022-09-17|website=ww1.airivoire.com}}</ref> Prior to its dissolution, [[Air Afrique]] was headquartered in Abidjan.<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''Flight International''. 30 March 1985. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200893.html 33] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729180920/http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1985/1985%20-%200893.html |date=29 July 2013 }}." Retrieved on 17 June 2009.</ref>

== Industry ==
The region near the lagoons is the most industrialized region of the country.

Major industries include [[food processing]], [[lumber]], automobile manufacturing, textiles, [[chemical industry|chemicals]], and [[soap]]. There is also a large [[oil refinery]]. Its industries are mainly in construction and maintenance with the presence of major international groups: the furnace SETAO, Colas, [[Bouygues]], [[Jean Lefebvre]], and Swiss [[Holcim]].

There are textile industries with the packaging of cotton in the north both for export or for on-site processing of cloth, canvas, batik clothing and miscellaneous. The textile sector is very dynamic, and represents 15.6% of net investment, 13% of turnover and 24% of the value added in Ivorian industry.

There are several offshore oil wells in operation (Côte d'Ivoire is an oil producing country), which leads to the presence of a chemical industry with oil refineries,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mbendi.co.za/french/RESI.HTM |title=Societe Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR) – Simple Oil Refinery in Vridi, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire |publisher=Mbendi.co.za |access-date=9 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620001603/http://www.mbendi.co.za/french/RESI.HTM |archive-date=20 June 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and an oil port. It also works on stones and precious metals for exportation<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.notre-planete.info/actualites/actu_1209_moratoire_interdiction_commerce_ivoire.php |title=Interdiction du commerce international de l'ivoire |date=25 May 2007 |publisher=Notre-planete.info |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721225811/http://www.notre-planete.info/actualites/actu_1209_moratoire_interdiction_commerce_ivoire.php |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The city also has a large wood processing plant at the port by river from the forests of central [[Canada]]{{clarify|date=October 2016}}. It exports natural [[mahogany]], peeled wood, [[plywood]] and [[Paperboard|chipboard]] for the past two centuries.

Food industry mainly include: the production of [[palm oil]], [[bergamot orange|bergamot]] and [[Bitter orange|Seville oranges]]. In the west, rubber is processed as well as manufacturing beverages from [[pineapples]], oranges<ref>En Afrique de l'Ouest, les oranges ont la peau verte</ref> and [[mango]]es, producing robusta [[coffee]]: Côte d'Ivoire is the third largest producer, behind [[Colombia]] and [[Brazil]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tkwa.free.fr/lespaysproducteurs.php |title=Carte des pays producteurs de café |publisher=Tkwa.free.fr |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720231035/http://tkwa.free.fr/lespaysproducteurs.php |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> and processing [[cocoa bean|cocoa]], it is the largest producer in the world ahead of [[Ghana]] and [[Indonesia]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.unctad.org/infocomm/francais/cacao/marche.htm |title=Le marché du cacao |publisher=Unctad.org |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403105821/http://www.unctad.org/infocomm/francais/cacao/marche.htm |archive-date=3 April 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> (37% of cocoa and 10% of coffee products undergo at least one first local processing). Abidjan is also the first African [[tuna]] port for the European market. This generated 3,000 salaried jobs and is an important source of foreign exchange. As in all countries of the Third World developing countries, much of the city's economy lies in what economists describe as informal economy<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN02103lcononajdib0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927195014/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN02103lcononajdib0 |archive-date=2007-09-27 |title=L'économie parallèle, béquille d'Abidjan. |language=fr |date=2001-10-02 |first=Paul |last=Loubière}}</ref> with its many "odd jobs".<ref>Abdou Touré, La civilisation quotidienne en Côte d'Ivoire: Les petits métiers à Abidjan, Éditions Karthala, 1982</ref>

=== Tertiary sector ===
The development of tertiary industry, with the establishment of international commercial banks and the increasing number of service companies of all types, appears to be the trend of recent years. Abidjan is the main financial center of [[French West Africa]]. The seat of the common stock exchange of West Africa (BRVM) is located in Abidjan. BRVM is mainly dominated by Ivorian firms.

=== Electricity ===
The thermal power plant Azito, built in 1997 in partnership with [[Électricité de France|EDF]], located on the Yopougon on the edge of the lagoon and facing Ébrié Island Boulay, alone provides 300 MW.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azitoenergie.com/index2.htm |title=La centrale thermique d'Azito |publisher=Azitoenergie.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310120018/http://www.azitoenergie.com/index2.htm |archive-date=10 March 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Two other power plants, built in 1984 and 1985, are installed in [[Vridi]]. Several utilities are installed in Abidjan: [[CI Energies]], formerly SOPIE, which is a corporation state,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sopie.ci |title=Site de la société SOPIE |publisher=Sopie.ci |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071106160458/http://www.sopie.ci/ |archive-date=6 November 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ICE and CIPREL, subsidiaries of the French group SAUR<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.waternunc.com/fr/saur10.htm |title=Le groupe français SAUR en Côté d'Ivoire |publisher=Waternunc.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204121731/http://www.waternunc.com/fr/saur10.htm |archive-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> Côte d'Ivoire produces all the electricity it consumes, and exports to neighboring countries, [[Ghana]], [[Togo]], [[Benin]], [[Mali]] and [[Burkina Faso]] through the interconnection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rennes.iep.fr/IMG/pdf/Abidjan.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129110730/http://www.rennes.iep.fr/IMG/pdf/Abidjan.pdf |archive-date=2007-01-29 |title=Séminaire Maîtrise de l'urbanisation et développement durable |language=fr}}</ref>

The production, which increases steadily, and gas storage are provided by two state companies: PETROCI and GESTOCI.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.izf.net/izf/EE/pro/cote_ivoire/5020_Gaz.asp |title=Secteur gazier en Côte d'Ivoire |publisher=Izf.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222149/http://www.izf.net/izf/EE/pro/cote_ivoire/5020_Gaz.asp |archive-date=6 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> A small industry of renewable energy production has also developed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/tend/CIV/fr/EG.USE.CRNW.KT.OE.html |title=Production d'énergies renouvelables en Côte d'Ivoire |publisher=Perspective.usherbrooke.ca |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706211241/http://perspective.usherbrooke.ca/bilan/tend/CIV/fr/EG.USE.CRNW.KT.OE.html |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Telecommunication and ICT ===
The city has a powerful fixed telephone network of 450,000 lines (in 2004) managed by ''Côte d'Ivoire Telecom''. Broadband Internet connections, leased lines and ADSL are powered by various providers: Aviso Ivory Coast Telecoms. Africa is Line,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africaonline.com/country.php?cid=16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218090256/http://www.africaonline.com/country.php?cid=16 |archive-date=2006-02-18 |title=AFRICA ONLINE CÔTE D'IVOIRE |language=fr}}</ref> Globe Access, Afnet,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csdptt.org/imprimer.php3?id_article=295 |title=Panorama des télécommunications en Côte d'Ivoire |publisher=Csdptt.org |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720192216/http://www.csdptt.org/imprimer.php3?id_article=295 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>.

=== Banking system ===
Abidjan is home to all the representatives of international financial institutions: [[World Bank]], [[International Monetary Fund]], [[African Development Bank]], [[BOAD]], etc. Banking Commission of WAEMU regional stock exchange securities subsidiaries of major international banks: [[BNP Paribas]], [[General bank]], [[Crédit Lyonnais]], [[Citibank]], [[JPMorgan Chase & Co.]], [[Barclays]], etc. Sixteen national banks (SGBCI, BICI, etc.) maintaining a network of 170 branches, seven financial institutions and more than thirty insurance companies make a financial competitive Abidjan that animates the entire West Africa.

=== Transportation ===
Trains on the line to [[Ouagadougou]] run from several stations in the city, the most important being in Treichville. Ferries link Treichville, Abobo-Doumé and Le Plateau. [[Port Bouet Airport|Felix Houphouet Boigny International Airport]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aeria.ci/abideng.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040705171600/http://www.aeria.ci/abideng.htm |archive-date=2004-07-05 |title=Abidjan Plan}}</ref> serves the city. Work on a new [[Abidjan Metro|metro system]] has begun, with the beginning of service anticipated in 2020.

[[Société des transports Abidjanais|SOTRA]] (Abidjan Transport Company) ensure urban transportation in Abidjan via bus, taxi and luggage Line Express.

Sotra has announced the start of work for the use of light rail to Abidjan. The project has three phases at a cost of 125 billion CFA francs for a long loop of 32 km.{{Citation needed|date=January 2013}}

==== Taxis ====
There are two kinds: the taxi-meter (red), which can travel throughout the city, and woro-woro (yellow and green, blue or orange depending on the commune), which are limited to a neighborhood.

==== Airport ====
[[Port Bouet Airport]] has a large capacity that allows it to accommodate all existing large aircraft. Abidjan is located an hour's flight from all the capitals of the sub-region. Abidjan is served by major airlines in the direction of the great capitals of the world. Headquarters of the former multinational African Air company, Abidjan airport had nearly 2,070,000 passengers in 2017.

==== Circulation ====
The District<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abidjan-da.ci/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219065904/http://www.abidjan-da.ci/index.html |archive-date=2007-02-19 |title=BIENVENUE}}</ref> has several paved streets and boulevards linking the towns between them and the District across the country. Abidjan has a network of urban bypasses.

River transport is already consistent with fishing spots and many "boat-buses" connecting the various neighborhoods of the city thrives plan lagoon.

Abidjan is also the bridgehead of the country's only highway linking the city to the administrative and political capital, [[Yamoussoukro]].

==== Port ====
[[File:2009 Abidjan port 3841939455.jpeg|thumb|right|Port of Abidjan, 2009]]
Abidjan has one of the biggest ports in the sub-region (West Africa). It is a container transshipment port and was opened in 1951 in the presence of the Minister of Overseas and Colonies at the time, [[François Mitterrand]]. The 15 m deep [[Vridi Canal]], where boats with large draughts can dock in the deep-water port.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.winne.com/ssa/ivorycoast/reports/2007/cp/port_autonome/index.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233942/http://www.winne.com/ssa/ivorycoast/reports/2007/cp/port_autonome/index.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 September 2007 |title=Le port d'Abidjan |publisher=Winne.com |access-date=28 March 2011}}</ref>

The Côte d'Ivoire is in the Franc Zone (where the currency is CFA francs), as part of the [[West African Economic and Monetary Union]] (WAEMU). Abidjan is the economic centre of both the Côte d'Ivoire and of the whole region, including [[Burkina Faso]] and [[Mali]]; this is mainly because of its deep-water port. The road network in Abidjan (5,600 km asphalted in 1995, compared to 1,000 km in 1970), which covers the whole region, effectively increases its port activity as 50% of the business from [[Burkina Faso]], [[Mali]] and [[Niger]] pass through it.

Abidjan receives the bulk of the country's industrial activity; its port alone receiving 60% of ivory park industry. Abidjan has ambitions of oil-production—off-shore production and especially [[refining]] and distribution. In 1995 the port received 12 million tonnes of traffic, of which 5.5 million tonnes were petroleum products.

Exports include coffee, [[cocoa bean|cocoa]], [[timber]], [[bananas]], [[pineapple]]s, and [[manganese]].<ref name=EB />

==== Bridges ====
The two-halves of the city, Northern Abidjan and Southern Abidjan, are joined by the Houphouët-Boigny, the Charles de Gaulle and the [[Henri Konan Bédié Bridge|Henri Konan Bédié]] bridges. The two former bridges, built in the 1950s and 1960s respectively, are located between [[Treichville]] and [[Plateau, Ivory Coast|Le Plateau]]. The [[Second Abidjan Bridge|Général-de-Gaulle Bridge]] extends over the immense Valéry Giscard d'Estaing Boulevard which leads to the airport. Both bridges are often congested, especially during rush hour or on the occasion of police and military roadblocks.

A third {{cvt|1.5|km|mi}} toll bridge and expressway, the [[Henri Konan Bédié Bridge]] between [[Cocody]] and [[Marcory]] was completed in December 2014. Project construction began in the second half of 2012 and required the relocation of several homes and businesses opposite the Mille Maquis (the noted restaurant ''la Bâche bleue'' was moved).<ref>{{cite web |author=David Cadasse |url=https://www.afrik.com/article5740.html |title=La Bache bleue |date=27 February 2003 |publisher=Afrik.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092841/https://www.afrik.com/le-maquis-fait-de-la-resistance |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to data reported by the [[African Development Bank]], 2,499 persons were impacted by the bridge construction and were relocated and compensated.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Henri Konan Bédié Bridge, a masterpiece in the heart of Abidjan|url=http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/article/the-henri-konan-bedie-bridge-a-masterpiece-in-the-heart-of-abidjan-13858/|website=www.afdb.org|publisher=African Development Bank Group|access-date=28 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111000727/http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/article/the-henri-konan-bedie-bridge-a-masterpiece-in-the-heart-of-abidjan-13858/|archive-date=11 January 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

A fourth {{cvt|1.4|km|mi}} toll bridge is currently under construction between [[Yopougon]] and [[Plateau, Ivory Coast|Plateau]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2018/07/31/cote-d-ivoire-le-chantier-du-quatrieme-pont-d-abidjan-est-lance_5337776_3212.html |title=Côte d'Ivoire : le chantier du quatrième pont d'Abidjan est lancé |website=[[Le Monde]] |date=31 July 2018 |access-date=31 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201065720/https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2018/07/31/cote-d-ivoire-le-chantier-du-quatrieme-pont-d-abidjan-est-lance_5337776_3212.html |archive-date=1 February 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Trains and trams ====
{{Main|Rail transport in Côte d'Ivoire}}
[[File:2014 Abidjan train 14462380563.jpg|thumb|left|Train platform, Abidjan, 2014]]
The city is the foothold for the region's only railway: the Abidjan-[[Ouagadougou]] line, with stations in [[Treichville]], [[Abobo]] and [[Adjamé]]. This line only has two trains, the ''Gazelle'' and the ''Bélier'', and links the two capitals in about 40 hours.<ref>La construction de cette ligne a commencé en 1902. Elle devait à l'origine relier Abidjan à [[Niamey]]</ref>

The most recent project in Abidjan is the [[Abidjan Metro]] which is promised by the Ivory Society of Railroads (SICF).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=648 |title=Article Le matin d'Abidjan |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713200041/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=648 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The development of infrastructural projects has been envisaged, including a suburban train system in Abidjan which is estimated to cost almost 100 billion CFA francs. This suburban train system would link the North-West to the East and North of the city. The project extends over 25 km of railway tracks which {{As of|2011|lc=on}} were used by the operator [[Sitarail]], a subsidiary company of the [[Bolloré]] group. The infrastructural works (tracks, electrification, and civil engineers) have been estimated at 40 billion [[CFA francs]], financed by the State of Ivory Coast and backers ([[World Bank]] and the French Development Agency). In addition, a BOT concession contract would be given to a private operator, over 20–30 years, to operate the network. This operator will be in charge of the acquisition of railway materials, workshop renovation and the implementation of an organisational system. The concession contract has been estimated to be around 60 billion CFA francs.

=== Tourism ===
[[File:Plagecocody.jpg|right|thumb|A beach in [[Cocody]]]]

Abidjan is a unique city in Africa. Its nicknames, such as "Manhattan of the tropics", "Small Manhattan" or "Pearl of the lagoons", explain the city's unpredictable and triumphant image. With its accommodation facilities – such as the Golf Hôtel – and sporting facilities, its lively night life, transport and communication lines as well as its impressiveness, it is the perfect city for business tourism.

Abidjan also has beaches around the lagoon, with palm and coconut trees, in the [[Vridi]] area, which are very popular at weekends with the picturesque sight of the pineapple and coconut sellers. Nevertheless, the rip-tides which affects practically the whole of the Gulf of Guinea's coast, means that in this area swimming is not usually allowed. Generally, in Cote d'Ivoire, tourism has never really been developed as an economic industry; the country is not much of a common holiday destination.

==== Parc du Banco (Banco National Park) ====
[[File:Laundry in the river.jpg|left|thumb|Fanicos, Abidjan's washermen]]

Converted in 1926, this park has 3,000 hectares and ancient "sacred wood" lies at the entrance to the city, in the [[Attécoubé]] community, which has been conserved as a relic of the first forest which surrounded the lagoon in the past. A tarmaced road goes straight to the lake at the heart of the park and trails go throughout it. The park is inhabited and there are coffee and [[Theobroma cacao|cocoa]] plantations.

At the edge of the park, a small river serves as a wash-house where the ''fanicos'', laundry men, work after collecting the laundry from the whole of the city. It is one of the 'small jobs' which exist in Abidjan.

==== Nightlife ====
Overall, the nightlife in Abidjan is considered to be one of the liveliest in the whole of Africa.

The district has an abundance of night-clubs, maquis, out-door areas, and go-go bars. These entertainment platforms provide a musical 'pipeline' encompassing mainly DJs, [[Coupé Décalé]] and [[Zouglou]], and, in lesser amounts, other local and international varieties.

Formerly containing only local traditional varieties, Congolese music and Western music, Abidjan's night life has experienced a positive cultural disruption in its music since the start of the 2000s, with the arrival of [[Coupé Décalé]].

This musical genre was introduced in 2002 by [[Douk Saga]] and {{Interlanguage link multi|La Jet Set|fr}}, with the help of Sagacité, created a phenomenon which has not stopped spreading and reaching out to the hot nights in the capitals of the sub-region. It has given a globally identifiable cultural identity to entertainment 'made in Côte d'Ivoire'.

The very popular Zouglou additionally benefits "Wôyô" spaces; furnished and dedicated so that the most famous, the Internat at Fitini's and the Lycee at Vieux Gazeur's, attract 'zouglouphiles' the whole weekend.

[[Treichville]], with its many maquis, discothèques, and jazz clubs, used to be the liveliest area in the city, but since the end of the 1990s [[Youpougon]], [[Marcory]], and [[Cocody]] have taken over this role.

== Culture ==
=== Monuments and museums ===
* The [[National Library of Côte d'Ivoire]]<ref>BIBLIOTHÈQUE NATIONALE. Abidjan. – Bibliographie de la Côte d'Ivoire n° I (1969)</ref>
* In [[Cocody]]:
** [[The Goethe Institute]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goethe.de/ins/ci/abi/frindex.htm |title=Site du Goethe-institut d'Abidjan |publisher=Goethe.de |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103104503/http://www.goethe.de/ins/ci/abi/frindex.htm |archive-date=3 January 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
** The Municipal Museum.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.monnirvana.net/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=85|title=Musée municipal|accessdate=19 December 2022}}{{Dead link|date=April 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
** The American Culture Centre (CCA)
** The [[Ki Yi M'Bock]] Village<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kiyi-village.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031101021258/http://kiyi-village.org/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2003 |title=Site du village Kiyi |publisher=Kiyi-village.org |access-date=20 June 2013 }}</ref> (in the [[Riviera]]).
** Cocody Museum of Contemporary Art.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rezoivoire.net/cotedivoire/musee.php |title=Les musées de Côte d'Ivoire |publisher=Rezoivoire.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032519/http://www.rezoivoire.net/cotedivoire/musee.php |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
** Point d'Orgue, private music education centre
* In [[Plateau, Ivory Coast|Plateau]]:
** The French Cultural Centre (CCF)
** The Côte d'Ivoire Museum of Civilisations: presents a collection of Ivorian art (statues, masks, jewelry, tools, carved doors, [[tom-toms]] and musical instruments from every region in the country).
* In [[Treichville]]:
** [[The Sports Palace]]
** [[Palace of Culture of Abidjan|The Cultural Palace]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.palaisdelaculture.ci |title=Site du Palais de la culture |publisher=Palaisdelaculture.ci |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729075211/http://www.palaisdelaculture.ci/ |archive-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
** The Abidjan artisanal centre (CAVA)

=== Cinema ===
==== Festivals ====
Each year film festivals are organised in Abidjan: The Clap-Ivoire Festival,<ref>[http://www.essor.gov.ml/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=13296] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005120748/http://www.essor.gov.ml/cgi-bin/view_article.pl?id=13296|date=5 October 2008}}</ref> the Spanish Film Festival, the Côte d'Ivoire National Film Festival (FESNACI) – the first of which was organised in 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lecourrierdabidjan.info/develop.asp?id=14623 |title=Ouverture du festival |publisher=Lecourrierdabidjan.info |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305153844/http://www.lecourrierdabidjan.info/develop.asp?id=14623 |archive-date=5 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the short film festival (FIMA),<ref>[http://news.abidjan.net/article/?n=179287]{{dead link|date=June 2013}}</ref> which has been organised since 1998 by Hanni Tchelley, the Abidjan Israeli Film Festival;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=2668 |title=Festival du cinéma israélien d'Abidjan |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713040443/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=2668 |archive-date=13 July 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> the fourth one took place in 2006 in the [[Goethe Institute]].

==== Abidjan in cinema ====
Several films depict or are devoted to the city:

* ''[[Moi, un noir]]'' (1958) by [[Jean Rouch]]
* ''[[Le Sixième doigt]]'', a film by [[Henri Duparc (director)|Henri Duparc]].
* ''[[Bronx-Barbès]]'' by [[Eliane Delatour]] released in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ceaf.ehess.fr/document.php?id=155 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010085847/http://ceaf.ehess.fr/document.php?id=155 |archive-date=2006-10-10 |title=Éliane de Latour |language=fr}}</ref>
* '' [[Mentir Pour Être Parfait]]'' by [[Abraham Arts Entertainment]]
* ''[[Enfer De La Justice]]'' by [[Abraham Arts Entertainment]]
* ''[[Caramel (film ivoirien)|Caramel]]'' a film by [[Henri Duparc (director)|Henri Duparc]] with [[Adrienne Koutouan]], Fortuné Akakpo.
* ''[[Rue Princesse (film)|Rue Princesse]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africine.org/?menu=film&no=187 |title=Film Rue Princesse |publisher=Africine.org |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723094356/http://www.africine.org/?menu=film&no=187 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> a film by [[Henri Duparc (director)|Henri Duparc]] with {{Interlanguage link multi|Félicité Wouassi|fr}}, [[Akissi Delta]], Gérard Essomba released in 1993, depicting a neighborhood known for nightlife, music, and prostitutes.
* ''[[Danger Permanent]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lefaso.net/article.php3?id_article=20735 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070528034425/http://www.lefaso.net/article.php3?id_article=20735 |archive-date=2007-05-28 |title=Cinéma : "Danger permanent" de Pierre Laba ou l'humour pour traiter de l'insécurité |date=2007-05-10}}</ref> a film by [[Pierre Laba]] with [[Michel Bohiri]], [[Michel Gohou]], [[Adrienne Koutouan]], [[Jimmy Danger]].
* ''[[Un homme pour deux sœurs]]'' a film by [[Marie-Louise Asseu]] released in 2007, with [[Bétika]], [[Jimmy Danger]], [[Michel Gohou]]
* ''[[Man from Cocody]]'' a film by [[Christian-Jaque]] released in 1964, with [[Jean Marais]], [[Philippe Clay]], [[Robert Dalban]], [[Jacques Morel (actor)|Jacques Morel]], [[Gil Delamare]], [[Maria Grazia Buccela]], [[Nancy Holloway]] and [[Liselotte Pulver]].
* ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Le virus|fr|3=Le virus (téléfilm)}}'', a film by Bleu Brigitte released in December 2007, with Fortuné Akakpo, Fanta Coulibaly, Tatianna de M'C Ensira.

=== Music ===
Abidjan is a turntable for West African music, and a major producer of musical art in Africa. The city attracts the majority of musicians from the Côte d'Ivoire mainly because of its many [[dance clubs]], which allow artists to make their debut and express themselves, record companies and national media. Here are a few examples of the most popular artists to have made their debut in Abidjan: [[Alpha Blondy]], [[Aïcha Koné]], the group [[Magic System]], [[Meiway]], and [[Tiken Jah Fakoly]], as well as [[Gadji Celi]], [[Chantal Taiba]], [[Nayanka Bell]], [[DJ Arafat]]. In the 1980s, [[South Africa]]n musician [[Miriam Makeba]] relocated to Abidjan when she was not allowed back into the country, as did the Congolese singer [[Tshala Muana]].

Since the 1990s, Abidjan has had a significant variety of musical styles being exported throughout Africa and the West. These are [[Zoblazo]], [[Mapouka]], [[Zouglou]] and, since 2002, the [[Coupé-Décalé]]; the popularity and great variety of these dances make the city a kind of African dance and musical trend capital. The Democratic Republic of the Congo formerly held this title, with [[Congolese rumba|rumba]], [[soukous]] and then [[ndombolo]]. Abidjan is also considered the reggae capital of Africa.{{Citation needed|date=July 2020}}

Each year, the city organises the following music festivals:

* Abi-Reggae<ref>{{cite web |title=Front Page, ABI REGGAE |url=http://www.abireggae.ci/ |website=www.abireggae.ci |access-date=28 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181213181355/http://www.abireggae.ci/ |archive-date=13 December 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Faya Flow<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abidjanshow.com/a_videobox_suite.php?newsid=1385 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219211007/http://abidjanshow.com/a_videobox_suite.php?newsid=1385 |archive-date=2009-02-19 |title=Fayaflow résumé de l'édition 2}}</ref>
* Les Top d'or.<ref>{{cite web |author=Falila Gbadamassi |url=https://www.afrik.com/top-d-or-les-nouveaux-trophees-de-la-musique-ivoirienne |title=Top d'or d'Abidjan |date=5 August 2004 |publisher=Afrik.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092850/https://www.afrik.com/top-d-or-les-nouveaux-trophees-de-la-musique-ivoirienne |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Concerto Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rezoivoire.net/interview/article/64/m-cesar-dogbo-a-travers-le-concerto-festival-c-est-l-image-de-la-cote-d-ivoire-que-nous-vendons.html |title=Concerto Festival d'Abidjan |publisher=Rezoivoire.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724032530/http://www.rezoivoire.net/interview/article/64/m-cesar-dogbo-a-travers-le-concerto-festival-c-est-l-image-de-la-cote-d-ivoire-que-nous-vendons.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Le Tiercé Gagnant<ref>[http://www.lintelligentdabidjan.org/Quotidien/index.php?p=5885]{{dead link|date=March 2011}}</ref>
* The [[RTI Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soirinfo.com/article.php3?id_article=2637?id=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205100531/http://www.soirinfo.com/article.php3?id_article=2637%3Fid%3D8 |archive-date=5 December 2008 |title=Cap sur RTI Music Awards 2007 ! |date=2006-08-26 |language=fr |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Dj Mix Atalakou, organised by [[RTI Music TV]]<ref>{{cite web |author=rti.ci |url=http://www.rti.ci/?cible=58 |title=Site de RTI Music |publisher=Rti.ci |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002043325/http://www.rti.ci/?cible=58 |archive-date=2 October 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* International Jazz Festival of Abidjan (FIJA)
* International Festival of Black Music (FIMNA).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=6671 |title=Le FIMNA-Édition 2007 |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713042529/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=6671 |archive-date=13 July 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> Organised every two years, alternating with the International Jazz Festival.

=== Media ===
{{See also|Media of Côte d'Ivoire}}
Most mass media in Côte d'Ivoire can be found in Abidjan.

==== Television and radio ====
The National Council for Audio-visual Communication (CNCA) is the regulating authority of audio-visual material in Côte d'Ivoire.

[[Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne]] (RTI) is the radio and television broadcasting authority for Côte d'Ivoire; it is financed by licence fees, publicity and grants. RTI has four television channels and two radio stations: ''La Première'' (non-specialised), ''TV2'', ''RTI Music TV'', ''RTI Sport TV'', ''Radio Côte d'Ivoire'', and ''Fréquence 2'' (non-specialised radio). ''Radio Jam'' is a private radio station in Côte d'Ivoire and is most listened to by young people.

With regards to private channels, [[Tam-Tam TV]] will be the first International Côte d'Ivoire television channel with headquarters in Abidjan, with other studios in the [[United States]], [[Italy]], [[France]], Asia, the Middle East.

There are also several Côte d'Ivoire TV channels or radio stations available on the Internet: ''Africahit'', ''Music TV'', ''Abidjan.net TV'', ''Bengueshow'', etc.

With the launch in 2015 of DISCOP Africa Abidjan, the city became a hub for TV market professionals from French-speaking Africa.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://discopafrica.com/introducing-discop-africa-express/ |title=Intro to Discop Africa Abidjan |publisher=discopafrica.com |access-date=9 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928224437/http://discopafrica.com/introducing-discop-africa-express/ |archive-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Press ====
At the time of the single-party, a political situation which ruled over the country for 30 years like most other [[West African countries]] after independence, only one daily newspaper was distributed throughout the country: [[Fraternité Matin]], from the parliamentary group [[PDCI-RDA]], which was founded by the first president, [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny]]. The advent of multiple parties in Côte d'Ivoiret in 1999 can be seen in the proliferation of newspapers and diverse publications, of which the majority is published in Abidjan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.abidjan.net/titrologie |title=Titrologie de la presse ivoirienne |publisher=News.abidjan.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326012133/http://news.abidjan.net/titrologie/ |archive-date=26 March 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Div col|colwidth=20em}}
*Daily Publications
** ''{{Interlanguage link multi|L'Inter|fr}}''
** ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Nord-Sud|fr}}''
** ''[[Fraternité Matin]]''
** ''[[Mo" Papers.]]''
**'' [[Mo" Entertainment]]''
** ''[[Le nouveau réveil]]''
** ''[[Notre Voie]]''
** ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Le Front |fr|3=Le Front (quotidien ivoirien)}}''
** ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Le National (journal)|fr|3=Le National}}''
** ''[[Le Temps (journal)|Le Temps]]''
** ''[[Le Jour (journal)|Le Jour]]''
** ''[[Le Patriote (journal)|Le Patriote]]''
** ''Le Matin d'Abidjan''
** ''[[Le Courrier d'Abidjan]]''
** ''{{Interlanguage link multi|Ivoir'Soir|fr}}''
** ''[[Soir Info]]''
** ''[[24 heures (Côte d'Ivoire)|24 heures]]''
*Daily Sports Publications
** ''[[Douze (journal)|Douze]]''
** ''Le Sport''
*Weekly Publications
** ''[[Gbich]]'' (journal [[satire|satirique]])
** ''[[La Nouvelle République (journal ivoirien)|La Nouvelle République]]''
** ''[[Le Démocrate (journal)|Le Démocrate]]''
** ''Top Visage''
*Monthly Publications
** ''Déclic Magazine''*
** ''Babi Mams Magazine''
** ''[[Amina (magazine)|Amina]]''
{{colend}}

==== Internet and digital TV ====
The President, the Prime Minister, the government, and ministers have an official website.

* The web portal ''Abidjan.net'', which is domiciled in California in the U.S., broadcasts information about the city and the country all over the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abidjan.net |title=Site |publisher=Abidjan.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426014822/http://abidjan.net/ |archive-date=26 April 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the "global village" organisation, Abidjan has a number of [[internet-cafés]] which are increasing exponentially, in 2007, there were 400,000 Internet users.
* The web portal ''Abidjan24.net'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abidjan24.net |title=Site |publisher=Abidjan24.net |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224004138/http://www.abidjan24.net/ |archive-date=24 February 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which is domiciled in Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, broadcasts information about the city and the country all over the world.

==== Television channels ====
* There is only one public state-owned channel ([[Radiodiffusion Television Ivoirienne|RTI]]), which is also in charge of radio.
* Channel 2 (TV2): in progress.
* Private channels and international radio: undeveloped, non-existent.
* Local radio stations: localised regional nature stations, not accessible out of the country.

=== Festivals and cultural events ===
==== Theatre ====
* ''[[The MASA Festival]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.grioo.com/info9719.html |title=Article de GRIOO |publisher=Grioo.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711130522/http://www.grioo.com/info9719.html |archive-date=11 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Dance ====
* ''Urban Dance Festival''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=4230 |title=Danses urbaines d'Abidjan |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713200120/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=4230 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* ''Hip-hop is back''. The show was on 21 April 2007, and Diam's and Rageman were guests. It took place on two stages at the [[Las Palmas complex]].

==== Fashion ====
Several fashion events are organised in the city each year: "Les Féeries" (The Fairies),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=5161 |title=Fééries d'Abidjan |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723034847/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=5161 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> the ceremonies for Miss Côte d'Ivoire, Miss Abidjan District, Miss Christmas (for 6- to 11-year-olds) and Miss [[Awoulaba]] (very prestigious). Moreover, the Yéhé Fashion Show<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=7907 |title=Le Yéhé |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713200127/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=7907 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> takes place every year, a celebration of African fashion, and the International Festival of Lingerie and Beauty of Abidjan (FILBA).

Abidjan is also the headquarters for Ivory Coast's clothes designers, renowned for being the best in Africa; including [[Gilles Touré]] (designer for Miss Côte d'Ivoire) or even Pathéo.

==== Other ====
* Climbie Beach Festival
* International Cartoon Festival,.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rfi.fr/pressefr/articles/090/article_372.asp |title=Festival du dessin de presse et de la bande dessinée d'Abidjan |publisher=Rfi.fr |date=13 June 2007 |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721021253/http://www.rfi.fr/pressefr/articles/090/article_372.asp |archive-date=21 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* International Comedy Festival (FIRA) organised by [[Adama Dahico]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200707181370.html |title=Cote d'Ivoire: Lancement du 5ème Festival du Rire d'Abidjan au Novotel – Dahico et Côte d'Ivoire Télécom ensemble pour 3 jours de détente |first=Shadé |last=Adédé |date=18 July 2007 |website=[[allAfrica.com]] |language=fr |access-date=17 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327035358/http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200707181370.html |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Places of worship ==

[[File:MosquePlateauAbidjan2016 1.JPG|thumb|right|Great Mosque in Abidjan]]
Among the [[places of worship]], they are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples : [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Abidjan]] ([[Catholic Church]]), United Methodist Church Ivory Coast ([[World Methodist Council]]), [[Union of Missionary Baptist Churches in Ivory Coast]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>{{ cite encyclopedia | editor1= J. Gordon Melton | editor2= Martin Baumann | title=Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices | publisher= ABC-CLIO | date= 2010 | pages= 811–812}}</ref> There are also [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques. [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] has over 100 congregations in the area with a temple announced for Abidjan in 2015 and construction starting in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/abidjan-ivory-coast-temple/|title=Abidjan Ivory Coast Temple | work= Temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |access-date=19 December 2022 | date= 2018 | editor = Rick Satterfield}}</ref>

== Sport ==
Côte d'Ivoire is home to teams from several sports: ([[Côte d'Ivoire national basketball team|basketball]], [[Sport of athletics|athletics]], [[rugby football|rugby]], [[team handball|handball]], [[volleyball]], etc.), [[soccer]] is very popular in Abidjan. Abidjan is home to [[ASEC Mimosas]], one of the country's leading football clubs.

=== Football ===
[[File:Supportairemimos.jpg|right|Mimosa Supporters|thumb]]
[[File:Felicia3.jpg|right|thumb|Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, nicknamed "le Félicia"]]
[[File:Stade R.Champroux marcory.PNG|thumb|right|The [[Stade Robert Champroux]] after its renovation in 2007]]

* [[Ivorian Football Federation]]
* '''Professional Clubs'''

{|class="wikitable"
|-

! scope="col" |Club
! scope="col" |Stadium
! scope="col" |Founded in
! scope="col" |Titles
! scope="col" |Cups
! scope="col" |F. H.-B. Cups
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[ASEC Mimosas]]
|[[Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny]]
|align=center |1948
|align=center |22
|align=center |14
|align=center |11
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[Africa Sports National|Africa Sports]]
|[[Stade Robert Champroux]]
|align=center |1947
|align=center |14
|align=center |13
|align=center |10
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[Stade d'Abidjan]]
|[[Stade Municipal d'Abidjan]]
|align=center |1936
|align=center |5
|align=center |5
|align=center |1
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[Stella Club d'Adjamé]]
|[[Stade Robert Champroux]]
|align=center |1953
|align=center |3
|align=center |2
|align=center |2
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[Jeunesse Club d'Abidjan|Jeunesse Abidjan]]
|[[Stade Robert Champroux]]
|align=center |1932
|align=center |
|align=center |1
|align=center |
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[Satellite FC Abidjan]]
|[[Stade Imam Ali Timité]]
|align=center |
|align=center |
|align=center |
|align=center |
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[EFYM]]
|
|align=center |1997
|align=center |
|align=center |
|align=center |
|-
! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;" |[[Rio-Sports d'Anyama]]
|[[Parc des sports de Rio]]
|align=center |1990
|align=center |
|align=center |
|align=center |
|}

* Each year a [[7-a-side football]] tournament is organised: the Festival of Maracana d'Abidjan (FESTMA) which takes place in [[Yopougon]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.festma.com |title=FESTMA d'Abidjan |publisher=Festma.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512211253/http://www.festma.com/ |archive-date=12 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* Following the undeniable success of the "Football Academy" created by [[Jean-Marc Guillou]] (Académie Sol Béni), from which several old members have rejoined professional European clubs, several football training centres for young footballers have developed in recent years: the ''Cyril Domoraud Centre'', ''Labo foot'' in [[Yopougon]], the ''Centre ivoirien de formation de football d'Abidjan (CIFFA)'', ''l'Étoile Scientifique Football Abidjan (ESFA)'', etc.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ethnographiques.org/2003/Poli.html#nh3 |title=Centres de football à Abidjan |publisher=Ethnographiques.org |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726035541/http://www.ethnographiques.org/2003/Poli.html#nh3 |archive-date=26 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Events''':

In 1964, the ''Jeux d'Abidjan'' took place in Abidjan, as did the final of the [[African Cup Winners' Cup]] in 1975, 1980, 1983, and 1990, then another in 1992 under the name of [[CAF Confederations]] Cup. The [[Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny]] was the host of the very first [[African Super Cup]] in 1992, and the second in 1998. The finals of the 1966, 1986, 1995, and 1998 [[CAF Champions League]] also took place in Abidjan.

The main football event organised in Abidjan was the 1984 [[African Cup of Nations]] and one of the finals of the 1983 [[African Youth Cup of Nations]].

The economic capital also attracted other football events such as the [[Assumption Tournament]] (the first one taking place in 2007 in the [[Stade Robert Champroux]]), the West African Club Championship ([[UFOA Cup]]), and international gala matches.

=== Other sports ===
'''Basketball'''

* ''Côte d'Ivoire Basketball Federation''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=11-3143-0-0-0&a=CLEAR |title=Site de la fédération de Basket-Ball |publisher=Sportingpulse.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012020651/http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=11-3143-0-0-0&a=CLEAR |archive-date=12 October 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Clubs : '''''Abidjan Basket Club'', ''Club sportif Abidjanais'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200707090820.html |title=Cote d'Ivoire: Basket-ball – le CSA arrose sa coupe |first=P. |last=Bagnini |date=6 July 2007 |website=[[allAfrica.com]] |language=fr |access-date=17 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327035423/http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200707090820.html |archive-date=27 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[ASEC Mimosas (basket-ball)|ASEC Mimosas]], ''Phénix Basket Club de [[Cocody]]'' and '''Génération Basket-ball Club''' (GBC) which is a new club of young volunteers who want to become basketball players.

'''Rugby'''
* ''[[Fédération Ivoirienne de Rugby|Côte d'IvoireRugby Federation]]''
* '''Clubs : '''''Abidjan University Club'', ''[[Treichville]] Biafra Olympic''

Abidjan is the centre of Ivorian rugby, and most of the [[Côte d'Ivoiret national rugby union team]] come from here. Although the origins of Ivorian rugby go back to the 1960s and earlier, French official [[Jean-François Turon]] managed the team at [[Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny|Abidjan University]] in the 1980s, but it was [[François Dali]] who created Ivorian rugby, and his son was the national captain during the 1990s.<ref name=Completerugby>Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}}) p69</ref>

'''Cycling'''

* ''[[Confédération Africaine de Cyclisme|Côte d'Ivoire Cycling Federation]]''
* '''Clubs : '''''ASFA Moossou'', ''Club cycliste d'Azagui'', ''AS Cavel de [[Koumassi]]'', ''Cycliste club de l'océan'', and the ''Club cycliste de [[Yopougon]]''

'''Tennis'''

* ''Côte d'Ivoire Tennis''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cotedivoiretennis.com |title=Site de la fédération de Tennis |publisher=Cotedivoiretennis.com |date=19 May 2013 |access-date=20 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527212340/http://cotedivoiretennis.com/ |archive-date=27 May 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which organised the first International Tennis tournament CEDEAO in 2007<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africatime.com/gabon/nouv_pana.asp?no_nouvelle=345155&no_categorie=5 |title=Tournoi international de la CEDEAO |publisher=Africatime.com |date=22 August 2007 |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092740/http://www.africatime.com/gabon/nouv_pana.asp?no_nouvelle=345155&no_categorie=5 |archive-date=7 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* '''Clubs : '''''Seamen's Club'', ''SGBCI Tennis Club'', ''Tennis Club Hotel Ivoire'', ''Sporting Club 2 Plateaux'', ''Palm Club Abidjan Tennis'', and the ''Lycée technique Abidjan Tennis Club''

'''Judo'''

* ''Côte d'Ivoire Federation of Judo and Related Disciplines'' which organised the 15th Abidjan Tournament in 2007'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=7167 |title=Tournoi de la ville d'Abidjan |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713200137/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=7167 |archive-date=13 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

'''Athletics'''

* ''Côte d'Ivoire Athletics Federation.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=4667 |title=Semi-marathon de la ville d'Abidjan |publisher=Lematindabidjan.com |access-date=28 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723034946/http://www.lematindabidjan.com/visual_article.php?num_actualite=4667 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* '''Clubs :''' ''Club d'[[Attécoubé]]'' and ''Club de [[Yopougon]]''

'''Boxing'''

* '''Club : SOA Boxing Club d'Abidjan'''

'''Golf'''

* ''Côte d'Ivoire Golf Federation''
* '''Club: Ivoire Golf Club'''

=== Facilities ===
* '''Stadiums''' : [[Stade INJS]], [[Stade Municipal d'Abidjan]], [[Stade Municipal de Man FC]], [[Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny]], [[Parc des Sports de Treichville]], [[Stade Robert Champroux]], [[Stade du Port autonome d'Abidjan]].
* '''Other facilities:''' ''Omnisport Palace in [[Treichville]]''
* '''Olympic Complex:''' with 80,000 to 100,000 seats<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bnetd.ci/investissement/prj/p004_colympic.htm |title=Complexe olympique d'Abidjan |website=BNETD |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050406133621/http://www.bnetd.ci/investissement/prj/p004_colympic.htm |archive-date=6 April 2005}}</ref> is being planned, thanks to the Ivorian managers' desire to provide the "Elephants" with a better national stadium. The complex will have, in addition to areas for all different Olympic disciplines (football, athletics, [[Swimming (sport)|swimming]], etc.), restaurants, shops, auditoriums, conference rooms, a hotel for the sportspeople, and training areas. Since the sudden increase in Ivorian football, the government believes that the national team deserves a better stadium. Although, there was a problem with the "Félicia": it is impossible to increase its size due to its location in Le Plateau. The project for the new complex was suspended {{As of|2011|lc=on}} because of a lack of investors and the political situation which the country has been experiencing since December 1999.
{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=note}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Bibliography ==
{{See also|Timeline of Abidjan#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Abidjan}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Abidjan}}
*{{Commons category-inline|Abidjan}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081026071520/http://www.abidjan-da.ci/ Site officiel du District d'Abidjan] (archived 17 February 2007)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101014093341/http://tedxabidjan.com/ TEDxAbidjan, The Premier Intellectual Gathering of Côte d'Ivoire – Le Principal Forum Intellectuel qui réunit les esprits les plus brillants sous licence de TED] (archived 14 October 2010)

{{Abidjan subdivisions}}
{{List of African capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Abidjan| ]]
[[Category:Districts of Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Port cities in Africa]]
[[Category:Former national capitals]]
[[Category:Populated places in Abidjan]]

Lučani

2023-06-12T18:42:55Z

94.140.246.27:

{{other use|Lucani (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Лучани|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Lučani
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield = COA_Lucani.png
| image_flag = Flag of Lučani.png
| image_skyline = File:Lučani.jpg
| image_caption = Town Hall Entrance
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Lučani.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Lučani within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|43|52|N|20|08|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{SRB}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Moravica District|Moravica]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 36
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Milivoje Dolović
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 1.99
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 454.76
| area_rank = [[List of cities in Serbia|74th in Serbia]]
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 308
| elevation_min_m = 293
| elevation_max_m = 420
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 5142
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 20,897
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| population_rank = [[List of cities in Serbia|77th in Serbia]]
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 32240
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)32
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = LU
| website = {{url|www.lucani.rs}}
}}

'''Lučani''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Лучани}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Moravica District]] of western Serbia. The population of the town is 5,142, while the population of the municipality is 20,897.

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Lučani, the municipality includes the following settlements:
{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Beli Kamen, Lučani|Beli Kamen]]
* [[Viča, Lučani|Viča]]
* [[Vlasteljice]]
* [[Vučkovica (Lučani)|Vučkovica]]
* [[Goračići]]
* [[Gornja Kravarica]]
* [[Gornji Dubac]]
* [[Grab, Lučani|Grab]]
* [[Guberevci]]
* [[Guča]]
* [[Guča (village)|Guča village]]
* [[Dljin]]
* [[Donja Kravarica]]
* [[Donji Dubac]]
* [[Dučalovići]]
* [[Đerađ]]
* [[Živica (Lučani)|Živica]]
* [[Zeoke (Lučani)|Zeoke]]
* [[Kaona (Lučani)|Kaona]]
* [[Kotraža (Lučani)|Kotraža]]
* [[Krivača (Lučani)|Krivača]]
* [[Krstac (Lučani)|Krstac]]
* [[Lis, Lučani|Lis]]
* [[Lisice, Serbia|Lisice]]
* [[Lučani (village)|Lučani village]]
* [[Markovica]]
* [[Milatovići]]
* [[Negrišori]]
* [[Puhovo, Serbia|Puhovo]]
* [[Pšanik]]
* [[Rogača (Lučani)|Rogača]]
* [[Rtari]]
* [[Rti (Lučani)|Rti]]
* [[Tijanje]]
* [[Turica]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|32333 |1953|34412 |1961|33336 |1971|31646 |1981|29708 |1991|27167 |2002|24614 |2011|20897
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=11 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}
In the town of Lučani there are 5,142 inhabitants, while the average age of the population is 38,3 years (37,8 with men and 38,7 with women). There are 7,298 homes in the municipality and the average number of people living together is 2,86.

===Ethnic groups===
The municipality is largely inhabited by [[Serbs]] (97.9%).

{| width="50%" style="background:transparent; "
| valign="top" width="50%" style="border:1px solid gray; " |
<div class="center">
:''Graph showing the Lučani population change in the 20th century''
{| style="margin:1em auto;"
| style="padding: 0;" |

<timeline>
ImageSize = width:250 height:200
PlotArea = left:40 right:10 top:10 bottom:20
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
AlignBars = justify
Colors =
id:gray1 value:gray(0.9)

DateFormat = yyyy
Period = from:1940 till:2010
ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:10 start:1940

PlotData =
bar:5170 color:gray1 width:1
from:start till:end
bar:3446 color:gray1
from:start till:end
bar:1723 color:gray1
from:start till:end
bar:0 color:gray1

LineData =
layer:front
points:(62,34)(77,61) color:blue width:2
points:(77,61)(100,69) color:blue width:2
points:(100,69)(128,107) color:blue width:2
points:(128,107)(157,128) color:blue width:2
points:(157,128)(185,155) color:blue width:2
points:(185,155)(217,161) color:blue width:2

</timeline>
|}
</div>
| valign="down" width="50%" |
{{bar box
| width=300px
| title=Lučani ethnicities in 2011
| titlebar=#ddd
| bars=
{{bar percent|Serbs|brown|98.00}}
{{bar percent|Montenegrins|blue|0.78}}
{{bar percent|Yugoslavs|grey|0.13}}
{{bar percent|Croats|purple|0.11}}
{{bar percent|Macedonians|orange|0.06}}
{{bar percent|Hungarians|green|0.04}}
{{bar percent|Slovaks|yellow|0.02}}
{{bar percent|Other|red|0.62}}
}}
|}

==Economy==
Lučani is home to the [[Chemical industry|chemical]] [[arms industry|defence]] company [[Milan Blagojević - Namenska]] which employs around 1,300 people (as of 2017). Also, Maxima color manufacturer has its factory in Lučani.

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=25 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|34
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|6
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|2,288
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|187
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|58
|-
|Construction||align="right"|82
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|396
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|217
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|151
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|12
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|25
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|-
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|99
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|31
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|172
|-
|Education||align="right"|294
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|185
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|71
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|51
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|391
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''4,749'''
|}

==Sports==
Lučani is home to the professional [[Association football|football]] club [[FK Mladost Lučani]], which has played continuously in the [[Serbian SuperLiga]], the top division of Serbian football.

==Notable people==
* [[Radmila Bakočević]] (b. 1933), opera singer
* [[Ratko Dostanić]] (b. 1959), football coach
* [[Boban Janković]] (1963–2006), basketball player
* [[Željko Tanasković]] (b. 1967), volleyball player
* [[Radojica Vasić]] (b. 1976), football player
* [[MC Stojan]] (b. 1983), singer
* [[Milan Bojović]] (b. 1987), football player

==See also==
* [[Guča trumpet festival]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Lučani}}
* {{official website|http://www.lucani.rs/}}

{{Moravica District}}
{{Municipalities of Serbia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lucani}}
[[Category:Populated places in Moravica District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Šumadija and Western Serbia]]

Čačak

2023-06-12T18:39:07Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Čačak
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Чачак|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = City of Čačak
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|City]]
| image_shield = Cacak grb.png
| etymology = frozen (or dried) mud (archaic)
| image_flag = Flag of Čačak.png
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo1a = Nemanjina ulica, noć - panoramio.jpg
| photo2a = Bridges on Zapadna morava river and Borac hall.jpg
| photo2b = Cacak, crkva Vaznesenja Gospodnjeg (Bogorodica Gradacka).jpg
| photo3a = Hotel Beograd u Čačku.jpg
| photo3b = Градска библиотека "Владислав Петковић Дис" Чачак.JPG
| photo4a = Čačak's high school.jpg
| photo4b = Narodni muzej Čačak - panoramio.jpg
| size = 270
| spacing = 1
| color = #FFFFFF
| border = 1
| foot_montage = From top: Panorama at night, Bridges on [[West Morava]], Church of Ascension of Jesus, Hotel "Belgrade", Čačak's Library, Čačak's gymnasium, National Museum
}}
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Serbia
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_map = Serbia
| coordinates = {{coord|43|53|N|20|21|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{SRB}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Moravica District|Moravica]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 58
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Milun Todorović
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_rank = [[List of cities in Serbia|43rd in Serbia]]
| area_blank1_title = Urban
| area_blank1_km2 = 36.77
| area_blank2_title = Administrative
| area_blank2_km2 = 636
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref><ref name="area-cacak">{{cite web |title=Насеља општине Чачак |url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Registar/SlikeRegioni/Mapiranemape/CentralnaSrbija/ReCacak.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia |accessdate=12 October 2019 |language=sr}}</ref>
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 242
| elevation_min_m = 204
| elevation_max_footnotes = (''[[Ovčar]]'')
| elevation_max_m = 985
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2022-firstresults">{{cite web |title=Prvi rezultati Popisa stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova 2022. |url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2022/HtmlL/G20221350.html |website=stat.gov.rs |access-date=16 February 2023 |language=Serbian |date=21 December 2022 |quote=d}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 census
| population_rank = [[List of cities in Serbia|12th in Serbia]]
| population_blank1_title = Urban
| population_blank1 = 69,598
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Administrative
| population_blank2 = 105,612
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 32000 32101 32102 32103 32104 32105
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)32
| iso_code = SRB
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = ČA
| blank1_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank1_info = [[Oceanic climate|Cfb]]
| website = {{url|www.cacak.org.rs}}
}}
'''Čačak''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Чачак}}, {{IPA-sh|tʃǎːtʃak|pron|}}) is a [[List of cities in Serbia|city]] and the administrative center of the [[Moravica District]] in central Serbia. It is located in the [[West Morava Valley]] within the geographical region of [[Šumadija]]. As of the 2022 census, the city within administrative borders has a population of 105,612 inhabitants.<ref name="census2022-firstresults" />

The city lies about 144 km south of the Serbian capital, Belgrade. It is also located near the [[Ovčar-Kablar Gorge]] ("Serbian [[Mount Athos]]"), with over 30 monasteries built in the gorge since the 14th century.<ref name=pol>{{Cite news | title = Srpska Sveta Gora | newspaper = [[Politika]] | language = sr | date = 2006-09-01 }}</ref><ref name=srb>[[:sr:Ovčarsko-kablarski manastiri]]</ref>

==Geography==
Čačak is located in the western part of central Serbia, within the region of [[Šumadija]]. Once densely forested, the region is today characterized by its rolling hills and its fruit trees. To the south, past the [[Ovčar-Kablar Gorge]], lie the mountains of the [[Dinaric Alps]]. These mountains incline in a gentle and wavy way toward the Čačak valley and the [[West Morava]] River.

The city administrative area covers {{convert|636|km2}} and contains:
* the Čačak valley, with an altitude between {{cvt|204|and|300|m}}
* hills between {{cvt|300|and|500|m}} high
* the mountains [[Jelica]] to the south, [[Vujan]] to the northeast, and [[Ovčar]] and [[Kablar]] to the west

===Climate===
Čačak has an [[oceanic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfb'') bordering on a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dfb''). The average temperature of the city and its vicinity is {{cvt|10.47|°C}} with 74.1% humidity, and it is characterized by warm summers and cold winters. [[Winds]] blow from the north and northeast and rarely from the west because of the mountains that block them. The average temperature in August is {{cvt|20.6|°C||abbr=}}, while in January it is {{cvt|0.5|°C}}. There are on average 38 days with snow during the year. The average wind speed is {{convert|2.3|m/s|mph}}. The usual number of foggy days is 54. The average yearly precipitation is {{cvt|802|mm||abbr=}}.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.turizamcacak.org.rs/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104&Itemid=111 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110530084229/http://www.turizamcacak.org.rs/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=104&Itemid=111 |url-status = dead|archive-date= 30 May 2011 |title= Čačak – geographical position |work= TurizamCacak.org.rs |access-date= 22 April 2017 }}</ref>

There are a few recorded instances of sandstorms originating in the [[Sahara]] arriving to the town.
{{Weather box
|width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Čačak

| Jan high C = 3.7
| Feb high C = 6.6
| Mar high C = 12.6
| Apr high C = 16.5
| May high C = 21.1
| Jun high C = 24.7
| Jul high C = 27.1
| Aug high C = 26.8
| Sep high C = 23.5
| Oct high C = 17.8
| Nov high C = 11.1
| Dec high C = 5.4

| Jan mean C = 0.1
| Feb mean C = 2.5
| Mar mean C = 7.0
| Apr mean C = 11.0
| May mean C = 15.5
| Jun mean C = 19.0
| Jul mean C = 21.0
| Aug mean C = 20.7
| Sep mean C = 17.8
| Oct mean C = 12.4
| Nov mean C = 6.1
| Dec mean C = 2.2

| Jan low C = -3.4
| Feb low C = -1.6
| Mar low C = 1.8
| Apr low C = 5.5
| May low C = 10.0
| Jun low C = 13.3
| Jul low C = 14.7
| Aug low C = 14.2
| Sep low C = 11.0
| Oct low C = 7.0
| Nov low C = 2.3
| Dec low C = -1.0

| Jan precipitation mm = 57
| Feb precipitation mm = 52
| Mar precipitation mm = 55
| Apr precipitation mm = 64
| May precipitation mm = 87
| Jun precipitation mm = 86
| Jul precipitation mm = 76
| Aug precipitation mm = 61
| Sep precipitation mm = 60
| Oct precipitation mm = 62
| Nov precipitation mm = 73
| Dec precipitation mm = 69

| source = Climate-Data.org<ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{cite web|url= https://en.climate-data.org/location/25938/|title= Climate: Čačak, Serbia|publisher= Climate-Data.org|access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
}}

==History==
===Etymology===

The original name of the town was Gradac (meaning "little town"), which developed around the Moravski Gradac monastery, built in the late 12th century. First mention of the name Čačak was in a document issued by the [[Republic of Ragusa]]. Dated on 3 January 1409, it refers to the events from 18 December 1408, and this date is today the official Čačak Town Day.<ref name=cacanski>{{cite web | url = https://www.caglas.rs/%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%BA-%D1%98%D0%B5-%D1%81%D1%80%D0%BF%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87-3/ | author = Rodoljub Petrović | script-title=sr: Порекло и значење имена нашег града: Чачак је српска реч | trans-title = Origin and meaning of our town's name: Čačak is Serbian word | date = 26 July 2017 | publisher = Čačanski Glas | language = sr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | author = Gvozden Otašević | title = Šest vekova Čačka | trans-title = Six centuries of Čačak | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 2 March 2008 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/34857/%D0%A8%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82-%D0%B2%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0-%D0%A7%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%BA%D0%B0}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | script-title=sr: Географска енциклопедија насеља Србије, IV том, С-Ш, стр. 285 | trans-title = Geographical encyclopedia of the settlements of Serbia, Vol. IV, S-Š, page 286 | editor = Srboljub Đ. Stamenković | author = Srboljub Đ. Stamenković, Dragica Gatarić | date = 2002 | publisher = University of Belgrade Faculty of Geography, Belgrade }}</ref>

The origin of the name is obscured today. However, several dictionaries from the 19th and even from the 20th century, including works of major linguists [[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić]] and [[Đuro Daničić]], mention words ''čačak'' and the corresponding adjective ''čačkovit'', meaning (lumps of) frozen or dried mud, or lumps of stone protruding from the ground. The widening along the West Morava where Čačak is located, was indeed regularly flooded until the 20th century. Daničić suggested that the origin of the word is the root ''skak'' (''skakati'' means jumping in Serbian). The word and its variants completely disappeared from Serbian language today, but some other toponymy of the same origin were preserved, like in the name of the {{ill|Čakor|sr}} mountain.<ref name=cacanski/>

In time, erroneous but widespread theory developed, claiming that the name indeed means "mud", but that it is of Turkish origin. At the time of the name's first mention this region wasn't occupied by the [[Ottoman Empire]] yet, mud is called differently in Turkish language, nor there is a Turkish word corresponding vocally to ''čačak''.<ref name=cacanski/>

===Prehistoric===
{{Main|Prehistoric Serbia}}
The region has several archaeological sites, dating from prehistory to the present, the oldest from the 15th century BC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.to-cacak.com/?at_id=66 |title=直の日記|work= To-Cacak.com |access-date= 22 April 2017}}</ref>

Princely tombs of an Illyrian type ([[Glasinac culture]]) were found in two mounds of [[Atenica]] with [[Ionia]]n glass, glass-paste, an amber bead depicting a swan, and an [[Attic]] plaque of a wild boar, all dating to the late 6th century BC.<ref>Trebenishte: the fortunes of an unusual excavation – M. Stibbe, Rastko Vasić</ref> More [[Bird#Religion, folklore and culture|ornithomorphic]] [[fibulae]] of bronze swans were found in [[Mojsinje]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Voislav Vasic |author2=Rastko Vasic |title=Función depuradora de los humedales I: una revisión bibliográfica sobre el papel de los macrófitos |journal=Boletin SOHEMED |date=December 2000 |volume=IV |issue=16 |url=https://hispagua.cedex.es/documentacion/documento/32535}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Lidija Bakarić |title=Kompolje grob 47 – nova interpretacija |journal=Vjesnik Arheološkog muzeja u Zagrebu |year=2008 |volume=41 |issue=1 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/46207}}</ref>

Prehistoric [[tumuli]] have been unearthed in [[Mrčajevci]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/1871|title=Balkan Travellers – Archaeologists Discover Pre-Historic Tumuli in Central Serbia|first=Ekaterina|last=Petrova|work=BalkanTravellers.com|access-date=22 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423151709/http://www.balkantravellers.com/en/read/article/1871|archive-date=23 April 2017|url-status = dead}}</ref> The Triballi and [[Scordisci]] tribes lived in this area by the time of Roman conquest.

===Roman era===
{{Main|Roman Serbia}}
[[File:Wiki Šumadija X Rimske terme u Čačku 194.jpg|thumb|The [[Thermae|Roman thermae]] in Čačak]]
The town was inhabited in Roman times, with traces of the Roman settlement still visible today, like Roman [[Thermae]] built in the 2nd to 4th century period. These still stand behind a secondary school in the center of Čačak.

Nearby, in the village of Gradina at the foot of the Jelica mountain, a Roman compound ([[fort]]) with a [[Martyrium (architecture)|martyrium]] and [[List of necropoleis|necropolis]] has been excavated, with three churches, one of which produced a
[[Nummus#Higher denominations|pentanummion]] for the late Roman Emperor [[Justinian]] in the 526–537 period. Justinian is also believed to have founded the fort in the 530s. The presence of burnt layers on the sight could be evidence that the settlement was destroyed in the conflict that characterized the region following the [[Migration Period|barbarian invasions]] of the late Roman Empire. In the same region, in the 6th century, four other forts were built.<ref>{{Google books |id=mnSq1VNloGsC |title= }}</ref>

===Middle Ages===
[[South Slavs|Slavs]] settled the area during the reign of the [[Byzantine Emperor]] [[Heraclius]] (610–641). From 1168 to 1189, after incorporation into the [[First Bulgarian Empire]] and then various [[Serbia in the Middle Ages|Serbian]] states, [[Stefan Nemanja]]'s brother [[Stracimir Zavidović]] controlled the West Morava region, including the city, then known as Gradac. [[Stracimir Zavidović|Stracimir]], a Serbian ''[[župan]],'' raised the Church of Our Lady of Moravian Gradac at the highest point of the town.

In 1459, the Turks completed their conquest of the area, incorporating it into the [[Sanjak of Smederevo]] and converting Stracimir's church into a mosque. The town's name was changed from Gradac to the current Čačak.

===16th century–present===
[[Evliya Çelebi]], an Ottoman explorer of the 16th and 17th centuries, described Čačak as the main place in the local ''[[kadiluk]]''. In 1717, Čačak became a part of the [[Habsburg monarchy|Habsburg Empire]] after the [[Austrians]] defeated [[Ottomans]], signing the [[Treaty of Passarowitz]]. Austrian rule was short-lived, and 21 years later Čačak would again became a part of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. Most of Čačak's Serb residents at the time of reconquest had deserted the town, migrating north safety in the Habsburg Empire. In their stead were settlers from [[Montenegro]], [[Bosnia and Hercegovina]] and [[Vlachs]] from the countryside nearby.

[[File:Čačak,_at_the_beginning_of_20th_century.jpg|thumb|Čačak at the beginning of 20th century]]
Čačak has two years on its coat of arms. The first is 1408, in which [[Republic of Ragusa|Ragusan]] archives first name the town. The second is 1815, the year the [[Second Serbian Uprising]] began and the year the [[Battle of Ljubić]] was fought in the hills near Čačak. This battle is famous for one of the greatest Serbian rebel victories. Then a small group, the rebels defeated a much stronger Ottoman army numbering 5,000–12,000 men.{{citation_needed|date=December 2019}} Soon after, the [[Principality of Serbia]], one of the first nations liberated from Ottoman rule, secured its independence.

In 1837, one of the first Serbian grammar schools was completed. In the 1837–1941 period Čačak gradually modernized, with its town center modeled in a [[Vienna Secession]] style popular at the time and standing to this day. During [[World War II]], Čačak was part of the short-lived [[Republic of Užice]], which, while the first liberated territory in Europe, was cut off by German forces shortly after it was founded. On 4 December 1944 Čačak was finally liberated by the [[Yugoslav Partisans]]. It has since evolved into a large town and a regional center, later being given the official status of a city within today's [[Serbia|Republic of Serbia]].

==Settlements==
Aside from the urban area of the city, the administrative area includes the following 58 settlements:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Atenica]]
* [[Baluga (Ljubićska)]]
* [[Baluga (Trnavska)]]
* [[Banjica, Čačak|Banjica]]
* [[Beljina, Čačak|Beljina]]
* [[Bečanj]]
* [[Brezovica, Čačak|Brezovica]]
* [[Bresnica, Serbia|Bresnica]]
* [[Vapa (Čačak)|Vapa]]
* [[Vidova]]
* [[Viljuša]]
* [[Vranići]]
* [[Vrnčani]]
* [[Vujetinci]]
* [[Goričani, Čačak|Goričani]]
* [[Gornja Gorevnica]]
* [[Gornja Trepča]]
* [[Donja Gorevnica]]
* [[Donja Trepča]]
* [[Žaočani]]
* [[Zablaće (Čačak)|Zablaće]]
* [[Jančići]]
* [[Ježevica (Čačak)|Ježevica]]
* [[Jezdina]]
* [[Katrga]]
* [[Kačulice]]
* [[Konjevići]]
* [[Kukići]]
* [[Kulinovci]]
* [[Lipnica, Čačak|Lipnica]]
* [[Loznica (Čačak)|Loznica]]
* [[Ljubić (Čačak)|Ljubić]]
* [[Međuvršje]]
* [[Milićevci]]
* [[Miokovci]]
* [[Mojsinje]]
* [[Mrčajevci]]
* [[Mršinci]]
* [[Ovčar Banja]]
* [[Ostra (Čačak)|Ostra]]
* [[Pakovraće]]
* [[Parmenac]]
* [[Petnica (Čačak)|Petnica]]
* [[Preljina]]
* [[Premeća]]
* [[Pridvorica (Čačak)|Pridvorica]]
* [[Prijevor, Čačak|Prijevor]]
* [[Prislonica]]
* [[Rajac (Čačak)|Rajac]]
* [[Rakova (Čačak)|Rakova]]
* [[Riđage]]
* [[Rošci]]
* [[Slatina (Čačak)|Slatina]]
* [[Sokolići]]
* [[Stančići, Čačak|Stančići]]
* [[Trbušani]]
* [[Trnava (Čačak)|Trnava]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|70032 |1953|75485 |1961|85439 |1971|97924 |1981|110801 |1991|116808 |2002|117072 |2011|115337 |2022|106453
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|accessdate=11 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="census2022-firstresults" />
}}
As of 2011 census, the city's administrative area or municipality has 115,337 inhabitants, with 73,331 living in Čačak proper. As of 2022 census, the city within administrative borders has a population of 106,453 inhabitants.<ref name="census2022-firstresults" />

The city of Čačak has 38,590 households with 2.99 members on average. The number of homes is 51,482.<ref>{{cite web|title=Number and the floor space of housing units|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga%2022_Broj%20i%20povrsina%20stambenih%20jedinica-Number%20and%20the%20floor%20space%20of%20housing%20units.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|accessdate=21 March 2018|language=sr}}</ref>

The city's religious structure is predominantly [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox]] (110,281), with minorities including [[Atheism|atheists]] (577), [[Catholic Church|Catholics]] (168), [[Islam|Muslims]] (73), [[Protestantism|Protestants]] (21) and others.<ref name="popis50">{{cite web|title=Religion, Mother tongue, and Ethnicity|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga4_Veroispovest.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|accessdate=21 March 2018|language=sr}}</ref> Virtually the entire population speaks the [[Serbian language]] (112,505).<ref name="popis50"/>

The composition of population by gender and average age:<ref name="popis50"/>
* Male – 55,995 (41.42 years) and
* Female – 59,342 (43.95 years).

A total of 53,543 citizens older than 15 have a [[secondary education]] (54.01%), while 14,823 citizens have some sort of [[higher education|tertiary education]] (14.95%). Of those with a tertiary education, 9,386 (9.47%) have university education.<ref name="popis51">{{cite web|title=Educational attainment, literacy and computer literacy|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Skolska%20sprema,%20pismenost%20i%20kompjuterska%20pismenost-Educational%20attainment,%20literacy%20and%20computer%20literacy%20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|accessdate=21 March 2018|language=sr}}</ref>

===Ethnic groups===
The city is mostly inhabited by Serbs (95.3%), followed by minorities of [[Romani people in Serbia|Roma]], [[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]] and other ethnic groups.

Being located on a crossroads between the [[Ottoman Empire]] and [[Austria-Hungary]] during the 19th century, Čačak was home even to people of ethnicities that were not common in Čačak's region. One such example was a small Armenian community which began to settle from 1885, fleeing the forcible draft into the Ottoman army and the general oppression against the Armenians in the empire.<ref name="armenians">{{ cite news | author = Gvozden Otašević | title = Ljudi kojima je "ić" bilo spasenje | trans-title = People for whom "ić" was a salvation | newspaper = [[Politika]] | language = sr | date = 9 April 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/401609/Ljudi-kojima-je-ic-bilo-spasenje }}</ref> Most members of this community worked in the coffee business. By the 1950s most of them had emigrated as the new Communist authorities, in the massive process of nationalization after World War II, confiscated Armenian businesses.<ref name="armenians"/>

The ethnic composition of the city is given in the following table (as of 2011 census):<ref name="enhnicity2011">{{cite web| title= ETHNICITY Data by municipalities and cities| url= http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf| website= stat.gov.rs| publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia| accessdate=1 March 2018}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|110,886
|96.14%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Roma]]||align="right"|530
|0.46%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|328
|0.28%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|105
|0.09%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|117
|0.10%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]||align="right"|112
|0.10%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Russians]]||align="right"|34
|0.03%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|3,225
|2.80%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|115,337
|
|}

==Society and culture==
[[File:Gradski trg Čačak.jpg|thumb|right|View on [[Dom kulture Čačak]]]]
This city traversed a long and thorny road from an anonymous settlement to a modern city in the 21st century. The very face of the city, as seen in the facades, monuments, and cultural establishments, is the reflection of the artistic spirit of its inhabitants.{{citation_needed|date=May 2019}}

During the theatrical season there are numerous theatrical ensembles on tour from all of Serbia at cultural centre [[Dom kulture Čačak]]. Centre is home to "Drama Studio" and schools of ballet, fine art and sculpture. The exhibitions and performances, cultural and literary evenings are held at numerous places such as: "City Library Čačak", "Nadežda Petrović" and "Risim" galleries, "National Museum" in Čačak, "Salon of Photography" and "Inter-Municipal Archive" among many others. The current artwork production in the city can be followed through the auspices of groups and associations, private galleries, colonies and numerous enthusiasts.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.cacak.org.rs/Culture_and_Art-192-4|title=- :: Grad Čačak ::|work= Cacak.org.rs |access-date= 22 April 2017}}</ref>

Fine art and sculpture colonies are most often held at the [[Ovčar Banja]] spa resort. There are numerous cultural, musical, entertainment and tourist manifestations within the city and close surroundings, which attract multitudes of followers of ethno-culture, original folk music, like the "Dis spring",<ref name="disspring2019">{{cite news |title=Disovu nagradu za 2019. godinu dobio je pesnik Đorđo Sladoje |url=https://www.danas.rs/kultura/833381/ |accessdate=17 May 2019 |work=danas.rs |agency=Beta |date=13 March 2019 |language=sr}}</ref> Memorial to [[Nadežda Petrović]] and the "Flute festival" in the nearby village of [[Prislonica]].<ref>{{cite news |title=31. Сабор фрулаша Србије "Ој, Мораво" |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/tv/ci/story/18/rts-2/3407033/31-sabor-frulasa-srbije-oj-moravo.html |accessdate=17 May 2019 |work=rts.rs |date=4 February 2019 |language=sr}}</ref> Also, newly established festivals "DUK Festival" and rock festival "Priča" attract younger population from the city and its region.<ref name="dukfestival19">{{cite news |title=DUK još jednom dovodi svet na Moravu |url=https://www.danas.rs/scena/duk-jos-jednom-dovodi-svet-na-moravu/ |accessdate=17 May 2019 |work=danas.rs |date=16 May 2019 |language=sr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Овогодишња "ПриЧА" помериће границе |url=http://www.glaszapadnesrbije.rs/831170/ovogodisnja-prica-pomerice-granice/ |accessdate=26 July 2019 |work=glaszapadnesrbije.rs |date=25 July 2019 |language=sr}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Festival PriČa: Parni valjak, Hladno pivo, Zabranjeno pušenje i još mnogo bendova stiže u Čačak |url=https://balkanrock.com/vesti/najave/festival-prica-parni-valjak-hladno-pivo-zabranjeno-pusenje-i-jos-mnogo-bendova-stize-u-cacak/ |accessdate=25 August 2019 |date=24 August 2019 |language=sr}}</ref> Čačak is also home to events such as "Pitijada", "Kupusijada", "Fijakerijada" and other festivals that celebrate old traditions belonging to [[Serbs]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nikitović |first1=V. |title=KUPUSIJADA U MRČAJEVCIMA Manifestaciju otvara ministar Nedimović, Oliveri Katarini priznanje za životno delo |url=https://www.blic.rs/vesti/srbija/kupusijada-u-mrcajevcima-manifestaciju-otvara-ministar-nedimovic-oliveri-katarini/72j3k4m |accessdate=17 May 2019 |work=blic.rs |language=sr}}</ref>

In [[Guča]], {{convert|10|km}} south from Čačak, every year the [[Guča trumpet festival]] is held, one of the most popular festivals in the [[Balkans]], alongside the [[Exit (festival)|Exit]] festival in ([[Novi Sad]]).

===Education===
There are two faculties located in Čačak, which are a part of the [[University of Kragujevac]]:
* [[University of Kragujevac Faculty of Agronomy|Faculty of Agronomy]]
* [[University of Kragujevac Faculty of Technical Sciences|Faculty of Technical Sciences]]

There are seven secondary schools:
* Čačak's Grammar School (one of the oldest grammar schools in Serbia, 1837)
* High School of Economics
* Technical High School
* Medicine High School
* Machine High School
* Musical High School
* F&C School

There are many primary schools and childcare centers.

<gallery>
File:Tehnički_fakultet_Čačak.jpg|''[[University of Kragujevac Faculty of Technical Sciences|Faculty of Technical Sciences]]''
File:Čačak's high school.jpg|''Čačak's Grammar School''
File:Economic school.jpg|''High School of Economics''
File:Техничка школа у Чачку.JPG|''Technical High School''
File:Музичка школа Чачак 30.jpg|''Musical High School''
</gallery>

===Sports===
[[File:Borac Hall Indoors 2019.jpg|thumb|right|[[Borac Hall]], February 2019]]
[[File:Čačak Stadium West Stand View.jpg|thumb|right|[[Čačak Stadium]], February 2019]]
The "Mladost Sports Center" which is located on the coast of [[West Morava]] River, next to the [[Čačak Stadium]], two faculties and numerous other important buildings, offers many sports venues for locals.<ref name="mladostpark2019">{{cite news |last1=Veselinović |first1=Stefan |title=Čačak: Kako je volonterizam mladih dao nov život obali Morave |url=https://www.bbc.com/serbian/lat/srbija-49350790 |accessdate=25 August 2019 |work=bbc.com |date=17 August 2019 |language=sr}}</ref> The whole area where the Sports Center is located is the town's most important entertainment area.<ref name="mladostpark2019" />

Čačak is nationally famous for its clubs in various team sports; the most popular ones are [[basketball]], [[association football|football]] and [[handball]]. The basketball club [[KK Borac Čačak|Borac Čačak]] and football club [[FK Borac Čačak|Borac Čačak]] have been participating in the top-tier leagues of Serbia for many consecutive years with much success. Women's handball is also very successful and popular.

===Tourism===
In the vicinity of Čačak there are more than 20 churches and monasteries, the largest number found on such a small area in Serbia. They represent cultural and historic monuments of great significance. The most important ones are the Church of the Ascension of Jesus, a church on Ljubić hill dedicated to Saint [[Tsar Lazar]], as well as the Vujan Monastery located on a nearby mountain of the same name. Special value is attributed to the monasteries of the [[Ovčar-Kablar Gorge]], which as a cultural and historic whole date back to the Middle Ages and represent the particularity of the region's cultural and artistic heritage created over the centuries. There are 12 monasteries and churches in the gorge:
* Uspenje
* Vavedenje
* Jovanje
* Nikolje
* Blagoveštenje
* Vaznesenje
* Preobraženje
* Sretenje
* Sveta Trojica
* Ilinje
* Savinje
* Kadjenica

Thermal and mineral springs with medicinal properties provide the basis for the development of recreational tourism. There are three spa resorts within the territory of the city of Čačak: [[Gornja Trepča]], [[Ovčar Banja]] and Slatinska Banja. There are also picnic sites: Gradina and the "Battle and victory" park (also called "Spomen" (remembrance) park) on the Jelica mountain, the Memorial complex on Ljubić hill, Grujine fields, rafts on West Morava river in [[Beljina]], [[Parmenac]], [[Međuvršje]] and Ovčar Banja, and picnic sites on the tiny rivers called Dičina, Kamenica, Čemernica and Banja.

===Image gallery===
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Church of Ascencion of Jesus.jpg|''Crkva Uzašašća Isusova''
File:National museum in Čačak.jpg|''Nacionalni muzej u Podgrađu''
File:Church of Saint Tsar Lazar on Ljubić hill.jpg|''Crkva Svetog [[Tsar Lazar]] na Kljaić brdu''
File:Bridges on Zapadna morava river and Borac hall.jpg|''Most na [[Zapadna Morava|West Morava]] rijeci i Šimunić jezeru''
File:Stepa Stepanović monument in Čačak.jpg|Monument to Stepa Stepanović
File:Zimska panorama - panoramio (1).jpg|''View on [[Ljubić (Čačak)|Ljubić]] from West Morava in winter''
File:Meandri Zapadne Morave, Pogled sa Ovčara 01.jpg|''West Morava meanders in Ovčar-Kablar Gorge''
File:Meandri Zapadne Morave, Pogled sa Ovčara 02.jpg|''West Morava meanders in Ovčar-Kablar Gorge''
File:Хала КК "Борац" Чачак.JPG|''KK Borac Sports Hall''
File:Wiki Šumadija X Spomen kosturnica u Čačku 180.jpg|''The monument to the fallen soldiers of the [[Balkan Wars]] and [[World War I]]''
</gallery>

==Economy==
[[File:Fruit Research Institute Cacak.jpg|thumb|right|Fruit Research Institute in Čačak]]
The structure of the economy of the city of Čačak is composed of services and [[trade]], [[Industrial sector|industry]] and [[agriculture]]. The main [[Process manufacturing|processing]] industries are paper production, electric home appliances, blade tools for the processing of metal, non-metals, chemical industry products, thermal technical appliances, metal and combined carpentry, parts and kits for the pharmaceutical industry and products for medical needs. Also, well developed are wood, lumber industry and agriculture.

Many companies with more than 250 employees have deteriorated due to the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 757|sanctions]] in the 1990s. Since 2000, more than 40 government-owned companies have gone through the privatization process.<ref>{{cite news|title=U Čačku još dva velika preduzeća nisu privatizovana – "Fabrika reznih alata" i "Sloboda"|url=http://www.ekapija.com/website/sr/page/247741/U-%C4%8Ca%C4%8Dku-jo%C5%A1-dva-velika-preduze%C4%87a-nisu-privatizovana-Fabrika-reznih-alata-i-Sloboda|access-date=30 March 2015|work=ekapija.com|language=sr}}</ref>

Private enterprise, which has its tradition from back in the 19th century, is the primary characteristic of the economy of the city. As of January 2017, 98.65% of all business enterprises are small and micro companies.<ref name="economy2017">{{cite news|title=U Čačku posluje 6.113 firmi i preduzetničkih radnji|url=https://moravainfo.rs/2017/01/u-cacku-posluje-6-113-firmi-i-preduzetnickih-radnji/|accessdate=24 January 2018|work=moravainfo.rs|date=14 January 2017|language=sr}}</ref> A large number of private companies grew into middle-size companies with 80 to 270 employees offering a wide variety of products.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cacak.org.rs/Economy-195-4|title=- :: Grad Čačak ::|work=Cacak.org.rs|access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> Today, on the territory of the city of Čačak, among the largest employers are [[Sloboda (company)|Sloboda]], Technical Overhaul Military Institute (Remont), Hospital Čačak, [[Fabrika reznog alata]] and [[P.S. Fashion]]. Čačak also has the prestigious and country's unique ''Fruit Research Institute'' located in city center zone.

For the 2017 calendar year, business enterprises in Čačak imported the goods in value of 269 million euros, and exported goods in value of 171 million euros.<ref name="2017economy">{{cite news|title=Iz Čačka najviše u EU i zemlje bivše YU|url=https://www.b92.net/biz/vesti/srbija.php?yyyy=2018&mm=02&dd=04&nav_id=1354868|accessdate=29 March 2018|work=b92.net|agency=Beta|date=4 February 2018|language=sr}}</ref> The coverage of imports by exports was 64%.<ref name="2017economy" />

;Economic preview
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2019):<ref name="stats19employees">{{cite web |title=Запослени у Републици Србији, 2019. - Годишњи просек - |url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2020/Pdf/G20201018.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of Republic of Serbia |accessdate=15 March 2020 |language=sr |date=31 January 2020}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|190
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|107
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|10,470
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|370
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|423
|-
|Construction||align="right"|1,251
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|7,179
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|3,029
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|1,595
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|639
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|570
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|101
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|985
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|1,089
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|1,414
|-
|Education||align="right"|2,180
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|2,188
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|506
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|511
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|664
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''35,461'''
|}

==Transportation==
{{Railways in Čačak RDT}}
Due to its geographical position, Čačak is the main road transportation center in Western Serbia. As of August 2019, [[A2 motorway (Serbia)|Miloš the Great motorway]], which is projected to run from Belgrade to border with [[Montenegro]], is in service from [[Belgrade bypass]] to Čačak with several other sections currently under construction.<ref>{{cite news |title=Svečano otvoren auto-put "Miloš Veliki", Vučić kaže - put za ponos cele Srbije |url=http://rs.n1info.com/Biznis/a508670/Otvoren-autoput-Milos-Veliki.html |accessdate=25 August 2019 |work=n1info.com |agency=Beta, FoNet |date=18 August 2019 |language=sr}}</ref> Also, the [[A5 motorway (Serbia)|A5 motorway]] is planned and it will run from Čačak to [[Pojate]], thus connecting two main motorways in Serbia. Čačak also lies on [[State Road 22 (Serbia)|State Road 22]] and [[State Road 23 (Serbia)|State Road 23]], two main highways in Western Serbia.

A railway from [[Kraljevo]] to [[Požega, Serbia|Požega]] passes through Čačak, thus connecting the city with [[Belgrade–Bar railway]] (one of country's main railways). The [[Morava Airport]], one of country's three international airports, was opened in 2019 for civil airplanes and is located between Čačak and Kraljevo.

<gallery mode="packed">
File:High Road Ljig Preljina.jpg|[[A2 motorway (Serbia)|A2 motorway]] section near Čačak
File:Srbija Voz Train Arriving at Čačak Railway Station.jpg|[[Srbija Voz]] train arriving at Čačak railway station
File:Aerodrom Morava.jpg|Nearby [[Morava Airport]]
</gallery>

==Notable people==
{{div col|colwidth=25em}}

* [[Boban Dmitrović]], football player
* [[Bora Đorđević]], rock musician
* [[Branko Jelić]], football player
* [[Darko Lazović]], football player
* [[Dragan Kićanović]], former basketball player and coach, Olympic, World and European champion
* [[Dragomir Čumić]], actor
* [[Dragutin Gavrilović]], military officer († 1945)
* [[Dušan Markešević]], athlete
* [[Hadži Prodan Gligorijević]], leader of the [[Hadži Prodan's Revolt]] († 1825)
* [[Ivan Stambolić]], politician († 2000)
* [[Ivan Stevanović (footballer)|Ivan Stevanović]], football player
* [[Ivica Dragutinović]], football player
* [[Filip Filipović (politician)|Filip Filipović]], mathematician, revolutionary, first secretary of Communist party of Yugoslavia
* [[Filip Mladenović]], football player
* [[Lazar Marković]], football player
* [[Luke Black]], pop singer
* [[Marko Lomić]], football player
* [[Marko Marinović]], basketball player
* [[Milan Jovanović (footballer, born July 1983)|Milan Jovanović]], Montenegrin football player
* [[Milan Stojadinović]], politician († 1961)
* [[Milivoje Vitakić]], football player
* [[Miloš Minić]], politician († 2003)
* [[Miloš Ristanović]], Serbian professional footballer
* [[Milovan Destil Marković]], artist
* [[Milovan Rajevac]], football coach
* [[Miroslav Ilić]], folk singer
* [[Mladomir Puriša Đorđević]], film director and screenwriter
* [[Momčilo Perišić]], general
* [[Nadežda Petrović]], painter († 1915)
* [[Nemanja Kojić (athlete)|Nemanja Kojić]], athlete
* [[Serbian Patriarch Irinej]], head of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]] († 2020)
* [[Petar Stambolić]], politician († 2007)
* [[Predrag Koraksić Corax]], caricaturist
* [[Radisav Ćurčić]], Serbian-Israeli basketball player, 1999 [[Israeli Basketball Premier League MVP]]
* [[Radmila Bakočević]], soprano
* [[Radojko Avramović]], football coach
* [[Radomir Mihailović Točak]], rock guitarist
* [[Robert Kišerlovski]], road bicycle racer
* [[Sonja Savić]], actress († 2008)
* [[Stepa Stepanović]], general from Balkan Wars and World War I († 1929)
* [[Stracimir Zavidović]], 12th-century Serbian noble who ruled West Morava († after 1189)
* [[Tadija Dragićević]], basketball player
* [[Tanasko Rajić]], captain in Second Serbian Uprising († 1815)
* [[Tatomir Anđelić]], mathematician († 1993)
* [[Uroš Tripković]], basketball player
* [[Velimir Ilić]], politician
* [[Vera Matović]], folk singer
* [[Vlada Jovanović]], basketball coach
* [[Vladan Vasilijević]], politician and specialist in criminal law
* [[Vladislav Petković Dis]], poet († 1917)
* [[Željko Obradović]], former basketball player and coach, Olympic silver medalist, World, European and nine-time Euroleague champion
* [[Zoran Kostić (footballer)]], football player
* [[Petar Krsmanović]], volleyball player, European champion
{{div col end}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Serbia}}

===Twin towns and sister cities===
Čačak is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
* {{flagicon|Russia}} '''[[Ruza, Ruzsky District, Moscow Oblast]]''', [[Russia]] since 2012
* {{flagicon|Russia}} '''[[Sochi]]''', [[Russia]] since 2012
* {{flagicon|Czech Republic}} '''[[Valašské Meziříčí]]''', [[Czech Republic]] since 2005
* {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} '''[[Bratunac]]''', [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] since 2001
* {{flagicon|France}} '''[[Thonon-les-Bains]]''', France since 1968
||
* {{flagicon|Slovakia}} '''[[Brezno]]''', [[Slovakia]]
* {{flagicon|Slovakia}} '''[[Turčianske Teplice]]''', [[Slovakia]]
* {{flagicon|Greece}} '''[[Filippoi]]''', [[Greece]]
* {{flagicon|Greece}} '''[[Katerini]]''', [[Greece]]
* {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} '''[[Han Pijesak]]''', [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
|}

==See also==
* [[List of places in Serbia]]
* [[Ozon Radio (Serbia)|Ozon Radio]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Čačak}}
* [http://www.cacak.org.rs/ City of Čačak official website]
* [http://www.cacak.org.rs/userfiles/files/Profil%20zajednice.pdf Basic information of Čačak] {{in lang|sr}}

{{Čačak}}
{{Moravica District}}
{{Municipalities of Serbia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cacak}}
[[Category:Čačak| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Moravica District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Šumadija and Western Serbia]]

Mali Zvornik

2023-06-12T18:37:42Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Мали Зворник|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Mali Zvornik
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield = Mali-zvornik-grb.png
| image_flag = Flag of Mali Zvornik.gif
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a =Mali Zvornik 012.jpg
|photo2a =Crkva Sabora srpskih svetitelja, Mali Zvornik 225.jpg
|photo2b =Mali Zvornik 249.jpg
|photo3a =Mali Zvornik 002.jpg
|photo3b =Džamija Mali Zvornik 167.jpg
|size = 270
|spacing = 1
|color = #FFFFFF
|border = 1
}}
| image_caption = Mali Zvornik
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Mali Zvornik.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Mali Zvornik within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|24|N|19|07|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mačva District|Mačva]]
| established_title = Municipality
| established_date = {{start date and age|1955}}
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 12
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| leader_name = Zoran Jevtić
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 9.09
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 184
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 149
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 4132
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 11987
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 15318
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)15
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = LO
| website = {{url|www.malizvornik.rs}}
}}
'''Mali Zvornik''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Мали Зворник}}, {{IPA-sh|mâːliː zʋɔ̌rniːk|pron}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Mačva District]] of western Serbia. In 2011, the population of the town is 4,132, while the population of the municipality is 11,987. It lays opposite of the [[Drina river]] from the town of [[Zvornik]], in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. Also, a border crossing between Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina is located in the town.

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2015}}
There are traces of human life from [[Bronze Age]] in this area, as well as traces from the time of [[Roman Empire]]. Ancient Roman settlement ''Ad Drinum'' existed somewhere at this location. In the [[Middle Ages]], Mali Zvornik was one of the main mining centres of the [[Serbia]]n state.

On Orlovine Hill near Mali Zvornik there are remains of the large [[Medieval]] fortress that was probably built in the first half of the 15th century, in the time of the [[Serbian Despotate]]. During the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] rule, this area was part of the [[Pashaluk of Bosnia]].

Until 1878 it was the only Bosnian municipality on the right side of river [[Drina]], when it eventually became part of the independent [[Kingdom of Serbia]]. In the end of 19th and beginning of the 20th century, population of Mali Zvornik numbered 115 houses. The municipality of Mali Zvornik was officially established in 1955.

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Mali Zvornik, the municipality includes the following settlements:
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Amajić]]
* [[Brasina]]
* [[Budišić]]
* [[Culine]]
* [[Čitluk, Mali Zvornik|Čitluk]]
* [[Donja Borina]]
* [[Donja Trešnjica]]
* [[Radalj]]
* [[Sakar, Mali Zvornik|Sakar]]
* [[Velika Reka]]
* [[Voljevci]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|9036 |1953|12004 |1961|11583 |1971|12084 |1981|13074 |1991|14029 |2002|14076 |2011|12482
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=29 May 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}

According to the 2011 census results, the municipality of Mali Zvornik has 12,482 inhabitants.

===Ethnic groups===
The municipality of Mali Zvornik has many ethnic groups, with Serbs forming the majority in all settlements. The ethnic composition of the municipality of Mali Zvornik:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|11,677
|93.55%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Muslims (nationality)|Muslims]]||align="right"|376
|3.01%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bosniaks of Serbia|Bosniaks]]||align="right"|72
|0.58%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]||align="right"|25
|0.20%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|16
|0.13%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|15
|0.12%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|14
|0.11%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|287
|2.30%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|12,482
|
|}

==Economy==
The following table gives a preview of total number of employed people per their core activity (as of 2017):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=ОПШТИНЕ И РЕГИОНИ У РЕПУБЛИЦИ СРБИЈИ, 2018.|url=http://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2018/Pdf/G201813045.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|access-date=16 March 2019|language=sr}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|93
|-
|Mining||align="right"|70
|-
|Processing industry||align="right"|168
|-
|Distribution of power, gas and water||align="right"|101
|-
|Distribution of water and water waste management||align="right"|55
|-
|Construction||align="right"|114
|-
|Wholesale and retail, repair||align="right"|319
|-
|Traffic, storage and communication ||align="right"|187
|-
|Hotels and restaurants||align="right"|70
|-
|Media and telecommunications||align="right"|8
|-
|Finance and insurance||align="right"|8
|-
|Property stock and charter||align="right"|-
|-
|Professional, scientific, innovative and technical activities||align="right"|45
|-
|Administrative and other services||align="right"|18
|-
|Administration and social assurance||align="right"|326
|-
|Education||align="right"|177
|-
|Healthcare and social work ||align="right"|112
|-
|Art, leisure and recreation||align="right"|17
|-
|Other services||align="right"|29
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''1,917'''
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Mali Zvornik.jpg|''Mali Zvornik''
File:Mali Zvornik 244.jpg|''Mali Zvornik Municipal House''
File:Mali Zvornik utorak 059.jpg|''Mali Zvornik town center''
File:Mali Zvornik utorak 029.jpg|''Building in Mali Zvornik''
File:Drina River.jpg|''[[Drina river]] in Mali Zvornik''
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[Časlav Klonimirović]], [[Prince of the Serbs]] from 927. until his death in 960.
* [[Stefan Dragutin]], [[King of Serbia]] from 1276. to 1282.
* [[Avdo Karabegović]], (1878-1908) Serbian poet
* [[Dušan Proroković]], politician, former member of [[Serbian parliament]]
* [[Milisav Petković]], politician, former member of [[Serbian parliament]]
* [[Nenad Milkić]], Serbian writer
* [[Miloš Gajić]], Partisan
* [[Milinko Pantić]], football player and coach
* [[Miloš Vasić]], rower, member of Serbian Olympics team on summer Olympics in [[London 2012]] and [[Rio de Janeiro 2016]]
* [[Predrag Rogan]], football coach
* [[Đorđe Despotović]], football player
* [[Nemanja Stevanović]], football player
* [[Edin Rustemović]], football player
* [[Filip Erić]], football player
* [[Slaviša Radović]], football player
* [[Oliver Stević]], basketball player
* [[Aleksandar Todorović]], basketball player

==See also==
* [[Mačva District]]
* [[Podrinje]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.malizvornik.rs Official website]
{{commons category|Mali Zvornik}}

{{Municipalities of Serbia}}
{{Mačva District}}

[[Category:Populated places in Mačva District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
[[Category:Bosnia and Herzegovina–Serbia border crossings]]

Loznica

2023-06-12T18:37:00Z

94.140.246.27:

{{other places}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Loznica
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Лозница|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = City of Loznica
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|City]]
| image_shield =
| etymology = [[Vine]] ''(sr. loza)''
| image_flag = Flag of Loznica.gif
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a = Loznicapanoramaf.jpg
|photo2a = Muzej Jadra, Loznica 001.jpg
|photo2b = Vukov Dom Kulture.JPG
|photo3a = Loznica 054.jpg
|photo3b = Church in Loznica by night.JPG
|photo4a = Monument on Gucevo hill.JPG
|photo4b = Corso in Loznica.JPG
|size = 270
|spacing = 1
|color = #FFFFFF
|border = 1
|foot_montage = From top: Panoramic view of Loznica, [[Jadar Museum|Loznica city museum]], Cultural center, Elementary school "Anta Bogićević", Church of the Most Holy Theotokos, [[Battle of Drina]] monument on [[Gučevo]] mountain, Corso in Loznica}}
| image_caption =
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Loznica.png
| map_caption = Location of the city of Loznica within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|32|00|N|19|13|33|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Mačva District|Mačva]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 52
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Vidoje Petrović]]
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| area_blank1_title = Urban
| area_blank1_km2 = 9.45
| area_blank2_title = Administrative
| area_blank2_km2 = 612
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 121
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2022}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 census
| population_blank1_title = Urban
| population_blank1 = 23,988
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Administrative
| population_blank2 = 72,062
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 15300
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)15
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| iso_code = SRB
| blank_info = LO
| website = {{url|www.loznica.rs}}
}}
'''Loznica''' ({{lang-sr-cyrl|Лозница}}, {{IPA-sh|lǒznitsa|pron}}) is a [[List of cities in Serbia|city]] located in the [[Mačva District]] of western Serbia. It lies on the right bank of the [[Drina]] river. In 2022 the city had a total population of 23,988, while the administrative area had a population of 72,062.

Its name stems from the word "loza" (the [[Serbian language|Serbian]] word for ''[[vine]]''). Originally, its name was ''Lozica'' ([[Serbian language|Serbian]] for ''small vine''), but it later became ''Loznica''.

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2016}}
[[File:Probus Musei Capitolini MC493.jpg|thumb|150px|left|[[Marcus Aurelius Probus]]]]
The oldest settlements on the territory of Jadar and Loznica can be traced to the [[Neolithic]] period when the [[Starčevo culture]] flourished from 4500–3000 BC. [[Illyrian tribes|Illyrian]] and [[Celtic tribes]] inhabited the region prior to the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] conquest in 75 BC. Roman conquest of the [[Balkan peninsula]] brought huge changes: the territory became part of the [[Roman province]] of [[Dalmatia]].

The most important settlement in Jadar was ''Genzis'', located near [[Lešnica, Serbia|Lešnica]], while the Roman settlement in present-day Loznica was called ''Ad Drinum''. Legend tells that Loznica was named after the grape vines that were grown in this region, starting from the 3rd century BC in the time of Roman Emperor [[Marcus Aurelius Probus|Probus]]. The first reference to the town as Loznica dates back to the reign of Serbian King [[Stefan Milutin]], when Catherine, the wife of Milutin's brother Dragutin, founded the nearby monastery of Tronoša (1317). Loznica received little notice for the next two hundred years. By 1533, Loznica had been conquered from the [[Serbian Despotate]] by the [[Ottoman Empire]] and was then populated by [[Muslims]]; according to the tax registry, out of 37 houses, 26 houses were Muslim and 11 were Christian.

In 1600, Loznica became an officially Muslim ([[Bosniak]]) settlement with 55 houses. In this period Loznica and Jadar were part of the region administered from [[Zvornik]]. The Zvornik region itself was ruled by the [[pasha]] in [[Bosnia]]. Striving toward liberation from Ottoman rule, the population of Loznica was actively involved in the common fight of the Serbian people, beginning with the [[First Serbian Uprising]] of 1804. The uprising was very important since the Ottomans did not easily give up on the border part of their territory from which they could harvest taxes and supply their army as well as break through towards the central part of the rebellious Serbia.

During the whole period of the First Uprising (1804–13), numerous and heavy battles against the Ottomans were fought in Loznica and its vicinity. In 1813 the Serbs managed to drive the Ottomans across the river [[Drina]], at which time the Ottomans reoccupied Loznica. In November 1833, Loznica and Jadar officially became part of the [[Principality of Serbia]], during the rule of [[Miloš Obrenović]], when [[Sultan Mahmud II]] ceded six seized regions to Serbia. This resulted in the abolition of Ottoman ownership over the land and it was declared a [[free peasant]] state, which meant that the [[feudal system]] was revoked.

Jadar became part of the [[Podrinje]] region, while Loznica became the seat of the region, remaining in this role until the end of the 19th century, when the capital was moved to [[Šabac]]. During the thirties of the 19th century, Loznica had 295 houses with 1203 people and became the centre of the administrative and political power of Podrinje. The education system started to develop and a hospital was set up (1882), construction of industrial buildings started, craftsmen, trade and banking started to develop. Construction of the railway between Šabac, Loznica and [[Banja Koviljaca]] started by the beginning of the 20th century. The [[First Balkan War]] and [[First World War]] halted economic development and significantly reduced the number of people in Loznica and vicinity.

Upon completion of the First World War, Loznica remained a regional centre with about 5000 people. There was a short period of reconstruction and economic development, followed by the [[Great Depression]], which saw a decline in the prices of agricultural products. By the mid-1930s, craft and trade shops had been established, bringing some relief to the economy. Later, the [[antimony]] mines were acquired by German industrialists which further strengthened the economy. This growth was, however, brought to an abrupt halt at the beginning of [[World War II]]. Loznica became the first city in Europe to be liberated from German occupation when [[Chetnik]] units [[Battle of Loznica (1941)|entered on 31 August 1941]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Nikolić |first1=Kosta |editor1-last=Pavković |editor1-first=Aleksandar |editor2-last=Radan |editor2-first=Peter |title=The Serbs and their Leaders in the Twentieth Century |date=2018 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780429772597 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Tnp_DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT296 |chapter=Dragoljub-Draža Mihailović}}</ref>

In January 2008, according to the Serbian law, Loznica received the status of a city.

==Geography and climate==
The city is located in western [[Serbia]], in the [[Mačva District]], near the border with [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. It lies on the right bank of the [[Drina]] river.

===Climate===
Loznica has a [[humid subtropical climate]] with cold winters, often very cold due to the mountain winds of nearby mountains, and warm to hot summers. When hot air from [[Adriatic Sea]] starts going inland, to the north-east it rises over mountain barriers ([[Zlatar (mountain)|Zlatar]] and [[Zlatibor]]), gaining jet effect and continuing fast to western parts of [[Serbia]].

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Loznica (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 21.6
|Feb record high C = 25.6
|Mar record high C = 30.2
|Apr record high C = 32.0
|May record high C = 36.0
|Jun record high C = 37.3
|Jul record high C = 42.3
|Aug record high C = 41.0
|Sep record high C = 39.0
|Oct record high C = 31.7
|Nov record high C = 29.1
|Dec record high C = 26.4
|year record high C = 42.3
|Jan high C = 5.7
|Feb high C = 8.4
|Mar high C = 13.4
|Apr high C = 18.6
|May high C = 23.2
|Jun high C = 26.8
|Jul high C = 28.8
|Aug high C = 29.2
|Sep high C = 24.0
|Oct high C = 18.9
|Nov high C = 12.6
|Dec high C = 6.5
|year high C = 18.0
|Jan mean C = 1.4
|Feb mean C = 3.2
|Mar mean C = 7.5
|Apr mean C = 12.4
|May mean C = 17.1
|Jun mean C = 20.9
|Jul mean C = 22.5
|Aug mean C = 22.2
|Sep mean C = 17.2
|Oct mean C = 12.3
|Nov mean C = 7.3
|Dec mean C = 2.5
|year mean C = 12.2
|Jan low C = -1.8
|Feb low C = -0.8
|Mar low C = 2.6
|Apr low C = 6.8
|May low C = 11.4
|Jun low C = 15.2
|Jul low C = 16.5
|Aug low C = 16.4
|Sep low C = 12.1
|Oct low C = 7.7
|Nov low C = 3.6
|Dec low C = -0.6
|year low C = 7.4
|Jan record low C = -25.4
|Feb record low C = -20.6
|Mar record low C = -15.5
|Apr record low C = -5.4
|May record low C = -0.7
|Jun record low C = 4.1
|Jul record low C = 7.7
|Aug record low C = 5.0
|Sep record low C = -0.1
|Oct record low C = -4.6
|Nov record low C = -13.4
|Dec record low C = -17.6
|year record low C = -25.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 63.0
|Feb precipitation mm = 54.5
|Mar precipitation mm = 65.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 63.4
|May precipitation mm = 90.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 107.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 80.4
|Aug precipitation mm = 69.9
|Sep precipitation mm = 71.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 74.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 68.8
|Dec precipitation mm = 71.7
|year precipitation mm = 880.1
|Jan humidity = 82.9
|Feb humidity = 77.1
|Mar humidity = 69.7
|Apr humidity = 67.8
|May humidity = 69.3
|Jun humidity = 69.7
|Jul humidity = 68.1
|Aug humidity = 69.0
|Sep humidity = 74.5
|Oct humidity = 79.2
|Nov humidity = 81.6
|Dec humidity = 83.5
|year humidity = 74.4
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 14.1
|Feb precipitation days = 12.8
|Mar precipitation days = 12.2
|Apr precipitation days = 12.8
|May precipitation days = 14.0
|Jun precipitation days = 13.2
|Jul precipitation days = 10.9
|Aug precipitation days = 8.6
|Sep precipitation days = 10.8
|Oct precipitation days = 11.0
|Nov precipitation days = 12.2
|Dec precipitation days = 13.8
|year precipitation days = 146.4
|Jan snow days = 7.7
|Feb snow days = 6.6
|Mar snow days = 3.7
|Apr snow days = 0.7
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 2.5
|Dec snow days = 5.8
|year snow days = 27.1
|Jan sun = 65.0
|Feb sun = 90.8
|Mar sun = 148.3
|Apr sun = 184.8
|May sun = 227.4
|Jun sun = 254.3
|Jul sun = 295.9
|Aug sun = 283.0
|Sep sun = 194.7
|Oct sun = 147.7
|Nov sun = 84.8
|Dec sun = 54.4
|year sun = 2031.1
|source 1 = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia<ref name = RHSS1991>{{cite web
| url = https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_loznica.php
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220418210603/https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_loznica.php
| archive-date = 18 April 2022
| title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1991–2020
| language = sr
| publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia
| access-date = 18 April 2022}}</ref><ref name = RHSS1981>{{cite web
|
url = http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13262
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210720080905/http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13262
| archive-date = 20 July 2021
| title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1981–2010
| language = sr
| publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia
| access-date = February 25, 2017}}</ref>
|date=April 2015
}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|53436 |1953|59796 |1961|70534 |1971|78228 |1981|84180 |1991|86875 |2002|86413 |2011|79327
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=11 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}
According to the 2011 census, the ethnic groups in the city of Loznica include [[Serbs]] (79,327), and smaller numbers of [[Romani people|Romani]] (761), [[Muslims (South-Slavic ethnic group)|ethnic Muslims]] (660), [[Yugoslavs]] (74), [[Montenegrins (ethnic group)|Montenegrins]] (58) and others.

==Settlements==
Aside from Loznica, the city includes the following settlements:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*[[Banja Koviljača]]
*[[Baščeluci]]
*[[Bradić, Serbia|Bradić]]
*[[Brezjak]]
*[[Brnjac]]
*[[Veliko Selo (Loznica)|Veliko Selo]]
*[[Voćnjak]]
*[[Gornja Badanja]]
*[[Gornja Borina]]
*[[Gornja Koviljača]]
*[[Gornja Sipulja]]
*[[Gornje Nedeljice]]
*[[Gornji Dobrić]]
*[[Grnčara]]
*[[Donja Badanja]]
*[[Donja Sipulja]]
*[[Donje Nedeljice]]
*[[Donji Dobrić]]
*[[Draginac (Loznica)|Draginac]]
*[[Zajača]]
*[[Jadranska Lešnica]]
*[[Jarebice (Loznica)|Jarebice]]
*[[Jelav]]
*[[Joševa (Loznica)|Joševa]]
*[[Jugovići (Loznica)|Jugovići]]
*[[Kamenica (Loznica)|Kamenica]]
*[[Klupci]]
*[[Kozjak (Loznica)|Kozjak]]
*[[Korenita]]
*[[Krajišnici (Loznica)|Krajišnici]]
*[[Lešnica, Serbia|Lešnica]]
*[[Lipnica (Loznica)|Lipnica]]
*[[Lipnički Šor]]
*[[Lozničko Polje]]
*[[Milina]]
*[[Meraja]]
*[[Novo Selo (Loznica)|Novo Selo]]
*[[Paskovac]]
*[[Ploča (Loznica)|Ploča]]
*[[Pomijača]]
*[[Ribarice]]
*[[Runjani]]
*[[Simino Brdo]]
*[[Slatina (Loznica)|Slatina]]
*[[Straža (Loznica)|Straža]]
*[[Stupnica (Loznica)|Stupnica]]
*[[Tekeriš]]
*[[Trbosilje]]
*[[Trbušnica (Loznica)|Trbušnica]]
*[[Tršić, Serbia|Tršić]]
*[[Filipovići (Loznica)|Filipovići]]
*[[Cikote (Loznica)|Cikote]]
*[[Čokešina]]
*[[Šurice (Loznica)|Šurice]]
{{div col end}}

==Society and culture==

===Culture===
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2016}}
[[File:Statue of Vuk Stefanovic Karadjic.JPG|thumb|220px|Statue of [[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić]]]]
Among cultural heritage include the Church of the Holy Virgin located in the town, the 14th-century [[Čokešina|Čokešina Monastery]], the 13th-century [[Tronoša Monastery]], and monuments on [[Gučevo]] mountain, in Tekeriš, and in Draginac, as well as the ethnic village of [[Tršić]].

A [[Serbian epic poem]] is the ''Battle of Loznica'' in which the central figure Anta Bogičević leads Serbian forces during the [[First Serbian Uprising]]. The most important local cultural event is "Vukov Sabor" (Council of Vuk) in Tršić, held annually in September, in memory of [[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić]] who was born in the village; it remains the oldest and largest cultural event in Serbia, for its importance and the increasing volume (20-30,000 visitors).

===Sport===
[[File:Wide angle view of Lagator Stadium.jpg|thumb|right|[[Lagator Stadium]], May 2023]]
Loznica's local football club is called [[FK Loznica]], with the [[Lagator Stadium]] as home ground.

==Economy==
[[File:Viskoza factory.JPG|thumb|220px|Viskoza factory]]
The largest factory of Loznica was "HI Viskoza Loznica", founded in 1957 with over 10,000 employees (1981), at the time when the city had 18,000 inhabitants. Production of trailers was primarily in the factory "FAK Loznica", and textile production in "Moda" Loznica.

Italian manufacturer of stockings and women's underwear "Golden Lady" has a factory in Loznica, exporting to countries of the European Union. For now the factory employs 550 workers.

Also, one of the largest lithium deposits ([[Jadar mine]]) in Serbia with total reserves of 125.3 million tonnes is located in Loznica.

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=25 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|153
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|33
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|4,617
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|238
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|253
|-
|Construction||align="right"|1,198
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|2,867
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|730
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|730
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|183
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|196
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|21
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|546
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|261
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|920
|-
|Education||align="right"|1,140
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|1,879
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|221
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|383
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|1,065
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''17,634'''
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Loznica city museum.JPG|[[Museum in Loznica]]
File:Vukov Dom Kulture.JPG|Vukov Dom
File:Corso in Loznica.JPG|Corso in Loznica
File:Church in Loznica by night.JPG|Church in Loznica
File:Stira creek & Intermezzo.JPG|Creek Stira
File:Elementary school Anta Bogicevic in Loznica.JPG|Elementary school Anta Bogicevic
File:Central bus station in Loznica.JPG|Bus station in Loznica
File:Statue of Duke Stepa Stepanovic.jpg|Statue of Vojvoda Stepa Stepanovic
Tekeriš, Spomenik cerskim junacima, 03.jpg|The [[Memorial Ossuary, Cer|Memorial Ossuary]] in [[Tekeriš]] to the victims of the [[Battle of Cer]]
</gallery>

==Twin cities==
* {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Płock]], Poland
* {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Ivanić-Grad]], Croatia

==Notable people==
*[[Jovan Cvijić]], geographer, president of the [[Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts|Serbian Royal Academy of Sciences]] and [[Rector (academia)|rector]] of the [[University of Belgrade]]
*[[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić]], linguist, born in Tršić, educated in Tronoša
*[[Saša Janković]], Ombudsman of Serbia
*[[Dragan Kojić Keba]], singer
*[[Sinan Sakić]], singer
*[[Momčilo Spremić]], historian
*[[Zlatko Junuzović]], Austrian football player
*[[Aleksandra Crvendakić]], basketball player, Olympic bronze medalist
*[[Branko Lazić]], basketball player, EuroBasket silver medalist
*[[Aleksandar Gligoric]], actor
*[[Dragan Mićanović]], Serbian actor
*[[Milinko Pantić]], Serbian football player and coach.

==See also==
* [[List of places in Serbia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Loznica}}
{{commons category-inline|Loznica}}
* [http://www.loznica.rs/Opstina-Loznica-Home__eng City of Loznica]
* [http://www.podrinjeinfo.com/ Internet portal Loznica]

{{Loznica Municipality}}
{{Municipalities of Serbia}}
{{Mačva District}}

[[Category:Loznica| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Mačva District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
[[Category:Starčevo–Körös–Criș culture]]

Ub, Serbia

2023-06-12T18:35:41Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Уб|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Ub
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield = COA_Ub.png
| image_flag = Flag of Ub.png
| image_skyline = Ub-panorama.jpg
| image_caption = Panoramic view on Ub
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Ub.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Ub within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|27|22|N|20|4|26|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Šumadija and Western Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kolubara District|Kolubara]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 38
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Darko Glišić (politician)|Darko Glišić]]
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 4.35
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 456
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 97
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 6164
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 29022
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 14210
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)14
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = UB
| website = {{url|www.opstinaub.org.rs}}
}}

'''Ub''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Уб}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Kolubara District]] of western Serbia. As of 2011, the population of the town is 6,164, while population of the municipality is 29,022 inhabitants.

==History==
The first communities established at the municipal territory of Ub, according to the historical traces and traces of human civilization discovered in the current settlements of [[Trlić]], [[Kalinovac (Ub)|Kalinovac]], [[Brgule]], originated from the time of Vinča culture, in the period around 5000 BC. In the settlement of [[Čučuge]] today there are traces of the Bronze Age.

The most probable theory of the origin of the name is from the Latin word "urb", meaning "city". According to legends, the place was built in the reign of Prince [[Kocelj]], and it was named after his brother Slavoljub. Over time, the names shortened to just "Ub".

The most important of the cultural and historical monuments of Ub is certainly the church - monastery in the village [[Dokmir]], dating from the fifteenth century. Research suggests that the monastery was restored in 1415, so it is thought that the monastery dates from an earlier period. Also affiliated with the monastery are the nuns of the [[Žitomislić Monastery]] in [[Herzegovina]], who had fled from the horrors of [[war in Bosnia]] in early '90s.

The [[Tamnava]] area has preserved evidences of earlier styles and ways of life. In the mountain areas were fortresses, monasteries, churches and towers, and it is often difficult to reach such areas, but in the plains, monuments and buildings were often removed, leaving little trace, barely sufficient to preserve some features of the old life.

==Settlements==
Apart from the town of Ub, the municipality consists of the following villages (2002 population given in parentheses):
{{Divcol}}
* [[Banjani (Ub)|Banjani]] (1395)
* [[Bogdanovica]] (348)
* [[Brezovica (Ub)|Brezovica]] (668)
* [[Brgule]] (1235)
* [[Crvena Jabuka (Ub)|Crvena Jabuka]] (631)
* [[Čučuge]] (463)
* [[Dokmir]] (558)
* [[Gunjevac]] (497)
* [[Gvozdenović, Ub|Gvozdenović]] (468)
* [[Joševa (Ub)|Joševa]] (455)
* [[Kalenić (Ub)|Kalenić]] (888)
* [[Kalinovac (Ub)|Kalinovac]] (480)
* [[Kožuar]] (708)
* [[Kršna Glava]] (221)
* [[Liso Polje]] (278)
* [[Lončanik]] (551)
* [[Milorci]] (407)
* [[Murgaš (Ub)]] (559)
* [[Novaci (Ub)|Novaci]] (879)
* [[Paljuvi]] (769)
* [[Pambukovica]] (1173)
* [[Radljevo]] (607)
* [[Raduša (Ub)|Raduša]] (297)
* [[Ruklada]] (372)
* [[Šarbane]] (545)
* [[Slatina (Ub)|Slatina]] (413)
* [[Sovljak (Ub)|Sovljak]] (1933)
* [[Stublenica]] (999)
* [[Takovo (Ub)|Takovo]] (979)
* [[Trlić]] (1020)
* [[Trnjaci (Ub)|Trnjaci]] (909)
* [[Tulari]] (945)
* [[Tvrdojevac]] (402)
* [[Vrelo (Ub)|Vrelo]] (1684)
* [[Vrhovine (Ub)|Vrhovine]] (552)
* [[Vukona]] (262)
* [[Zvizdar]] (536)
{{Divcolend}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|37894 |1953|39186 |1961|38648 |1971|37512 |1981|36259 |1991|34593 |2002|32104 |2011|29101
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
}}
According to the 2011 census results, the municipality of Ub has 29,101 inhabitants. Of these, the urban settlement of Ub has a population of 6,164 inhabitants, while the other settlements have a range of population. The larger villages are Banjani, Vrelo, Takovo, Pambukovica and Sovljak.

===Ethnic groups===
In addition to Serbs who make up almost 95% of the population, there were also significant [[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]] community with 3.8% of total population. The ethnic composition of the municipality:<ref>{{cite web|title=Population by ethnicity and sex, by municipalities and cities|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia|access-date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|27,525
|94.58%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Roma]]||align="right"|1,118
|3.84%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians of Serbia|Romanians]]||align="right"|64
|0.22%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|25
|0.09%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]||align="right"|18
|0.06%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|18
|0.06%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|17
|0.06%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|316
|1.09%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|29,101
|
|}

==Education==
There are four elementary schools in the municipality, with around 2,270 students (as of 2010). Secondary education facilities in the municipality of Ub are Gymnasium "Branislav Petronijević" with 190 students and Technical School "Ub" with 448 students (as of 2010). Students profile and interests that are acquired at the end of school (grammar school is general education profile, while a secondary technical school represented sections: machine in computer design, auto mechanics, body mechanic, waiter, cook, textile worker, trade technician, dealer, locksmith, locksmith and lathe), generally meet the needs of municipalities and the environment, which confirms the high occupancy rate, which generally meet existing needs. Equipment of schools is satisfactory.

==Economy and infrastructure==
The municipality of Ub is linked through a network of regional roads, allowing a good road connection with the municipal and regional centers that surround it.

The municipality is connected through roads M-4, M-21 M-22 and M-19 with all other towns in Serbia. According to data from 2004, the total length of roads was {{convert|244|km|0|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|197|km|0|abbr=on}} of roads were surfaced with modern pavement. The road network is in good condition, and in the years to come it is planned expansion and improvement. A projected [[A2 motorway (Serbia)|Belgrade–Bar motorway]] goes through the territory of Ub. A junction is planned to be built {{convert|4|km|0|abbr=on}} from the town, in the village of [[Stublenica]], {{convert|38|km|0|abbr=on}} from Belgrade. Near this area is the projected future industrial zone Ub East.

The industrial railway is passing through the territory and serves only to economic activity and to the open pit mines Kolubara. The city of Ub is located at {{convert|6|km|0|abbr=on}} from the nearest railway station in [[Lajkovac]], on the [[Belgrade–Bar railway]].

[[Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport|Belgrade Airport "Nikola Tesla"]] is {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} away. Especially important transportation development opportunities and activities that monitor traffic can be achieved by building the Belgrade - Southern Adria highway route, which passes near the City of Ub.

The area of Ub is partially covered by a network of telecommunication facilities. According to the Republican Bureau of Statistics, in 2007 there were 8,920 land phone subscribers.

;Economic preview
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|577
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|112
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|615
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|38
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|164
|-
|Construction||align="right"|345
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|909
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|387
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|166
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|51
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|32
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|3
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|152
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|25
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|254
|-
|Education||align="right"|399
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|248
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|47
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|87
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|1,726
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''6,339'''
|}

==Mineral resources==
There are several mines and resource centers of coal ([[Radljevo]] field - 344,000,000 tones, [[Zvizdar]] field - 280,000,000 tones), clay, sand, stone and limestone.

The biggest producer of quartz sand in Serbia is "Kopovi a.d.", with overall production of over 400,000 tones per year.

Clay pits are based below the layers of sand and quartz sand. Municipality of Ub is the biggest supplier of high-quality clay in Serbia. There are more than 1,800,000 tones of clay.

==Notable people==
* [[Branislav Petronijević]], philosopher
* [[Dragan Džajić]], footballer
* [[Dušan Savić]], footballer
* [[Sreten Ninković]], track and field (marathon runner)
* [[Radosav Petrović]], footballer
* [[Nemanja Matić]], footballer

==See also==
* [[Subdivisions of Serbia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ub}}
* [http://www.opstinaub.org.rs/ Official website]

{{Municipalities of Serbia}}
{{Kolubara District}}

[[Category:Populated places in Kolubara District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Šumadija and Western Serbia]]

[[hr:Ub]]

Vlasotince

2023-06-12T18:35:05Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Власотинце|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Vlasotince
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield = COA_Vlasotince.png
| image_flag = Zastava Vlasotinca.png
| image_skyline = Vlasotince town centre1.jpg
| image_caption = Vlasotince, town centre
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Vlasotince.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Vlasotince within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|42|58|N|22|08|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jablanica District|Jablanica]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 48
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 15.91
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 308
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 234
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 15,830
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 29,669
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 16210
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)16
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = VL
| website = {{url|http://vlasotince.rs/}}
}}
[[File:Vlasotince polje.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Panoramic view on Vlasotince]]
'''Vlasotince''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Власотинце}}) is a town and municipality located in [[Jablanica District]] of southern Serbia. As of 2011, the municipality has 29,669 inhabitants, while the town itself has a population of 15,830 inhabitants.

==History==
According to Turkish records, the town existed in the 15th century as a Turkish administrative center. After the Turks were forced out of Serbia, locals started growing wine grapes as a kind of complementary business to their building activities. They made Vlasotince the number one wine region in the former [[Yugoslavia]] and furthermore the biggest wine exporter in the [[Balkans]]. The craftsmanship and building skills of workers and builders from this region were appreciated in the former Yugoslavia and its surrounding neighbours until the [[Yugoslav Wars]].

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Vlasotince, the municipality includes the following settlements:
{|
|- valign=top
|
* [[Aleksine]]
* [[Batulovce]]
* [[Boljare]]
* [[Borin Do]]
* [[Brezovica (Vlasotince)|Brezovica]]
* [[Gložane (Vlasotince)|Gložane]]
* [[Gornja Lomnica (Vlasotince)|Gornja Lomnica]]
* [[Gornja Lopušnja]]
* [[Gornji Dejan]]
* [[Gornji Orah]]
* [[Gornji Prisjan]]
* [[Gradište (Vlasotince)|Gradište]]
|
* [[Gunjetina]]
* [[Dadince]]
* [[Dobroviš]]
* [[Donja Lomnica (Vlasotince)|Donja Lomnica]]
* [[Donja Lopušnja]]
* [[Donje Gare]]
* [[Donji Dejan]]
* [[Donji Prisjan]]
* [[Zlatićevo]]
* [[Javorje (Vlasotince)|Javorje]]
* [[Jakovljevo]]
* [[Jastrebac (Vlasotince)|Jastrebac]]
|
* [[Kozilo]]
* [[Komarica]]
* [[Konopnica (Vlasotince)|Konopnica]]
* [[Kruševica (Vlasotince)|Kruševica]]
* [[Kukavica (Vlasotince)|Kukavica]]
* [[Ladovica]]
* [[Lipovica (Vlasotince)|Lipovica]]
* [[Orašje (Vlasotince)|Orašje]]
* [[Ostrc]]
* [[Pržojne]]
* [[Prilepac]]
* [[Ravna Gora (Vlasotince)|Ravna Gora]]
|
* [[Ravni Del (Vlasotince)|Ravni Del]]
* [[Samarnica]]
* [[Svođe]]
* [[Skrapež]]
* [[Sredor]]
* [[Stajkovce]]
* [[Stranjevo]]
* [[Tegošnica]]
* [[Crna Bara (Vlasotince)|Crna Bara]]
* [[Crnatovo]]
* [[Šišava]]
|}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|33845 |1953|35224 |1961|35625 |1971|36022 |1981|35863 |1991|34302 |2002|33312 |2011|29893
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>
}}

According to the 2011 census results, the municipality of Vlasotince has a population of 29,893 inhabitants.

===Ethnic groups===
The ethnic composition of the municipality:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|28,613
|97.54%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]||align="right"|691
|2.36%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians of Serbia|Romanians]]||align="right"|10
|0.03%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bulgarians in Serbia|Bulgarians]]||align="right"|5
|0.02%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Gorani people|Gorani]]||align="right"|3
|0.01%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Russians]]||align="right"|2
|0.01%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|12
|0.04%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|29,893
|
|}

==Economy==
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|46
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|34
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|2,446
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|23
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|131
|-
|Construction||align="right"|780
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|810
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|119
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|194
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|19
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|33
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|2
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|152
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|48
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|272
|-
|Education||align="right"|452
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|351
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|87
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|95
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|334
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''6,429'''
|}

==Notable people==
* Aleksandar Davinić, journalist
* [[Bogoljub Mitić Đoša]], actor and comedian
* [[Nenad Filipović (racewalker)|Nenad Filipović]], athletics
* [[Predrag Filipović (racewalker)|Predrag Filipović]], athletics
* [[Slaviša Stojanović]], football coach
* Tihomir Stanojević, police commander
* Borivoje Šurdilović (Šurda), the main character of [[Vruć vetar]]

==See also==
*[[Subdivisions of Serbia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Vlasotince}}
* {{Official website|http://vlasotince.rs/}}

{{Vlasotince}}
{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vlasotince| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Jablanica District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]

Medveđa

2023-06-12T18:33:05Z

94.140.246.27:

{{other places}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Medveđa
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Медвеђа|italics=off}} {{native name|sq|Medvegja|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| other_name =
| official_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_flag = Flag of Medveđa.jpg
| image_shield = COA Medveđa.png
| image_skyline =
| image_caption = Medveđa.png
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Medveđa.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Medveđa within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|42|50|35|N|21|35|05|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jablanica District|Jablanica]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 44
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Dragan Kulić
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 19.82
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 524
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref><ref name="area-medvedja">{{cite web |title=Насеља општине Медвеђа |url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Registar/SlikeRegioni/Mapiranemape/CentralnaSrbija/ReMedvedja.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia |access-date=22 October 2019 |language=sr }}</ref>
| elevation_m = 440
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2022-firstresults">{{cite web |title=Prvi rezultati Popisa stanovništva, domaćinstava i stanova 2022. |url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2022/HtmlL/G20221350.html |website=stat.gov.rs |access-date=16 February 2023 |language=Serbian |date=21 December 2022 |quote=d}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 =
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 6,438
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 16240
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)16
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = LE
| website = {{url|www.medvedja.org.rs}}
}}
{{Medvedja Labelled Map}}
'''Medveđa''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Медвеђа}}, {{IPA-sh|ˈmɛdvɛdʑa|pron}}; {{lang-sq|Medvegja}}, {{IPA-sq|ˈmedveɟa|pron}}) is a [[List of cities in Serbia|town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]] located in the [[Jablanica District]] of southern [[Serbia]]. As of 2022 census, the municipality has a population of 6,438 inhabitants.<ref name="census2022-firstresults" />

==Etymology==
The name is derived from the [[Serbian language|Serbian]] word ''medved'' (медвед), "bear", hence meaning "the place of the bears".{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

==History==
During the Roman period, there was a town (''mansia'') with the name '''Idimum''' located in the cadastral area of the modern town. Architectural debris dating to the 4th century AD lay at various locations of the town, as it was a transitory zone of Upper Moesia; travel and postal stations are among the finds.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=147 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006073900/http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=147 |archive-date=2011-10-06 |title=Archaeology }}</ref>

Toponyms such as ''Arbanaška'' and ''Đjake'' shows an Albanian presence in the Toplica and Southern Morava regions (located north-east of contemporary Kosovo) before [[The Expulsion of Albanians 1877–1878|the expulsion of Albanians during 1877–1878 period]].<ref>Uka, Sabit (2004). ''Jeta dhe veprimtaria e shqiptarëve të Sanxhakut të Nishit deri më 1912 [Life and activity of Albanians in the Sanjak of Nish up to 1912]''. Verana. pp. 244–245. {{ISBN|9789951864527}}. "Eshtë, po ashtu, me peshë historike një shënim i M. Gj Miliçeviqit, i cili bën fjalë përkitazi me Ivan Begun. ''Ivan Begu'', sipas tij ishte pjesëmarrës në Luftën e Kosovës 1389. Në mbështetje të vendbanimit të tij, ''Ivan'' Kullës, fshati emërtohet ''Ivan Kulla'' (Kulla e Ivanit), që gjendet në mes të Kurshumlisë dhe Prokuplës. M. Gj. Miliçeviqi thotë: "Shqiptarët e ruajten fshatin Ivan Kullë (1877–1878) dhe nuk lejuan që të shkatërrohet ajo". Ata, shqiptaret e Ivan Kullës (1877–1878) i thanë M. Gj. Miliçeviqit se janë aty që nga para Luftës se Kosovës (1389). [12] Dhe treguan që trupat e arrave, që ndodhen aty, ata i pat mbjellë Ivan beu. Atypari, në malin Gjakë, nodhet kështjella që i shërbeu Ivanit (Gjonit) dhe shqiptarëve për t’u mbrojtur. Aty ka pasur gjurma jo vetëm nga shekulli XIII dhe XIV, por edhe të shekullit XV ku vërehen gjurmat mjaft të shumta toponimike si fshati ''Arbanashka'', lumi ''Arbanashka'', mali ''Arbanashka'', fshati ''Gjakë'', mali ''Gjakë'' e tjerë. [13] Në shekullin XVI përmendet lagja shqiptare Pllanë jo larg Prokuplës. [14] Ne këtë shekull përmenden edhe shqiptarët katolike në qytetin Prokuplë, në Nish, në Prishtinë dhe në Bulgari.[15].... [12] M. Đj. Miličević. ''Kralevina Srbije, Novi Krajevi''. Beograd, 1884: 354. "Kur flet mbi fshatin Ivankullë cekë se banorët shqiptarë ndodheshin aty prej Betejës së Kosovës 1389. Banorët e Ivankullës në krye me Ivan Begun jetojnë aty prej shek. XIV dhe janë me origjinë shqiptare. Shqiptarët u takojnë të tri konfesioneve, por shumica e tyre i takojnë atij musliman, mandej ortodoks dhe një pakicë i përket konfesionit katolik." [13] ''Oblast Brankovića, Opširni katastarski popis iz 1455 godine'', përgatitur nga M. Handžic, H. Hadžibegić i E. Kovačević, Sarajevo, 1972: 216. [14] Skënder Rizaj, T,K "Perparimi" i vitit XIX, Prishtinë 1973: 57.[15] Jovan M. Tomić, ''O Arnautima u Srbiji, Beograd'', 1913: 13. [It is, as such, of historic weight in a footnote of M. Đj. Miličević, who says a few words regarding Ivan Beg. Ivan Beg, according to him participated in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. In support of his residence, Ivan Kula, the village was named Ivan Kula (Tower of Ivan), located in the middle of Kuršumlija and Prokuple. M. Đj. Miličević says: "Albanians safeguarded the village Ivan Kula (1877–1878) and did not permit its destruction." Those Albanians of Ivan Kulla (1877–1878) told M.Đj. Miličević that they have been there since before the Kosovo War (1389). And they showed where the bodies of the walnut trees were, that Ivan Bey had planted. Then there to Mount Đjake, is the castle that served Ivan (John) and Albanians used to defend themselves. There were traces not only from the XIII and XIV centuries, but the XV century where we see fairly multiple toponymic traces like the village Arbanaška, river Arbanaška, mountain Arbanaška, village Đjake, mountain Đjake and others. In the sixteenth century mentioned is the Albanian neighborhood Plana not far from Prokuple. [14] In this century is mentioned also Catholic Albanians in the town of Prokuplje, Niš, Priština and in Bulgaria.[15].... [12] M. Đj. Miličević. Kralevina Srbije, Novi Krajevi. Beograd, 1884: 354. When speaking about the village Ivankula, its residents state that Albanians were there from the Battle of Kosovo in 1389. Residents of Ivankula headed by Ivan Beg are living there since the XIV century and they are of Albanian origin. Albanians belong to three religions, but most of them belong to the Muslim one, after Orthodoxy and then a minority belongs to the Catholic confession. [13] Oblast Brankovića, Opširni katastarski popis iz 1455 godine, përgatitur nga M. Handžic, H. Hadžibegić i E. Kovačević, Sarajevo, 1972: 216. [14] Skënder Rizaj, T,K "Perparimi" i vitit XIX, Prishtinë 1973: 57. [15] Jovan M. Tomić, O Arnautima u Srbiji, Beograd, 1913: 13.]"</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Formation of a Diasporic Community: The History of Migration and Resettlement of Muslim Albanians in the Black Sea Region of Turkey: Middle Eastern Studies: Vol 45, No 4 |journal= Middle Eastern Studies|volume= 45|issue= 4|pages= 556–557|quote= Using secondary sources, we establish that there have been Albanians living in the area of Nish for at least 500 years, that the Ottoman Empire controlled the area from the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries which led to many Albanians converting to Islam, that the Muslim Albanians of Nish were forced to leave in 1878, and that at that time most of these Nishan Albanians migrated south into Kosovo, although some went to Skopje in Macedonia. ; p. 557. It is generally believed that the Albanians in Samsun Province are the descendants of the migrants and refugees from Kosovo who arrived in Turkey during the wars of 1912–13. Based on our research in Samsun Province, we argue that this information is partial and misleading. The interviews we conducted with the Albanian families and community leaders in the region and the review of Ottoman history show that part of the Albanian community in Samsun was founded through three stages of successive migrations. The first migration involved the forced removal of Muslim Albanians from the Sancak of Nish in 1878; the second migration occurred when these migrants’ children fled from the massacres in Kosovo in 1912–13 to Anatolia; and the third migration took place between 1913 and 1924 from the scattered villages in Central Anatolia where they were originally placed to the Samsun area in the Black Sea Region. Thus, the Albanian community founded in the 1920s in Samsun was in many ways a reassembling of the demolished Muslim Albanian community of Nish…. Our interviews indicate that Samsun Albanians descend from Albanians who had been living in the villages around the city of Nish… pp. 557–558. In 1690 much of the population of the city and surrounding area was killed or fled, and there was an emigration of Albanians from the Malësia e Madhe (North Central Albania/Eastern Montenegro) and Dukagjin Plateau (Western Kosovo) into Nish.|doi=10.1080/00263200903009619 |year = 2009|last1 = Geniş|first1 = Şerife|last2= Maynard|first2= Kelly Lynne|s2cid= 143742189}}</ref>
The rural parts of [[Jablanica (river)|Jablanica]] valley and adjoining semi-mountainous interior was inhabited by compact Muslim Albanian population while Serbs in those areas lived near the river mouths and mountain slopes and both peoples inhabited other regions of the South Morava river basin.{{sfn|Jagodić|1998|loc= para. 4, 9, 32–42, 45–61}}<ref name=Lukovic2011>Luković, Miloš (2011). "[https://www.jstor.org/stable/42640413?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents Development of the Modern Serbian state and abolishment of Ottoman Agrarian relations in the 19th century]". ''Český lid''. '''98'''. (3): 298. "During the second war (December 1877 — January 1878) the Muslim population fled towns (Vranya (Vranje), Leskovac, Ürgüp (Prokuplje), Niş (Niš), Şehirköy (Pirot), etc.) as well as rural settlements where they comprised ethnically compact communities (certain parts of Toplica, Jablanica, Pusta Reka, Masurica and other regions in the South Morava River basin). At the end of the war these Muslim refugees ended up in the region of Kosovo and Metohija, in the territory of the Ottoman Empire, following the demarcation of the new border with the Principality of Serbia. [38] [38] On Muslim refugees (''muhaciri'') from the regions of southeast Serbia, who relocated in Macedonia and Kosovo, see Trifunovski 1978, Radovanovič 2000."</ref><ref>Bataković, Dušan T. (2007). Kosovo and Metohija: living in the enclave. Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Institute for Balkan Studies. p. 35. Retrieved 22 June 2011. "Prior to the Second Serbo-Ottoman War (1877-78), Albanians were the majority population in some areas of Sanjak of Nis (Toplica region), while from the Serb majority district of Vranje Albanian-inhabited villages were emptied after the 1877-1878 war"</ref> As the wider Jabllanica region, Medveđa also had an Albanian majority. These Albanians were expelled by Serbian forces<ref name=Turovic2002>{{cite book|last=Turović|first=Dobrosav|title=Gornja Jablanica, Kroz istoriju|year=2002|publisher=Beograd Zavičajno udruženje|pages=87–89}}</ref><ref name=Uka2004gjur>Uka, Sabit (2004). ''Gjurmë mbi shqiptarët e Sanxhakut të Nishit deri më 1912 [Traces on Albanians of the Sanjak of Nish up to 1912]''. Verana. p. 155. {{ISBN|9789951864527}}. "Në kohët e sotme fshatra të Jabllanicës, të banuara kryesisht me shqiptare, janë këto: Tupalla, Kapiti, Gërbavci, Sfirca, Llapashtica e Epërrne. Ndërkaq, fshatra me popullsi te përzier me shqiptar, malazezë dhe serbë, jane këto: Stara Banja, Ramabanja, Banja e Sjarinës, Gjylekreshta (Gjylekari), Sijarina dhe qendra komunale Medvegja. Dy familje shqiptare ndeshen edhe në Iagjen e Marovicës, e quajtur Sinanovë, si dhe disa familje në vetë qendrën e Leskovcit. Vllasa është zyrtarisht lagje e fshatit Gërbavc, Dediqi, është lagje e Medvegjes dhe Dukati, lagje e Sijarinës. Në popull konsiderohen edhe si vendbanime të veçanta. Kështu qendron gjendja demografike e trevës në fjalë, përndryshe para Luftës se Dytë Botërore Sijarina dhe Gjylekari ishin fshatra me populisi të perzier, bile në këtë te fundit ishin shumë familje serbe, kurse tani shumicën e përbëjnë shqiptarët. [In contemporary times, villages in the Jablanica area, inhabited mainly by Albanians, are these: Tupale, Kapiti, Grbavce, Svirca, Gornje Lapaštica. Meanwhile, the mixed villages populated by Albanians, Montenegrins and Serbs, are these: Stara Banja, Ravna Banja, Sjarinska Banja, Đulekrešta (Đulekari) Sijarina and the municipal center Medveđa. Two Albanian families are also encountered in the neighborhood of Marovica called Sinanovo, and some families in the center of Leskovac. Vllasa is formally a neighborhood of the village Grbavce, Dedići is a neighborhood of Medveđa and Dukati, a neighborhood of Sijarina. So this is the demographic situation in question that remains, somewhat different before World War II as Sijarina and Đulekari were villages with mixed populations, even in this latter settlement were many Serb families, and now the majority is made up of Albanians.]"</ref><ref name=Blumi2013>Blumi, Isa (2013). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=nTKaAAAAQBAJ Ottoman refugees, 1878–1939: migration in a post-imperial world]''. A&C Black. p.50. {{ISBN|9781472515384}}. "As these Niš refugees waited for acknowledgment from locals, they took measures to ensure that they were properly accommodated by often confiscating food stored in towns. They also simply appropriated lands and began to build shelter on them. A number of cases also point to banditry in the form of livestock raiding and "illegal" hunting in communal forests, all parts of refugees’ repertoire... At this early stage of the crisis, such actions overwhelmed the Ottoman state, with the institution least capable of addressing these issues being the newly created Muhacirin Müdüriyeti... Ignored in the scholarship, these acts of survival by desperate refugees constituted a serious threat to the established Kosovar communities. The leaders of these communities thus spent considerable efforts lobbying the Sultan to do something about the refugees. While these Niš muhacir would in some ways integrate into the larger regional context, as evidenced later, they, and a number of other Albanian-speaking refugees streaming in for the next 20 years from Montenegro and Serbia, constituted a strong opposition block to the Sultan’s rule."; p.53. "One can observe that in strategically important areas, the new Serbian state purposefully left the old Ottoman laws intact. More important, when the state wished to enforce its authority, officials felt it necessary to seek the assistance of those with some experience, using the old Ottoman administrative codes to assist judges make rulings. There still remained, however, the problem of the region being largely depopulated as a consequence of the wars... Belgrade needed these people, mostly the landowners of the productive farmlands surrounding these towns, back. In subsequent attempts to lure these economically vital people back, while paying lip-service to the nationalist calls for "purification," Belgrade officials adopted a compromise position that satisfied both economic rationalists who argued that Serbia needed these people and those who wanted to separate "Albanians" from "Serbs." Instead of returning to their "mixed" villages and towns of the previous Ottoman era, these "Albanians," "Pomoks," and "Turks" were encouraged to move into concentrated clusters of villages in Masurica, and Gornja Jablanica that the Serbian state set up for them. For this "repatriation" to work, however, authorities needed the cooperation of local leaders to help persuade members of their community who were refugees in Ottoman territories to "return." In this regard, the collaboration between Shahid Pasha and the Serbian regime stands out. An Albanian who commanded the Sofia barracks during the war, Shahid Pasha negotiated directly with the future king of Serbia, Prince Milan Obrenović, to secure the safety of those returnees who would settle in the many villages of Gornja Jablanica. To help facilitate such collaborative ventures, laws were needed that would guarantee the safety of these communities likely to be targeted by the rising nationalist elements infiltrating the Serbian army at the time. Indeed, throughout the 1880s, efforts were made to regulate the interaction between exiled Muslim landowners and those local and newly immigrant farmers working their lands. Furthermore, laws passed in early 1880 began a process of managing the resettlement of the region that accommodated those refugees who came from Austrian-controlled Herzegovina and from Bulgaria. Cooperation, in other words, was the preferred form of exchange within the borderland, not violent confrontation."</ref> in a way that today would be characterized as [[ethnic cleansing]].<ref name = Muller>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1163/187633009x411485| title=Orientalism and Nation: Jews and Muslims as Alterity in Southeastern Europe in the Age of Nation-States, 1878–1941| journal=East Central Europe| volume=36| pages=63–99| year=2009| last1=Müller| first1=Dietmar}}</ref> Due to depopulation and economic considerations some small numbers of Albanians were allowed to stay and return though not to their previous settlements and instead were designated concentrated village clusters in the Toplica, Masurica and Jablanica areas.<ref name=Blumi2013/> Of those only in the Jablanica valley centered around the town of Medveđa have small numbers of Albanians and their descendants remained.<ref name=Turovic2002/><ref name="Uka2004gjur"/> This was due to a local Ottoman Albanian commander Sahit Pasha from the Jablanica area negotiating on good terms with Prince Milan and thereby guaranteeing their presence.<ref name="Turovic2002"/><ref name="Blumi2013"/>

===Yugoslavia (1918–92)===

Already in 1900, a group of prominent residents of the Upper Jablanica region officially applied to the government for Medveđa to be declared a town (''varoš''). They also asked for the settlement to be renamed to Dubočica. Only after the fourth try by the local population, Medveđa was declared ''varošica'' ("small town") by King [[Alexander I of Yugoslavia]] on 31 December 1921.<ref>{{cite news | author = Danilo Kocić | script-title=sr: Највећи проблем Медвеђе су путеви | trans-title = Medveđa's main problem are roads | newspaper = [[Politika]] | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 28 August 2019}}</ref>

The [[World War II]] hit the town in 1941. [[Yugoslav Partisans]] took the town back in 1944 and killed around 200 people.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hart|first1=Stephan|title=Partisans: War in the Balkans 1941 - 1945|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwtwo/partisan_fighters_01.shtml|website=BBC}}</ref> From 1945 until 1992, the municipality of Medveđa was part of [[SFR Yugoslavia]].

===Breakup of Yugoslavia (1991–99)===
[[Image:Kosovo uranium NATO bombing1999.png|thumb|right|200px|Sites near Medveđa where NATO aviation used munition with depleted uranium during 1999 bombing]]
In 1992, the [[Albanians in Serbia|Albanians]] in the area organized a [[referendum]] in which they voted that Medveđa, [[Preševo]] and [[Bujanovac]] should join the self-declared assembly of the [[Republic of Kosova]]. However, no major events happened until the end of the 1990s.

Following the [[breakup of Yugoslavia]], and nearby [[Kosovo War]] which lasted until 1999, between 1999 and 2001, an ethnic Albanian [[paramilitary]] separatist organization, the [[Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac|UÇPMB]], raised an armed [[insurgency in the Preševo Valley]], in the region mostly inhabited by Albanians, with a goal to occupy these three municipalities from Serbia and join them to the self-proclaimed [[Republic of Kosova]]. The insurgency was less present in Medveđa than in other two municipalities, due to a small number of ethnic Albanians and minor importance.

Western countries condemned the attacks and described it as the "extremism" and use of "illegal terrorist actions" by the group.<ref name="Staf2003">{{cite book|author=European Centre for Minority Issues Staf|title=European Yearbook of Minority Issues: 2001/2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rkz7lvqGpDkC&pg=PA652|date=1 January 2003|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|isbn=978-90-411-1956-8|pages=652–}}</ref> Following the [[overthrow of Slobodan Milošević]], the new Serbian government suppressed the violence by 2001 and defeated the separatists. [[NATO]] troops also helped the Serbian government by ensuring that the rebels do not import the conflicts back into Kosovo.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lobjakas|first1=Ahto|title=NATO: Yugoslav Officials Discuss Presevo Valley|url=http://www.rferl.org/a/1095751.html|access-date=22 April 2017|work=rferl.org|publisher=Radio Free Europe / Liberty}}</ref> Thereafter, the situation has stabilized even though large number of forces exist in this small municipality.

In 2009, Serbia opened a military base [[Cepotina]] 5 kilometers south of Bujanovac, to further stabilize the area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Otvorena baza na jugu Srbije|url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2009&mm=11&dd=23&nav_id=394131|access-date=6 March 2017|work=b92.net|agency=Beta|date=23 November 2009|language=sr}}</ref>

===Modern===
Today, Medveđa is located in the [[Jablanica District]] of southern Serbia. On 26 November 2017, the [[President of Albania]] [[Ilir Meta]] made a historical visit to Medveđa, municipality with [[Albanians in Serbia|Albanian]] ethnic minority.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mitić|first1=I.|title=Ilir Meta u Medveđi: Posetom šalje poruku o saradnji|url=http://www.novosti.rs/vesti/naslovna/politika/aktuelno.289.html:697852-Albanski-predsednik-privatno-u-Medvedji|access-date=27 November 2017|work=novosti.rs|date=26 November 2017|language=sr}}</ref>

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Medveđa, the municipality includes the following settlements:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Bogunovac]]
* [[Borovac, Medveđa|Borovac]]
* [[Varadin]]
* [[Velika Braina]]
* [[Vrapce, Medveđa|Vrapce]]
* [[Gazdare]]
* [[Gornja Lapaštica]]
* [[Gornji Bučumet]]
* [[Gornji Gajtan]]
* [[Grbavce]]
* [[Gubavce]]
* [[Gurgutovo]]
* [[Donji Bučumet]]
* [[Donji Gajtan]]
* [[Đulekare]]
* [[Kapit, Medveđa|Kapit]]
* [[Lece]]
* [[Mala Braina]]
* [[Marovac]]
* [[Maćedonce]]
* [[Maćedonce (Retkocersko)]]
* [[Medevce]]
* [[Mrkonje]]
* [[Negosavlje]]
* [[Petrilje]]
* [[Poroštica (Medveđa)|Poroštica]]
* [[Pusto Šilovo]]
* [[Ravna Banja]]
* [[Retkocer]]
* [[Rujkovac]]
* [[Svirce (Medveđa)|Svirce]]
* [[Sijarina]]
* [[Sijarinska Banja]]
* [[Sponce]]
* [[Srednji Bučumet]]
* [[Stara Banja]]
* [[Stubla (Medveđa)|Stubla]]
* [[Tulare, Medveđa|Tulare]]
* [[Tupale]]
* [[Crni Vrh, Medveđa|Crni Vrh]]
* [[Čokotin]]
{{col div end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|22478 |1953|24300 |1961|24244 |1971|20792 |1981|17219 |1991|13368 |2002|10760 |2011|7438 |2022|6438
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=12 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}
[[File:Medvedja karta.png|thumb|250px|Ethnic map of the Medveđa municipality (as of 2002).]]
According to the 2011 census results, the municipality of Medveđa has a population of 7,438 inhabitants. It saw a great [[Population decline|depopulation]] in the past 50 years, having nearly 25,000 inhabitants in 1961 and 7,400 fifty years later. Around 43.5% of inhabitants live in urban areas. As of 2022 census, the municipality has a population of 6,438 inhabitants.<ref name="census2022-firstresults" />

[[File:Xhamia-Sijarine(2018).jpg|thumb|240px|Mosque of Sijarina, build around 1880s.]]

===Ethnic groups===
The majority of municipality's population are [[Serbs]], numbering more than 65%. Other ethnic groups include [[Albanians in Serbia|Albanians]] who numbered 32% in 1981 and 26.2% in 2002 census. In 2011 they numbered only 7.1% as they mostly boycotted the census. The preliminary results of the 2022 census showed a total population of 8,594 inhabitants out of which 2,647 (~30%) are Albanians.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dejanović |first1=M |title=Povećan broj stanovnika u Bujanovcu i Preševu, prvi rezultati popisa pokazali da je više od 96.000 Albanaca |url=https://www.juznevesti.com/Drushtvo/Povecan-broj-stanovnika-u-Bujanovcu-i-Presevu-prvi-rezultati-popisa-pokazali-da-je-vise-od-96-000-Albanaca.sr.html |publisher=Južne vesti |date=2 November 2022}}</ref>

There are other small minorities of [[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]] and [[Romani people in Serbia|Roma people]]. The ethnic composition of the municipality:
{|class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population 1961<ref>{{cite web|title=Knjiga III: Nacionalni sastav stanovništva FNR Jugoslavije (1961) |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1961/Pdf/G19614001.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku |access-date=3 March 2015 |language=sr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220213157/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1961/Pdf/G19614001.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2013 }}</ref>
! Population 1971<ref>{{cite web|title=Knjiga III: Nacionalni sastav stanovništva FNR Jugoslavije (1971) |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1971/Pdf/G19714001.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku |access-date=3 March 2015 |language=sr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085417/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1971/pdf/G19714001.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>
! Population 1981<ref name=1981popis>{{cite web|title=Nacionalni sastav stanovništva SFR Jugoslavije (1981) |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1981/Pdf/G19814001.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku |access-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040602/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1981/Pdf/G19814001.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>
! Population 1991<ref name=1991popis>{{cite web|title=STANOVNIŠTVO PREMA NACIONALNOJ PRIPADNOSTI (1991) |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1991/pdf/G19914021.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku |access-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194932/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G1991/pdf/G19914021.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref>
! Population 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=Popis stanovnistva, domacinstava i stanova u 2002 |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G2002/pdf/G20024001.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |access-date=3 March 2015 |language=sr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014102450/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/G2002/pdf/G20024001.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2013 }}</ref>
! Population 2011<ref>{{cite web|title=Попис становништва, домаћинстава и станова 2011. у Републици Србији |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku |access-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811224233/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2014 }}</ref>
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]
|align="right"|18,956
|align="right"|13,002
|align="right"|9,654
|align="right"|8,194
|align="right"|7,163
|align="right"|6,429
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Albanians in Serbia|Albanians]]
|align="right"|5,037
|align="right"|5,410
|align="right"|5,509
|align="right"|3,832
|align="right"|2,816
|align="right"|527
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]
|align="right"|110
|align="right"|2,127
|align="right"|1,700
|align="right"|1,011
|align="right"|372
|align="right"|143
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]
|align="right"|36
|align="right"|52
|align="right"|83
|align="right"|119
|align="right"|108
|align="right"|145
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]
|align="right"|6
|align="right"|14
|align="right"|17
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|11
|align="right"|13
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Muslims (nationality)|Muslims]]
|align="right"|61
|align="right"|19
|align="right"|56
|align="right"|16
|align="right"|4
|align="right"|4
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bulgarians in Serbia|Bulgarians]]
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|5
|align="right"|4
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]
|align="right"|1
|align="right"|68
|align="right"|145
|align="right"|67
|align="right"|2
|align="right"|-
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others
|align="right"|37
|align="right"|100
|align="right"|55
|align="right"|129
|align="right"|279
|align="right"|173
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''
|align="right"|24,244
|align="right"|20,792
|align="right"|17,219
|align="right"|13,368
|align="right"|10,760
|align="right"|7,438
|}

==Economy==
The municipality of Medveđa is one of the least developed municipalities in Serbia. It has many natural advantages for tourism development, as it is in the vicinity of a spa resort with dozens of mineral springs in [[Sijarinska Banja]], [[Stara Banja]] and Tulare.

On its territory there are mineral resources for mining, semi-precious stones and marble-onyx. The most promising branch of industry is mining, having mine and flotation "Lece", within the ''Group Farmakom''. It has also solid prospects for development in agriculture and industries such as livestock (sheep, goats, cows) and fruit (plums, pears, apples, quince), also the timber industry and processing.

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|30
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|398
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|42
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|10
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|48
|-
|Construction||align="right"|28
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|135
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|30
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|35
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|3
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|3
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|3
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|20
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|2
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|326
|-
|Education||align="right"|222
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|229
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|17
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|9
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|230
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''1,820'''
|}

==Politics==
Seats in the municipality parliament won in the 2012 local elections:<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kocić|first1=Danilo|title=Konačni rezultati izbora u Medveđi|url=http://www.juznevesti.com/Politika/Konacni-rezultati-izbora-u-Medvedji.sr.html|access-date=2 June 2015|work=juznevesti.com|date=26 June 2012|language=sr}}</ref>
* Group of Citizens "For North Jablanica" (16)
* Party for Democratic Action (6)
* [[Democratic Party (Serbia)|Democratic Party]] (6)
* [[United Regions of Serbia]] (4)
* [[Serbian Progressive Party]] (3)

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Spomenik u Medvedji.jpg|''Monument in town center''
File:Medvedja.jpg|''Town streets''
File:Svirca-Medvegjë(2017).jpg|''[[Svirce (Medveđa)|Svirce]] in 2017''
File:Svirca foto.jpg|''Albanian language school and police station in Svirce''
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[Idriz Ajeti]], Albanian historian
* [[Astrit Ajdarević]], Albanian-Swedish football player
* [[Dušan Spasojević]], deceased head of the [[Zemun clan]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Medveđa}}
* {{official website|http://www.medvedja.org.rs/}}

{{Medveđa}}
{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Medveda}}
[[Category:Medveđa| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Jablanica District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
[[Category:Albanian communities in Serbia]]

Crna Trava

2023-06-12T18:30:22Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Црна Трава|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Crna Trava
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Village]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield =
| image_flag = Flag of Cnra Trava.png
| image_skyline = Crna Trava, varošica.JPG
| image_caption = View on Crna Trava
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Crna Trava.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Crna Trava within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{Coord|42|48|36.53|N|22|17|56.43|E|type:landmark|display=title, inline}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jablanica District|Jablanica]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 25
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Slavoljub Blagojević ([[Strength of Serbia Movement|PSS]])
| area_blank1_title = Village
| area_blank1_km2 = 12.23
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 312
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 964
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 452
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 1063
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 16215
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)16
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = LE
| website = {{url|http://www.opstinacrnatrava.org.rs/}}
}}

'''Crna Trava''' ({{lang-sr-Cyr|Црна Трава}}, {{IPA-sh|tsr̩̂ːnaː trǎːʋa|pron}}) is a village and municipality located in the [[Jablanica District]] of southern Serbia. According to 2011 census, the population of the village is 434 inhabitants, while population of the municipality is 1,663. This is the smallest by population and poorest municipality in Serbia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=10&dd=18&nav_id=70355 |title=B92 - News - Unemployment, poverty on rise in Serbia |access-date=2010-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022024941/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/society-article.php?yyyy=2010&mm=10&dd=18&nav_id=70355 |archive-date=2010-10-22 }}</ref>

Crna Trava is famous for its migrant builders, who are considered the best in the region and are colloquially described as "building half of [[Yugoslavia]]".<ref name=crnotravka>{{cite news | author = Danilo Kocić | title = Spomenik Crnotravki | trans-title = Monument to the woman of Crna Trava | newspaper = Politika | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 7–8 April 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/401476/Pogledi/Spomenik-Crnotravki}}</ref><ref name=neimar>{{cite news | author = Daliborka Mučibabić | script-title=sr: Црнотравац неимар у Чубурском парку | trans-title = Crna Trava builder in Čubura Park | newspaper = Politika | page = 15 | language = sr | date = 14 June 2019}}</ref>

== Name ==

The name of the village in [[Serbian language|Serbian]] translates to ''Black Grass''. According to the local myth, the origin of the name dates back to 1389, when [[Battle of Kosovo]] took place. A Serbian reserve army unit, composed of Serbian archers and cavaliers, decided to take a rest on a grass field of Vilin Lug ("Fairy Grove") while travelling to the battlefield.<ref name="Politika">{{Citation | author = Slavica Stuparušić | title = Duga kao vesnik obnove Manastirišta | newspaper = [[Politika]]-Magazin No. 1037 | pages = 22–24 | language = sr | date = 13 August 2017 }}</ref> Since the flowers and other herbs covering the field were highly poisonous, the soldiers became intoxicated, thereby they did not wake up on time for the battle. Realizing that fact, they cursed the grass that poisoned them, branding it ''"black"'' grass. However, there is no historical trace of how the settlement got its name. Variant "Kara Kas" (Turkish for black grass) appeared during the Ottoman period.<ref name=magazin>{{cite news | author = Danilo Kocić | script-title=sr: Некад беше Вилин Луг | trans-title = Once there was a Fairy Grove | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1171 | pages = 20–21 | language = sr | date = 11 April 2020 }}</ref>

== Geography ==

Crna Trava is located {{convert|66|km|abbr=on}} southeast from [[Leskovac]], seat of the [[Jablanica District]]. It is situated at the mouth of the Čemernica river into the [[Vlasina (river)|Vlasina river]]. The settlement lays in the hollow between the mountains of [[Čemernik]], [[Ostrozub]] and [[Gramada (mountain)|Plana]]. The surrounding landscape is mostly untouched by the urbanization, covered with grass and thick forests which create pleasant micro-climate. The winters, however, are usually harsh in the region. The [[snowdrift]]s, especially on the Čemernik mountain, can be up to {{convert|3|m|abbr=on}} tall, cutting off the surrounding villages.<ref name=magazin/>

== History ==

[[Illyrian tribes]] inhabited the area in the 5th century BC. Romans occupied the region in the 2nd century BC and exploited the ores in the vicinity, mining for gold, iron and clay. The region of Crna Trava especially developed during the reign of [[King Milutin]] in the 13th and 14th century. The original Church of Saint Nicholas was built in that period, so as the important Crna Trava Monastery. During the reign of [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] sultan [[Suleiman the Magnificent]], the monastery was a [[metochion]] of [[Hagia Sophia]] and Crna Trava had certain benefits from that, as the region was considered a [[waqf]] so it wasn't directly ruled by the Turks as the others regions were. The monastery did not survive for long and it is not known to whom it was dedicated. It is speculated that it was located near the ''Čuka'' hill, below the ''Crni Vrh'' peak.<ref name="Politika"/>

Surveys began in 2018 and in November 2020 it was announced that the remains of some old monastery were discovered at Orlovac Hill. Remains include altar section, walls and several objects surrounding the central church, in what was apparently a vast religious complex. Some parts were covered by overgrowth, while the rest of the complex was discovered by the underground scanning. It is situated on the barely accessible location, and at an altitude of some {{convert|1,400|m|abbr=on}}, which would make it one of the highest in Serbia. Local myths kept the memory of the monastery dedicated to Saint Nicholas, like the modern one and even the cadastre books called this locality ''manastirište'' ("monastery land"). The location points to the defensive position. The proper archaeological survey will be conducted, but initial conclusions are that the supporting walls along the paths to the monastery are from the Roman period, and that the monastery itself, which likely included a settlement, originates from the 10th century.<ref>{{cite news | author = Jelena Čalija | script-title=sr: Остаци старог манастира пронађени код Црне Траве | trans-title = Remains of an old monastery discovered at Crna Trava | newspaper = Politika | page = 10 | language = sr | date = 15 November 2020}}</ref>

== Settlements ==

Aside from the village of Crna Trava, the municipality contains the following villages:
{|
|- valign=top
|
* [[Bajinci]]
* [[Bankovci (Crna Trava)|Bankovci]]
* [[Bistrica (Crna Trava)|Bistrica]]
* [[Brod (Crna Trava)|Brod]]
* [[Vus, Crna Trava|Vus]]
* [[Gornje Gare]]
* [[Gradska (Crna Trava)|Gradska]]
* [[Darkovce]]
* [[Dobro Polje (Crna Trava)|Dobro Polje]]
* [[Zlatance]]
* [[Jabukovik]]
* [[Jovanovce]]
* [[Kalna (Crna Trava)|Kalna]]
|
* [[Krivi Del]]
* [[Krstićevo]]
* [[Mlačište]]
* [[Obradovce]]
* [[Ostrozub]]
* [[Pavličina]]
* [[Preslap]]
* [[Rajčetine]]
* [[Ruplje]]
* [[Sastav Reka]]
* [[Čuka]]
|}

== Demographics ==

{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|13614 |1953|12902 |1961|12319 |1971|9672 |1981|6366 |1991|3789 |2002|2563 |2011|1663|2022|1063
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref>
}}

Crna Trava, along with the rest of [[Vlasina]] region, suffers from heavy depopulation, chiefly for economic reasons. The municipality had a population of 13,614 in 1948 and 1,339 in 2016.<ref>[http://www.citypopulation.de/php/serbia-admin.php Serbia - Administrative division: districts and municipalities]</ref> The settlement had a population of 2,798 in 1921 and 434 in 2011.

Though achieving a municipal status already in 1876 and being famous for its construction workers, Crna Trava gained a notoriety of being the most depopulated part of Serbia for decades. It is estimated that in 2017 there are 30,000 people originating from Crna Trava who today live in the capital of Serbia, [[Belgrade]].<ref name="Politika"/>

=== Ethnic groups ===

The ethnic composition of the municipality:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Ethnic group
! colspan="2" | Census 2011
! colspan="2" |Census 2022
|-
!Population
!%
!Population
!%
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |[[Serbs]]|| align="right" |1,641
|98.7
| align="right"|1,034
|97.3
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |[[Bulgarians in Serbia|Bulgarians]]|| align="right" |5
|0.30
| align="right"|1
|0.01
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |[[Gorani people|Gorani]]|| align="right" |3
|0.18
| align="right"|..
|..
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |[[Russians]]|| align="right" |2
|0.12
| align="right"|1
|0.01
|-
| style="background:#F5F5DC;" |Others|| align="right" |12
|0.72
| align="right"|27
|2.54
|-
| style="background:#F0F0F0;" |'''Total'''|| align="right" |1,663
|
| align="right"|1,063
|
|}

== Economy ==

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=29 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|29
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|-
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|32
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|8
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|7
|-
|Construction||align="right"|434
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|18
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|7
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|1
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|9
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|-
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|-
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|13
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|-
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|68
|-
|Education||align="right"|67
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|44
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|2
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|6
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|14
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''761'''
|}

=== Builders ===

Crna Trava is famous for its [[construction workers]]. For decades they travelled through Serbia and Yugoslavia, worked on the construction sites and the male variant of the [[demonym]], ''Crnotravac'' (plural ''Crnotravci''), became a synonym for a good builder. Many companies bare that name, even though they are not located in Crna Trava.<ref name=crnotravka/> They became known as ''dunđeri'' (singular ''dunđer''; after Turkish ''dülger'' [from Persian ''durūger''] meaning builder) and the word in time entered Serbian language as a synonym for builder.<ref name=magazin/>

''Crnotravci'' excelled in all types of construction works, like carpentry or bricklaying. For the most part they were self-educated, passing the skills from generation to generation. The craft originated from the Ottoman period, when there several metal mines, including iron and lead. Local residents began to construct the facilities needed to treat the ore and extract metals, and then began building houses for themselves. In the first half of the 19th century, the Ottoman allowed the Serbs to restore damaged and build new churches so the builders from Crna Trava began to migrate and work on construction sites. Originally, they spread in the surrounding, southern region ([[Vlasotince]], [[Leskovac]], [[Niš]], [[Aleksinac]]), but then they began to move to central and northern part of Serbia ([[Paraćin]], [[Kragujevac]], [[Belgrade]]), but also worked in [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]].<ref name=spomenik>{{cite news | author = Dimitrije Bukvić | script-title=sr: Почаст градитељима иѕ Црне Траве | trans-title = Honoring the builders from Crna Trava | newspaper = Politika | page = 8 | language = sr | date = 17 June 2019}}</ref> They arrived in Belgrade in 1820.<ref name=zena>{{cite news | author = Jovan Popović | title = Spomenik ženi Crne Trave | trans-title = Monument to the Crna Trava's woman | newspaper = Politika | page = 24 | language = sr | date = 17 February 2021 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/473143/Spomenik-zeni-Crne-Trave#!}}</ref>

They built everything, from ''[[kafana]]s'' to public and government buildings. Their central gathering point was Belgrade, where they gathered in the ''kafana'' "Kikevac" in the [[Čubura]] neighborhood. Belgrade has the oldest attested construction done by the Crnotravci: building of the kafana "Dva Jelena" in the neighborhood of [[Skadarlija]], with the surviving inscription "this building was built by the big-mustached Đorđe ''Crnotravac'' in 1832". Number of migrant workers continued to grow in the next decades, and in 1906 it was recorded that the ''Crnotravci'' made 80% of all construction workers in Belgrade.<ref name=spomenik/>

State decided to utilize the already existing craftsmanship of the population, so it organized annual building-stonecutting course in Crna Trava, from 1920 to 1926. The courses, headed by the professors and engineers from Belgrade, later grew into the State Construction-Artisan School which was operation until [[World War II]]. It was reopened in 1947 as the Secondary Construction High School, which was closed in 1956. It was then reopened again in 1964.<ref name=spomenik/>

On the location of the former "Kikevac" ''kafana'', where Čubura Park is located today, a monument dedicated to the builders was erected in June 2019. The {{convert|2.25|m|abbr=on}} tall sculpture on the stone pedestal represents nameless "Crna Trava builder" (''Crnotravac neimar''). Work of Zoran Kuzmanović, the duplicate was dedicated in Crna Trava itself.<ref name=neimar/><ref name=spomenik/>

Some of the numerous object built by the ''Crnotravci'' are:<ref name=neimar/><ref name=spomenik/>

{|
|- valign=top
|
* [[Princess Ljubica's Residence]] (1830; Belgrade)
* Kafana Dva Jelena (1832; Belgrade)
* [[Old district offices, Niš|Banovina]] (1882; Niš)
* [[Stari dvor]] (1884; Belgrade)
* [[Belgrade Main railway station]] (1884; Belgrade)
* [[National Theatre in Niš]] (1906; Niš)
* [[Hotel Moskva, Belgrade|Hotel Moskva]] (1908; Belgrade)
* [[Hotel Bristol, Belgrade|Hotel Bristol]] (1912; Belgrade)
* [[Novi dvor]] (1922; Belgrade)
* [[University of Belgrade Faculty of Philology]] (1922; Belgrade)
|
* [[Military Museum, Belgrade|Military Museum]] (1924; Belgrade)
* [[Krunski Venac#Students Polyclinic|Students Polyclinic]] (1924; Belgrade)
* [[Belgrade University Library]] (1926; Belgrade)
* [[Ministry of Finance of Serbia Building|Government of Serbia]] (1928; Belgrade)
* [[Archive of Serbia]] (1928; Belgrade)
* [[Oplenac]] (1930; [[Topola]])
* Guards Home (1931; Belgrade)
* National Bank in Bitola (1931; [[Bitola]], [[North Macedonia]])
* [[Artisans Club Building in Belgrade|Radio Belgrade]] (1933; Belgrade)
* [[Agrarian Bank Building|Historical Museum of Serbia]] (1934; Belgrade)
|
* [[Air Force Command Building, Belgrade]] (1935; [[Zemun]])
* Small Church of Saint Sava (1935; Belgrade)
* High School of Mechanical Engineering (1936; [[Sarajevo]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]])
* [[House of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia]] (1936; Belgrade)
* [[University of Belgrade Faculty of Law]] (1937; Belgrade)
* [[Royal Compound, Belgrade|Royal Compound]] (1937; Belgrade)
* Belgrade University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (1939; Belgrade)
* University Children's Clinic (1940; Belgrade)
* [[University of Belgrade Faculty of Philosophy]] (1974; Belgrade)
* [[Bizerte#Serbian Army in Bizerte 1915-1919|Memorial Ossuary in Bizerte]] ([[Bizerte]], [[Tunisia]])
|}

== Tourism ==

Tourism is not developed, even though Crna Trava is only {{convert|10|km|abbr=on}} away from the [[Lake Vlasina]]. The average altitude of the surrounding area is {{convert|1,300|m|abbr=on}} and combined with the climate, produces a clean, fresh air and the growth of the still wild grown strawberries, raspberries and blueberries so as mushrooms and herbal plants.<ref name="Politika"/> The forests are rich in [[Game (hunting)|game]] and the mountains are suitable for winter sports, but these types of tourism are not developed either.<ref name=magazin/>

=== Church of Saint Nicholas ===

The Church of Saint Nicholas was originally built during the reign of King Milutin, c. 1300, but was destroyed later. The new church was built on its foundations in 1635. In 2011 [[Eparchy of Niš|bishop of Niš]], Jovan Purić, gave his blessing for restoration of the church and continuance of the service. It had no service held from 1942 to 2012 and no resident priest from 1946 to 2019. On the day of [[Procopius of Scythopolis|Saint Procopius of Scythopolis]], on 21 July, an annual regional festivity is held at the church. Construction of the [[clergy house]] next to the church began.<ref name="Politika"/><ref>{{cite news | author = Jelena Čalija | title = Prvi posleratni sveštenik među Crnotravcima | trans-title = First post World War II priest among residents of Crna Trava | newspaper = Politika | page = 8 | language = sr | date = 26 July 2020 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/459186/Prvi-posleratni-svestenik-medu-Crnotravcima}}</ref>

=== Monuments ===

'''Crnotravka'''

In order to mark the devotion of the wives of the ''Crnotravac'' builders, who stayed at home and took care of children and households, a monument was erected. Work of Sava Halugin, officially named ''Zahvalnost'' ("gratitude"), it is colloquially often referred to as ''Crnotravka'', the female [[demonym]]. The monument is located at the confluence of the Čemerčica river into the Vlasina, in front of the "Vilin Lug" hotel, and was dedicated on 4 July 1983.<ref>{{ cite news | author = Danilo Kocić | title = Spomenik Crnotravki | trans-title = Monument to the woman of Crna Trava | newspaper = Politika | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 7–8 April 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/401476/Pogledi/Spomenik-Crnotravki }}</ref> The inscription says: ''Woman of Crna Trava, mother, fighter, striver''.<ref name=zena/>

'''Crnotravac'''

On 29 October 2019 a monument dedicated to the builders was erected in the village. The {{convert|2.25|m|abbr=on}} tall sculpture on the stone pedestal represents nameless "Crna Trava builder" (''Crnotravac neimar'').It was sculptured by Zoran Kuzmanović. In June 2019 the original was dedicated in Belgrade's Čubura Park, when it was announced that the duplicate of the same monument will be erected in Crna Travam too.<ref name=neimar/><ref name=spomenik/>

== Culture and education ==

The first school, succeeded today by the modern [[elementary school]] "Aleksandar Stojanović", was founded in the first half of the 19th century. The school has outposts in the surrounding villages of Krivi Del, Gradska and Sastav Reka. There is also the [[secondary school]] "Milentije Popović", founded in 1919. It is a technical vocational school for construction-geodetic technicians - geometers. The school has a dormitory for its students. In order to revive the settlement, because of the massive depopulation, the schoolbooks, lodging and food are free for all students.<ref name=magazin/>

The only cultural institution in the village is the library "Sestre Stojanović", with 26,000 books. Since 2017, the library has an electronic classroom. The first reading room in Crna Trava was founded in 1804, while the present library was formed in 1996.<ref name=magazin/>

== Gallery ==

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Opshtina Crna Trava.JPG|''Village center''
File:Lovorvišnja oko spomenika u Crnoj Travi.JPG|''Monument in village center''
File:Zahvalnost - Spomenik Crnotravki.JPG|''Monument "Zahvalnost" ("Crnotravka")''
File:Crnа Travа nоću.JPG|''Village center at night''
File:Lake Vlasina, Serbia,.jpg|''[[Vlasina Lake]] near Crna Trava''
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Subdivisions of Serbia]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Crna Trava}}
* {{official website|http://www.opstinacrnatrava.org.rs/}}

{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Crna Trava| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Jablanica District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]

Nova Crnja

2023-06-12T18:29:24Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Nova Crnja
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Нова Црња|italics=off}} 
{{native name|hu|Magyarcsernye}}
| other_name =
| image_skyline = Mcser1.jpg
| imagesize =
| image_caption = The Saint Agatha Virgin and Martyr Catholic Church
| image_flag = Flag of Nova Crnja.gif
| image_shield = Opstina Nova Crnja mali.png
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Nova Crnja.png
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Location of Nova Crnja within Serbia
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Village]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Vojvodina}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Central Banat District|Central Banat]]
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| leader_title = President of municipality
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| leader_name = Vladimir Brakus
| population_demonym =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| established_title1 =
| established_date1 =
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_sq_mi = 105.4
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes =
| total_type = Nova Crnja
| population_total = 1491
| population_density_km2 =
| population_density_sq_mi =
| population_blank1_title = Administrative
| population_blank1 = 10272<ref name=census2011 />
| population_blank2_title = [[Demonym]]
| population_blank3_title =
| population_blank3 =
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| coordinates = {{coord|45|40|N|20|36|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 77
| elevation_ft =
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 23218
| area_code = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|+381(0)23815030]]
| website = www.sonovacrnja.org.rs
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = ZR
}} 
'''Nova Crnja''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Нова Црња}}; {{lang-hu|Magyarcsernye}}, {{IPA-hu|ˈmɒɟɒrt͡ʃɛrɲɛ|pron}}; {{lang-de|Neuzerne}}, {{lang-ro|Cernea Ungurească}}) is a village and municipality located in the [[Central Banat District]] of the autonomous province of [[Vojvodina]], [[Serbia]]. The village has a population of 1,491, while the municipality has 10,272 inhabitants.

==Inhabited places==
[[Image:Nova Crnja Mun.png|thumb|250px|Map of Nova Crnja municipality]]
Nova Crnja municipality includes the following villages:
*Nova Crnja
*[[File:Aleksandrovo Grb.png|x15px]] [[Aleksandrovo, Nova Crnja|Aleksandrovo]]
*[[File:Vojvoda Stepa Mali Grb.png|x15px]] [[Vojvoda Stepa]]
*[[Radojevo]]
*[[File:Srpska Crnja Grb.png|x17px]] [[Srpska Crnja]]
*[[File:Coat of arms of Toba.png|x15px]] [[Toba (Nova Crnja)|Toba]] (Hungarian: ''Tóba'')

Although the village of Nova Crnja is a seat of municipality, the largest of these villages is Srpska Crnja.

Before 1961, there was one more village in the municipality, which was abandoned because of groundwater. The name of the village was [[Molin, Serbia|Molin]].

==Demographics==
{{See also|Serbs in Vojvodina|Hungarians in Vojvodina|Romani people of Vojvodina|List of Hungarian communities in Vojvodina}}
{{Historical populations
|type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|23169 |1953|23382 |1961|21580 |1971|18298 |1981|16270 |1991|14538 |2002|12705 |2011|10272
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=19 March 2017}}</ref>
}}

According to the 2011 census, the population of the municipality of Novi Crnja was 10,272 inhabitants.

===Ethnic groups===
;Municipality
The population of the Nova Crnja municipality is composed of:<ref name=census2011>{{cite web|url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/WebSite/Public/ReportResultView.aspx?rptKey=indId%3d18020101IND01%26102%3d80250%2636%3d0%2cG%2cO%2623%3d0%26111%3d01%2c02%2c03%2c04%2c05%2c06%2c07%2c08%2c09%2c10%2c11%2c12%2c13%2c14%2c15%2c16%2c17%2c18%2c19%2c20%2c21%2c22%2c23%2c24%2c25%2c26%26sAreaId%3d18020101%26dType%3dIdentificatorAndName%26lType%3dEnglish|title=Population by ethnicity – Nova Crnja|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS)|access-date=28 February 2013}}</ref>
*[[Serbs]] (67.39%)
*[[Hungarian people|Hungarians]] (17.71%)
*[[Romani people|Romani]] (9.89%)
*Others and undeclared (5.01%)

Places with Serb ethnic majority are: Aleksandrovo, Vojvoda Stepa, Radojevo, and Srpska Crnja, while places with Hungarian ethnic majority are: Nova Crnja (Hungarian: Magyarcsernye) and Toba (Hungarian: Tóba).

;Village
The population of the Nova Crnja village is composed of:
*[[Magyars|Hungarians]] (84.58%)
*[[Serbs]] (6.02%)
*Others.

==Twin cities==
*{{flagicon|Hungary}} '''[[Nagyszénás]]''', [[Hungary]]
*{{flagicon|Romania}} '''[[Jimbolia]]''', [[Romania]]

==See also==
*[[Municipalities of Serbia]]
*[[List of places in Serbia]]
*[[List of cities, towns and villages in Vojvodina]]
*[[Central Banat District]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Nova Crnja}}

{{Central Banat District}}
{{Municipalities of Serbia}}

[[Category:Nova Crnja| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Serbian Banat]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Vojvodina]]
[[Category:Central Banat District]]

Petrovac, Serbia

2023-06-12T18:28:31Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Petrovac
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Петровац|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| other_name = Petrovac na Mlavi
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| official_name =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_shield = COA_Petrovac.png
| image_flag = Flag of Petrovac.gif
| image_skyline = Crkva Vaznesenja Gospodnjeg u Petrovcu1.JPG
| image_caption = Church in Petrovac
| image_map = File:Municipalities of Serbia Petrovac.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Petrovac within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|22|42|N|21|25|10|E|region:RS_type:city(34016)|display=inline, title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Braničevo District|Braničevo]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 34
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Duško Nedinić
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| area_blank1_title = Municipality
| area_blank1_km2 = 655
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 127
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 7229
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 31259
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 12300
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)12
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = PT
| website = {{url|www.petrovacnamlavi.rs}}
}}

'''Petrovac''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Петровац}}), also known as '''Petrovac na Mlavi''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Петровац на Млави}}, "Petrovac upon(on the) [[Mlava]]"; {{lang-ro|Piatra Mlave}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Braničevo District]] of the [[Southern and Eastern Serbia|eastern Serbia]]. In 2011, the population of the town is 7,229, while population of the municipality is 31,259.

==History==
From 1929 to 1941, Petrovac was part of the [[Morava Banovina]] of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]].

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|50430 |1953|51560 |1961|51613 |1971|50433 |1981|48608 |1991|46414 |2002|34511 |2011|31259
| source =<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=11 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}

==Economy==
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|74
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|28
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|619
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|56
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|101
|-
|Construction||align="right"|223
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|1,217
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|199
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|329
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|62
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|40
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|3
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|176
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|77
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|298
|-
|Education||align="right"|370
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|809
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|91
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|134
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|2,142
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''7,048'''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Petrovac na Mlavi}}
* {{Official website|www.petrovacnamlavi.rs}}

{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Braničevo District]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]

{{BraničevoRS-geo-stub}}

Negotin

2023-06-12T18:27:33Z

94.140.246.27:

{{distinguish|Negotino}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Неготин|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Negotin
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield = COA Negotin.gif
| image_flag = Flag of Negotin.png
| image_skyline = Negotin-nocu.jpg
| image_caption = Town center of Negotin at night
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Negotin.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Negotin within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|13|45|N|22|31|50|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bor District|Bor]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 39
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Vladimir Veličković
| area_blank1_title = Municipality
| area_blank1_km2 = 1089
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 46
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2018 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 16882
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 35000
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 19300
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)19
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = NG
| website = {{url|www.negotin.rs}}
}}
'''Negotin''' ({{lang-sr-cyrl|Неготин}}, {{IPA-sh|nêɡotiːn||Negotin.ogg}}; {{lang-ro|Negotin}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Bor District]] of the [[Southern and Eastern Serbia|eastern Serbia]]. It is situated near the borders between [[Serbia]], [[Romania]] and [[Bulgaria]]. It is the judicial center of the Bor District. The population of the town is 16,882, while municipality has a population of 35,000.

==History==

===Name===
The etymology of the town's name is unclear, and there are a few possibilities as to its background:

# The [[Romance languages|Romance]] name origin thesis, such as the ''merchant place'' (cf. Romanian "negoț" or Spanish "negocios"), and the fact that Negotin is in a region with the presence of a significant [[Romanians|Romanian]] minority, similar to its namesake [[Negotino]] in [[North Macedonia]] with an [[Aromanians|Aromanian]] presence.
# There is also the [[Slavonic languages|Slavonic]] origin hypothesis:, [[Proto-Slavonic]] "''něga''" (нѣгa) means "care" and the suffix "-ota//-otina" means "the action undergone or carried out", thus rendering Negotin as "a place of retreat for healing", and the city historically being located secluded amidst marshes would support the Slavonic hypothesis.
# The book ''O Perevode Manassijnoj letopisi na slovenskij jazyk. (De versione Chronicorum Manassis in linguam slovenicam secundum duo apographa: Vaticanum et patriarchalis bibliothecae, cum primis lineis historiae Bulgarorum.''), Semen [sic], 1842, gives Něgotinъ (to wit: '''Нѣготинъ''') as a Serbian-Slavonic variant of [[Latin language|Latin]] ''Antigonia'' thus changed after the Slavs arrived to [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[Moesia]].<ref>Cf on ''Googlebooks'' [https://books.google.com/books?id=oVRfAAAAcAAJ p. 88 (of the book itself, not of the document)]</ref>
# "Negotin" may yet have been derived from [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] words "''neges''" and "''tin''", meaning "The fortress of war".<ref>"Red & White-Serbian-Celtic Parallels" (Crveno i belo - srpsko-keltske paralele, Glas srpski, [[Banja Luka]], 2000.) Prof. Dr. Ranka Kuić of the Philology Faculty of the University of Belgrade</ref>

''Negotin'' is first mentioned in 1530 as a settlement.

===Early===
The [[Thracians]] dominated the region with the [[Celts|Celtic]] [[Scordisci]] advancing after 279 BC. The Roman conquest in the 1st century BC weakened the [[Prehistory of Southeastern Europe|Paleo-Balkan]] tribes. The [[Moesi]], a Thracio-Dacian tribe, were [[Wars of Augustus|defeated by the Roman army]] under the [[Marcus Licinius Crassus (consul 30 BC)|Marcus Licinius Crassus]] who was [[Roman consul]] in 30 BC. The region was organized into [[Moesia Inferior]] in 87 AD by Emperor [[Domitian]]. Later was included in the province of Dacia Remesiana.

[[Hellenistic religion|Hellenistic religious influence]] is attested through archeological findings in [[Rovine, Ivanjica|Rovine]] and [[Tamnič]] where [[Heracles]] was worshipped: a [[relief]] of [[Zeus]], [[Herakles]] and [[Dionysos]] found in [[Bukovo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ceeol.com/aspx/issuedetails.aspx?issueid=df729e94-9a22-4268-b355-c38d7bb25010&articleId=b8cd53e1-869d-4d42-8aa8-920cc92a76ef|title=CEEOL - Obsolete Link|website=Ceeol.com|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>

The Roman site of [[Selište (Rogljevo)|Selište]] with [[necropolis]] has been excavated in the village of [[Rogljevo]]. Silver and gold fibulae from 250 to 320 AD have been found at sites in Negotin.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0350-0241/2003/0350-02410454225P.pdf|title=Specific Variants of Gold and Silver|website=Doiserbia.nb.rs|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>

===Middle Ages===
In the early Middle Ages, the first Slavonic tribe to settle here were the [[Timočani]].

During the 9th-11th centuries and in the 13th century the territory of modern-day North-Eastern Serbia was a part of the Bulgarian Empire.{{sfn|Ivanišević|2013|p=450}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.euratlas.net/history/europe/900/index.html | title=Euratlas Periodis Web - Map of Europe in Year 900 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y0NBxG9Id58C|title=The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century|first1=John V. A.|last1=Fine|first2=John Van Antwerp|last2=Fine|date=29 December 1991|publisher=University of Michigan Press|access-date=29 December 2017|via=Google Books|isbn=978-0472081493}}</ref><ref>''The Late Medieval Balkans'', p. 48</ref><ref>''The Late Medieval Balkans'', p. 54</ref>

===Ottoman Empire===
Until the beginning of the 18th century, Negotin was a small town, with no strategic and little cultural importance, within the Ottoman territory of [[Rûm]], in the [[nahiyah|nahi]] of [[Negotin Valley|Krajina]], which along with some other parts of [[Sanjak of Vidin]] had a certain degree of [[autonomy]] as a [[vaqf]] of [[Valide sultan]] (each reigning [[sultan]]'s mother), in that all tax was collected by the local [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox]] [[Christians|Christian]] [[Serbs|Serbian]] or [[Vlach]] [[Knez (title)|''Knez'']] and not by a [[Moslem]] state officer.

At the beginning of the 18th century [[Austrians]] conducted a major build-up as a fortified town and their stronghold in their south-eastern territories (i.e., while they held it, in 1717–1739, when it was a part of the newly established territorial unit of the [[Banat of Temeswar]]). After a period of renewed Turkish occupation, Negotin was temporary occupied in 1804 by [[Hajduk Veljko]]'s rebels during the [[First Serbian Uprising]].

===The Serbian Revolutions 1804–33===

After being liberated in 1804–10, Negotin quickly gained on importance and size. The civilized life thrived and the government, as in the most parts of then-liberated Serbia, achieved much in matters of education and modernization. However, these great days were short lived: In 1813, after [[Napoleon]] had successfully taken [[Russia]] and [[Austria]] out of the game and therefore helping Serbia, the [[Ottoman Empire|Turks]] crushed the ill-fated state of the [[Serbs]]. The defenders of Negotin chose not to evacuate and became besieged in the then-fortified town. Eventually, a Turkish gunman sighted [[Hajduk Veljko]] and shot his cannon. Veljko was hit in the chest by a cannonball and died immediately. His co-fighters buried him in an unmarked grave, so that the Turks couldn't exhume and decapitate him, as they used to do with all fallen Christian fighters. Once again, Negotin was conquered.

The [[Second Serbian Uprising]] of 1815 brought nothing to Negotin initially, having only liberated Belgrade and its vicinity. Thanks to the smart diplomacy of the [[Prince]] [[Miloš Obrenović]], and the tactics of voivode Stevan Stevanović Tenka with 600 soldiers at the gate of the city, this part of the country was once and for all liberated in 1833, with practically no fighting.

===The second half of the 19th century===
[[File:Negotinska Crkva.jpg|left|thumb| Negotin Cathedral]]
Until the formal declaration of independence in 1878, Negotin had achieved very much in a build-up of its position as a regional cultural, education and religious center. The first state school was opened in 1824, followed by a [[Gymnasium (school)|gymnasium]] in 1839. In time, the old Church of Our Lady became too small for the bishop of Negotin, so a grand new cathedral church was built in 1876.

At the same time, many Negotinians went to famous European universities, seeking education and enlightenment, e.g., [[Stevan Mokranjac]], one of the five most important Serbian composers and [[Đorđe Stanojević]], a physicist and an astronomer who later became [[University of Belgrade]] Rector.

Cultural life thrived, with many choral and other artistic societies. Most of the educational institutions had been opened in a matter of months after being opened in Belgrade (e.g., public library). In this period the idea of moving the town to the banks of the Danube first took a stronghold with the government and local officials. This has never happened, although other administrations have tried to do this. The town was simply too big for moving. Still, Negotin was not far from the Danube, only about 4 miles, so river transportation was possible for its trade. However, the town's position had a serious disadvantage — it was very close to the Danube, but lower than the river, so it had always been surrounded by many swamps and ponds.

In the meantime, the town of [[Zaječar]], being much closer to [[Niš]] and, therefore, to the rest of Serbia, was slowly taking over as a regional center. This advantage became much clearer especially with the construction of the railroad. Negotin was, though, more to the north and thus closer to [[Belgrade]] and the rest of Serbia, but those roads led through inaccessible mountain terrain, whereas it was much easier to go to the south, so Zaječar was, in terms of transport, much better off than Negotin. Until the beginning of the First World War, Zaječar had overtaken Negotin in terms of size and importance.

The two dynasties' vying for power, resulting with, in 1903, rebellious officers killing the king and queen of Serbia, [[Aleksandar Obrenović]] and [[Draga Mašin]], had little impact on the fate of the town. [[The Balkan Wars]] of 1912–1913 didn't bring much to this area. However, units from this part of the country took part in almost all the battles of both wars, earning respect and glory.

===World War I===
On July 28, 1914, a former kind of ally that turned enemy, [[Austria-Hungary]], declared war on Serbia. After initial successes by the Serbian armies, in the winter of 1915/16, the vastly outnumbered Serbia could no longer repel the attacks by the combined armies of Austria-Hungary, [[Germany]] and [[Bulgaria]]. But, instead of capitulating, the Serbian government chose to go into exile, with its army. Negotin was soon occupied and it remained so until the fall of 1918.

Negotin became a part of the newly formed [[Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes]]. From 1929 to 1941, Negotin was part of the [[Morava Banovina]] of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]].

The population of the city was mostly with Bulgarians, until the serbs propaganda and genocide over the Bulgarians from the end of 19 century until and after the WWII.

===Interbellum===

The period between the two world wars was very much like the pre-war years. Negotin continued to lose on its size and importance; Zaječar was becoming the new regional center. Much of this was also happening due to poor environmental conditions in Negotin and its surroundings, as mentioned above. In the 1930s, the government and local officials started a huge irrigation project, aimed at getting rid of swamps around the town and gaining more agricultural land for the ever-growing population. As for industry, there had been some modest investments in the area, but the town itself remained strongly committed to its previous roles of trading center and preserving its old manufactures, many of which were now, quite obsolete. Still, there had been some progress and it was, unfortunately, stopped by World War Two in 1941.

===World War II===
As the war raged in Europe, the Kingdom of Yugoslavia had been spared, at least during the initial two years. Still, it hadn't done much to prepare for the inevitable, mostly because of unsettled national problems in the Kingdom. Therefore, as the German, Hungarian and Italian forces attacked on April 6, 1941, Yugoslavia simply fell apart after only two weeks of fighting. Many officers and soldiers, mostly from Serbia, had been taken prisoners of war and transported to the prisoner-of-war camps in Germany, Austria, Poland and as far as Norway. Although Negotin hadn't seen much of the fighting, in the summer of 1941, some guerilla resistance had been reported. Most of these "partisan" forces had been subsequently taken out of action during the summer and fall of 1941, with their fighters captured and killed. As for the remainder of the war, there hadn't been any major battles or atrocities recorded in the area. Just as the Germans easily and without resistance came in 1941, so did the [[Partisans (Yugoslavia)|Partisans]] and the Soviet troops, on their way to Belgrade and further. Negotin was liberated on September 12, 1944, after less than 3½ years of German occupation.

== Climate ==
{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Negotin (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
|single line = Yes
|metric first = Yes
|Jan record high C = 21.0
|Feb record high C = 23.5
|Mar record high C = 26.8
|Apr record high C = 32.0
|May record high C = 35.5
|Jun record high C = 41.2
|Jul record high C = 42.6
|Aug record high C = 40.4
|Sep record high C = 37.7
|Oct record high C = 32.5
|Nov record high C = 25.9
|Dec record high C = 20.6
|year record high C = 42.6
|Jan high C = 4.2
|Feb high C = 6.9
|Mar high C = 12.8
|Apr high C = 18.7
|May high C = 23.9
|Jun high C = 28.0
|Jul high C = 30.4
|Aug high C = 30.5
|Sep high C = 24.8
|Oct high C = 17.8
|Nov high C = 10.3
|Dec high C = 4.7
|year high C = 17.8
|Jan mean C = 0.6
|Feb mean C = 2.5
|Mar mean C = 7.3
|Apr mean C = 12.9
|May mean C = 18.1
|Jun mean C = 22.2
|Jul mean C = 24.1
|Aug mean C = 23.7
|Sep mean C = 18.1
|Oct mean C = 12.1
|Nov mean C = 6.3
|Dec mean C = 1.4
|year mean C = 12.4
|Jan low C = -2.9
|Feb low C = -1.5
|Mar low C = 2.3
|Apr low C = 7.0
|May low C = 11.9
|Jun low C = 15.6
|Jul low C = 17.3
|Aug low C = 17.0
|Sep low C = 12.5
|Oct low C = 7.5
|Nov low C = 3.0
|Dec low C = -1.7
|year low C = 7.3
|Jan record low C = -28.5
|Feb record low C = -27.5
|Mar record low C = -19.0
|Apr record low C = -4.9
|May record low C = 1.0
|Jun record low C = 3.1
|Jul record low C = 7.5
|Aug record low C = 5.6
|Sep record low C = -3.6
|Oct record low C = -7.6
|Nov record low C = -13.7
|Dec record low C = -22.0
|year record low C = -28.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 47.9
|Feb precipitation mm = 46.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 46.3
|Apr precipitation mm = 48.8
|May precipitation mm = 57.8
|Jun precipitation mm = 61.3
|Jul precipitation mm = 55.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 42.7
|Sep precipitation mm = 54.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 57.2
|Nov precipitation mm = 56.0
|Dec precipitation mm = 60.0
|year precipitation mm = 635.0
|Jan humidity = 79.5
|Feb humidity = 74.7
|Mar humidity = 67.1
|Apr humidity = 64.6
|May humidity = 65.1
|Jun humidity = 62.7
|Jul humidity = 59.3
|Aug humidity = 60.2
|Sep humidity = 67.0
|Oct humidity = 76.1
|Nov humidity = 81.4
|Dec humidity = 81.9
|year humidity = 70.0
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.1
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 10.3
|Apr precipitation days = 10.1
|May precipitation days = 12.0
|Jun precipitation days = 9.1
|Jul precipitation days = 7.5
|Aug precipitation days = 6.4
|Sep precipitation days = 8.1
|Oct precipitation days = 10.0
|Nov precipitation days = 11.9
|Dec precipitation days = 11.1
|year precipitation days = 117.0
|Jan snow days = 7.1
|Feb snow days = 5.1
|Mar snow days = 2.7
|Apr snow days = 0.1
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.2
|Nov snow days = 2.1
|Dec snow days = 5.0
|year snow days = 22.3
|Jan sun = 80.3
|Feb sun = 104.3
|Mar sun = 158.2
|Apr sun = 200.7
|May sun = 250.0
|Jun sun = 290.2
|Jul sun = 323.3
|Aug sun = 300.5
|Sep sun = 213.5
|Oct sun = 144.0
|Nov sun = 72.9
|Dec sun = 62.7
|year sun = 2200.6
|source 1 = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia<ref name = RHSS1991>{{cite web
| url = https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_negotin.php
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220420195047/https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/ciril/meteorologija/stanica_sr_negotin.php
| archive-date = 20 April 2022
| title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1991–2020
| language = sr
| publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia
| access-date = 20 April 2022}}</ref><ref name = RHSS1981>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210720080931/http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13295
| archive-date = 20 July 2021
|
url = http://www.hidmet.gov.rs/eng/meteorologija/stanica_sr.php?moss_id=13295
| title= Monthly and annual means, maximum and minimum values of meteorological elements for the period 1981–2010
| language = sr
| publisher = Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia
| access-date = February 25, 2017}}</ref>
}}

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Negotin, the municipality includes the following settlements (population given in brackets):
{{div col|colwidth=10em}}
* [[Aleksandrovac (Negotin)|Aleksandrovac]] (588)
* [[Braćevac]] (533)
* [[Brestovac (Negotin)|Brestovac]] (355)
* [[Bukovče (Negotin)|Bukovče]] (1442)
* [[Crnomasnica]] (272)
* [[Čubra]] (557)
* [[Dupljane (Negotin)|Dupljane]] (564)
* [[Dušanovac (Negotin)|Dušanovac]] (882)
* [[Jabukovac, Negotin|Jabukovac]] (1884)
* [[Jasenica (Negotin)|Jasenica]] (581)
* [[Karbulovo]] (520)
* [[Kobišnica]] (1355)
* [[Kovilovo (Negotin)|Kovilovo]] (411)
* [[Mala Kamenica]] (392)
* [[Malajnica]] (683)
* [[Mihajlovac (Negotin)|Mihajlovac]] (718)
* [[Miloševo (Negotin)|Miloševo]] (517)
* [[Mokranje]] (710)
* [[Plavna (Negotin)|Plavna]] (953)
* [[Popovica (Negotin)|Popovica]] (487)
* [[Prahovo]] (1506)
* [[Radujevac]] (1540)
* [[Rajac (Negotin)|Rajac]] (436)
* [[Rečka]] (469)
* [[Rogljevo]] (183)
* [[Samarinovac (Negotin)|Samarinovac]] (464)
* [[Šarkamen]] (374)
* [[Sikole]] (838)
* [[Slatina (Negotin)|Slatina]] (479)
* [[Smedovac]] (163)
* [[Srbovo]] (502)
* [[Štubik]] (939)
* [[Tamnič]] (349)
* [[Trnjane (Negotin)|Trnjane]] (479)
* [[Urovica]] (1191)
* [[Veljkovo]] (206)
* [[Vidrovac]] (822)
* [[Vratna]] (316)
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|63447 |1953|64358 |1961|65409 |1971|63706 |1981|63973 |1991|59559 |2002|43418 |2011|37056
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia|access-date=11 March 2017}}</ref>
}}
According to the 2011 [[census]] results, the municipality of Negotin has 37,056 inhabitants, of which 16,882 inhabitants live in the town of Negotin.

===Ethnic groups===
According to the 2011 census, most of the settlements in the Negotin municipality had Serb ethnic majority. The settlement with a Romanian ethnic majority is Kovilovo. An ethnically mixed settlement with relative Romanian majority is Aleksandrovac. Older census results show a higher share of Romanian population, but due to the [[Serbianisation]] process from the 20th century, their number dramatically decreased in favor of the Serbs. For example, the 1921 census counted 32,591 persons in the Negotin municipality, composed by 17,201 (53%) Romanians; 15,340 (47%) Serbs and mixed families; and 50 others.

The ethnic composition of the municipality:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population 2011<ref>{{cite web|title=Попис становништва, домаћинстава и станова 2011. у Републици Србији|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Republički zavod za statistiku|access-date=16 December 2016}}</ref>
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Serbs]]
|align="right"|29,461
|79.50%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Vlachs of Serbia]] ([[Romanians]])
|align="right"|3,382
|9.13%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]
|align="right"|441
|1.19%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians in Serbia|Romanians]] (self-declared)
|align="right"|274
|0.74%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]
|align="right"|73
|0.20%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bulgarians in Serbia|Bulgarians]]
|align="right"|61
|0.16%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]
|align="right"|50
|0.13%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]
|align="right"|32
|0.09%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others
|align="right"|3,282
|8.86%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''
|align="right"|37,056
|
|}

==Economy==
The population of the villages around Negotin are mostly supported by the family members who are guest workers in the countries of western Europe. The largest employer in this municipality is the chemical industry Prahovo, although this company, like many others in Serbia, is in very poor financial shape. Agriculture is a side activity more than an income-generating one. [[Muscat (grape and wine)|Muscat]] is a notable wine from Negotin.

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|116
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|13
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|1,442
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|280
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|127
|-
|Construction||align="right"|154
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|1,264
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|321
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|335
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|57
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|80
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|15
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|183
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|179
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|636
|-
|Education||align="right"|574
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|721
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|84
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|149
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|943
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''7,675'''
|}

==Culture and society==
The Negotin museum is home to a number of archaeological findings, from [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] times to the [[World War II]] era. The Negotin municipality is home to several galleries, monuments, churches and monasteries, and archaeological sites. The nearby [[Iron Gates]] national park has extensive views, hunting grounds, and hiking trails (some trails are not well marked or maintained, so hiking is recommended only for the experienced).{{original research inline|date=December 2017}}

===Mokranjčevi Dani===
The highlight{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} of the cultural life of Negotin is the annual musical celebration called Mokranjčevi Dani, after Stevan Mokranjac the Serbian composer.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}}

===Education and public health===
The town has one orphanage, one kindergarten and day care center, three elementary and four high schools, some of which are vocational. There is also an elementary school for children with handicaps.

The Negotin hospital offers all basic and many specialist services to this and neighboring municipalities.

==Notable personalities==
[[Stevan Mokranjac]] the most famous Serbian composer of the 19th century was born and grew up in Negotin. His native house is a museum today.

Another notable Negotinian was [[Hajduk Veljko]] (aka Vojvoda Veljko Petrović), an early 19th-century freedom fighter. He was born in [[Lenovac]] near [[Zaječar]] to the south, but died defending Negotin from the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman Turkish]] onslaught.

[[:sr:Đorđe Stanojević]] is a Serbian physicist (professor of applied physics and electricity, and researcher in these fields and colour photography; his statue is in the center of Negotin at the square that bears his name and there is one in [[Belgrade]] in front of [[Beograđanka]], next to the headquarters of [[Elektroprivreda Srbije|Serbia Electricity Co]], which has also established an annual ''Đorđe Stanojević Award''.

General [[Petar Živković]] was a minister and [[prime minister]] in several [[Kingdom of Serbia]]'s and [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]]'s governments.

As a relatively young man, [[Vuk Karadžić]] was sent to Negotin by the leadership of the [[First Serbian Uprising]] to work as a clerk in the city [[magistrate]] and a scribe for [[Hajduk Veljko]]. That was the only salaried employment he held during his life.

[[Ana Šomlo]], the Serbian-Israeli writer, editor and translator, [[Jelena Tomašević]], who represented Serbia in [[Eurovision Song Contest 2008]]; Serbian-Canadian writer and scholar [[Miodrag Kojadinović]]; and [[Bojan Aleksandrović]], the priest who in 2004 built the [[Romanian Orthodox Church, Malajnica]] were all born in Negotin.

==See also==
*[[Negotin Valley]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Negotin}}
*'''[http://www.negotin.rs Negotin]'''
*[http://www.rtvbor.rs/ Radio television Bor]
*[http://104692.wix.com/nglive Negotin Live WebCam]

{{Bor District}}
{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia|state=expanded}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Negotin| ]]
[[Category:Populated places in Bor District]]
[[Category:Timok Valley]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
[[Category:Wine regions of Serbia]]
[[Category:Bulgaria–Serbia border crossings]]
[[Category:Spatial Cultural-Historical Units of Great Importance]]

Majdanpek

2023-06-12T18:10:09Z

94.140.246.27:

{{For|the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp constructed in Poland|Majdanek}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name =
| official_name = Majdanpek
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Мајданпек|italics=off}} {{native name|ro|Maidan}}
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
| photo1a = Majdanpek sa Starice noću 01.jpg
| photo2a = Panorama Donjeg Milanovca 1.jpg
| size = 280
| spacing = 2
| color = #FFFFFF
| border = 0
| foot_montage =
}}
| image_caption = From top: ''Majdanpek panorama, Donji Milanovac town panorama''
| image_flag = Flag of Majdanpek.gif
| image_shield = Grb Majdanpeka.gif
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Majdanpek.png
| mapsize =
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Majdanpek within Serbia
| coordinates = {{coord|44|25|N|21|56|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bor District|Bor]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 14
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Dragan Popović
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| area_rank = [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|15th]]
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 178.08
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 931.70
| elevation_m = 362
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_rank = [[List of cities in Serbia|77th]]
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 7699
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 18686
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 19250
| area_code = +381(0)30
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| website = {{url|www.majdanpek.rs}}
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = BO
}}

'''Majdanpek''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Мајданпек}}; {{lang-ro|Maidan}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Bor District]] of the [[Southern and Eastern Serbia|eastern Serbia]], and is not far from the border of [[Romania]]. According to 2022 census, the municipality of Majdanpek had a population of 14,559 people, while the town of Majdanpek had a population of 8,310.

==Name==
The name "Majdanpek" is derived from the words ''majdan'' meaning "[[quarry]]" (from Arabic ''maydān'') and ''[[wiktionary:pek|pek]]'' meaning "much, big, very" in Turkish. In [[Romanian language|Romanian]], the town is known as {{lang|ro|Maidan}}.

==History==

There is an archaeological site in Majdanpek, from the time of the [[Vinča culture]], which provides one of the earliest known examples of copper metallurgy, dated to [[5th millennium BC]].<ref>{{cite journal | journal = [[Journal of World Prehistory]] | year = 2021 | issue = 34 1 | title = Early Balkan Metallurgy: Origins, Evolution and Society, 6200–3700 BC | first1 = Miljana | last1 = Radivojević | first2 = Benjamin W. | last2 = Roberts | volume = 34 | page = 236 | doi = 10.1007/s10963-021-09155-7 | s2cid = 237005605 | doi-access = free }}</ref> [[Chalcolithic]] excavations exist in [[Kapetanova Pecina]], [[Praurija]], [[Kameni Rog]] and Roman site of [[Kamenjar]].

The town is famous as a copper mine district, since the early 17th century. The origin of the name is based on words ''majdan'' (related to Turkish ''madän'', mine) and river Pek - mine on river Pek. Throughout its history, mining development was held by many foreign owners (Czechs, Belgians, Austrians), and was extensively exploited. The town was industrialized in the mid-20th century, by the industrial program supported by SFR Yugoslavia's Government of that time, and the personal influence of J.B.Tito (marshal, prime minister, and later lifetime president from the end of World War II until 1980). Through the late 20th century, the town was in a period of industrial progress and one of the most developed areas in copper mining and metallurgy.

==Geography==

===Climate===
Majdanpek has a [[humid continental climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Dfb'').

<div style="width:80%;">
{{Weather box
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Majdanpek

| Jan high C =1.7
| Feb high C =3.3
| Mar high C =9.1
| Apr high C =14.9
| May high C =19.9
| Jun high C =23.0
| Jul high C =25.6
| Aug high C =25.7
| Sep high C =21.8
| Oct high C =15.3
| Nov high C =7.6
| Dec high C =2.8

| Jan mean C =-1.2
| Feb mean C =0.1
| Mar mean C =4.7
| Apr mean C =9.7
| May mean C =14.6
| Jun mean C =17.6
| Jul mean C =19.6
| Aug mean C =19.5
| Sep mean C =15.9
| Oct mean C =10.6
| Nov mean C =4.4
| Dec mean C =0.3

| Jan low C =-4.0
| Feb low C =-3.1
| Mar low C =0.4
| Apr low C =4.6
| May low C =9.3
| Jun low C =12.2
| Jul low C =13.6
| Aug low C =13.4
| Sep low C =10.0
| Oct low C =5.9
| Nov low C =1.1
| Dec low C =-2.2

| Jan precipitation mm =45
| Feb precipitation mm =44
| Mar precipitation mm =45
| Apr precipitation mm =57
| May precipitation mm =80
| Jun precipitation mm =93
| Jul precipitation mm =72
| Aug precipitation mm =58
| Sep precipitation mm =50
| Oct precipitation mm =44
| Nov precipitation mm =55
| Dec precipitation mm =56

| source = Climate-Data.org <ref name="Climate-Data.org">{{cite web
|url= https://en.climate-data.org/location/912263/
|title= Climate: Majdanpek, Serbia
|publisher= Climate-Data.org
|access-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>
}}
</div>

==Settlements==
The municipality includes the following settlements:
;Towns
{{div col}}
* Majdanpek
* [[Donji Milanovac]]
{{div col end}}
;Villages
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Boljetin]]
* [[Vlaole]]
* [[Golubinje]]
* [[Debeli Lug (Majdanpek)|Debeli Lug]]
* [[Jasikovo]]
* [[Klokočevac, Serbia|Klokočevac]]
* [[Leskovo (Majdanpek)|Leskovo]]
* [[Miroč (Majdanpek)|Miroč]]
* [[Mosna (Majdanpek)|Mosna]]
* [[Rudna Glava]]
* [[Topolnica (Majdanpek)|Topolnica]]
* [[Crnajka]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|19610 |1953|21155 |1961|23022 |1971|26120 |1981|26628 |1991|27378 |2002|23703 |2011|18686 |2022|14559
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=Stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=11 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}

According to the 2022 census results, the municipality of Majdanpek has a population of 14,559 inhabitants.

===Ethnic groups===
Most of the settlements in the Majdanpek municipality have Serb ethnic majority. The settlement with a [[Romanians|Romanian]] ethnic majority is Vlaole. Ethnically mixed settlement with relative Romanian majority is Jasikovo. The ethnic composition of the municipality:<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf |website=Stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=5 January 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811224233/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2014 }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|14,670
|78.51%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|"[[Romanians in Serbia|Vlachs]]" ([[Romanians]])||align="right"|2,442
|13.07%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|70
|0.37%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians in Serbia|Romanians]] (self-declared)||align="right"|68
|0.36%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]||align="right"|56
|0.30%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|51
|0.27%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|33
|0.18%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bulgarians in Serbia|Bulgarians]]||align="right"|22
|0.12%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|1,274
|6.82%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|18,686
|
|}

==Tourism==
One of the most notable tourist attractions in Majdanpek is Rajkova Pećina ([[Rajkova cave|Rajko's Cave]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.serbiatravelers.org/en/destinations/48-eastern-serbia/480-rajkova-cave/ |title=Rajkova cave |access-date=2010-03-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100403223106/http://www.serbiatravelers.org/en/destinations/48-eastern-serbia/480-rajkova-cave |archive-date=2010-04-03 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.paundurlic.com/priroda/pecina.htm|title=Turizam - Srbija - Majdanpek - Rajkova pecina - Rajko's cave|website=Paundurlic.com|access-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[Majdanpek mine]], owned by [[RTB Bor]], dominates the industrial landscape of the city. The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|128
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|1,115
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|729
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|59
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|100
|-
|Construction||align="right"|126
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|399
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|143
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|138
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|45
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|24
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|-
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|42
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|64
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|273
|-
|Education||align="right"|328
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|293
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|56
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|37
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|87
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''4,186'''
|}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Majdanpek sa partizanskog puta.jpg|Majdanpek Downtown
File:Majdanpek - panoramio.jpg|Majdanpek Mines
File:Прераст Ваља у заласку сунца.jpg|Majdanpek Nature
File:DM Spomenik1.jpg|Donji Milanovac Monument
File:Djerdapska klisura- Kazan.jpg|[[Đerdap national park]]
File:Đerdap National park.jpg|Đerdap national park
File:Panorama Donjeg Milanovca.jpg|Donji Milanovac panorama
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[Dejan Petkovic]] (born 1972), Serbian football player

==See also==
* [[Subdivisions of Serbia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Majdanpek}}
* [http://www.rtvbor.rs/ Radio television Bor]

{{Bor District}}
{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia|state=expanded}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Bor District]]
[[Category:Timok Valley]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
[[Category:Socialist planned cities]]

Kladovo

2023-06-12T18:08:36Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Кладово|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Kladovo
| other_name = Cladova
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Serbia|Town]] and [[Municipalities and cities of Serbia|municipality]]
| image_shield = COA Kladovo.png
| image_flag = Flag of Kladovo.gif
| image_skyline = File:Kladovo - panorama.jpg
| image_caption = Kladovo town panorama
| image_map = Municipalities of Serbia Kladovo.png
| map_caption = Location of the municipality of Kladovo within Serbia
| mapsize =
| coordinates = {{coord|44|36|24|N|22|36|47|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Subdivisions of Serbia|Region]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Southern and Eastern Serbia]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Serbia|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Bor District|Bor]]
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 23
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_party =
| leader_name = Saša Nikolić
| area_blank1_title = Town
| area_blank1_km2 = 29.13
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 627.25
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 45
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2011 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 8913
| population_density_blank1_km2 = auto
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 20635
| population_density_blank2_km2 = auto
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 19320
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)19
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = KL
| website = {{url|www.kladovo.org.rs}}
}}

'''Kladovo''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Кладово}}, {{IPA-sh|klâdɔʋɔ|pron}}; {{lang-ro|Cladova}} or {{lang|ro|Claudia}}) is a town and municipality located in the [[Bor District]] of [[Southern and Eastern Serbia|eastern Serbia]]. It is situated on the right bank of the [[Danube]] river. The population of the town is 8,913, while the population of the municipality is 20,635 (2011 census).

==Name==
In [[Serbian language|Serbian]], the town is known as ''Kladovo'' (Кладово), in [[Romanian language|Romanian]] ''Cladova'', in [[German language|German]] as ''Kladowo'' or ''Kladovo'' and in [[Latin language|Latin]] and Romanised [[Greek language|Greek]] as ''Zanes''. In the time of the [[Roman Empire]], the name of the town was ''Zanes'' while the fortifications was known as ''Diana'' and ''Pontes'' (from Greek "sea" -''pontos'', or Roman "bridge" - ''pontem''). Emperor [[Trajan]] had a number of fortications constructed in the area during the Roman times, such as the well-known [[Trajan's Bridge]] (Pontes was built on the Serbian side, Theodora was built on the Romanian side). Later, [[Slavs]] founded a settlement that was named ''Novi Grad'' (Нови Град){{Citation needed|date=October 2009}}, while [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] built a fortress here and called it ''Fethülislam''. The present-day name of Kladovo is first recorded in 1596 in an [[Austria]]n military document.

There are several theories about the origin of the current name of the town:<ref>[http://www.kladovo.org.rs/ Website of Kladovo] Retrieved July 2, 2022</ref>
* According to one theory (Ranka Kuic), name of the town derived from [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] word "kladiff" meaning "cemetery" in English.
* According to another theory (Ranko Jakovljevic), the name derived from the word "klad" (a device used to hold a person shackled).
* A third theory has it that the name derives from the [[Slavic languages|Slavic]] word "kladenac" meaning "a well" in English or from the Slavic word "klada" meaning "(tree) stump".
* There is also a theory that the name goes back to the [[First Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian]] duke [[Glad (duke)|Glad]], who ruled over this region in the 9th century.

There is a settlement with the same name in [[Russia]] near [[Moscow]]{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} and it is believed that this settlement was founded by [[Serbs]] who moved there from Serbian Kladovo in the 18th century. One of the suburbs of [[Berlin]] also has this name, which originates from the Slavic [[Lusatian Serbs]] ([[Sorbs]]) who live in eastern [[Germany]].

The name is also found in the [[Arad County|Arad]] and [[Timiș County|Timiș]] counties of [[Romania]], Cladova, in Arad county [[:ro:Cladova, Arad|Cladova, Arad]], Cladova in Timiș county [[:ro:Cladova, Timiș|Cladova, Timiș]]

==Geography==
[[File:Kladovo lake 02.jpg|left|thumb|Lake Kladovo]]
East of the town are the sandy region of ''Kladovski Peščar'', [[black locust]] forests, and a marshy area called Kladovski Rit, which used to be a large fish pond. It is home to 140 species of birds, of which 80 nest in the area. There are mixed colonies of [[pygmy cormorant]]s and [[herons]], while other birds include swans, [[white-tailed eagles]], [[European bee-eater]]s, and numerous ducks. The surrounding area is a hunting ground for [[wild boars]]. Neighboring geographical localities, such as Osojna and Lolićeva Česma, are popular local excursion areas.<ref>{{ cite news | author = Slobodan T. Petrović | title = Стубови Трајановог моста | trans-title = Pillars of the Trajan's Bridge | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1068 | pages = 22–23 | language = sr | date = 18 March 2018 }}</ref>

===Climate===
Kladovo has a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''Cfa'').
{{Weather box
|width = auto
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| location = Kladovo

| Jan high C = 5
| Feb high C = 6
| Mar high C = 11
| Apr high C = 18
| May high C = 23
| Jun high C = 27
| Jul high C = 29
| Aug high C = 30
| Sep high C = 25
| Oct high C = 19
| Nov high C = 12
| Dec high C = 6

| Jan low C = -1
| Feb low C = 0
| Mar low C = 3
| Apr low C = 8
| May low C = 13
| Jun low C = 16
| Jul low C = 18
| Aug low C = 19
| Sep low C = 14
| Oct low C = 10
| Nov low C = 5
| Dec low C = 0

| Jan precipitation mm = 57
| Feb precipitation mm = 61
| Mar precipitation mm = 55
| Apr precipitation mm = 68
| May precipitation mm = 74
| Jun precipitation mm = 71
| Jul precipitation mm = 55
| Aug precipitation mm = 44
| Sep precipitation mm = 48
| Oct precipitation mm = 55
| Nov precipitation mm = 72
| Dec precipitation mm = 71

| source = Meteoblue.com<ref name="Meteoblue.com">{{cite web|title=Simulated historical climate & weather data for Kladovo|url= https://www.meteoblue.com/en/weather/historyclimate/climatemodelled/kladovo_serbia_789485|access-date=5 March 2023}}</ref>
}}

==History==
Early [[Bronze Age]] [[pottery]] of the [[Kostolac-Kocofeni culture]] was found in [[Donje Butorke]], Kladovo,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rastko.rs/arheologija/srejovic/dsrejovic-eneolit.html|title=[Projekat Rastko] Dragoslav Srejovic: Kulture bakarnog i ranog bronzanog doba na tlu Srbije|website=www.rastko.rs|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref> as well as several miniature duck-shaped vases of 14th century BC in [[Mala Vrbica (Kladovo)|Mala Vrbica]] and [[Korbovo]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Voislav Vasic |author2=Rastko Vasic |title=Función depuradora de los humedales I: una revisión bibliográfica sobre el papel de los macrófitos |journal=Boletín Sehumed |date=December 2000 |volume=IV |issue=16 |url=https://hispagua.cedex.es/documentacion/documento/32535}}</ref> [[Bronze Age]] [[necropolis]] with rituals, pottery (decorated with [[meander]]) and other significant archaeological items were found in Korbovo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rastko.rs/arheologija/dgarasanin-the_bronze.htm|title=[Projekat Rastko] Dr Draga Garasanin: Bronze Age in Serbia|website=www.rastko.rs|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=147|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006073900/http://www.narodnimuzej.rs/code/navigate.php?Id=147|url-status=dead|title=Страница није пронађена « Народни музеј у Београду|archive-date=6 October 2011|access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref>

In ancient times, a fortification near [[Trajan's bridge]] named ''Zanes/Pontes'' existed at this location, the area was governed by the [[Dacians|Dacian]] [[Albocense]] tribe. In the [[Middle Ages]], [[Slavs]] founded here new town named ''Novi Grad'' (Нови Град),{{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} but it was razed by the [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarians]] in 1502. It was rebuilt in 1524 by the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottomans]] and received new name: ''Fethi Islam'' (''Fethülislam''). According to Ottoman traveler, [[Evliya Çelebi]], who visited the town in 1666, most of its inhabitants spoke local Slavic language {{Citation needed|date=October 2009}} and [[Turkish language]], while some also spoke [[Romanian language|Romanian]]. [http://www.kladovo.org.rs/ Званични сајт општине Кладово] In 1784, the population of Kladovo numbered 140 [[Muslims|Muslim]] and 50 [[Christians|Christian]] houses. [http://www.kladovo.org.rs/ Званични сајт општине Кладово]

From 1929 to 1941, Kladovo was part of the [[Morava Banovina]] of the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia]].

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Kladovo, the municipality includes the following settlements:
;Towns
* '''Kladovo'''
* [[Brza Palanka]]
;Villages
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Vajuga]]
* [[Velesnica]]
* [[Velika Vrbica]]
* [[Velika Kamenica]]
* [[Grabovica (Kladovo)|Grabovica]]
* [[Davidovac (Kladovo)|Davidovac]]
* [[Kladušnica]]
* [[Korbovo]]
* [[Kostol]]
* [[Kupuzište]]
* [[Ljubičevac (Kladovo)|Ljubičevac]]
* [[Mala Vrbica (Kladovo)|Mala Vrbica]]
* [[Manastirica (Kladovo)|Manastirica]]
* [[Milutinovac]]
* [[Novi Sip]]
* [[Petrovo Selo, Kladovo|Petrovo Selo]]
* [[Podvrška]]
* [[Reka (Kladovo)|Reka]]
* [[Rečica (Kladovo)|Rečica]]
* [[Rtkovo]]
* [[Tekija na Dunavu]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|26161 |1953|27792 |1961|28217 |1971|33173 |1981|33376 |1991|31881 |2002|23613 |2011|20635
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714191241/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref>
}}

According to the 2011 census results, the municipality has a population of 20,635 inhabitants.

===Ethnic groups===
The ethnic composition of the municipality:<ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=5 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811224233/http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf |archive-date=11 August 2014 }}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|17,673
|85.65%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|"[[Romanians in Serbia|Vlachs]]" ([[Romanians]])||align="right"|788
|3.82%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|236
|1.14%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians in Serbia|Romanians]] (self-declared)||align="right"|156
|0.76%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]||align="right"|42
|0.20%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]||align="right"|36
|0.17%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|35
|0.17%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|16
|0.08%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|1,653
|8.01%
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|20,635
|
|}

==Economy==
The main business are the [[hydro-electric]] power plants of Đerdap: [[Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station|Iron Gate I]] and [[Iron Gate II Hydroelectric Power Station|Iron Gate II]]. Other businesses began primarily to support the building and operation of the power plant, and the local folk.

The population of the villages around Kladovo is mostly supported by the family members who work in the countries of western [[Europe]], agriculture is a side activity more than an income-generating one.

The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|63
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|5
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|1,302
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|443
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|71
|-
|Construction||align="right"|73
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|809
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|129
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|305
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|77
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|33
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|2
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|82
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|98
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|252
|-
|Education||align="right"|290
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|460
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|30
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|68
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|139
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''4,731'''
|}

==Features==
Kladovo has one hospital, two daycare and kindergarten centers, one elementary school (grades 1 through 8), one high school and several vocational schools.

Though the river [[Danube]] is very polluted by international standards, many people still fish in it. Before the power plant was built, [[Beluga (sturgeon)|sturgeon]] [[caviar]] from this area was very popular and was exported as a delicacy to the western [[Europe]] and the [[United States]]. In the 1960s, up to 3 tons of caviar yearly was exported from Kladovo. Record catch from that period is a {{convert|188|kg|abbr=on}} heavy sturgeon with {{convert|20|kg|abbr=on}} of the [[roe]] in it. However, the records from the past, dated in 1793, report of the sturgeon which had {{convert|500|kg|abbr=on}}. The specificity of the [[Caviar of Kladovo]] was that the roe gets "ripe" enough during the {{convert|850|km|abbr=on}} long journey of the fish from the [[Black Sea]] upstream the Danube. Also, roe was turned into the caviar using the dry method.<ref>{{ cite news | author = Miroslav Stefanović | title = Мегдани аласа и риба грдосија | trans-title = Fights between the fishermen and the giant fishes | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1073 | pages = 28–29 | language = sr | date = 22 April 2018 }}</ref>

The nearby [[archeological]] sites include the remnants of [[Roman Empire|Roman]] [[Emperor]] [[Trajan's bridge]], a [[Trajan's Bridge#Tabula Traiana|Trajan table]], remnants of Trajan's road through the Danube's [[Iron Gates]], and the [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] fortress Diana.

{{Main|Trajan's Bridge}}
The Trajan's Bridge is located 5 km downstream from Kladovo. It had 20 pillars and was 1,200 m long. Trajan's successor [[Hadrian]] partially demolished it to prevent the raids of the [[Dacians]] and the bridge was later neglected. The bridge is depicted in a [[relief]] on the [[Trajan's Column]] in Rome. Until the 16th century, it was the largest bridge ever built.<ref name=Politika>{{Citation | author = Olivera Milošević | title = Dunav i istorija magneti Kladova | newspaper = [[Politika]] | page = 16 | language = sr | date = 3 September 2017 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/388134/Dunav-i-istorija-magneti-Kladova }}</ref> The 20 pillars were still visible in 1856, when the level of the Danube hit a record low. In 1906, the [[Internationalization of the Danube River|Commission of the Danube]] decided to destroy two of the pillars that were obstructing navigation. In 1932, there were 16 pillars remaining underwater, but in 1982 only 12 were mapped by archaeologists; the other four had probably been swept away by water. Only the entrance pillars are now visible on either bank of the Danube.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=20822|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205023835/http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=20822|url-status=dead|title=Romans Rise from the Waters|archive-date=5 December 2006|access-date=21 May 2023}}</ref>

When the artificial Đerdap Lake was formed from 1967-72 as a result of the Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station. The lake inundated the old Roman road along the coast and the only remaining part of the old path is the Tabula Traiana, a Roman memorial plaque, which was elevated for 25 m. The process of lifting the table (4 m x 1.75 m) lasted from 1966 to 1969, today is several meters above the lake level and is observable only from the lake.<ref name=Politika/>

Remains of the fortress Diana are located 2 km downstream of the Iron Gate I. Diana is one of the largest and best preserved Roman forts on this section of the [[Danubian Limes]]. It was built by the emperor Trajan at the beginning of the 2nd century BC and was destroyed by the joint attack of the Slavs and [[Pannonian Avars]] in the 6th century.<ref name=Politika/>

{{Main|Fetislam}}
[[File:Fetislam Fortress 02.jpg|alt=Fetislam fortress|thumb|Fetislam fortress]]
During the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] occupation of the [[Balkan]] peninsula a fortress was built near the town. It was named [[Fetislam]] (originally ''Feht-ul-Islam'' meaning "gate of Islam") and it is located {{convert|300|m|abbr=on}} upstream of Kladovo's downtown. Construction began in 1524 and the present look of Fetislam dates from the period of [[Suleiman the Magnificent]] in the mid 16th century. The construction was supervised by [[Malkoçoğlu Balı Bey|Malkoçoğlu Bali Bey]], while the architect was Osman Pasha. It consists of "Big Town" and "Little Town", which represent two levels of the fortress' defense. It was very important for the Ottomans as, due to its location, domineered the Iron Gate gorge. Fetislam has round, two-storeys high towers. The rectangular cannon fortification with six round [[bastion]]s, Fetislam became important military structure up to the end of World War I. It was damaged in World War II and by the neglect after the war. In 1968 conversion into the sport complex slowly began and it was partially renovated in 1973, including the amphitheater. The fortress was endangered with the rise of the Danube water level with the construction of the massive Iron Gate dam. Today, it contains children's playgrounds, track and soccer fields, handball, volleyball and tennis courts.<ref name=Politika/><ref>{{cite news | author = Mirjana Nikić | title = Игралиште одржало тврђаву | trans-title = Playground kept the fortress in shape | newspaper = Politika-Moja kuća | page = 01 | language = sr | date = 21 December 2018}}</ref>

The [[Đerdap national park]] offers scenic views, excellent hunting grounds, and many trails for hiking (most trails are not well marked or maintained, so hiking is recommended only for the experienced).

The town has two hotels: "Đerdap" and "Aquastar Danube". Nearby the city (8 km on the road to Belgrade) there is a youth camp named "Karataš" (Turkish ''kara-tash'' for "black stone") which can host some of the visiting tourists. Kladovo has many cafés and restaurants, some offering live music entertainment late into the night. The town's [[quay]] stretches about {{convert|3|km|mi|sp=us}} along the [[Danube]] river and is used for walking and cycling.

Kladovo has a beach, Đerdap Archaeology Museum, Orthodox Church of Saint George and a pedestrian zone (''Kladovo [[Skadarlija]]''). Kladovo is on the [[EV6 The Rivers Route|European bicycle path]] and in 2016 about 16,000 cyclists passed through the town. As of 2017, the bus line [[Belgrade]]-Kladovo was the only one in Serbia which had bicycle carriers on the buses.
The neighboring villages of [[Tekija (Kladovo)|Tekija]] and [[Brza Palanka]] also arranged beaches on the river. Other touristic attractions include the organized visits to the Iron Gate I power plant, local cuisine and the surrounding [[wine region]] between Kladovo and [[Negotin]], the [[Negotin Valley]]. In the 19th century, the wine produced here was shipped to Belgrade, [[Novi Sad]], [[Budapest]], [[Vienna]], etc.<ref name=Politika/>

The [[Marketplaces#Types|public market]] was open in 1586, when the Ottomans moved the seat of [[nahiyah]] to Fetislam tower. In the mid-19th century, it was recorded that the market is open on Saturdays. In the mid-20th century, the market was equipped with the concrete [[market stall]]s, receiving little maintenance<ref>{{cite news | author = U.R. | title = Неуређена кладовска пијаца | trans-title = Unregulated Kladovo market | newspaper = Politika | page = 13 | language = sr | date = 12 September 2018}}</ref> until 2019, when more extensive renovation works begun.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kladovo.org.rs/vest-poeli-radovi-na-rekonstrukciji-gradske-zelene-pijace-980.htm|title=Počeli radovi na rekonstrukciji gradske zelene pijace|date=14 February 2019|website=Municipality of Kladovo official website (in Serbian)|access-date=11 August 2019|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022013335/http://www.kladovo.org.rs/vest-poeli-radovi-na-rekonstrukciji-gradske-zelene-pijace-980.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Tvrdjava Diana istocna kapija2.jpg|''[[Diana Fortress]]''
File:Traian's Table (Tabula Traiana)2.jpg|''Tabula Traiana''
File:Kladovo.jpg|''Fetislam Fortress'' entry
File:HE ĐerdapI Karataš.jpg|''[[Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station]]''
File:Dam Serbia Djerdap 2.jpg|''[[Iron Gate II Hydroelectric Power Station]]''
File:Sportska hala "Jezero" - panoramio.jpg|''Sports Hall "Jezero"''
</gallery>

==Notable residents==
Born in Kladovo municipality:
* [[Avram Petronijević]], born in [[Tekija (Kladovo)]]
* [[Darko Perić (actor)|Darko Perić]], actor, born in Kladovo
Temporary residents:
* [[Nicodemus of Tismana]] (14-15th century)
* [[Vuk Stefanović Karadžić]], a [[Serbia]]n [[Linguistics|linguist]] and reformer of the [[Serbian language]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tkmagazin.rs/da-li-znate-da-je-vuk-karadzic-je-u-kladovu-negotinu-proveo-najlepse-godine-svog-zivota/|title=DA LI ZNATE DA JE VUK KARADŽIĆ U KLADOVU I NEGOTINU PROVEO NAJLEPŠE GODINE SVOG ŽIVOTA|last=Stojanovic|first=Milija|date=2017-06-11|website=TK Magazin|language=sr-RS|access-date=2019-07-19}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Kladovo transport]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kladovo}}
* {{official website|http://www.kladovo.org.rs}}
* [http://www.kulturakladovo.rs/ Library Cultural Center Kladovo] {{in lang|sr}}

{{Bor District}}
{{Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Bor District]]
[[Category:Timok Valley]]
[[Category:Municipalities and cities of Southern and Eastern Serbia]]

Sopot, Belgrade

2023-06-12T18:07:31Z

94.140.246.27:

{{distinguish|Sopot, Pirot}}
{{redirect|Sopot Municipality|municipality in Bulgaria|Sopot Municipality, Bulgaria}}
{{Infobox settlement
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Сопот|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| official_name = Sopot
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[Subdivisions of Belgrade|Municipality]]
| image_shield = Sopot Coat Of Arms.svg
| image_flag = Flag of Sopot (Belgrade).png
| image_skyline = Sopot, centar, spomenik Djuri Prokicu.jpg
| image_caption = Sopot town center
| image_map = File:Belgrade Municipalities Sopot.png
| mapsize = 150px
| map_caption = Location of Sopot within the city of Belgrade
| coordinates = {{coord|44|31|N|20|35|E|region:RS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = City
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Belgrade}}
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 17
| leader_party = [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Živorad Milosavljević]]
| elevation_m = 177.38
| area_blank1_title = Urban
| area_blank1_km2 = 23.05
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 270.67
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref><ref name="area-sopot">{{cite web |title=Насеља општине Сопот|url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Registar/SlikeRegioni/Mapiranemape/BG%20i%20VOJ/ReSopot.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia |access-date=23 October 2019 |language=sr }}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2011}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 census
| population_blank1_title = Urban
| population_blank1 = 1956
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 19126
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 11450
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381(0)11
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = BG
| website = {{URL|www.sopot.org.rs}}
}}

'''Sopot''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Сопот}}, {{IPA-sh|sɔ̂pɔːt|pron}}) is a [[Subdivisions of Belgrade|municipality]] of the city of [[Belgrade]]. According to the 2022 census results, the town has a population of 1,956 inhabitants while the municipality has 19,126 inhabitants.

== Location ==

Sopot is located on the slopes of the [[Kosmaj]] mountain, {{convert|45|km}} south of Belgrade. The mountain is some {{convert|8|km}} away from the town.<ref name=magazin>{{cite news | author = Stevan Buković | script-title=sr: У Сопот по печење, паприку и - дозу културе | trans-title = Travelling to Sopot for roast meat, peppers and a boost of culture | newspaper = Politika-Magazin, No. 1249 | pages = 20–21 | language = sr | date = 5 September 2021}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Wiki Šumadija IX Sopot, Belgrade 190.jpg|thumb|right|Mural of Sofest]]

The area has remains from Roman period. There is a masonry drinking fountain in Sopot, for which the Roman stones from some now disappeared structure were used.<ref name=magazin/>

The name of Sopot is derived from the [[Old Church Slavonic|old Slavic]] word for water spring ([[Serbian language|Serbian]]: ''izvor'').([[cf.]] [[List of waterfalls of Serbia#Sopotnica|Sopotnica]]). The word itself is onomatopoeic of the water sound flowing out of the spring. There are numerous springs and short creeks and streams in the area.<ref name=magazin/>

The village was mentioned in written records for the first time in 1818. In 1823, Serbian ruling prince [[Miloš Obrenović]] ordered for the ''[[meyhane]]'' to be built on the road which through Sopot was heading for Belgrade. The tavern was known as ''šindralija'' type, because it was roofed by ''šindra'', or [[Roof shingle|shingle]]. In 1830, huts for the travelers to Belgrade were built around it, expanding effectivelly the venue into the [[Caravanserai#Khan|khan]]. It remains the oldest structure in the town and today hosts the Heritage Museum. There is a small park in front of it, through which flows one of many streams. In 1893, Sopot was declared a small town (''varošica'') by the royal decree.<ref name=magazin/>

In October 2019, the village of Ropočevo was officially abolished and its territory was annexed to the town of Sopot.<ref>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Sakulja i Ropočevo izbrisani s mape grada | trans-title = Sakulja and Ropočevo erased from the city map | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 6 October 2019 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/439272/Sakulja-i-Ropocevo-izbrisani-s-mape-grada}}</ref>

== Characteristics ==

Since 1972, an annual film festival "Sofest" has been held in Sopot.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/254840/Ruralni-Beograd-dve-trecine-prestonice|author=Dimitrije Bukvić|title= Ruralni Beograd - dve trećine prestonice|date=14 April 2013| publisher= [[Politika]]|language=sr}}</ref> It is held in July, in the town's Culture Hall.<ref name=magazin/>

At the town's center are the Municipal Hall surrounded by the lush greenery, a fountain, and a monument to World War I combatant Đura Prokić. After the festival, there are several other monuments inspired by the motion pictures. Large number of weekend houses was built throughout the municipality since the 1970s, by the residents of Belgrade. The town is also a trade center, with well known farmers market, with local goods which includes peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and other vegetables and fruits.<ref name=magazin/>

Hilly areas on Kosmaj are covered with forests of oak, beech and common hornbeam. Monasteries of Tresije, Pavlovac and Kasteljan (in ruins), are local tourist attractions. The stone church of Saint Peter and Paul is located in the village of [[Nemenikuće]]. In the churchyard there are six [[mulberry]] trees, estimated to originate from between 1600 and 1650. Being on the access road to Belgrade, Sopot had numerous restaurants and ''[[kafana]]s'', and earned a moniker of a settlement with largest number of ''kafanas'' per capita.<ref name=magazin/>

Nowadays, the municipality has a large Primary and Economics high school. Sopot has a soccer club called the ''Wolves from Kosmaj'' and a basketball club bearing the same name.

==Settlements==
Aside from the town of Sopot, the following settlements comprise the municipality:
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Babe
* Guberevac
* Dučina
* Drlupa
* Đurinci
* Mala Ivanča
* Mali Požarevac
* Nemenikuće
* Parcani
* Popović
* Ralja
* Rogača
* Sibnica
* Slatina
* Stojnik
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
[[File:Panorama Sopota.jpg|thumb|right|Panoramic view on Sopot's neighborhood]]
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|22857 |1953|23182 |1961|23131 |1971|21166 |1981|20860 |1991|20527 |2002|20390 |2011|20367
| source = <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in the Republic of Serbia |url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Knjiga20.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia |access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref>
}}
According to the 2011 census results, the municipality of Sopot has a population of 20,367 inhabitants.

===Ethnic groups===
The ethnic composition of the municipality:<ref name="enhnicity2011">{{cite web|title=ETHNICITY Data by municipalities and cities|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
!%
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|19,554
|96.01 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]||align="right"|148
|0.73 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|52
|0.26 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]||align="right"|37
|0.18 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|34
|0.17 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|31
|0.15 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Russians]]||align="right"|14
|0.07 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Hungarians of Serbia|Hungarians]]||align="right"|13
|0.06 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians of Serbia|Romanians]]||align="right"|10
|0.05 %
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|474
|2.33 %
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|20,367
|100 %
|}

==Economy==
The following table gives a preview of total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|10
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|-
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|1,392
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|35
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|99
|-
|Construction||align="right"|303
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|530
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|190
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|169
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|55
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|28
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|17
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|181
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|36
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|125
|-
|Education||align="right"|297
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|217
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|31
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|88
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|181
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''3,984'''
|}

There are two game hunting grounds in the municipality: [[Trešnja]], which extends into the Voždovac municipality, and [[Kosmaj]], on the mountain of the same name.<ref>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Lovci u Beograd stižu porodično | trans-title = Hunters travel to Belgrade with their families | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 5 August 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/408612/Lovci-u-Beograd-stizu-porodicno }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Wiki Šumadija IX Sopot, Belgrade 180.jpg|Sopot town center
File:Dom kulture Sopot.jpg|Dom kulture Sopot
File:Sopot - Stari han 01.jpg|"Stari han" Sopot
File:Wiki Šumadija IX Sopot, Belgrade 163.jpg|''Economics High School''
File:Monastery Tresije.JPG|Monastery Tresije
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Subdivisions of Belgrade]]
* [[List of Belgrade neighborhoods and suburbs]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Sopot, Belgrade}}
* {{official website|http://www.sopot.org.rs/}}

{{Municipalities of Serbia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sopot, Belgrade| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Belgrade]]
[[Category:Suburbs of Belgrade]]
[[Category:Šumadija]]

Grocka

2023-06-12T18:06:36Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Grocka
| native_name = {{native name|sr-Cyrl|Гроцка|italics=off}}
| native_name_lang = sr
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[Subdivisions of Belgrade|Municipality]]
| official_name =
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_flag = Flag of Grocka (Belgrade).png
| image_skyline = Grocka island Grocanska Ada and donau IMG 1593.jpg
| image_caption = Aerial view
| image_map = File:Belgrade Municipalities Grocka.png
| mapsize = 150px
| map_caption = Location of Grocka within the city of Belgrade
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Serbia}}
| subdivision_type1 = City
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Belgrade}}
| parts_type = Settlements
| parts_style = para
| p1 = 15
| coordinates = {{coord|44|40|N|20|43|E|type:city|display=inline, title}}
| government_type = Municipality of Belgrade
| leader_title = Municipality president
| leader_name = Dragan Pantelić
| leader_party = endorsed by the [[Serbian Progressive Party|SNS]]
| area_blank1_title = Urban
| area_blank1_km2 = 30.70
| area_blank2_title = Municipality
| area_blank2_km2 = 299.52
| area_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian municipalities 2006}}</ref><ref name="area-grocka">{{cite web |title=Насеља општине Гроцка|url=http://webrzs.stat.gov.rs/axd/Registar/SlikeRegioni/Mapiranemape/BG%20i%20VOJ/ReGrocka.pdf |website=stat.gov.rs |publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia |access-date=23 October 2019 |language=sr }}</ref>
| population_footnotes = <ref>{{Serbian census 2022}}</ref>
| population_as_of = 2022 census
| population_blank1_title = Town
| population_blank1 = 8154
| population_blank2_title = Municipality
| population_blank2 = 82810
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| postal_code_type = [[Postal codes in Serbia|Postal code]]
| postal_code = 11306
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in Serbia|Area code]]
| area_code = +381 011
| blank_name = [[Vehicle registration plates of Serbia|Car plates]]
| blank_info = BG
| website = {{url|www.grocka.rs}}
}}

'''Grocka''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Гроцка}}, {{IPA-sh|ɡrǒtskaː|pron}}) or '''Grocka na Dunavu''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|Гроцка на Дунаву}}, {{Lit|Grocka on [[Danube]]}}) is a [[Subdivisions of Belgrade|municipality]] of the city of [[Belgrade]]. According to the 2022 census results, the municipality has 82,810 inhabitants.

==Location and geography==

The municipality is located east of Belgrade, in the northern part of [[Šumadija]] region, with the northern section being part of the [[Podunavlje]] macro-region in the valley of the [[Danube]], while the southern section is located around the valley of the [[Ralja (river)|Ralja]] River, which is a tributary to the [[Velika Morava]]'s arm of [[Jezava]]. With an altitude of 71 meters above sea level, the town of Grocka is one of the lowest parts of Belgrade.<ref>Politika, April 20, 2008, front page</ref> Other rivers in the municipality are [[Bolečica]] and Gročica ({{lang-sr-cyr|Грочица}}). Being polluted, in March 2019 the environmentalists described both rivers as "less of a watercourses, more of a sewage watersheds".<ref>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasliljević | title = Sava i Dunav odolevaju zagađenju, rečice i potoci postali kolektori | trans-title = Sava and Danube resist the pollution, streams and brooks turned into collectors | newspaper = Politika | page = 12 | language = sr | date = 23 March 2019 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/425700/Sava-i-Dunav-odolevaju-zagadenju-recice-i-potoci-postali-kolektori}}</ref>

==History==
The municipality of Grocka became part of the wider Belgrade City area in 1955. In 1957 with the dissolution of the [[Mali Mokri Lug]] municipality, the eastern section (the villages of Kaluđerica, Leštane and Vinča) were attached to Grocka. In the early 1960s, the municipalities of Umčari and Vrčin were disbanded and incorporated into the municipality of Grocka as well.

==Settlements==
The municipality of Grocka covers an area of 289 km² and includes 15 settlements, all of which are statistically classified as rural, except for the municipal seat of Grocka, which is urban. The small town of Grocka is located on the right bank of the Danube, where the small river Gročica empties into the Danube, 30 km east of Belgrade. Despite being the seat of the municipality, in terms of population, it is only the fourth largest settlement in the municipality, after Kaluđerica, Vrčin and Leštane.
{|
|- valign=top
|
*[[Begaljica]]
*[[Boleč]]
|
*[[Brestovik]]
*[[Dražanj]]
|
*Grocka
*[[Kaluđerica]]
|
*[[Kamendol]]
*[[Leštane]]
|
*[[Pudarci]]
*[[Ritopek]]
|
*[[Umčari]]
*[[Vinča]]
|
*[[Vrčin]]
*[[Zaklopača (Grocka)|Zaklopača]]
|
*[[Živkovac]]
|}

[[Vrčin#Neighborhoods|Neighborhoods of Vrčin]]:
{|
|- valign=top
|
*Adamovići
*Bajića Kraj
|
*Carino Naselje
*Cerje
|
*Donja Mala
*Gornja Mala
|
*Jankovići
*Malo Polje
|
*Pobrđani
*Ramnice
|
*Tranšped
*Karagača
*Kasapovac
|}

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
| type =
| percentages = pagr
|1948|28927 |1953|30659 |1961|32836 |1971|35275 |1981|54599 |1991|69448 |2002|75466 |2011|83907
|source = <ref>{{cite book|title= Comparative overview of the number of population in 1948, 1953, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991, 2002 and 2011 – Data by settlements, page 29|date=2014|publisher= Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia, Belgrade|isbn=978-86-6161-109-4}}</ref>
|
}}
According to the 2011 census results, the municipality has a population of 83,907 inhabitants. Due to immigration and the natural increase of all of the city's municipalities, Grocka has been for decades one of the fastest growing areas of Belgrade. The population boomed in the last 40 years, increasing the number of inhabitants (1971–2011 by 2.38 times). As in other similar areas surrounding Belgrade, the rapid population growth has not been followed by the equal development of infrastructure (roads, waterworks, sewage system, and waste disposal).

===Ethnic groups===
The ethnic composition of the municipality:<ref name="enhnicity2011">{{cite web|title=ETHNICITY Data by municipalities and cities|url=http://pod2.stat.gov.rs/ObjavljenePublikacije/Popis2011/Nacionalna%20pripadnost-Ethnicity.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=Statistical Office of Serbia|access-date=1 March 2018}}</ref>
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Ethnic group
! Population
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Serbs]]||align="right"|78,979
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romani people in Serbia|Romani]]||align="right"|855
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Gorani people in Serbia|Gorani]]||align="right"|394
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Macedonians in Serbia|Macedonians]]||align="right"|374
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Montenegrins of Serbia|Montenegrins]]||align="right"|256
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Muslims (nationality)|Muslims]]||align="right"|198
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bulgarians of Serbia|Bulgarians]]||align="right"|161
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Croats of Serbia|Croats]]||align="right"|129
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Yugoslavs in Serbia|Yugoslavs]]||align="right"|96
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Bosniaks of Serbia|Bosniaks]]||align="right"|69
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Hungarians of Serbia|Hungarians]]||align="right"|65
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Russians]]||align="right"|58
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Romanians of Serbia|Romanians]]||align="right"|34
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Slovenians]]||align="right"|21
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Ukrainians]]||align="right"|16
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Slovaks of Serbia|Slovaks]]||align="right"|13
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|[[Albanians in Serbia|Albanians]]||align="right"|13
|-
|style="background:#F5F5DC;"|Others||align="right"|2,176
|-
|style="background:#F0F0F0;"|'''Total'''||align="right"|83,907
|}

==Economy==
In both demographic and economic terms, the municipality is sharply divided into two opposing parts. The western part extends into one urban area with Belgrade, experiencing a boost of both population and economy, as hundreds of small companies are located there (Kaluđerica, Boleč, Leštane, Vinča, Ritopek are some), while the eastern part is agricultural, in particular a fruit growing area, and, apart from the town of Grocka itself, experiencing a net decline in population.

The [[microclimate]] is perfect for fruit growing and grapevines. The area east of Boleč is one of the best known fruit growing areas in Serbia. Fruit growing developed in the late 19th century and Grocka, Boleč, Ritopek, Zaklopača, Begaljica and Brestovik became known as the "Serbian California" or "Little California", producing apples, peaches, apricots, plums, and grapes. Ritopek became a major producer of cherries. Production reduced since the 2000s but the capacity of the orchards is 65,000 tons of fruit per year.<ref name="Politika">{{cite web|url= http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/254840/Ruralni-Beograd-dve-trecine-prestonice|author=Dimitrije Bukvić|title= Ruralni Beograd - dve trećine prestonice|date=14 April 2013| publisher= [[Politika]]|language=sr}}</ref> In 2017 orchards spread over the area of {{convert|70|km2|abbr=on}}, or almost a quarter of the municipal total area,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/379933/Pokradene-protivgradne-rakete-nadoknadene-novim|author=Danijela Davidov-Kesar|title= Pokradene protivgradne rakete nadoknađene novim|date=6 May 2017|page= 14| publisher= [[Politika]]|language=sr}}</ref> reaching {{convert|74.93|km2|abbr=on}} by 2020.<ref name=tron>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Grocka na tronu srpskog voćarstva | trans-title = Grocka on throne of Serbian fruit-growing | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 20 July 2020 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/458753/Grocka-na-tronu-srpskog-vocarstva}}</ref>

Grocka is also known as the "Serbian [[sweet cherry|cherry]] capital" as the cherry survived as the major crop. Cultivation was introduced by Jovan J. Jovanović, gynecologist of [[Draga Mašin|queen Draga]] and pioneer of [[reproductive health]] in Serbia. Jovanović noticed vast orchards and organized fruit production during his studying in Austria-Hungary. Austrian experts surveyed the land, which Jovanović wanted to be close to Belgrade, as the largest market in the state. Taking in account soil structure and climate, they suggested slopes above the Danube in Grocka. He purchased the land in 1906 from the Grocka municipality which was in debts due to the renovation of the Holy Trinity church. The municipality decided to sell numerous parcels, remnants of the former Turkish estates. Jovanović outbid one of the wealthiest Grocka families, the Bećagović. The lots were located in the localities of Rupe and Kozjak, at the entrance into Grocka. From 1906 to 1908 he planted 7,000 trees on {{convert|80|ha|abbr=on}}, forming the largest ever cherry plantation in the Balkans.<ref name=behar>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Behar u prestonici srpskog trešnjarstva | trans-title = Bahar in the capital of Serbian cherry growing | newspaper = Politika | page = 16 | language = sr | date = 22 April 2020 | url =http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/452728/Behar-u-prestonici-srpskog-tresnjarstva }}</ref>

Prior to that, cherry was cultivated only in some individual yards in the Grocka area, and this was beginning of the plantation-type fruit production in Serbia in general. Jovanović introduced varieties like ''hedelfingen'', ''germersdorf'' and ''early Lyonnaise'', but the names were hard to pronounce for the local farmers so they gave them Serbian names which survived, ''herc'' (heart shaped), ''kerminka'' (red juice) and ''doktorka'' (doctor's cherry), after Jovanović, respectively. Local farmers accepted cherry cautiously at first, planting the trees on the arable lots edges, to make shade. Then they planted it jointly with the grapevine but by the 1920s the cherry began to squeeze out other crops and the formation of the [[Plant nursery|cherry nurseries]] began. From Grocka, cultivation spread to the nearby Ritopek which is today the major production center. After World War II, the new Communist authorities nationalized Jovanović's land, divided it and awarded the lots to the landless. However, few years later the state nationalized the land again, with one part being re-parceled and sold, while the "PIK Grocka", agricultural farm was formed on the other. By the 1950s, the production in Grocka outgrew demand of Belgrade farmers markets and the export began. On the sold parcels, the weekend-settlement developed.<ref name=behar/> Still, the fruit-growing remains the vastly predominant agricultural branch. Out of all registered agricultural farms and economies, 90%, or some 3,000, are producing fruits.<ref name=tron/>

Unlike cherry, which is fairly recent in the region, the grapevine has been cultivated since the Roman period. The hilly slopes above the Danube, with excellent climate for the grapes, extend from Grocka to Smederevo. In the early modern and modern period, if a landowner or a farmer wanted to be considered successful and distinguished, he had to own his own vineyard. The cluster of white grapes is represented on Grocka's coat of arms. Belgrade and [[Vienna]] are the only two European capitals which have grapevines and vineyards with [[geographical indication]] on their territories. Those vineyards are organic - the grapevines are treated minimally (with [[Copper(II) sulfate|bluestone]], without pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or artificial fertilizers), the land is not being plowed or [[disc harrow]]ed, instead only the organic compost is being poured between the vines. Around and inside the vineyards various medicinal herbs and even weeds, are planted.<ref name=tron/> The certified organic wine is made from the grapes cultivated at the Plavinci locality.<ref>{{cite news | author = Zorica Atić | title = Prvo beogradsko organsko vino iz Grocke | trans-title = First Belgrade's organic wine from Grocka | newspaper = Politika | page = 19 | language = sr | date = 18 December 2020 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/469063/Prvo-beogradsko-organsko-vino-iz-Grocke}}</ref>

Of the other agricultural products, wheat is the most important. The experimental farm of [[Radmilovac]] is located near Vinča, as a section of the [[University of Belgrade]] Faculty of Agriculture. Radmilovac is being expanded as an experimental ground for future agricultural production.

As a result of this, industrial processing of the fruit is developed in Grocka, Vinča and Boleč, where the large plantations and refrigeration plants of the agricultural company ''PKB Beograd'' are located. Also, several mills are located in Grocka and Vinča.

The textile industry is also important (Grocka, ''Dunav'' factory, aka:Partizanka), while hundreds of small family-owned factories and workshops are located in the settlements in the western part of the municipality.

Some major traffic routes, like the "Smederevski put" ("Smederevo road") and both the Belgrade-[[Niš]] railway and highway, pass through the municipal territory. Also, there are several docks on the Danube (Vinča, Grocka) with the prospect of a future marina to be built in Grocka in the next few years.

Other important facilities in the municipality are the [[Geomagnetic observatory]] in Brestovik, the Nuclear Institute (with a defunct nuclear reactor) and the Belgrade City landfill in Vinča.

Tourism is the most developed part of the municipal economy. Almost every village has its own summer festival (like "Zlatni kotlić" ("Golden Cauldron") in Grocka or ''Dani trešnje'' (''Days of the cherry'') in Ritopek. The women's monastery of [[Rajinovac]] in Begaljica, the possible marina and aqua park in Grocka and the archeological find of [[Vinča culture]] are potential opportunities to boost the tourist economy.

The game hunting grounds of Gavranski Potok ("Raven's Creek") are in the municipality.<ref>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Lovci u Beograd stižu porodično | trans-title = Hunters travel to Belgrade with their families | newspaper = Politika | language = sr | date = 5 August 2018 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/408612/Lovci-u-Beograd-stizu-porodicno }}</ref>

One of the main characteristics of Grocka are weekend-settlements, mostly built by the inhabitants of Belgrade. Booming in the 1970s and 1980s, the building of weekend-houses largely stopped in the 1990s. In the 1980s, having a weekend-house in Grocka was a matter of prestige. It is estimated that there are 4,000 such houses in the municipality in several settlements. The largest settlements are Rujište on the slope above the Danube in Grocka itself with 200 houses and Ritopek with 300. The weekend-settlement of Čair, at the entrance into Grocka, is developing into a regular neighborhood.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/82687/Parce-raja-van-kruga-dvojke |author=M.Janković & S.Dragaš|title= Parče raja van kruga dvojke|date=11 April 2009| publisher= [[Politika]]|language=sr}}</ref>

The following table gives a preview of the total number of registered people employed in legal entities per their core activity (as of 2018):<ref name="stats18">{{cite web|title=MUNICIPALITIES AND REGIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA, 2019.|url=https://publikacije.stat.gov.rs/G2019/PdfE/G201913046.pdf|website=stat.gov.rs|publisher=[[Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia]]|date=25 December 2019|access-date=28 December 2019}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%;"
|-
! Activity
! Total
|-
|Agriculture, forestry and fishing||align="right"|127
|-
|Mining and quarrying||align="right"|28
|-
|Manufacturing||align="right"|2,853
|-
|Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply||align="right"|73
|-
|Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities||align="right"|362
|-
|Construction||align="right"|1,174
|-
|Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles||align="right"|3,348
|-
|Transportation and storage||align="right"|994
|-
|Accommodation and food services||align="right"|348
|-
|Information and communication||align="right"|295
|-
|Financial and insurance activities||align="right"|69
|-
|Real estate activities||align="right"|6
|-
|Professional, scientific and technical activities||align="right"|1,422
|-
|Administrative and support service activities||align="right"|141
|-
|Public administration and defense; compulsory social security||align="right"|585
|-
|Education||align="right"|848
|-
|Human health and social work activities||align="right"|802
|-
|Arts, entertainment and recreation||align="right"|101
|-
|Other service activities||align="right"|327
|-
|Individual agricultural workers||align="right"|540
|- class="sortbottom"
|'''Total'''||align="right"|'''14,443'''
|}

==Politics==
Since the elections in 2000, Grocka became the most politically turbulent of all Belgrade municipalities.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}} Recent Presidents of the Municipality:
* 1992 - 1995 - Bogoljub Stevanić (1943)
* 1995 - November 24, 2000 - [[Milan Janković (politician)|Milan Janković]] (1954)
* November 24, 2000 - June 28, 2002 - Vesna R. Ivić (1962)
* June 28, 2002 - December 8, 2002 - Milan Tanasković
* December 8, 2002 - April 15, 2003 - Sava Starčević (1955)
* April 15, 2003 - December 15, 2004 - Vladan Zarić (1972)
* December 15, 2004 - June 23, 2005 - Blažo Stojanović
* June 23, 2005 - November 4, 2005 - [[Dragoljub Simonović (politician)|Dragoljub Simonović]] (1959)
* November 4, 2005 - June 12, 2008 - Blažo Stojanović (second term)
* June 12, 2008 - June 22, 2010 - Zoran Jovanović
* June 22, 2010 - June 15, 2012 - [[Milan Janković (politician)|Milan Janković]] (second term)
* June 15, 2012 - December 28, 2012 - [[Dragoljub Simonović (politician)|Dragoljub Simonović]] (second term)
* December 28, 2012 - May 27, 2014 - Zoran Markov
* May 27, 2014 - June 3, 2016 - Stefan Dilberović
* June 3, 2016 - March 20, 2019 - [[Dragoljub Simonović (politician)|Dragoljub Simonović]] (third term)
* March 20, 2019 - September 3, 2020 - Živadinka Avramović
* September 3, 2020 - present - Dragan Pantelić

As a result of the economic and demographic discrepancy between the western and eastern parts of the municipality, there is a movement for splitting the municipality in two, or perhaps three parts. Primarily, it is about the division in two, with western half becoming new municipality of Vinča, while eastern remaining the municipality of Grocka. Also, there is a possibility of Vrčin splitting from Grocka and forming new municipality of [[Avalski Venac]] with other sub-Avalan settlements in the municipality of [[Voždovac]] ([[Beli Potok (Belgrade)|Beli Potok]], [[Zuce]], [[Pinosava]]).

== Town of Grocka ==
=== Economy ===

Grocka is at the center of one of the best known fruit growing areas in Serbia. Conditions are especially favorable for growing peaches, apricots, plums, cherries and grapes. Industrial processing of the fruit has been developed. There are also several mills and a textile industry (''Kluz'' factory).

Traffic is also important as Grocka is located on the road of ''Smederevski put''. It also has a small harbor on the Danube, at the Gročica's mouth (which regularly floods Grocka).

Tourism is important for the town's economy, with several festivals during the year (most notably, the ''Zlatni kotlić''). Large weekend-settlement called Rujište is built on the eastern extension of the town.

One of the landmarks of Grocka for decades was the restaurant "Vinogradi" (vineyards). It was built on the hill of ''Agino Brdo'', among the orchards and vineyards, {{convert|500|m|abbr=on}} from downtown Grocka and {{convert|25|km|abbr=on}} from Belgrade. It was known for the great cuisine and a magnificent panoramic view on [[Pančevo]], Smederevo, [[Avala]], but also on the distant [[Vršac Mountains]] and the [[Carpathians]] in [[Romania]]. Construction began in 1960. It used to be visited by [[President of Yugoslavia]] [[Josip Broz Tito]], who often came via [[Danube]] in his yacht ''Šumadinka''. In his 17 visitations, Tito also brought guests to the restaurant, like [[Sophia Loren]], [[Elizabeth Taylor]], [[Henry Kissinger]], [[Valéry Giscard d'Estaing]], [[Sukarno]] and [[Neil Armstrong]]. The luxurious venue served as the location of many movies, but from the 1990s it started to decline and by the early 21st century was completely abandoned and covered in overgrowth. In that period it was discovered that the restaurant had power generators, an independent water system with a well and pools of drinking water and a [[soundproofing|soundproof]] room, apparently used for listening and taping of the guests. In the 2010s, a local investor purchased the edifice, demolished the ruined remains and built a new building in the traditional style. It is expected that the restaurant will be reopened in 2018.<ref>{{Citation | author = A.M. | title = Tu je Dunav gledala Sofija Loren| newspaper = [[Politika]]-Magazin, No. 1030 | pages = 26–27 | language = sr | date = 25 June 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | author = Z.Atić | title = Francuskinja i Španac rekli "da" na Aginom brdu | newspaper = Politika | pages = 17 | language = sr | date = 8 August 2017 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/386540/Francuskinja-i-Spanac-rekli-da-na-Aginom-brdu }}</ref>

=== Culture and history ===

There are over 80 archaeological sites on the territory of Grocka, which point to the long and continuous habitation of the area. The 1974 digging at the location of the [[Rančić Family house in Grocka|Rančić Family House]] produced artifacts and fragments from the [[Neolithic]] [[Starčevo culture|Starčevo]] and [[Vinča culture]]s (including fragments of the figurines), non-enamel ceramics from the 15th century, Turkish ceramics from the 16th-18th century and various objects from the 19th-20th century.<ref>{{cite news | author = Zorica Atić | title = Arheološke tajne Rančićeve kuće | trans-title = Archaeological secrets of the Rančić House | newspaper = Politika | page = 14 | language = sr | date = 12 November 2019 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/441705/Arheoloske-tajne-Ranciceve-kuce}}</ref>

The area on which Grocka is located was once part of [[Limes (Roman Empire)|limes]], a border defense system of [[Ancient Rome]]. The remains of several watch-towers and small forts were found in nearby villages along the banks of the [[Danube]] River. The municipality of Grocka is the richest in archaeological localities of all the Belgrade municipalities, but they are also among the least explored. Only in the village of Brestovik there are three localities: "Podunavlje-Hladna Voda-Vrtlog-Mikulje" Localities Complex (under preliminary protection), "Beli Breg" and "Goli Breg." Artifacts from Goli Breg are being kept in the [[National Museum in Belgrade]] and Museum of the city of Belgrade.<ref name=politika>{{Citation | author = Zorica Atić | title = Misteriozni kamenovi iz Brestovika | newspaper = [[Politika]] | pages = 13 | language = sr | date = 26 August 2017 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/387629/Misteriozni-kamenovi-iz-Brestovika}}</ref> [[Roman tomb in Brestovik]], an ancient tomb, dating from c. 300, was discovered in 1895. Though evidence points to the tomb of a wealthy local, popular belief is that the "martyrs of [[Singidunum]]", Hermylus and Stratonicus, were buried inside. As one of the most important monuments from the Late Roman period in Belgrade and Serbia, the tomb has been protected since 1948.<ref>{{Citation | author = Aleksandra Mijalković | title = Vlastelinska grobnica u Brestoviku | newspaper = [[Politika]]-Magazin, No. 1037 | pages = 25–27 | language = sr | date = 13 August 2017 }}</ref> There are also [[Brestovik#Stones of brestovik|Stones of Brestovik]], which were transported into the yard of the [[Rančić Family house in Grocka]] in 2017. Preliminary examination showed that the stones are indeed archaeological artifacts. Based on their size, details, and robust frame, it is believed that they were part of some monumental construction from the [[Roman Antiquity]] period. Reliefs, or the "stone plastics", are still visible and they form a singular pattern on all three stones. That points to the conclusion that they are either segments of a sacral architecture, but more likely of a large public building, most certainly built before the 4th century, from the period of the golden age of the nearby [[Singidunum]], modern Belgrade.<ref name=politika/>

Roman forts, built to protect the [[Via Militaris]] road in the vicinity include ''Tricornium'', in modern Ritopek, and ''Mutatio ad Sextum Militare'', in Grocka itself.<ref>{{cite web | title = Discover Belgrade - Ancient period | url = http://www.beograd.rs/en/discover-belgrade/201172-ancient-period/ | year = 2018 | publisher = [[City of Belgrade]] | language = sr}}</ref>

The town was mentioned for the first time in 878, under the Slavic name Gardec, in the list of settlements by the local Bulgarian bishop.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.grocka.publikacija.rs/sr/istorija |title= Opština Grocka - Istorija.|date=2008| publisher= Grocka.publikacija.rs|language=sr}}</ref> The present settlement was established in 1550 and given the title of ''varošica'' ("small town").<ref name="old">{{Citation | author = A.Jovanović | title = Oldtajmeri, karneval, koncerti i lovački gulaš | newspaper = [[Politika]] | pages = 16 | language = sr | date = 19 July 2017 | url = http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/385175/Oldtajmeri-karneval-koncerti-i-lovacki-gulas}}</ref>

The town has a historical main street ([[čaršija]]) with shops, green market and a small administrative center, which has been turned into a pedestrian zone. Under the name {{ill|Grocka's Čaršija|sr|Грочанска чаршија}}, the area surrounding the street was placed under the state protection as the [[Protected Spatial Cultural-Historical Units (Serbia)|spatial cultural-historical unit]].<ref>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = U planu da se pod zaštitu stavi osam prostornih celina | trans-title = Plan for placing eight spatial units under protection | newspaper = Politika | page = 15 | language = sr | date = 13 September 2021 | url = https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/487667/U-planu-da-se-pod-zastitu-stavi-osam-prostornih-celina}}</ref>

An annual festival "Gročanske svečanosti" (Grocka festivities) has been held since the 1960s. Fruit producers and artists meet in čaršija, while musical performances, sports tournaments, theatrical shows, and a fish soup cooking contest are held.<ref name="Politika"/> The 50th "Gročanske svečanosti" were held in July–August 2017 and to mark the occasion, a sculpture of "Gročanka" (Girl from Grocka), which symbolizes the fruit production, was dedicated.<ref name="old"/>

Tourist attractions include several old edifices from the 18th and 19th century: House of Apostolović, House of Nišli, Savić Mehana, [[Rančić Family house in Grocka|Rančić Family House]] and House of Karapešić.<ref name="old"/>

==Notable people==
* [[Milan Nedić]], born in Grocka. A general, but mostly known as a Prime Minister of the Nazi-backed [[Territory of the Military Commander in Serbia]] during World War II.
* [[Vesna Pešić]], born in Grocka. Is a retired university professor and a politician, one of the longest serving leaders of opposition movement in Serbia.
* [[Bojan Mamić]], lived in Grocka. He is a Serbian footballer.
* [[Ivan Paunić]], lived in Grocka. He is a Serbian basketball player.
* [[Vasa Čarapić]], was the duke of Grocka. He was one of notable figures of the [[First Serbian Uprising]].
* [[Ilija Čarapić]], was the duke of Grocka, aged 18. He was the first Mayor of Belgrade.
* [[Ilija Garašanin]] Spent last years of his life and died on his estate in Grocka. He was Serbian statesmen and a politician.
* [[Milutin Garašanin]], Serbian politician; he spent a number of years on the family estate.

== International relations ==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Serbia}}

=== Twin towns – Sister cities ===
Grocka is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|GRE}} '''[[Agia Paraskevi]]''', [[Greece]]<ref>''[http://www.skgo.org/php/opstine/detalji.php?Id=104&IdSvojstva=MO Stalna konferencija gradova i opština] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206004313/http://www.skgo.org/php/opstine/detalji.php?Id=104&IdSvojstva=MO |date=2012-02-06 }}''. Retrieved on 2007-06-18.</ref>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} '''[[Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast|Koltsovo]]''', [[Russia]]<ref>{{cite news | author = Branka Vasiljević | title = Гроцка се побратимила са руским градом Кољцово | trans-title = Grocka twinned with the Russian town Koltsovo | newspaper = Politika | page = 15 | language = sr | date = 28 November 2018}}</ref>

== See also ==

*[[Subdivisions of Belgrade]]
*[[List of Belgrade neighborhoods and suburbs]]
*[[Battle of Grocka]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==

* ''Mala Prosvetina Enciklopedija'', Third edition (1985); Prosveta; {{ISBN|86-07-00001-2}}
* Jovan Đ. Marković (1990): ''Enciklopedijski geografski leksikon Jugoslavije''; Svjetlost-Sarajevo; {{ISBN|86-01-02651-6}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Grocka}}
* {{official website|http://www.grocka.rs}}

{{Grocka}}
{{Municipalities of Serbia}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Grocka| ]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Belgrade]]
[[Category:Suburbs of Belgrade]]
[[Category:Šumadija]]

São Tomé

2023-06-04T17:43:03Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and the largest city of São Tomé and Príncipe}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = São Tomé
|other_name =
|native_name = 
|nickname =
|settlement_type = City
|motto =
|image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = 2012SaoTome-8 (8042889363).jpg
| photo2a = Sao Tome Pier Jumping 2 (16248251742).jpg
| photo2b = Forte de Sao Sebastiao (20026107129).jpg
| photo3a = Sao Tome Banco Internacional de Sao Tome e Principe (16247128161).jpg
| size = 250
| spacing = 2
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
|image_caption = (from top: left to right) Downtown São Tomé, Port of Sao Tome, Ana Chaves Bay and Bank International of Sao Tome.
|image_flag = Bandeira São Tomé.svg
|flag_size =
|image_seal =
|seal_size =
|image_shield =
|shield_size =
|image_map =
|mapsize =
|map_caption =
|pushpin_map = São Tomé and Príncipe#Africa
|pushpin_relief = 1
|pushpin_map1 =
|pushpin_map_caption1 =
|pushpin_map_caption =Location on [[São Tomé Island]]
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{STP}}
|subdivision_type1 = Island
|subdivision_name1 = [[São Tomé Island|São Tomé]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of São Tomé and Príncipe|District]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Água Grande District|Água Grande]]
|government_footnotes =
|government_type =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|leader_title1 =
|leader_name1 =
|leader_name4 =
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = 1485
|established_title2 =
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|area_magnitude =
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|area_total_km2 = 17
|area_land_km2 =
|area_water_km2 =
|area_water_percent =
|population_as_of = 2015 estimate
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|population_total = 71,868
|population_density_km2 = auto
|timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
|utc_offset = +0
|timezone_DST =
|utc_offset_DST =
|coordinates = {{coord|0|20|10|N|6|43|50|E|region:ST|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 137
|elevation_ft =
|postal_code_type =
|postal_code =
|area_code = +239-11x-xxxx through 14x-xxxx
|website =
|footnotes =
}}
'''São Tomé''' is the [[capital city|capital]] and largest city of the [[Central Africa]]n island country of [[São Tomé and Príncipe]]. Its name is [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]] for "[[Thomas the Apostle|Saint Thomas]]". Founded in the [[15th century]], it is one of Africa's oldest colonial cities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stp.gov.st/ |title=Home |website=stp.gov.st}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Timeline of São Tomé|History of São Tomé and Príncipe}}
[[Álvaro Caminha]] founded the colony of São Tomé in 1493. The [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] came to São Tomé in search of land to grow [[sugarcane]]. The island was uninhabited before the arrival of the Portuguese sometime around 1470. São Tomé, situated about {{convert|40|km|mi}} north of the [[equator]], had a climate wet enough to grow sugarcane in wild abundance. 2,000 Jewish children, eight years old and under, were taken from the Iberian peninsula for work on the sugar plantations.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The invention of the white race|last=Allen|first=Theodore|publisher=Verso|year=1997|isbn=9781844677719|edition= Second|location=London|pages=5|oclc=738350824}}</ref> The nearby African [[Kingdom of Kongo]] eventually became a source of slave labor as well. The island of São Tomé was the main center of sugar production in the sixteenth century; it was overtaken by Brazil by 1600.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Manning|first=Patrick|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/745696019|title=Themes in West Africa's history|date=2006|publisher=Ohio University|others=Akyeampong, Emmanuel Kwaku.|isbn=978-0-8214-4566-2|location=Athens|pages=102–103|chapter=Slavery & Slave Trade in West Africa 1450-1930|oclc=745696019}}</ref>

São Tomé is centred on a sixteenth-century [[cathedral]], that was largely rebuilt in the 19th century. Another early building is Fort São Sebastião, built in 1566 and now the [[São Tomé National Museum]]. On July 9, 1595, a slave revolt led by [[Rei Amador]] took control of the capital; they were subjugated in 1596.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Brito|first=Brigida Rocha|date=May 18, 2005|title=Espaço Cultural STP: A Verdadeira Origem do Célebre Rei Amador|url=http://culturastp.blogspot.com/2005/05/verdadeira-origem-do-clebre-rei-amador.html|access-date=2023-02-12|website=Espaço Cultural STP}}</ref> In 1599, the [[Dutch Republic|Dutch]] took the city as well as the islands for two days; they re-occupied it in 1641 for a year. The city served as the capital of the [[Portuguese São Tomé and Príncipe|Portuguese colony of São Tomé and Príncipe]] and, from São Tomé and Príncipe's independence in 1975, as capital of the sovereign nation.<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 275</ref>

==Geography==

Important as a port, São Tomé is located on Ana Chaves Bay in the northeast of [[São Tomé Island]], and [[Ilhéu das Cabras]] lies nearby offshore. São Tomé is located northeast of [[Trindade (São Tomé and Príncipe)|Trindade]], southeast of [[Guadalupe, São Tomé and Príncipe|Guadalupe]] and northwest of [[Santana, São Tomé and Príncipe|Santana]]. It is linked to these towns by a highway which encircles the entire island of São Tomé. It is linked to [[Cape Verde]] by a weekly ferry.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/35863|title=São Tomé gets ferry link with Cape Verde|website=afrol.com}}</ref>

Features of the town include the [[Presidential Palace of São Tomé e Príncipe|Presidential Palace]], the [[cathedral]], and a [[movie theatre|cinema]]. The city is also home to schools, and middle schools, high schools, one polytechnic, two [[market (place)|market]]s, three [[radio stations]], the public television station ''TVSP'', several clinics and hospitals, the country's main airport - [[São Tomé International Airport]] (with direct regular scheduled flights to Angola, Gabon, Ghana and Portugal as well as occasional domestic flights to [[Príncipe Airport|Príncipe]]), and many squares (''[[praça]]s''). São Tomé also serves as the centre of the island's road and bus networks The town is well known for the [[Sub-Saharan African music traditions#West Africa|tchiloli]] playing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telanon.info/topico/cultura/|title = Cultura}}</ref>

==Population history==
{{Historical populations|align = center
| 1990 (June 23, Census) | 42331
| 2000 (June 16, Census) | 49957
| 2003 (Estimate) | 53300
| 2018 (July 1, Estimate) | 71868
}}

==Transport==
São Tomé is served by [[São Tomé International Airport]] {{Airport codes|TMS|FPST}} with regular flights to Europe and other African Countries.

==Climate==
São Tomé features a [[tropical wet and dry climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''As''), although it is not far above a [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSh'') due to the influence of the cold [[Benguela Current]], which makes even the wettest months drier than would be expected for such a low latitude but at the same time makes the city very cloudy and foggy even during the almost rainless dry season mid-year. The city has a relatively lengthy [[wet season]] from October through May and a short [[dry season]]. São Tomé sees on average just under {{convert|900|mm|0|abbr=on}} of rainfall per year. Temperatures in the city are relatively constant, with average high temperatures usually around {{convert|30|°C|0}} and average low temperatures around {{convert|22|°C|1}}.
{{Weather box
|location = São Tomé ([[São Tomé International Airport]])
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|temperature colour =
|Jan record high C = 32.0
|Feb record high C = 33.6
|Mar record high C = 33.5
|Apr record high C = 33.4
|May record high C = 33.9
|Jun record high C = 31.0
|Jul record high C = 30.7
|Aug record high C = 31.0
|Sep record high C = 31.7
|Oct record high C = 31.5
|Nov record high C = 31.6
|Dec record high C = 32.0
|year record high C = 33.9
|Jan high C = 29.4
|Feb high C = 29.9
|Mar high C = 30.2
|Apr high C = 30.1
|May high C = 29.3
|Jun high C = 28.0
|Jul high C = 27.3
|Aug high C = 27.7
|Sep high C = 28.6
|Oct high C = 28.7
|Nov high C = 29.0
|Dec high C = 29.1
|year high C = 28.9
|Jan mean C = 25.9
|Feb mean C = 26.2
|Mar mean C = 26.4
|Apr mean C = 26.4
|May mean C = 26.0
|Jun mean C = 24.7
|Jul mean C = 23.8
|Aug mean C = 24.1
|Sep mean C = 25.0
|Oct mean C = 25.2
|Nov mean C = 25.5
|Dec mean C = 25.6
|year mean C = 25.4
|Jan low C = 22.4
|Feb low C = 22.5
|Mar low C = 22.6
|Apr low C = 22.6
|May low C = 22.6
|Jun low C = 21.4
|Jul low C = 20.4
|Aug low C = 20.5
|Sep low C = 21.3
|Oct low C = 21.8
|Nov low C = 22.0
|Dec low C = 22.1
|year low C = 21.8
|Jan record low C = 19.1
|Feb record low C = 19.6
|Mar record low C = 19.2
|Apr record low C = 19.4
|May record low C = 18.5
|Jun record low C = 14.0
|Jul record low C = 14.0
|Aug record low C = 13.4
|Sep record low C = 16.0
|Oct record low C = 18.3
|Nov record low C = 18.8
|Dec record low C = 19.6
|year record low C = 13.4
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 81
|Feb rain mm = 84
|Mar rain mm = 131
|Apr rain mm = 122
|May rain mm = 113
|Jun rain mm = 19
|Jul rain mm = 0
|Aug rain mm = 1
|Sep rain mm = 17
|Oct rain mm = 110
|Nov rain mm = 99
|Dec rain mm = 108
|unit rain days = 0.1 mm
|Jan rain days = 8
|Feb rain days = 8
|Mar rain days = 12
|Apr rain days = 11
|May rain days = 10
|Jun rain days = 3
|Jul rain days = 2
|Aug rain days = 3
|Sep rain days = 6
|Oct rain days = 12
|Nov rain days = 11
|Dec rain days = 8
|Jan humidity = 85
|Feb humidity = 84
|Mar humidity = 83
|Apr humidity = 83
|May humidity = 84
|Jun humidity = 79
|Jul humidity = 77
|Aug humidity = 78
|Sep humidity = 79
|Oct humidity = 82
|Nov humidity = 85
|Dec humidity = 85
|year humidity = 82
|Jan sun = 142.6
|Feb sun = 135.6
|Mar sun = 139.5
|Apr sun = 126.0
|May sun = 145.7
|Jun sun = 165.0
|Jul sun = 161.2
|Aug sun = 148.8
|Sep sun = 120.0
|Oct sun = 114.7
|Nov sun = 135.0
|Dec sun = 142.6
|year sun =
|Jand sun = 4.6
|Febd sun = 4.8
|Mard sun = 4.5
|Aprd sun = 4.2
|Mayd sun = 4.7
|Jund sun = 5.5
|Juld sun = 5.2
|Augd sun = 4.8
|Sepd sun = 4.0
|Octd sun = 3.7
|Novd sun = 4.5
|Decd sun = 4.6
|yeard sun = 4.6
|source 1 = [[Deutscher Wetterdienst]]<ref name = DWD>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dwd.de/DWD/klima/beratung/ak/ak_619310_kt.pdf
| title = Klimatafel von Sao Tomé (Flugh.) / Sao Tomé und Principe
| work = Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world
| publisher = Deutscher Wetterdienst
| language = de
| access-date = January 26, 2016}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Education==
* [[University of São Tomé and Príncipe]], formed in 2016
* [[National Lyceum (São Tomé and Príncipe)|National Lyceum]]
* [[Patrice Lumumba Preparatory School]]
* [[National Library of São Tomé and Príncipe]]

The following Portuguese international schools are in the city:<ref>"[http://www.dgae.mec.pt/web/14650/s.-tome-e-principe ESCOLAS COM CURRÍCULO PORTUGUÊS EM S. TOMÉ]" ([https://web.archive.org/web/20160304105020/http://www.dgae.mec.pt/web/14650/s.-tome-e-principe Archive]). Direção de Serviços de Ensino e Escolas Portuguesas no Estrangeiro (DSEEPE) of the [[Ministry of Education (Portugal)|Portuguese Education Ministry]]. Retrieved on October 26, 2015.</ref>
* Escola Portuguesa de S. Tomé
* Instituto Diocesano de Formação João Paulo II
* Escola Bambino
* Escola Internacional de S. Tomé e Príncipe

==Health==
The main hospital of the country is [[Hospital Ayres de Menezes]].

==Sports==
Sports clubs based in the city include [[Sporting Praia Cruz]] and [[Vitória FC (Riboque)|Vitória FC]] based in the neighborhood of Riboque. All clubs play at [[Estádio Nacional 12 de Julho]].

== Places of worship ==
<gallery>
File:Catedral_de_Nossa_Senhora_da_Gra%C3%A7a_S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_(20234213142).jpg|[[Our Lady of Grace Cathedral, São Tomé]]
File:Sao Tome 10 (16247155721).jpg|[[Our Lady of Conception Church, São Tomé]]
</gallery>
Among the [[places of worship]], they are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples : [[Roman Catholic Diocese of São Tomé and Príncipe]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Universal Church of the Kingdom of God]], [[Assemblies of God]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sao Tome and Principe | Map, Population, Flag, Culture, History, & People | Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Sao-Tome-and-Principe|access-date=2023-02-12|website=www.britannica.com|language=en}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode=packed>
File:Forte de Sao Sebastiao (20026107129).jpg|[[São Sebastião Museum]].
File:2012SaoTome-8_(8042889363).jpg|São Tomé City
File:Sao_Tome_6_(16248990145).jpg|Downtown São Tomé
File:Sao Tome MiniPleco Minimart (16061556230).jpg|São Tomé City
File:São Tome DSC 8023 (32725545662).jpg|[[Supreme Court of São Tomé and Príncipe]]
File:Sao_Tome_Pier_Jumping_2_(16248251742).jpg|Kids pier jumping
File:Sao_Tome_Banco_Internacional_de_Sao_Tome_e_Principe_(16247128161).jpg|Old seat of [[Banco Internacional de São Tomé e Príncipe]]
File:São_Tome_DSC_8001_(32064480143).jpg|Downtown São Tomé
File:São Tome DSC 8130 (32725666342).jpg|[[Estádio Nacional 12 de Julho]]
File:Sao Tome 35 (16062842099).jpg|São Tomé, STP
File:São_Tome_DSC_8084_(32755448031).jpg|Baía Ana Chaves, São Tomé
File:Palais présidentiel à São Tomé (6).jpg|Presidential Palace of São Tomé and Príncipe
File:Casa da Cultura à São Tomé (4).jpg|''Casa da Cultura de São Tomé''
</gallery>

==Notable people==
* [[José Vianna da Motta]] (1868–1948) Portuguese pianist, teacher and composer
* [[Alfredo Azancot]] (1872-??) Portuguese architect who emigrated to Chile
* [[Almada Negreiros]] (1893–1970) Portuguese artist, created literature and painting, and developed ballet choreographies
* [[Francisco José Tenreiro]] (1921–1963) geographer, poet and writer of the colonial era
* [[Alda Neves da Graça do Espírito Santo]] (1926–2010) poet working in Portuguese, who also served in the Santomean government after independence
* [[Guadalupe de Ceita]] (born 1929) writer and a doctor and national hero
* [[Miguel Trovoada]] (born 1936) was Prime Minister 1975–1979 and President 1991–2001 of São Tomé and Príncipe
* [[Fradique de Menezes]] (born 1942) President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 2003 to 2011
* [[Olinda Beja]] (born 1946) poet, writer and narrator, emigrated to Portugal and moved to [[Viseu]]
* [[Tomé Vera Cruz]] (born 1956) Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe from April 2006 to February 2008
* [[Conceição Lima]] (born 1961) poet from the town of Santana
* [[Patrice Trovoada]] (born 1962) politician, Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe 2008 to June 2008, 2010 to December 2012 and since November 2014
* [[Aurélio Martins]] (born 1966) journalist, businessman and politician

===Sports===
* [[Nuno Espírito Santo]] (born 1974) retired Portuguese footballer, Portuguese association football manager
* [[Naide Gomes]] (born 1979) former heptathlete and long jumper, competed in 100 metres hurdles at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Lasset Costa]], (born 1986) footballer
* [[Yazaldes Nascimento]] (born 1986) Portuguese athlete, runs the 100 metres, competed in the [[2004 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Alcino Silva]] (born 1990) sprint canoer, competed in the [[2008 Summer Olympics]] in Beijing
* [[Harramiz]] (born 1990) professional footballer who plays in Portugal
* [[Zé (footballer, born 1991)|Zé]] (born 1991) footballer
* [[Buly Da Conceição Triste]] (born 1991) sprint canoeist, competed at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]]
* [[Faduley]] (born 1992) footballer in Portugal
* [[Charles Monteiro]] (born 1994) footballer who plays in Portugal
* [[Gilson Costa]] (born 1996) Portuguese professional footballer
* [[Romário Leitão]] (born 1997) long distance runner, competed at the [[2016 Summer Olympics]] in the men's 5000 metres
* [[Gedson Fernandes]] (born 1999) Portuguese professional footballer

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa#São Tomé and Príncipe|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in São Tomé and Príncipe}}

São Tomé is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:

*{{flagicon|VCT}} [[Kingstown]], [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
*{{flagicon|ANG}} [[Luanda]], [[Angola]]
*{{flagicon|GAB}} [[Libreville]], [[Gabon]]
*{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Accra]], [[Ghana]]
*{{flagicon|POR}} [[Lisbon]], Portugal<ref name="Lisbon twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M1100|title=Lisboa - Geminações de Cidades e Vilas|access-date=2013-08-23|work=Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses [National Association of Portuguese Municipalities]|language=pt|trans-title=Lisbon - Twinning of Cities and Towns}}</ref><ref name="Lisbon twinnings 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionais|title=Acordos de Geminação, de Cooperação e/ou Amizade da Cidade de Lisboa|access-date=2013-08-23|work=Camara Municipal de Lisboa|language=pt|trans-title=Lisbon - Twinning Agreements, Cooperation and Friendship}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons|São Tomé}}
{{Portal|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
*{{curlie|Regional/Africa/Sao_Tome_and_Principe|Sao Tome and Principe}}
*[http://www.saotome.st www.saotome.st] - Facts about the country, how to get there, where to stay, what to do, images etc.

{{Água Grande}}
{{STP-Capitals}}
{{List of African capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sao Tome}}
[[Category:São Tomé| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places in Água Grande District]]
[[Category:1485 establishments]]
[[Category:15th-century establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Former Portuguese colonies]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1480s]]
[[Category:Pleistocene shield volcanoes]]

List of city flags in Africa

2023-06-04T17:41:25Z

94.140.246.27: /* São Tomé and Príncipe */

{{Short description|none}}
This page lists the '''city flags in Africa'''. It is a part of the [[Lists of city flags]], which is split into [[continent]]s due to its size.
{{Incomplete list|date=December 2021}}
{{horizontalTOC|nonum=yes}}

==Algeria==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Mascara.svg|{{center|[[Mascara, Algeria|Mascara]]}}
Drapeau de Oued Rhiou.png|{{center|[[Oued Rhiou]]}}
</gallery>

==Angola==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Bandeira da Benguela.gif|{{center|[[Benguela]]}}
Bandeira do Bocoio.gif|{{center|[[Bocoio]]}}
Bandeira da Bula Atumba.jpg|{{center|[[Bula Atumba]]}}
Brasão de Cubal.png|{{center|[[Cubal]]}}
Bandeira da Cazenga.gif|{{center|[[Cazenga]]}}
Bandeira do Huambo.png|{{center|[[Huambo]]}}
Bandeira do Lobito.png|{{center|[[Lobito]]}}
Bandeira do Quimbele.gif|{{center|[[Quimbele]]}}
</gallery>

===Historical===
<gallery>
First flag of Portuguese Luanda.svg|{{center|[[Luanda]] (1962- 1964)}}
Flag of Portuguese Luanda.svg|{{center|[[Luanda]] (1964 - 1975)}}
</gallery>

==Benin==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Flag of Cotonou.gif|{{center|[[Cotonou]]}}
File:Flag of Porto-Novo.svg|{{center|[[Porto-Novo]]}}
</gallery>

==Botswana==

==Cape Verde==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Municipio mosteiros.png|{{center|[[Mosteiros, Cape Verde (municipality)|Mosteiros]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mosteiros municipality (Cabo Verde) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/cv-81.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref>}}
File:Flag of São Miguel, Cabo Verde.svg|{{center|[[São Miguel, Cape Verde|São Miguel]]}}
</gallery>

==Democratic Republic of the Congo==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Kinshasa, DRC.svg|{{center|[[Kinshasa]]}}
</gallery>

==Egypt==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Alexandria.svg|{{center|[[Alexandria]]}}
Governadorat de Sinai-Sinai del nord.png|{{center|[[Arish]]}}
Governadorat dAswan.svg|{{center|[[Aswan]]}}
Flag of Assiut Governorate.png|{{center|[[Asyut]]}}
Flag of Badr, Egypt.png|{{center|[[Badr, Egypt|Badr]]}}
Beni Suef Governorate Flag.svg|{{center|[[Beni Suef]]}}
Flag of Cairo.svg|{{center|[[Cairo]]}}
Flag of Damietta Governorate.svg|{{center|[[Damietta]]}}
Governadorat de Gizeh.png|{{center|[[El Hawamdeya]]}}
DakahliaFlag.svg|{{center|[[El Matareya]]}}
Governadorat de Faium.png|{{center|[[Faiyum]]}}
Flag of Giza Governorate.png|{{center|[[Giza]]}}
Governadorat d'Ismailiya.png|{{center|[[Ismailia]]}}
Flag of Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.svg|{{center|[[Kafr El-Sheikh]]}}
File:Flag of New Alamein, Egypt.png|{{center|[[New Alamein]]}}
Eg luxor1.png|{{center|[[Luxor]]}}
Flag of Port Said Governorate.PNG|{{center|[[Port Said]]}}
Governadorat de Qena flag.svg|{{center|[[Qena]]}}
Flag_of_Sadat_City.png|{{center|[[Sadat City]]}}
Flag_of_Qalubiya_Governorate.png|{{center|[[Shubra El-Kheima]]}}
Governadorat de Suhaj.png|{{center|[[Sohag]]}}
Flag of Suez Governorate.svg|{{center|[[Suez]]}}
</gallery>

== Equatorial Guinea ==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Bandera de la Ciudad Malabo.png|{{center|[[Malabo]]}}
</gallery>

==Eritrea==
<gallery>
File:Asmara Logo Flag.png|[[Asmara]]
</gallery>

==Eswatini==

==Ethiopia==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag_of_Addis_Ababa.svg|{{center|[[Addis Ababa]]}}
Flag_of_Dire_Dawa.png|{{center|[[Dire Dawa]]}}
</gallery>

==Gabon==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Libreville, Gabon (version 1).svg|{{center|[[Libreville]] (variant 1)}}
Flag of Libreville (version 2).svg|{{center|[[Libreville]] (variant 2)}}
</gallery>

==Gambia==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Flag of Banjul, The Gambia.svg|{{center|[[Banjul]]}}
</gallery>

==Ghana==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Image2vectord5W?$XCCuv7*A99S.svg|{{center|[[Accra]]}}
File:Flag of Kumasi.png|{{center|[[Kumasi]]}}
</gallery>

==Guinea-Bissau==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Bandeira Bissau.PNG|{{center|[[Bissau]]}}
Bandeira Gabu.PNG|{{center|[[Gabu (town)|Gabu]]}}
</gallery>

==Ivory Coast==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Abidjan.png|{{center|[[Abidjan]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Installation d`usine de production d’attiéké à Bingerville - Abidjan.net Photos |url=https://news.abidjan.net/photos/194840-installation-dusine-de-production-dattieke-a-bingerville |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=news.abidjan.net |language=fr}}</ref>}}
</gallery>

==Kenya==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Nairobi.svg|{{center|[[Nairobi]]}}
File:Flag of Mombasa.png|{{center|[[Mombasa]]}}
</gallery>

==Libya==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Flag of Tripoli, Libya.svg|{{center|[[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]]}}
</gallery>

==Mali==
<gallery>
File:Flag of Bamako.gif|[[Bamako]]
</gallery>

== Mauritius ==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Port Louis, Mauritius.svg|{{center|[[Port Louis]]}}
Flag of Quatre Bornes.svg|{{center|[[Quatre Bornes]]}}
</gallery>

==Morocco==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Al Hoceima province (1976-1997).svg|{{center|[[Al Hoceima]]}}
Flag_of_Casablanca_province_(1976-1997).svg|{{center|[[Casablanca]]}}
Flag_of_Fes_province.svg|{{center|[[Fez, Morocco|Fes]]}}
Flag of Larache province.svg|{{center|[[Larache]]}}
Flag of Marrakech province.svg|{{center|[[Marrakesh]]}}
Flag of Oujda province.svg|{{center|[[Oujda]]}}
Flag of Rabat Sale province.svg|{{center|[[Rabat]]}}
Drapeau Salé.png|{{center|[[Salé]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rabat-Sale (Morocco) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ma-rba.html#1976 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref>}}
Flag of Settat province.svg|{{center|[[Settat]]}}
Flag of Sidi Bennour.png|{{center|[[Sidi Bennour]]}}
Flag of Tanger province (1976-1997).svg|{{center|[[Tangier]]}}
</gallery>

==Mozambique==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Maputo.png|{{center|[[Maputo]]}}
</gallery>

==Namibia==

== Nigeria ==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Kano flag.svg|{{center|[[Kano (city)|Kano]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regional Flags in Nigeria |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ng-sub.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref>}}
Flag of Lagos.svg|{{center|[[Lagos]]}}
Flag of the Zaria Emirate.svg|{{center|[[Zaria]]}}
</gallery>

== Republic of the Congo ==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Flag of Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo.svg|{{center|[[Pointe-Noire]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pointe-Noire (Republic of Congo) |url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/cg-pn.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.fotw.info}}</ref>}}
</gallery>

== Rwanda ==

==São Tomé and Príncipe==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Bandeira_S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9.svg|{{center|[[São Tomé]]}}
</gallery>

==Somalia==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Mogadishu, Somalia.svg|{{center|[[Mogadishu]]}}
</gallery>

==Somaliland==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Berbera.svg|{{center|[[Berbera]]}}
Flag of Borama.svg|{{center|[[Borama]]}}
Flag of Burao.png|{{center|[[Burao]]}}
Flag of Hargeisa.svg|{{center|[[Hargeisa]]}}
</gallery>

==South Africa==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Cape Town, South Africa.svg|{{center|[[Cape Town]] ([[Flag of Cape Town|details]])}}
Flag of Durban, South Africa.svg|{{center|[[Durban]]}}
Flag of Johannesburg.svg|{{center|[[Johannesburg]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Johannesburg (South Africa) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/za-gt-jb.html |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref> ([[Flag of Johannesburg|details]])}}
Flag of Makhanda, South Africa.svg|{{center|[[Makhanda, Eastern Cape|Makhanda]]}}
Flag of Pretoria.svg|{{center|[[Pretoria]]<ref>http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/za-preto.html Pretoria Flag webpage</ref> ([[Flag of Pretoria|details]])}}
</gallery>

===Historical===
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag_of_Cape_Town_(until_1997).gif|{{center|[[Cape Town]] (before 1997)}}
Flag placeholder.svg|{{center|[[Cape Town]]<ref name="nonfree" group="N">Non-free flag not shown; see linked article for image</ref> (1997-2003)}}
Flag of Cape Town (2003–2004).svg|{{center|[[Cape Town]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cape Town (South Africa) |url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/za-wc-ct.html#ct03 |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=www.crwflags.com}}</ref> (2003–2004)}}
Flag of Johannesburg, South Africa (1970–1997).gif|{{center|[[Johannesburg]] (1970–1997)}}
</gallery>

==South Sudan==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Juba flag.png|{{center|[[Juba]]}}
</gallery>

==Tanzania==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Flag of Arusha.gif|{{center|[[Arusha]]}}
File:Flag of Mwanza, Tanzania.svg|{{center|[[Mwanza]]}}
</gallery>

==Tunisia==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag commune Sousse.svg|{{center|[[Sousse]]}}
Flag placeholder.svg|{{center|[[Tunis]]}}
</gallery>

==Zambia==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Kitwe Flags.gif|{{center|[[Kitwe]]}}
</gallery>

==Zimbabwe==
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
File:Flag of Bulawayo.svg|{{center|[[Bulawayo]]}}
File:Flag of Harare.svg|{{center|[[Harare]]<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/zw-harar.html#sa Salisbury (Harare old flag)]</ref><ref>[https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Discrimine+Salus+Salisbury+William+Fairbridge&num=30&rlz=1C1GGRV_enGB751GB751&source=lnms&tbm=bks&biw=1024&bih=662 ''Quarterly Bulletin of the South African Library''], Volumes 9-10, 1954, page 92</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/zw-harar.html|title=Harare (Zimbabwe)|website=www.crwflags.com|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref> ([[Flag of Harare|details]])}}
File:Mutare_Flag.gif|{{center|[[Mutare]]}}
</gallery>

===Historical===
<gallery widths="150" heights="100" style="text-align:left;">
Flag of Salisbury, Rhodesia.svg|{{center|[[Salisbury, Rhodesia]]}}
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of city flags in Asia]]
* [[List of city flags in Europe]]
* [[List of city flags in North America]]
* [[List of city flags in Oceania]]
* [[List of city flags in South America]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=N}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* '''Angola:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/ao_index.html#muni Municipal flags of Angola] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Benin:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/bj_index.html#muni Municipal flags of Benin] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Botswana:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/bw_index.html#muni Municipal flags of Botswana] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Cape Verde:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/cv-.html Municipal flags of Cape Verde] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Democratic Republic of Congo:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/cd_index.html#mf Municipal and provincial flags of the Democratic Republic of Congo] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Guinea-Bissau:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/gw-.html Municipal flags of Guinea-Bissau] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Kenya:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/ke_index.html#loc City flags of Kenya] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Lebanon:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/lb-.html Municipal flags of Lebanon] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Madagascar:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/mg_index.html#cur City flags of Madagascar] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Mauritius:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/mu-.html Municipal flags of Mauritius] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
* '''Mozambique:''' [https://www.fotw.info/flags/mz_index.html#mun Municipal flags of Mozambique] by [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ Flags of the World].
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Asmara

2023-06-01T09:16:07Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Eritrea}}
{{about|the city}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Asmara
| native_name =
| native_name_lang = ti
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline = Asmara Montage.png
| imagesize = 280px
| image_caption = {{Ubl
|'''Clockwise from top:'''
|Cityscape, Sunset view over Asmara, [[Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Asmara|Church of Our Lady of the Rosary]], [[Fiat Tagliero Building]] sign, 23d ISCOE [[East Africa]] conference in Asmara 2019
}}
| image_map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=y|frame-width=325|frame-height=325|zoom=12|frame-lat=15.3229|frame-long= 38.9251 |type=shape-inverse|id=Q3642|stroke-width=2|stroke-color=#000000|title=Asmara}}
| flag_size = 
| image_shield = Asmara Coat of Arms.svg
| shield_size = 80px
| motto =
| mapsize = 260px
| map_caption = Interactive map outlining Asmara
| image_map1 =
| mapsize1 =
| map_caption1 =
| pushpin_map = Eritrea#Africa#World
| pushpin_relief = 1
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mapsize =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Eritrea##Location within [[Africa]]##Location on [[Earth]]
| coordinates = {{coord|15|19|22|N|38|55|30|E|region:ER-MA|display=title, inline}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Eritrea}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Eritrea|Region]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Administrations of Asmara|Districts]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Demonym]]
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name1 = [[Central Region (Eritrea)|Central]]
| subdivision_name2 = 13
| subdivision_name3 = Asmarino
| subdivision_name4 =
| established_title = Settled
| established_date = 800 BC
| established_title2 = Incorporated
| established_date2 = 1890
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| leader_title = Mayor of Asmera
| leader_name = Fshaye Haile
| leader_title1 = Mayor of Zoba
| leader_name1 = Fshaye Haile
| unit_pref =
| area_footnotes =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 45
| area_urban_km2 =
| area_metro_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 2325
| elevation_ft = 7628
| population_total = 963,000
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes = <ref name="CIA">{{cite web |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/eritrea/ |title=CIA – The World Factbook |access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref>
| population_rank = [[List of cities in Eritrea|1st in Eritrea]]
| population_density_km2 = 19911
| population_urban =
| population_density_urban_km2 =
| population_metro = 1,258,001
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_blank1_title =
| population_blank1 =
| population_density_blank1_km2 =
| population_note =
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| blank_name_sec1 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2019)
| blank_info_sec1 = {{Ubl
| {{increase}} 0.630<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{cite web|url=https://globaldatalab.org/shdi/shdi/ERI/?levels=4&interpolation=0&extrapolation=0&nearest_real=0|title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=12 April 2021}}</ref>
| {{color|#fc0|medium}} · [[List of Eritrean regions by Human Development Index|1st]]
}}
| website =
| image_dot_map =
| dot_mapsize =
| dot_map_caption =
| dot_x =
| dot_y =
| leader_title2 =
| leader_name2 =
| timezone = [[East Africa Time|EAT]]
| utc_offset = +03:00
| blank4_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank4_info = [[Tropical savanna climate#Tropical savanna climat|Aw]], [[BSk]]
| footnotes = {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
|child = yes
|Official_name = Asmera: A [[Modern architecture|Modernist]] African City
|ID = 1550
|Year = 2017
|Criteria = Cultural: ii, iv
|Area = 481 ha
|Buffer_zone = 1,203 ha
}}
| official_name = {{lang|ti|ኣስመራ}} 
| image_flag = File:Asmara Logo Flag.svg
}}
'''Asmara''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|s|ˈ|m|ɑː|ɹ|ə}} {{respell|əs|MAHR|ə}}), or '''Asmera''', is the capital and most populous city of [[Eritrea]], in the country's [[Central Region (Eritrea)|Central Region]]. It sits at an elevation of {{convert|2325|m|ft}}, making it the [[List of capital cities by altitude|sixth highest capital in the world by altitude]] and the second highest capital in Africa. The city is located at the tip of an [[escarpment]] that is both the northwestern edge of the [[Eritrean Highlands]] and the [[Great Rift Valley, Ethiopia|Great Rift Valley]] in neighbouring [[Ethiopia]]. In 2017, the city was declared as a [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Site]] for its well-preserved [[modernist architecture]].<ref>Mark Byrnes [http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/02/african-citys-unusual-preservation-legacy/1163/ An African City's Unusual Preservation Legacy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312081533/http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/02/african-citys-unusual-preservation-legacy/1163/ |date=12 March 2012 }} 8 February 2012 Atlantic Cities</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title = Eritrea capital Asmera makes World Heritage list|url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-40544406|access-date = 8 July 2017|date = 8 July 2017}}</ref> The site of Asmera was first settled in 800 BC with a population ranging from 100 to 1,000. The city was then founded in the 12th century AD after four separate villages unified to live together peacefully after long periods of conflict.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.shabait.com/about-eritrea/art-a-sport/11121-arbate-asmara-the-origin-of-the-city- | title=Arbate Asmara: The origin of the city | access-date=14 January 2019 | archive-date=15 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715192204/http://www.shabait.com/about-eritrea/art-a-sport/11121-arbate-asmara-the-origin-of-the-city- | url-status=dead }}</ref> Under Italian rule the city of Asmara was made capital of Eritrea in the last years of the 19th century.

==History==
{{see also|History of Asmara|Timeline of Asmara}}
Giving the Pre-Axumite archaeological evidence found in Asmara around [[Sembel]] Called the [[Sembel|Ona]] culture, Asmara's history go back to [[800 BC]] and according to Eritrean Tigrinya oral traditional history, there were four clans living in the Asmera area on the Kebessa Plateau: the Gheza Gurtom, the Gheza Shelele, the Gheza Serenser and Gheza Asmae. These villages were frequently attacked by clans from the low land and from the rulers of "seger mereb melash" (which now is a Tigray region in Ethiopia), until the women of each clan decided that to defeat their common enemy and preserve peace the four clans must unite. The men accepted, hence the name "Arbate Asmera". Arbate Asmera literally means, in the [[Tigrinya language]], "the four (feminine plural) made them unite".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qi-KQchGks8C&pg=PA82 |title=Eritrea |first=Michael |last=Palin |publisher=[[Bradt Travel Guides]] Ltd |location=Chalfont St Peter, United Kingdom|isbn=978-1-84162-171-5|page=82|year=2007 }}</ref> Eventually Arbate was dropped and it has been called Asmera which means "they [feminine, thus referring to the women] made them unite". There is still a district called Arbaete Asmara in the [[Administrations of Asmara]]. It is now called the Italianized version of the word Asmara. The westernized version of the name is used by a majority of non-Eritreans, while the multilingual inhabitants of Eritrea and neighbouring peoples remain loyal to the original pronunciation, Asmera.

The [[missionary]] Remedius Prutky passed through Asmara in 1751, and described in his memoirs that a church built there by [[Jesuit]] priests 130 years before was still intact.<ref>{{cite book |editor=J.H. Arrowsmith-Brown |translator=J.H. Arrowsmith-Brown |title=Prutky's Travels to Ethiopia and Other Countries |location=London |publisher=[[Hakluyt Society]] |year=1991 |page=78}}</ref>

===Italian Asmara===
[[File:Asmara 1935 Panorama (2567806345).jpg|thumb|left|Asmara in 1935]]
[[File:Mappa di Asmara TCI 1929.jpg|thumb|280px|left|Map of Italian Asmara in 1929]]
Asmara, a small village in the nineteenth century, started to grow quickly when it was occupied by Italy in 1889.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dadfeatured.blogspot.com/2018/08/italian-asmara.html|title=Dadfeatured: ITALIAN ASMARA|date=6 August 2018}}</ref> Governor [[Ferdinando Martini]] made it the capital city of [[Italian Eritrea]] in 1897.<ref>{{cite book|author=AA.VV.|title=Guida dell'Africa Orientale Italiana|publisher=Consociazione Turistica Italiana|page=199|location=Milano|year=1994|language=it}}</ref>

In the early 20th century, the [[Eritrean Railway]] was built to the coast, passing through the town of [[Ghinda]], under the direction of [[Cavanna family#Early migration and diaspora|Carlo Cavanna]]. In both [[1913 Asmara earthquake|1913]] and [[1915 Asmara earthquake|1915]] the city suffered only slight damage in large earthquakes.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ambraseys|first=Nicolas|author-link=Nicholas Ambraseys|author2=Melville, C.P. |author3=Adams, R.D. |title=The Seismicity of Egypt, Arabia and the Red Sea: A Historical Review|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1994|isbn=0-521-39120-2}}</ref>

A large [[Italian Eritreans|Italian community]] developed the city.<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 19</ref> According to the 1939 census, Asmara had a population of 98,000, of whom 53,000 were Italian. Only 75,000 Italians lived in all of Eritrea, thus making the capital city by far their largest centre.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maitacli.it |title=Benvenuto sul sito del Maitacli |access-date=8 July 2011 |language=it|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110722041546/http://www.maitacli.it/|archive-date= 22 July 2011 |url-status= live}}</ref> (Compare this to the [[Italian colonization of Libya]], where the settler population, albeit larger, was more dispersed.)

The capital acquired an [[Italian modern and contemporary architecture|Italian architectural look]]. Europeans used Asmara "to experiment with radical new designs".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://washingtontimes.com/article/20070915/ENTERTAINMENT/109150018/1007 |title=Asmara useful for experimenting with radical designs for Europeans |newspaper=[[The Washington Times]] |date=15 September 2007 |access-date=8 December 2010}}</ref> By the late 1930s, Asmara was called ''Piccola Roma'' (Little Rome).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fedoa.unina.it/1881/01/Santoianni_Progettazione_Architettonica.pdf|title=Italian architectural planification of Asmera (in Italian) p. 64-66}}</ref> Journalist [[John Gunther (journalist)|John Gunther]] noted in 1955 that "the Italians built [Asmara] well, like [[Tripoli, Libya|Tripoli]], with handsome wide streets, ornate public buildings, and even such refinements of civilization as a modern sewage system ... [Asmara] gives the impression of being a pleasant enough small city in [[Calabria]], or even [[Umbria]].<ref name="Gunther">{{cite book
| last = Gunther
| first = John
| title = Inside Africa
| publisher = Harper & Brothers
| year = 1955
| page = 278
| isbn = 0836981979}}</ref> Nowadays more than 400 buildings are of Italian origin, and many shops still have Italian names (e.g., ''Bar Vittoria'', ''Pasticceria moderna'', ''Casa del formaggio'', and ''Ferramenta'').

[[Kingdom of Italy|The Kingdom of Italy]] invested in the industrial development of Asmara (and surrounding areas of Eritrea),<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://researchomnia.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html|title=ITALIAN ERITREA INDUSTRIES|date=9 April 2015}}</ref> but the beginning of [[World War II]] brought this to a halt.

[[UNESCO]] made Asmara a World Heritage Site in July 2017, saying "It is an exceptional example of early modernist urbanism at the beginning of the 20th century and its application in an African context".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-07-14-00-asmara-the-capital-of-art-deco/|title=Asmara, the capital of Art Deco|date=14 July 2017}}</ref>

===Federation with Ethiopia===
In 1952, the United Nations resolved to federate the former colony under Ethiopian rule. During the Federation, Asmara was no longer the capital city. The capital was now [[Addis Ababa]], over {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=off}} to the south. The national language of the city was therefore replaced from the [[Tigrinya language]] to the Ethiopian [[Amharic language]]. In 1961, Emperor [[Haile Selassie I]] ended the "federal" arrangement and declared the territory to be the 14th province of the [[Ethiopian Empire]].<ref name=grolier>{{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Urban Cultures |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofur0000unse |url-access=registration |publisher=[[Grolier|Grolier Publishing Co.]] |year=2002|isbn=9780717256983 }}</ref> Ethiopia's biggest ally was the United States. The city was home to the [[US Army]]'s [[Kagnew Station]] installation from 1943 until 1977. The [[Eritrean War of Independence]] began in 1961 and ended in 1991, resulting in the independence of Eritrea. Asmara was left relatively undamaged throughout the war, as were the majority of highland regions. After independence, Asmara again became the capital of Eritrea.

==Geography==
The city lies at an elevation of {{convert|2325|m|ft|abbr=off}} [[above sea level]]. It lies on north–south trending highlands known as the [[Eritrean Highlands]], an extension of the [[Ethiopian Highlands]]. The temperate central portion, where Asmara lies, is situated on a rocky highland plateau, which separates the western lowlands from the eastern coastal plains. The lands that surround Asmara are very fertile, especially those to the south towards the [[Debub Region]] of Eritrea. The highlands that Asmera is located in fall away to reveal the eastern lowlands, characterized by the searing heat and humidity of the Eritrean salt pans, lapped by the Red Sea. To the west of the plateau stretches a vast semi-arid hilly terrain continuing all the way towards the border with [[Sudan]] through the [[Gash-Barka Region]].

===Climate===
[[File:Asmara panorama, Eritrea.jpg|thumb|A view over Asmara]]
[[File:Solar traffic light Asmara, Eritrea.jpg|thumb|upright|Solar traffic lights in a street in Asmara]]
Asmara has a [[semi-arid climate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.besttimetovisit.co.uk/eritrea/asmara-1220041/ |title=Climate Asmara – Temperature • Best time to visit • Weather |publisher=Besttimetovisit.co.uk |access-date=2020-06-08}}</ref> It is dry for 185 days a year with an average humidity of 51% and an UV-index of 6.

It has warm, but not hot summers and mild winters.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Semere|first1=Soloman|title=Groundwater study using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the central highlands of Eritrea|journal=Hydrogeology Journal|date=23 December 2005|volume=14|issue=5|pages=729–741|doi=10.1007/s10040-005-0477-y|s2cid=55130364}}</ref> Due to its {{convert|2325|m|ft|adj=on}} altitude, temperatures are relatively mild for a city located not particularly far from the hotter surroundings in the country. This climate is characteristic of rainy, wet seasons and dry seasons.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite journal|date=23 December 2005|title=Groundwater study using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the central highlands of Eritrea|journal=Hydrogeology Journal|volume=14|issue=5|pages=729–741|doi=10.1007/s10040-005-0477-y|last1=Semere|first1=Soloman|s2cid=55130364}}</ref> Asmara averages about {{cvt|518|mm|in}} of precipitation annually. [[Frost]], however, is extremely rare in the city. The long dry season of the year extends from September until around April . A season of occasional showers occurs from April to June.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> On average, about 60% of Asmara's annual precipitation is experienced during the months of July and August. In contrast, December to February are typically Asmara's driest months, where on average only {{cvt|9.1|mm|in}} of precipitation falls in the three months combined. Due to variable rainfall, Asmara's climate is also characterized by drought.<ref name="7 September 2015">{{cite journal|date=7 September 2015|title=Extracting and analyzing forest and woodland cover change in Eritrea based on Landsat data using supervised classification|journal=The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science|volume=19|issue=1|pages=37–47|doi=10.1016/j.ejrs.2015.09.002|last1=Ghebrezgabher|first1=Mihretab|doi-access=free}}</ref> Several prolonged droughts in this region have occurred beginning in the 1960s and have recurred each decade since then.<ref name="7 September 2015"/> During periods of drought, temperatures are high and little rainfall occurs. As temperatures in a region increase, the rate of evaporation of water from the soil also increases. These combined processes result in the [[desertification]] of the soil. In order to obtain nutrient rich and moist soil for farming purposes, populations rely on deforestation to make use of the underlying ground.<ref name="7 September 2015"/> The most serious environmental issues Asmara faces are deforestation and desertification. Other issues Asmara faces are soil erosion and [[overgrazing]]. All of these environmental issues produce [[soil degradation]].<ref name="7 September 2015"/>
<div style="width:75%;">
{{Weather box
|location = Asmara, Eritrea (1961–1990 normals, extremes 1903–2012)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 29.0
|Feb record high C = 29.2
|Mar record high C = 30.5
|Apr record high C = 31.0
|May record high C = 30.0
|Jun record high C = 29.4
|Jul record high C = 29.4
|Aug record high C = 27.4
|Sep record high C = 27.2
|Oct record high C = 31.0
|Nov record high C = 26.7
|Dec record high C = 26.2
|year record high C =31.0
|Jan high C = 22.3
|Feb high C = 23.8
|Mar high C = 25.1
|Apr high C = 25.1
|May high C = 25.0
|Jun high C = 24.9
|Jul high C = 21.6
|Aug high C = 21.5
|Sep high C = 22.9
|Oct high C = 21.7
|Nov high C = 21.5
|Dec high C = 21.5
|year high C = 23.1
|Jan mean C = 13.8
|Feb mean C = 14.9
|Mar mean C = 16.3
|Apr mean C = 17.0
|May mean C = 17.6
|Jun mean C = 17.6
|Jul mean C = 16.3
|Aug mean C = 16.1
|Sep mean C = 15.7
|Oct mean C = 14.9
|Nov mean C = 14.0
|Dec mean C = 13.2
|year mean C = 15.6
|Jan low C = 4.3
|Feb low C = 5.1
|Mar low C = 7.5
|Apr low C = 8.7
|May low C = 10.2
|Jun low C = 10.5
|Jul low C = 10.8
|Aug low C = 10.7
|Sep low C = 8.6
|Oct low C = 8.1
|Nov low C = 6.6
|Dec low C = 4.8
|year low C = 8.0
|Jan record low C = -4.5
|Feb record low C = -1.6
|Mar record low C = -0.8
|Apr record low C = -0.2
|May record low C = 2.0
|Jun record low C = 3.4
|Jul record low C = 3.9
|Aug record low C = 3.7
|Sep record low C = 0.2
|Oct record low C = 1.0
|Nov record low C = -0.5
|Dec record low C = -1.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 3.7
|Feb precipitation mm = 2.0
|Mar precipitation mm = 14.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 33.4
|May precipitation mm = 41.1
|Jun precipitation mm = 38.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 174.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 155.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 15.6
|Oct precipitation mm = 15.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 20.4
|Dec precipitation mm = 3.4
|unit rain days = 1.0 mm
|Jan rain days = 0
|Feb rain days = 0
|Mar rain days = 2
|Apr rain days = 4
|May rain days = 5
|Jun rain days = 4
|Jul rain days = 13
|Aug rain days = 12
|Sep rain days = 2
|Oct rain days = 2
|Nov rain days = 2
|Dec rain days = 1
|Jan humidity = 54
|Feb humidity = 48
|Mar humidity = 46
|Apr humidity = 49
|May humidity = 48
|Jun humidity = 48
|Jul humidity = 76
|Aug humidity = 80
|Sep humidity = 59
|Oct humidity = 63
|Nov humidity = 66
|Dec humidity = 61
|year humidity = 58.2
|Jan sun = 291.4
|Feb sun = 260.4
|Mar sun = 275.9
|Apr sun = 264.0
|May sun = 257.3
|Jun sun = 219.0
|Jul sun = 151.9
|Aug sun = 158.1
|Sep sun = 213.0
|Oct sun = 272.8
|Nov sun = 276.0
|Dec sun = 282.1
|year sun = 2921.9
|Jan percentsun = 84
|Feb percentsun = 81
|Mar percentsun = 75
|Apr percentsun = 71
|May percentsun = 65
|Jun percentsun = 57
|Jul percentsun = 38
|Aug percentsun = 41
|Sep percentsun = 59
|Oct percentsun = 76
|Nov percentsun = 82
|Dec percentsun = 82
|year percentsun = 67
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
|url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/E1/63021.TXT
|title = Asmara Climate Normals 1961–1990
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = 13 January 2015}}</ref>
|source 2 = Meteo Climat (extremes)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web
|url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=1834
|title = Station Asmara
|publisher = Meteo Climat
|language = fr
|access-date = 22 October 2016}}</ref>
|date=January 2012
}}
</div>

==Culture==
[[File:Asmara, museo nazionale, ingresso.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[National Museum of Eritrea|Eritrean national museum]] in Asmara]]
[[File:Tour of Asmara Cycling race, Asmara Eritrea.jpg|thumb|[[Tour of Eritrea]] cycling competition in Asmara, Eritrea]]

The city is home to the [[Eritrean National Museum]]. The city is often the starting point of the [[Tour of Eritrea]] cycling competition.

==Architecture==
The city is known for its early 20th-century buildings, including the [[Art Deco]] [[Cinema Impero]] (opened in 1937 and considered by the experts one of the world's finest examples of Art Déco style building<ref>Gianluca Rossi, ''Renzo Martinelli inviato de La Nazione'', 2009.</ref>), Cubist Africa Pension, eclectic Eritrean Orthodox [[Enda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara|Enda Mariam Cathedral]] and former [[Opera House]], the [[futurist architecture|futurist]] [[Fiat Tagliero Building]], the [[neo-Romanesque architecture|neo-Romanesque]] [[Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Asmara]], and the [[neoclassical architecture|neoclassical]] [[Governor's Palace (Asmara)|Governor's Palace]]. The city is adorned by Italian [[Colonisation|colonial]] [[villa]]s and [[mansions]], one prominent example being the [[World Bank Building, Asmara|World Bank Building]]. Most of central Asmara was built between 1935 and 1941, so the [[Italians]] effectively managed to build almost an entire city in just six years.<ref name="Reviving Asmara">{{cite news |title=Reviving Asmara |publisher=[[BBC Radio 3]] |date=19 June 2005 |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/sundayfeature/pip/kg9k6/ |access-date=30 August 2006}}</ref> At this time, the dictator [[Benito Mussolini]] had great plans for a second [[Roman Empire]] in Africa. War cut this short, but his injection of funds created the Asmara of today, which supposedly was to be a symbol to the colonial [[fascism]] during that period of time.

The city shows off most early 20th-century architectural styles. Some buildings are [[neo-Romanesque architecture|neo-Romanesque]], such as the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, some villas are built in a late [[Victorian Architecture|Victorian]] style. Art Deco influences are found throughout the city. Essences of [[Cubism]] can be found on the Africa Pension Building, and on a small collection of buildings. The [[Fiat Tagliero Building]] shows almost the height of futurism, just as it was coming into big fashion in Italy.

Asmara is known to be an exceptionally modern city, not only because of its architecture, but Asmara also had more [[traffic lights]] than [[Rome]] did when the city was being built.<ref name="Reviving Asmara"/> The city incorporates many features of a planned city.

===Restaurants, bars, cafes===
Asmara has wide streets, restaurants, [[piazza]]s (town squares), [[Bar (establishment)|bar]]s and [[Coffeehouse|cafes]] while many of the boulevards are lined with palms trees. The [[Italy|Italian]] inspired food and culture is very present and was introduced during [[Italian Eritrea]]. Countless restaurants and cafes, serve high quality [[espresso]], [[cappuccino]]s and [[latte]]s, as well as [[gelato]] parlours and restaurants with [[Italian Eritrean cuisine]].<ref name="youtube.com"/> Common dishes served from the [[Italian Eritrean cuisine]] are 'Pasta al Sugo e Berbere', which means "pasta with tomato sauce and [[berbere]]" (spice), "[[lasagna]]" and "cotoletta alla milanese" (milano cutlet).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/eritrea/food-and-drink/ |title=Food and drink in Eritrea |publisher=Worldtravelguide.net |access-date=2020-06-08}}</ref><ref name="youtube.com">{{Citation|last=lorenzopinnavideo|title=Asmara, la più bella città africana|date=7 June 2011|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlR5JBQLDXk| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/OlR5JBQLDXk| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live|access-date=18 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

{{Gallery
|title=
|width=200 | height=170
|align=left
|File:Cinema Roma, Asmara, Eritrea (30660000812).jpg
|The cafe & bar at the old Cinema Roma
|File:Sweet Asmara Caffe (8351473807).jpg
|A typical cafe in Asmara selling [[panettone]]
|File:Macchina Gaggia.jpg
|A vintage [[Gaggia]] [[espresso]] machine in a [[Bar (establishment)|bar]] in [[Eritrea]]. Vintage Italian machinery is common in most Asmara [[Coffeehouse|cafes]].
}}
{{clear}}

==UNESCO World Heritage Site==
Asmara was listed as a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] in July 2017, becoming the first modernist city anywhere to be listed in its entirety.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/jul/08/the-italian-architecture-that-shaped-new-world-heritage-site-asmara|title=The Italian architecture that shaped new world heritage site Asmara|first=Oliver|last=Wainwright|work=The Guardian|date=8 July 2017|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref> The inscription taking place during the 41st World Heritage Committee Session.

The city has thousands of [[Art deco architecture|Art Deco]], [[futurist]], [[modernist]], and [[Rationalism (architecture)|rationalist]] buildings, constructed during the period of [[Italian Eritrea]].<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1550/|title=Asmara: A Modernist African City|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://qz.com/africa/1026237/eritreas-asmara-is-now-a-unesco-world-heritage-site-and-should-boost-tourism/|title=Eritrea's picturesque capital is now a World Heritage site and could help bring it in from the cold|first=Tom Gardner|last=Commentary|website=Quartz Africa}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/12/eritrea-capital-asmara-makes-unesco-world-heritage-list/|title=Eritrea capital, Asmara, makes UNESCO World Heritage list | Africanews|access-date=27 April 2020|archive-date=4 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804142653/https://www.africanews.com/2017/07/12/eritrea-capital-asmara-makes-unesco-world-heritage-list/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/eritreas-capital-added-to-unesco-world-heritage-site-list/a-39609655|title=Eritrea's capital added to UNESCO World Heritage site list | DW | 08.07.2017|website=DW.COM}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.apollo-magazine.com/eritrea-italy-modernist-architecture/|title=The modernist marvels of Eritrea|date=19 November 2019|website=Apollo Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/design/asmara-eritrea-art-deco-unesco-architecture-italy-little-rome-world-heritage-a8040871.html|title=Exploring Eritrea's UNESCO certified Art-Deco wonderland|date=9 November 2017|website=The Independent}}</ref> The city, nicknamed "''La piccola Roma''" ("Little Rome"), is located over 2,000 meters above sea level, and was an ideal spot for construction due to the relatively cool climate; architects used a combination of both Italian and local materials.

Some notable buildings include the [[Fiat Tagliero Building]], [[Bar Zilli]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1550/|title=Asmara: A Modernist African City}}</ref> opera houses, hotels, and cinemas, such as the [[Cinema Impero]].

A statement from UNESCO read:

{{cquote|It is an exceptional example of early modernist urbanism at the beginning of the 20th century and its application in an African context.|200|50|[[UNESCO]]<ref name="auto1"/>}}

{{Gallery
|title=Some buildings included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list for Asmara:
|width=220 | height=190
|align=center
|File:Asmara, teatro d'opera, 02.JPG
|[[Asmara's Opera|Teatro d'Opera]], the opera house of Asmara.
|File:Asmara University Eritrea.jpg
|A building at the [[University of Asmara]].
|File:Asmara, ambasciata italiana (villa roma).JPG
|Villa Roma, [[Italy|Italian]] embassy.
|File:Fiat tagliero, 07,0.JPG
|[[Fiat Tagliero Building|The Fiat Tagliero Building.]]
|File:Asmara, albergo italia, esterno 01.JPG
|Hotel (Albergo) Italia, built 1889. The hotel is one of the oldest hotels in Asmara
|File:Asmara, africa pension 01.JPG
|The African pension.
|File:Asmara, ufficio postale, interno 01.JPG
|Interior of Asmara post office.
|File:Embasoira hotel Asmara, Eritrea.jpg
|The Embasoira built 1919 (Old Imperial hotel), celebrated 100 years in 2019.
|File:Casa degli italiani restaurant Asmara, Eritrea.jpg
|The Casa degli Italiani restaurant.
|File:Bf Asmara Gleisseite.JPG
|The railway station in Asmara.
|File:An old house in the European quarter built during Italian Eritrea in the early 19th century in Asmara, Eritrea.jpg
|An old house in the European quarter.
|File:Asmara, bar zilli 02.JPG
|[[Bar Zilli]], architecturally modeled in accordance with the [[Art Deco]] movement in the 1930s.
}}

The Historic Center of Asmara was placed on the [[World Monuments Fund]]'s 2006 Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites. The listing was designed to bring more attention to the city to save the center from decay and redevelopment and to promote restoration.

Following CARP (a World Bank initiative on Cultural Heritage), the [[European Union]] Delegation in Asmara has engaged into a Heritage Project pertaining to building's restoration and archive management. Launched in 2010 the EU/Eritrea Cultural Project was expected to be completed in 2014 (Pierre Couté – Edward Denison, Project Design Report, EUD Asmara 2009).

==Religion==
[[File:Catholic Cathedral.jpg|thumb|[[Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Asmara]]]]
Four big landmarks of the city are the [[Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Asmara|Church of Our Lady of the Rosary]] and the [[Kidane Mehret Cathedral, Asmara|Kidane Mehret Cathedral]] of the Catholic faith (the former of Latin and the latter of Coptic rite), the [[Enda Mariam Cathedral, Asmara|Enda Mariam Cathedral]] of the [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], and the [[Great Mosque of Asmara|Al Khulafa Al Rashiudin Mosque]] of the Islamic faith. Christians and Muslims have lived peacefully together in Asmara for centuries. The religious majority in Asmara are [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church|Orthodox Christians]]. The population in the [[Central Region (Eritrea)|Central Region]] is 89 percent Christian (almost 84 percent Orthodox, 4 percent Roman Catholic, and more than 1 percent Protestant) and 5 percent Muslim.<ref name="Georgestown">{{Citation | editor-last = Hsu | editor-first = Becky | title = Eritrea: Religious Distribution| url=http://www9.georgetown.edu/faculty/bh297/HsuEritrea.pdf | page = 3 | access-date = 22 December 2011}}</ref>

Asmara is also the [[episcopal see|see]] of the archbishop of the [[Eritrean Orthodox Tewahedo Church]], which became [[autocephalous]] in 1993. The archbishop was elevated in 1998 to the rank of [[Patriarchate]] of Eritrea, on a par with the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church]].

==Economy==
[[Eritrean Airlines]], the [[Eritrean Telecommunications Corporation]], and other companies are headquartered in the city.<ref>{{citation|title= Welcome to the Telecommunication Internet Service Provider – TSEiNET|url= http://www.tse.com.er/|access-date= 8 July 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110720133222/http://www.tse.com.er/|archive-date= 20 July 2011|url-status= dead|df= dmy-all}}</ref> The country's national television station [[Eri-TV]] has many studios located in various areas in the capital.

[[Asmara Brewery]], built 1939 under the name of Melotti, is located in the city and employs 600 people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asmarabrewery.com/factory/ |title=Asmara Brewery |publisher=Asmara Brewery |access-date=2020-06-08}}</ref> The brewery produces Asmara beer and other beverages like rum and gin. The brewery also owns and operates as a sponsor of the local football team [[Asmara Brewery FC]], also named "Asmara Birra" (translated "Asmara Beer").

==Transport==
[[File:Train Asmara Eritrea.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Steam train outside Asmara on the [[Eritrean Railway]]]]

After Eritrean independence, the roads of Asmara underwent extensive construction projects. Old roads were renovated and new highways were also built. There are five primary roads out of Asmara.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/what-its-like-inside-asmara-one-of-africas-most-isolated-capitals-1445390907|title=What It's Like Inside Asmara, One of Africa's Most Isolated Capitals|last=Stevis|first=Matina|date=21 October 2015|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|issn=0099-9660|access-date=14 November 2016}}</ref>

[[Asmara International Airport]] serves the city with many international flights. [[Massawa International Airport]] is an alternative airport nearby.

As of 1999, there is a total of 317 kilometres of {{Track gauge|950 mm}} (narrow gauge) rail line in Eritrea. The [[Eritrean Railway]] was built between 1887 and 1932.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1KBP7QbalX0C&q=eritrean+railroad+km&pg=PA379|title=Africa South of the Sahara 2003|first=Europa Europa|last=Publications|date=31 October 2002|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9781857431315|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/trains/eritrea07.htm|title=Eritrean Railway Revival|website=www.internationalsteam.co.uk}}</ref> Badly damaged during [[WWII]] and in later fighting, it was closed section by section, with the final closure coming in 1978.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trainweb.org/italeritrea/|title=Italian-Eritrean Railway and Tramway|website=www.trainweb.org}}</ref> After independence, a rebuilding effort commenced, and the first rebuilt section was reopened in 2003. As of 2009, the section from Asmara to [[Massawa]] was fully rebuilt and available for service.

==Education==
Asmara has always been a national centre of education, and is home to many elementary and high schools. It was home to the [[University of Asmara]] from 1958 until the university was shut down in 2006, following the opening of a university at [[Mai Nefhi]]. During the period of Ethiopian Federation and annexation, the university was also linked with what was then the nation's largest tertiary institution, [[Addis Ababa University]].

===Universities and colleges===
*[[University of Asmara]] (1958-2006)
*[[Eritrea Institute of Technology]]

===Primary and secondary schools===
==== International schools ====
*[[Asmara International Community School]] – Anglophone international school
*[[Italian School of Asmara]] – Italian primary school with a [[Montessori education|Montessori]] department (1903-2020)

==Districts==
{{main|Administrations of Asmara}}
Asmara is divided into 13 districts or administrative areas. These districts are subdivided into North, North-West, North-East, South-East, South-West, East, West and Central areas. The thirteen districts (or ''Neous Zobas'') are:

{{Div col}}
;North
*Akhria District
*Abbashaul District
*Edaga Hamus District
;North-East
*Arbaete Asmara District
;North-West
*Mai Temenai District
*Paradiso District
;South-West
*Sembel District
;South-East
*Kahawuta District
*Godaif District
;Central
*Maakel Ketema District
;West
*Tiravolo District
*Tsetserat District
;East
*Gheza Banda District
*Gejeret District

{{Div col end}}

==Notable people==
*[[Asmeret Asefaw Berhe]], soil biogeochemist and Director of the Office of Science at the US Department of Energy
*[[Abraham Afewerki]], popular singer, songwriter and music producer
*[[Isaias Afwerki]], President of [[Eritrea]]
*[[Tsehaytu Beraki]], popular Eritrean musician
*[[Yemane Barya]], famous Eritrean singer and musician
*[[Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus]], 8th Director-General of the [[World Health Organization]]
*[[Remo Girone]], Italian film and stage actor
*[[Bruno Lauzi]], Italian singer-songwriter, poet and writer
*[[Dawit Isaak]], Swedish-Eritrean journalist
*[[Meb Keflezighi]], Eritrean-born American long-distance runner
*[[Gianfranco Rosi (director)|Gianfranco Rosi]], Italian film director and documentarian
*[[Mehari Shinash]], Eritrean footballer

==See also==
{{Portal|Eritrea}}
*[[CH-Star]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Timeline of Asmara#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Asmara}}
*Peter Volgger and Stefan Graf: "Architecture in Asmara. Colonial Origin and Postcolonial Experiences", DOM publishers, Berlin 2017,{{ISBN|978-3-86922-487-9}}
*Stefan Boness: "Asmara – Africa's Jewel of Modernity". Jovis Verlag, Berlin 2016, {{ISBN|978-3-86859-435-5}} (photo book; German, English)
*Stefan Boness: "Asmara – The Frozen City". Jovis Verlag, Berlin 2006. 96 pages. {{ISBN|3-936314-61-6}} (photo book; German, English)
*Edward Denison, Guang Yu Ren, Naigzy Gebremedhin, and Guang Yu Ren, ''Asmara: Africa's Secret Modernist City'' (2003) {{ISBN|1-85894-209-8}}
*Gianluca Rossi, ''Renzo Martinelli inviato de "La Nazione"'', 2009, {{ISBN|978-88-7255-356-5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Asmara}}
{{wikivoyage}}
*[http://www.der.org/films/asmara-eritrea.html Asmara, Eritrea] Documentary Film about the city by filmmaker Caterina Borelli
*[http://www.asmera.nl/asmara.htm History of Asmara]
*[https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1550 Asmara inscription in UNESCO]

{{Asmara}}
{{List of African capitals}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Asmara| ]]
[[Category:Central Region (Eritrea)]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Eritrea]]
[[Category:Populated places in Eritrea]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Art Deco]]
[[Category:Modernist architecture in Eritrea| ]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Eritrea]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 8th century BC]]

Ashgabat

2023-06-01T09:14:55Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital of Turkmenistan}}
{{Redirect|Ashkhabad|the Turkmen folklore band|Ashkhabad (band)|the Second World War merchant ship|SS Ashkhabad}}
{{For|the cities in Iran|Eshqabad (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Ashgabat
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| other_name =
| native_name = {{lang|tk|Aşgabat|italics=unset}}
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Independence Square, Ashgabat.jpg
| photo2a = Ashgabat mosque IMG 5756 (26111145635).jpg
| photo2b = Ashgabat from Sofitel IMG 5360 (25508536483).jpg
| photo3a = Ashgabat, new avenue - panoramio.jpg
| photo3b = Neutrality-Road-Ashgabat-2015.JPG
| photo4a = Ashgabat avenue (45250494005).jpg
| photo4b =
| photo5a =
| photo5b =
| color = white
| color_border = white
| position = center
| spacing = 2
| size = 266
| foot_montage =
}}
| imagesize =
| image_caption = Neutrality Road, Gypjak Mosque, Abadanchylyk Square, Independence Park, Suburbs, Urban highways
| image_flag = Flag of Ashgabat.svg
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Ashgabat.svg
| blank_emblem_size = 150px
| image_seal = Ashgabat (seal).svg
| seal_size = 150px
| image_shield = Coat of arms of Ashgabat.svg
| shield_alt =
| image_map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|type=shape|id=Q23438|stroke-width=3|zoom=4|frame-coordinates={{Coord|37|56|N|60|00|E}}}}
| map_caption = Location of Ashgabat within Turkmenistan
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Turkmenistan|Province]]
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Turkmenistan}}
| government_type = [[Presidential system|Presidential]]<ref name=HM>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/w/images/0/0f/19921214_XM-6.pdf |title=Türkmenistanyň Halk Maslahatynyň Çözgüdi HM-6 14 December 1992}}</ref>
| leader_title = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name = Rahym Nurgeldiyewic Gandymow (since 9 June 2021)
<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://tdh.gov.tm/tk/post/27988/turkmenistanyn-prezidentinin-gol-ceken-resminamalary
|title = Türkmenistanyň Prezidentiniň gol çeken resminamalary
|website = TDH
|date = 2021-07-09
|publisher =Turkmenistan State News Agency (TDH) - Turkmenistan Today
|lang = en
|accessdate = 2021-07-09
|archive-date = 2022-08-05
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220805011532/https://tdh.gov.tm/tk/post/27988/turkmenistanyn-prezidentinin-gol-ceken-resminamalary }}</ref>
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1881
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 917.6
| area_water_percent =
| population_as_of = 2019{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
| population_note =
| population_total = 1031992
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone =
| utc_offset = +05:00
| timezone_DST = ''not observed''
| utc_offset_DST = +05:00
| coordinates = {{coord|37|56|15|N|58|22|48|E|region:TM_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m = 273
| elevation_ft =
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 744000–744040
| area_code = (+993) 12
| registration_plate = AG
| website = {{URL|http://ashgabat.gov.tm/en/|ashgabat.gov.tm}}
| footnotes =
| official_name =
}}

[[File:Ashgabat, Turkmenistan Astronaut Imagery.JPG|thumb|Satellite view of Ashgabat]]
'''Ashgabat''' or '''Asgabat''' ({{lang-tk|Aşgabat}}, {{IPA-tk|ɑʃʁɑˈbɑt|}};<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ashgabat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154114/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/ashgabat|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 23, 2018|title=Ashgabat {{!}} Definition of Ashgabat in English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries {{!}} English|access-date=2018-11-23}}</ref> {{lang-fa|عشق‌آباد|translit=Ešqābād}}, formerly named '''Poltoratsk''' ({{lang-rus|Полтора́цк|p=pəltɐˈratsk}}) between 1919 and 1927, is the [[capital city|capital]] and the largest city of [[Turkmenistan]]. It lies between the [[Karakum Desert]] and the [[Kopet Dag|Kopetdag]] mountain range in [[Central Asia]], near the [[Iran-Turkmenistan border]].

The city was founded in 1881 on the basis of an Ahal [[Teke (Turkmen tribe)|Teke]] tribal village, and made the capital of the [[Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic]] in 1924. Much of the city was destroyed by the [[1948 Ashgabat earthquake]], but has since been extensively rebuilt under the rule of [[Saparmurat Niyazov]]'s "White City" urban renewal project,<ref>{{cite news|title=Turkmenistan: Government Orders People Out Of Their Homes In Name Of 'Urban Renewal' |newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |access-date=November 22, 2017 |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1053964.html |date=July 21, 2004 |last1=Pannier |first1=Bruce }}</ref> resulting in monumental projects sheathed in costly white marble.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Scott|first=Noel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UwnF6e_95nQC&q=ashgabat+marble&pg=PA132|title=Tourism in the Muslim World|date=2010-10-28|publisher=Emerald Group Publishing|isbn=978-1-84950-920-6|language=en}}</ref> The Soviet-era [[Karakum Canal]] runs through the city, carrying waters from the [[Amu Darya]] from east to west.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianembassy-tm.org/bilateral.html |title=Brief Note on Turkmenistan |website=Embassy of India, Ashgabat |access-date=June 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140218072835/http://www.indianembassy-tm.org/bilateral.html |archive-date=February 18, 2014 }}</ref> Since 2019, the city has been recognized as having one of the highest costs of living in the world largely due to Turkmenistan's inflation and import issues.<ref name="USN-cost"/><ref name="Forbes-cost"/><ref name=bbc2021>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57564902 |title=Turkmenistan's capital tops list of most expensive cities for expats |date=22 June 2021 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

==Etymology==
[[File:View of Ashgabat (42376779291).jpg|thumb|right|View of Ashgabat centre]]
Ashgabat is called ''Aşgabat'' in [[Turkmen language|Turkmen]], ({{lang-ru|Ашхабад|Ashkhabad}}) in [[Russian language|Russian]] from 1925 to 1991, and {{lang|fa|عشق‌آباد}} ({{italic correction|'''Ešqābād''}}) in [[Persian language|Persian]]. Before 1991, the city was usually spelled '''Ashkhabad''' in English, a transliteration of the Russian form. It has also been variously spelled Ashkhabat and Ashgabad. From 1919 until 1927, the city was renamed Poltoratsk after a local revolutionary, [[Pavel Poltoratskiy|Pavel Gerasimovich Poltoratskiy]].<ref name=Ashkhabad>{{cite book|script-title=ru:Ашхабад|last=Клычев|first=Анна-Мухамед|language=ru|publisher=Изд-во "Туркменистан"|date=1976}}</ref>

Although the name literally means "city of love" or "city of devotion" in modern Persian, the name might be modified through [[folk etymology]]. Turkmen historian Ovez Gundogdiyev believes that the name goes back to the [[Parthian Empire|Parthian]] era, 3rd century BC, deriving from the name of the founder of the [[Parthian Empire]], [[Arsaces I of Parthia]], in [[Persian language|Persian]] Ashk-Abad (the city of ''Ashk''/[[Arsaces]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://turkmeniya.tripod.com/id27.html |title=How Old is Ashgabat? |publisher=Turkmeniya.tripod.com |access-date=2013-11-24}}</ref>

==Geography==
Ashgabat is very close to the border with [[Iran]].<ref name=nasa>{{cite web|url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/38300/ashgabat-turkmenistan|title=Ashgabat, Turkmenistan|date=September 11, 2001|publisher=NASA}}</ref> It occupies a highly seismically active oasis plain bounded on the south by the foothills of the [[Kopet Dag]] mountains ({{lang-tk|Köpetdag}}) and on the north by the [[Karakum Desert]]. It is surrounded by, but not part of, [[Ahal Region|Ahal Province]] ({{lang-tk|Ahal welaýaty}}). The highest point in the city is the {{convert|401|m}} high sandhill upon which the Yyldyz Hotel was built, but most of the city lies between {{convert|200.|and|255|m}} of elevation. The [[Karakum Canal]] runs through the city.<ref name=goranmak>{{cite map|title=Ashgabat: Map of City Centre|publisher=Enterprise No. 5 of the Ministry of Defense|place=Ashgabat|date=2015}}</ref><ref name=genshtab>{{cite map |title = Ашхабад|trans-title = Ashkhabad|year = 1982|scale = 1:25,000|series = Генеральный штаб|publisher = Генеральный штаб СССР|sections = J-40-69,70,81,82|edition = 1969|language = ru}}</ref><ref name=encyclopedia />

Like the rest of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat's soil is primarily sediment that accumulated on the bottom of the [[Paratethys Ocean]]. The Kopet Dag mountains emerged toward the end of the [[Cretaceous Period]].<ref name=turkmenistan2>{{cite book|title=Туркменистан|language=ru|date=1948|publisher=Молодая гвардия|place=Moscow|series=Наша Родина|editor-last=Михайлова|editor-first=Н.Н.|chapter=Туркменистан в образах литературы}}</ref>

===Urban layout===
====1881 to 1929====
Prior to 1881 any buildings other than [[yurt]]s were made solely from [[adobe]] and were limited to one story in height due to the seismic risk.<ref name=ria /> As of 1900 only one building in the city was two stories tall, the municipal museum.<ref name=muradov3>{{cite news|url= https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/54091/istoriya-ashhabada-na-zare-dvadcatogo-veka |title= История Ашхабада: на заре двадцатого века|first=Ruslan|last=Muradov |date=6 May 2021 |language=ru |publisher=«Туркменистан: золотой век»}}</ref> City planning began following the Russian conquest, with "very simple planning schemes." The basic layout of downtown streets "has been preserved to this day and defined the unique character of the city structure combining linear and radial types of layout of blocks." The Russian writer [[Vasily Yan]], who lived in Askhabad from 1901 to 1904, described the city as "a little tidy town consisting of numerous clay houses, surrounded by fruit gardens with straight streets, planted with slim cottonwood, chestnut, and white acacia planned by the hand of military engineers."<ref name=guide /> Another description noted,
: The fortress was the center of the bureaucratic part of the city. Here stood especially sturdy thick-walled houses, with strong window grates and corner buttresses. Earthquakes were less frightening in such houses, and behind the thick walls even in the hottest months some measure of indoor coolness was retained. Each house had a garden around it, on maintenance of which residents spared neither expenditures nor water...Nearer the rail station lived the railroad workers and craftsmen. Here the houses were shorter and more densely spaced, gardens smaller, and dust on the streets greater...
: Gradually a third center of Ashkhabad started to emerge, of the merchants. Roughly equidistant from the rail station and the fortress was laid out a sad marketplace, becoming not only a center of stores and stalls, but a center of gravity for merchants' residence.<ref name=turkmenistan />

====1930 to 1948====
In 1930, asphalt was used for the first time to pave Ashgabat's streets.<ref name=muradov4>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/54304/istoriya-ashhabada-vremya-bolshih-peremen |title =История Ашхабада: время больших перемен |date=13 May 2021|first=Ruslan|last=Muradov |language=ru |publisher=«Туркменистан: золотой век»}}</ref> The water supply was increased by piping water from springs in neighboring Gämi and Bagyr.<ref name=muradov4 />

The first master plan for Ashgabat, developed between 1935 and 1937 at the Moscow Institute of Geodesy, Aerial Imagery, and Cartography, envisioned expansion to the west, including irrigation and greening of the Bikrova canyon (today Bekrewe).<ref name=encyclopedia>{{cite book|title=Туркменская Советская Социалистическая Республика: Энциклопедический справочник|date=1984|publisher=Издательство Чувашского обкома КПСС|place=Ashkhabad|language = ru}}</ref> The city architect's office was created in 1936 but was unable to implement the new master plan "as it implied significant demolition of the existing buildings."<ref name=quake>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=17263|title=Ашхабадская трагедия: 70 лет спустя|last=Komarov|first=Vladimir|date=October 6, 2018|work=Туркменистан: золотой век|language=ru}}</ref> A description of Ashgabat published in 1948 just before the earthquake noted, "In Ashgabat there are nearly no tall buildings, thus every two-story building is visible from above...", i.e., from the foothills. The tallest structures were the clock tower of the textile mill, the "round smokestack of the glass factory", two "exceptionally thin minarets" of the "former mosque", and "two splendid towers over the long building of the main city hotel."<ref name=turkmenistan />

====Impact of the 1948 earthquake====
[[File:Soviet Union stamp 1950 № 1493.jpg|thumb|Textile factory in Ashgabat depicted on a 1950 stamp]]
During the 1948 earthquake, since the bulk of Ashgabat at that time was built of either [[adobe]] or fired [[brick]], all but a very few buildings collapsed or were damaged beyond repair (the reinforced concrete grain elevator, [[St. Alexander Nevsky Church, Ashgabat|Church of St. Alexander Nevsky]], and [[Kärz Bank]] were among the structures that survived).<ref name=vosp>{{cite web|url=https://www.partner-inform.de/memoirs/detail/jetapy-zhiznennogo-puti-chast-6-g/4/620?lang=ru|title=ЭТАПЫ ЖИЗНЕННОГО ПУТИ, Часть 6. ТУРКМЕНИЯ|first=Михаил|last=Брегман|language=ru|publisher="Partner" MedienHaus GmbH & Co. KG}}</ref><ref name=karyyev>{{cite web|url=http://infoabad.com/vs-o-turkmenistane/-ashhabadskaja-katastrofa-glava-iz-knigi-b-karyeva-vot-prishlo-zemletrjasenie.html|title="Ашхабадская катастрофа". Глава из книги Б.Каррыева "Вот пришло землетрясение"|date=September 6, 2015|language=ru|publisher=Infoabad|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726231339/http://infoabad.com/vs-o-turkmenistane/-ashhabadskaja-katastrofa-glava-iz-knigi-b-karyeva-vot-prishlo-zemletrjasenie.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to Turkmenistan's official news agency,
: Nearly all one-story residential buildings in the city made of mud brick were destroyed, 95 percent of all one-story buildings made of fired brick, and the remaining structures were damaged beyond repair. The number of inhabitable buildings was in single digits, and at that, only after capital renovation.<ref name=quake />

A new general plan was hastily developed by July 1949. The city was divided into four zones: central, northern, eastern, and southwestern. Reconstruction of the city began in that year.<ref name=encyclopedia /><ref name=quake /> Thus from the early 1950s through 1991 Ashgabat's skyline was dominated by [[Brutalist architecture|the Brutalist Style]] favored by post-Stalin Soviet architects.<ref name=masterplan>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=5241|title=Столица, устремленная в будущее|first=Vladimir|last=Komarov|date=November 9, 2013|language=ru|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref> The city's central avenue, [[Magtymguly Avenue|Magtymguly]] (former Kuropatkin, Freedom, and Stalin Prospect), featured "monotonous and primarily two-story construction of administrative and residential buildings." This reconstruction "preserved the existing network of city streets as it was economically unjustified to redesign them."<ref name=quake /> The city was described as "...a Communist-era backwater, rebuilt into a typically drab provincial Soviet city..."<ref name=mt>{{cite web|url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2011/05/19/turkmen-leader-opens-gold-palace-a7060|title=Turkmen Leader Opens Gold Palace|date=May 19, 2011|publisher=Moscow Times}}</ref> The plan was updated in 1959.<ref name=bse>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://bse.slovaronline.com/2178-ASHHABAD |title=Большая советская энциклопедия |edition=1969-1978гг. – Издание III|place=Moscow |language=Russian |article=АШХАБАД}} (online edition)</ref>

Among the buildings erected in the 1950s and 1960s were the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Turkmenistan Communist Party, the Council of Ministers Building, the [[Mollanepes Academic Drama Theater]], the former [[Ashkhabad Hotel]] (now renamed Paytagt), the Academy of Sciences complex, and the downtown library building. On then-Karl Marx Square stood a monument to the Soviet "fighters for victory of Soviet power in Turkmenistan".<ref name=encyclopedia />

====The 1960s master plan====
The Turkmen State Project Institute undertook a feasibility study in the mid-1960s to forecast Ashgabat's development to the year 2000, and on that basis to develop a new master plan. Up until then the city had largely expanded to the east, but now the plan called for development to the south and west. This plan was used for about 20 years, and led to construction of the city's first four-story apartment buildings in the Howdan ({{lang-ru|Гаудан}}) microdistricts, formerly the site of the Ashgabat-South aerodrome, as well as annexation of three [[Kolkhoz|collective farms]] in the near suburbs and their conversion into residential neighborhoods, one of which, Leningrad kolkhoz, to this day is referred to informally by its former name.<ref name=quake /><ref name=osmwiki>{{cite web|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ashgabat#Demolished_neighborhoods|title=Ashgabat|publisher=OpenStreetMap}}</ref> The plan was reworked in 1974, and this resulted in relocation of several industrial plants away from the city center, and thus creation of the industrial zones to the northwest, south, southeast, and northeast.<ref name=encyclopedia />

Between 1961 and 1987 the city architect was Abdulla Ahmedov, who introduced Soviet [[modernism]] to Ashgabat.<ref name=muradov5>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/54624/istoriya-ashhabada-epoha-modernizma | title=История Ашхабада: эпоха модернизма | date=24 May 2021 |language=ru |first=Ruslan |last=Muradov |publisher=«Туркменистан: золотой век»}}</ref> Ahmedov's greatest architectural accomplishment during this period is considered the Ashgabat Hotel (today renamed Paytagt Hotel), built between 1964 and 1970, "a harmonious synthesis of architecture and monumental art."<ref name=muradov5 />

===Growth===
In 1948 Ashgabat was described before the earthquake as lying "on a sloping plain of the Kopet-Dag foothills, stretching seven kilometers from west to east and five kilometers from the railroad right-of-way to the south, in the direction of the mountains."<ref name=turkmenistan>{{cite book|title=Туркменистан|language=ru|first=П.|last=Скосырев|date=1948|publisher=Молодая гвардия|place=Moscow|series=Наша Родина|editor-last=Михайлова|editor-first=Н.Н.|chapter=Ашхабад--столица Советского Туркменистана}}</ref> Through the mid-1970s, Ashgabat was a compact city, as shown by the 1974 Soviet military's General Staff map J-40-081.<ref name=j40081>{{cite map|title=Ашхабад J-40-081|cartography=USSR Ministry of Defense|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:J-40-081-Ashgabat-excerpt.jpg|language=ru}}</ref> The village of Köşi, collective farm "Leningrad", airport, and suburbs to the north were outside the city limits.

Beginning in the 1970s, Ashgabat's boundaries shifted outward, with the aforementioned municipalities annexed, the aerodrome at Howdan redeveloped, and creation of the Parahat ({{lang-ru|Mir}}) neighborhoods to the south and industrial parks to the east. In 2013, Ashgabat annexed a portion of the then-Ruhabat district of Ahal Province as well as the city of Abadan (previously named Büzmeýin, and renamed that as a neighborhood) plus all land and villages in between. The southern boundary of Ashgabat was extended southward to the foothills of the Kopet Dag mountains. Overall, Ashgabat's land area rose by 37,654 hectares. The following municipalities were abolished due to their incorporation into the city of Ashgabat: city of Abadan, towns of Jülge and Ruhabat, villages of Gökje, Gypjak, Birleşik, Magaryf, Herrikgala, Ýalkym, Gurtly, Hellewler, Ylmy-Tejribe bazasy, Ýasmansalyk, Köne Gurtly, Gulantäzekli, Serdar ýoly, Gaňtar, Gyzyljagala, Inerçýage, Tarhan, Topurly, and Ussagulla.<ref name=abadan2013>{{cite map|title=Схема территорий, предназначенных для включения в пределы города Aшхабада|language=ru|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:2013May27_new_map_of_Ashgabat_and_Akhal_2.jpg|date=May 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name=annex2013a>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmeninform.com/ru/news/20130528/07457.html|title=Изменения в административной карте столицы Туркменистана и ее прилегающих территорий|date=May 28, 2013|language=ru|work= Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref><ref name=annex2013b>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmeninform.com/ru/news/20130528/07457.html|title=Изменения в административной карте столицы Туркменистана и ее прилегающих территорий|date=May 28, 2013|language=ru|publisher=Turkmeninform}}</ref> A further expansion occurred January 5, 2018, when additional land to the north was annexed, incorporating the Gurtly Reservoir and two greenfield residential construction projects, known today as Täze Zaman. This statute also established the current four boroughs of Ashgabat.<ref name=annex2015>{{cite map|title=Схема территорий этрапов города Ашхабада|date=January 5, 2018|url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/File:2018_01_06_ashgabat_etrapy_separation_24784.jpg|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=mejlis1>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=15374|title=Меджлис Туркменистана принял Постановление о вопросах административно-территориального деления города Ашхабада|language=ru|date=January 5, 2018|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{climate chart
| Ashgabat
|- 0.4| 8.6| 20
| 1.0| 11.2| 24
| 5.5| 16.5| 41
|11.6| 24.1| 32
|16.6| 30.1| 21
|21.5| 36.0| 6
|23.8| 38.3| 3
|21.7| 37.2| 2
|16.1| 31.7| 3
|10.1| 24.3| 10
| 5.2| 16.8| 19
| 1.2| 10.4| 20
|float=right
|clear=both
|source= ''pogoda.ru.net''<ref name = Pogoda >
{{cite web
|url = http://pogoda.ru.net/climate/38880.htm
|title = Weather and Climate-The Climate of Ashgabat
|publisher = Weather and Climate
|language = ru
|access-date=August 21, 2012
}}</ref>
}}The [[Kopet Dag]] mountain range is about {{convert|25|km}} to the south, and Ashgabat's northern boundary touches the Kara-Kum desert. Because of this Ashgabat has a [[cold desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]]: ''BWk'', bordering from ''BWh'') with very hot, dry summers and cool, short winters. The average high temperature in July is {{convert|38.3|°C|1}}. Nighttimes in the summer are warm, with an average minimum temperature in July of {{convert|23.8|°C|0}}. The average January high temperature is {{convert|8.6|C|F|1}}, and the average low temperature is {{convert|-0.4|C|F|1}}. The highest temperature ever recorded in Ashgabat is {{convert|47.2|°C|0}}, recorded in June 2015.<ref name="Pogoda" /> A low temperature of {{convert|-24.1|°C|0}} was recorded in January 1969.<ref name="Pogoda" /> Snow is infrequent in the area. Annual precipitation is only {{convert|201|mm|in|2}}; March and April are the wettest months, and June to September are the driest months. In May 2022, {{convert|338|mm|in|2}}, 1,352% of the monthly normal, was reported.<ref>Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin, June 1, 2022, page 22</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Ashgabat (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high C = 27.8
|Feb record high C = 32.6
|Mar record high C = 38.6
|Apr record high C = 39.6
|May record high C = 45.6
|Jun record high C = 47.2
|Jul record high C = 46.8
|Aug record high C = 45.7
|Sep record high C = 45.4
|Oct record high C = 40.1
|Nov record high C = 35.0
|Dec record high C = 33.1
|Jan high C = 9.0
|Feb high C = 11.1
|Mar high C = 17.0
|Apr high C = 23.9
|May high C = 30.5
|Jun high C = 36.2
|Jul high C = 38.4
|Aug high C = 37.2
|Sep high C = 31.8
|Oct high C = 24.4
|Nov high C = 15.7
|Dec high C = 9.8
|Jan mean C = 3.9
|Feb mean C = 5.7
|Mar mean C = 11.1
|Apr mean C = 17.6
|May mean C = 24.1
|Jun mean C = 29.6
|Jul mean C = 31.7
|Aug mean C = 30.0
|Sep mean C = 24.3
|Oct mean C = 17.1
|Nov mean C = 9.7
|Dec mean C = 5.0
|Jan low C = -0.1
|Feb low C = 1.3
|Mar low C = 6.0
|Apr low C = 11.8
|May low C = 17.5
|Jun low C = 22.3
|Jul low C = 24.5
|Aug low C = 22.4
|Sep low C = 17.1
|Oct low C = 10.8
|Nov low C = 5.0
|Dec low C = 1.1
|year low C =
|Jan record low C = -24.1
|Feb record low C = −20.8
|Mar record low C = −13.3
|Apr record low C = -0.8
|May record low C = 1.3
|Jun record low C = 9.2
|Jul record low C = 13.8
|Aug record low C = 9.5
|Sep record low C = 2.0
|Oct record low C = -5.0
|Nov record low C = −13.1
|Dec record low C = −18.1
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 21
|Feb precipitation mm = 33
|Mar precipitation mm = 42
|Apr precipitation mm = 33
|May precipitation mm = 23
|Jun precipitation mm = 8
|Jul precipitation mm = 3
|Aug precipitation mm = 2
|Sep precipitation mm = 3
|Oct precipitation mm = 12
|Nov precipitation mm = 23
|Dec precipitation mm = 18
|Jan humidity = 78
|Feb humidity = 72
|Mar humidity = 66
|Apr humidity = 58
|May humidity = 47
|Jun humidity = 35
|Jul humidity = 34
|Aug humidity = 34
|Sep humidity = 40
|Oct humidity = 54
|Nov humidity = 68
|Dec humidity = 77
|year humidity = 55
|Jan rain days = 9
|Feb rain days = 9
|Mar rain days = 13
|Apr rain days = 12
|May rain days = 10
|Jun rain days = 5
|Jul rain days = 3
|Aug rain days = 2
|Sep rain days = 3
|Oct rain days = 6
|Nov rain days = 8
|Dec rain days = 10
|year rain days = 90
|Jan snow days = 5
|Feb snow days = 5
|Mar snow days = 1
|Apr snow days = 0.03
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0.1
|Nov snow days = 1
|Dec snow days = 3
|year snow days = 15
|Jan sun = 112.7
|Feb sun = 119.4
|Mar sun = 146.2
|Apr sun = 194.4
|May sun = 275.1
|Jun sun = 335.5
|Jul sun = 353.8
|Aug sun = 348.1
|Sep sun = 289.2
|Oct sun = 216.8
|Nov sun = 157.2
|Dec sun = 104.4
|year sun = 2652.8
|source 1 = Pogoda.ru.net<ref name=pogoda>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate/38880.htm
|script-title=ru:Погода и Климат
| publisher = Pogodaiklimat.ru
| language = ru
| access-date = 22 November 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (Sunshine hours 1961–1990)<ref name=NOAA >{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_II/TX/38880.TXT
| title = Ashgabat Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 22 November 2021}}</ref>
}}

==History==
Ashgabat grew on the ruins of the [[Silk Road]] city of '''Konjikala''', first mentioned as a wine-producing village in the 1st-2nd century BC and leveled by an earthquake in the 1st century BC. Konjikala was rebuilt because of its advantageous location on the Silk Road and it flourished until its destruction by Mongols in the 13th century. After that it survived as a small village until Russians took over in the 19th century.<ref>[http://www.geographicbureau.com/trips/central_asia/turkmenistan/info/brief_description_of_the_main_s.jdx Konjikala] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029043151/http://www.geographicbureau.com/trips/central_asia/turkmenistan/info/brief_description_of_the_main_s.jdx |date=October 29, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first=MaryLee|last=Knowlton|title=Turkmenistan|url=https://archive.org/details/turkmenistan00know|url-access=registration|year=2006|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-2014-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/turkmenistan00know/page/40 40]}}</ref>

The near suburb of Köşi, until 2013 a separate village but in that year annexed by Ashgabat, may have been site of a [[Parthia]]n fortress constructed to protect the capital city, [[Nisa, Turkmenistan|Nisa]], based on discoveries of pottery and other artifacts in the 1970s and as recently as 2020. Other artifacts indicating settlement during the [[Parthia]]n period were reportedly discovered during laying of telephone cables on the site of the [[Russian Bazaar, Ashgabat|Gülistan (Russian) Bazaar]] in downtown Ashgabat.<ref name=parthia>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=21643|title=На территории Ашхабада обнаружена керамика парфянской эпохи|language=ru|date=11 September 2020|work=Туркменистан: золотой век|access-date=September 17, 2020|archive-date=November 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127084151/https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=21643|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to Muradov, the first mention of the settlement in modern times is found in [[Khiva]] chronicles of 1811.<ref name=muradov1>{{cite news |url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/53739/istoriya-ashhabada-chto-bylo-do-osnovaniya |title=История Ашхабада: что было до основания? |date=23 April 2021 |language=ru |first=Ruslan |last=Muradov |publisher=«Туркменистан: золотой век»}}</ref>

British Lieutenant Colonel H.C. Stuart reported in 1881 that the Ahal branch of the [[Teke (Turkmen tribe)|Teke tribe]] of the [[Turkmens|Turkmen]] ethnic group arrived in the area around 1830 and established several semi-nomadic villages (''auls'') between what are now the city of [[Gyzylarbat]] and village of [[Gäwers, Turkmenistan|Gäwers]], inclusive. One of these villages was named Askhabad.<ref name=stuart>{{cite book|title=The Country of the Turkomans|date=1977|publisher=Oguz Press and the Royal Geographical Society|place=London|isbn=0-905820-01-0}}, Chapter 11, Stuart, Lt. Col. H.C., ''The Country of the Tekke Turkomans, and the Tejend and Murghab Rivers'', lecture delivered in 1881.</ref> The first Russian reference to Ashgabat dates to 1850, in a document kept in the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs archives listing 43 Ahal fortresses, "Ishkhabad" among them.<ref name=guide>{{cite book|title=Guide-Book to Ashgabat|date=2015|publisher=Turkmen State Publishing Service|place=Ashgabat|editor1-first=Viktor|editor1-last=Khramov}}</ref> It was described as a "typical Turkmen ''aul''".<ref name=turkmenistan />

It was formally part of [[Persia]] but ''de facto'' autonomous under Turkoman tribal control until Russian forces defeated the Teke army at the [[Battle of Geok Tepe]] in January 1881. Persia ceded Askhabad to the [[Russian Empire]] in September 1881 under the terms of the [[Akhal Treaty]].

===Russian Empire===
The city was officially founded January 18, 1881, as a fortified garrison and was named after the Turkmen village on that site.<ref name=turkmenistan /><ref name="Pospelov">Pospelov, pp. 29–30</ref><ref name=encyclopedia /><ref name=muradov2>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/ru/post/53915/istoriya-ashhabada-s-chego-vsyo-nachinalos |title=История Ашхабада: с чего всё начиналось |date=29 April 2021 |language=ru |first=Ruslan |last=Muradov |publisher=«Туркменистан: золотой век»}}</ref> Russian military engineers platted the garrison settlement "on the western edge of the ''aul'' (village) of Askhabad on the Gaudan (Howdan) road leading to Persia. The fortress stood on a hill 12 meters high, on which was constructed a citadel-redoubt, and below [it], the residential area, surrounded by walls and a moat."<ref name=encyclopedia /> Sixty-seven Turkmen families were compensated for the land confiscated from them for this construction.<ref name=muradov2 />

Russia developed the area due to its proximity to the border of British-influenced Persia. In 1882 a wagon road was built through the mountains to [[Quchan]], [[Iran]], which led to increased trade as well as settlement of Persian and Armeno-Turkmen merchants in Askhabad.<ref name=muradov2 /> The [[Trans-Caspian railway]] reached Askhabad in 1885. The population grew from 2,500 in 1881 to 10,000 in 1886 and 19,428 (of whom one third were Persian) by 1897.<ref name=muradov2 /><ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Askabad|volume=2|page=762}}</ref> The Transcaspian Public Library was established in 1885, boys and girls high schools were founded in 1886, and the Kuropatkin School of Horticulture and Viticulture appeared in 1890. The first telephone station was installed in 1900.<ref name=muradov2 />

The city was regarded as a pleasant municipality with European-style buildings, shops, and hotels. Several streets were named after Russian military figures, reflecting its status as a garrison town, including the main square, named in honor of General [[Mikhail Skobelev]], commander of Russian forces during the 1880–1881 Trans-Caspian military campaign. These included as well the western boundary avenue, named in honor of General Nikolai Grodekov, and the city's central avenue, renamed in the 1890s to honor General and Trans-Caspian Governor-General [[Aleksey Kuropatkin]], both of whom had served in the Trans-Caspian campaign under Skobolev's command.<ref name=map2>{{cite map |title = План города Асхабада|trans-title = Plan goroda Askhabada|year = c. 1890|scale = "100 sazhen to one English inch" (1:8,400)|language = ru}}</ref>

In 1908, the first [[Bahá'í House of Worship]] was built in Askhabad. It was badly damaged in the 1948 earthquake and finally demolished in 1963.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-ashkabad |title=Baha'i House of Worship in Ashgabat |publisher=Bahai.us |access-date=2010-06-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808220600/http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-ashkabad |archive-date=August 8, 2007 }}</ref><ref name=country>{{cite book|title=The Country of the Turkomans: An anthology of exploration from the Royal Geographic Society|publisher=Oguz Press and the Royal Geographic Society|year=1977|isbn=0-905820-01-0}}</ref> The community of the [[Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan]] was largely based in Askhabad.

By 1915 Askhabad featured branches of the Russian State Bank, Persian Accounting Loan Bank, Russian-Asian Bank, [[Société Générale]], and Askhabat Mutual Credit Union.<ref name=guide />

===Soviet period===
[[Soviet Union|Soviet]] rule was established in Ashgabat in December 1917. However, in July 1918, a coalition of [[Menshevik]]s, [[Social Revolutionaries]], and [[Tsarism|Tsarist]] former officers of the [[Imperial Russian Army]] revolted against the [[Bolshevik]] rule emanating from Tashkent and established the [[Transcaspian Government|Ashkhabad Executive Committee]]. After receiving some support (but even more promises) from General [[Wilfrid Malleson|Malleson]], the British withdrew in April 1919 and the [[Tashkent Soviet]] resumed control of the city.

In 1919, the city was renamed '''Poltoratsk''' ({{lang-ru|Полторацк}}), after [[Pavel Poltoratskiy]], the Chairman of the Soviet of National Economy of the [[Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]].<ref name="Pospelov" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bse.sci-lib.com/article085143.html|title=Ашхабад|publisher=Bse.sci-lib.com|date=May 28, 2009|access-date=February 26, 2015}}</ref> When the [[Turkmen SSR]] was established in 1924, Poltoratsk became its capital. The original name but in the form of "A'''sh'''khabad" rather than "A'''s'''khabad" was restored in 1927.<ref name="Pospelov" /> In keeping with standard Soviet practice, Imperial Russian street names were changed to honor prominent Communists, Russians, or socialist ideals. For example, Skobolev Square became [[Karl Marx]] Square, Grodekov Street became [[Alexander Ostrovsky|Ostrovskiy]] Street, and Kuropatkin Prospect became Freedom Prospect (and from 1953 to 1961, following [[Joseph Stalin]]'s death, Stalin Prospect).<ref name=osm /><ref name=gaz /> In 1927 a statue of [[Vladimir Lenin]] designed by A.A. Karelin and Ye.R. Tripolskaya was erected.<ref name=encyclopedia />

During [[World War II]] Ashgabat became a refuge for both institutions, including Moscow State University and the Kiev film studio, and individuals. Roughly 8,000 refugees were quartered in private homes during the war.<ref name=muradov4 /> Among the outsiders who escaped to Ashgabat during the war were [[Andrei Sakharov]] and author [[Yury Olesha]]. In 1944 Ukrainian motion picture director [[Mark Donskoy]] filmed ''[[Rainbow (1944 film)|Rainbow]]'' ({{lang-uk|Веселка}} , {{lang-ru|Радуга}}) in Ashgabat, which was nominated for an [[Academy Award]] as best foreign film.<ref name=muradov4 />

From this period onward, the city experienced rapid growth and industrialisation, although severely disrupted by a [[1948 Ashgabat earthquake|major earthquake]] on October 6, 1948. An estimated 7.3 on the [[Richter magnitude scale|Richter scale]], the earthquake killed 110–176,000<ref name="NGDC">{{cite web | url=http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/results?eq_0=3891&t=101650&s=13&d=22,26,13,12&nd=display | title=Comments for the significant earthquake | publisher=[[National Geophysical Data Center]] | work=Significant Earthquake Database | access-date=June 12, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/most_destructive.php |title=US Geological Survey |publisher=Earthquake.usgs.gov |access-date=2010-06-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090901233953/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/world/most_destructive.php |archive-date=September 1, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia|author=Britannica Concise Encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/176199/earthquake |title=Britannica Online |encyclopedia=Britannica.com |access-date=2010-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/2007/10/06/today_the_people_of_turkmenistan_mourn_for_those_perished_in_the_1948_ashgabat_earthquake.html |title=Today the People of Turkmenistan Mourn for Those Perished in the 1948 Ashgabat Earthquake |publisher=Golden Age State News Agency |date=2007-10-06 |access-date=2010-06-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406122236/http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/2007/10/06/today_the_people_of_turkmenistan_mourn_for_those_perished_in_the_1948_ashgabat_earthquake.html |archive-date=April 6, 2009 }}</ref> (⅔ of the population of the city), although the official number announced by Soviet news was only 40,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/life/newsid_3169000/3169472.stm |title=Би-би-си | Люди и нравы | Горькая память Ашхабада |work=BBC News |access-date=2013-11-24 |first=Владимир |last=Ардаев |date=2003-10-06|language=ru}}</ref>

===Independence===
In July 2003, street names in Ashgabat were replaced by serial numbers except for nine major highways, some named after [[Saparmurat Niyazov]], his father, and his mother. The Presidential Palace Square was designated 2000 to symbolize the beginning of the 21st century. The rest of the streets were assigned larger or smaller four-digit numerical names. Following Niyazov's death in 2006, Soviet-era street names were restored, though in the years since, many of them have been replaced with names honoring Turkmen scholars, poets, military heroes, and figures from art and culture, as well as celebrating the nation's independence. For example, Karl Marx Square became Garaşsyzlyk (Independence) Square, Ostrovskiy Street became Abba Annaýew (in honor of President [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov]]'s great-uncle), and Freedom Prospect became [[Magtymguly]].<ref name=osm>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_t5DxV7cXgQ&list=PLQNy8KsDknCr92fIXYcOKL42U35wRAV9Y&index=3 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/_t5DxV7cXgQ| archive-date=2021-12-11 | url-status=live| title=State of the Map keynote, State of the Map 2016| website=[[YouTube]]|date=October 4, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=gaz>{{cite web |url=https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Gazetteer_of_Ashgabat_Street_Names |title=Gazetteer of Ashgabat Street Names |website=OpenStreetMap Wiki}}</ref><ref name=sofitel>{{cite map |author = Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan Enterprise No. 5|title = Ashgabat|year = 2011|publisher = [[Sofitel]] |cartography = Ministry of Defense |location = Ashgabat|language = en }}</ref><ref name=numbers>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/node/13918|title=АШХАБАД ПЕРЕХОДИТ НА ЦИФРОВУЮ СИСТЕМУ ОБОЗНАЧЕНИЯ УЛИЦ|date=May 6, 2002|language=ru|publisher=Turkmenistan.ru}}</ref>

In 2013, the city was included in the ''[[Guinness Book of Records]]'' as possessing the world's highest concentration of white [[marble]] buildings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/26/turkmenistan-world-record-white-marble-buildings |title=Turkmenistan enters record books for having the most white marble buildings | World news |work=theguardian.com |access-date=2013-11-24 |location=London |date=2013-05-26}}</ref>

Ashgabat's "11th Line" project was dedicated on June 29, 2012, including 17 high-rise apartment buildings along 10 ýyl Abadançylyk şaýoly, two secondary schools, two kindergartens, a fire station, and a health clinic.<ref name=line11>{{cite news|publisher=Neytral'nyy Turkmenistan|language=ru|title=Этапы развития Туркменской столицы|date=12 November 2020}}</ref> The "12th Line" project was completed October 1, 2014, consisting of a straightening and widening of Atamyrat Nyýazow şaýoly plus construction of 13 high-rise apartment buildings, two secondary schools, two kindergartens, a new headquarters building for the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, the Telekeçi shopping center, and the Development Bank. On that same date, the new Cabinet of Ministers building was also opened.<ref name=Line12>{{cite news|publisher=Neytral'nyy Turkmenistan|language=ru|title=Этапы развития Туркменской столицы|date=13 November 2020}}</ref>

In preparation for the 2017 [[Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games]], the city spent $5 billion on residential construction. December 4, 2014, the president issued a decree calling for construction of 60 9-story apartment buildings in the Parahat-7 microdistrict, a greenfield project in the southeast quadrant of the city.<ref name=parahat7>{{cite web|url=http://tdh.gov.tm/news/articles.aspx&article641&cat11|title=С расширенного заседания Кабинета Министров Туркменистана|date=January 9, 2015|language=ru|publisher=Государственное информационное агентство Туркменистана (TDH) – Туркменистан сегодня}}</ref> On November 10, 2015, the "13th Line" was dedicated, a complete reconstruction of buildings along Oguzhan köçesi west of Garaşsyzlyk şaýoly.<ref name="line13">{{cite web|url=http://infoabad.com/novosti-turkmenistana/v-ramkah-13-i-ocheredi-zastroiki-ashhabada-vedeno-v-stroi-bole-30-obektov.html|title=В рамках 13-й очереди застройки Ашхабада введено в строй более 30 объектов|publisher=Infoabad|language=ru|date=November 11, 2015}}</ref> Projects included demolition and redevelopment of the Leningrad kolkhoz neighborhood as the "14th Line", and the Gazha and Vosmushka neighborhoods as the "15th Line".<ref name=osm /><ref name=hrw3>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/04/turkmenistan-homeowners-evicted-denied-compensation|title=Turkmenistan: Homeowners Evicted, Denied Compensation|publisher=Human Rights Watch|date=September 4, 2017}}</ref><ref name=sng1>{{cite web|url=https://sng.today/ashkhabad/4810-otkryvaetsya-15-ochered-zastroyki-ashhabada.html|title=Открывается 15 очередь застройки Ашхабада|date=October 23, 2017|language=ru|publisher=SNG.TODAY}}</ref><ref name=stroy>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/4308|title=В 15-ую очередь застройки Ашхабада войдет крупный комплекс 2-этажных коттеджей, десятки жилых домов|date=February 5, 2015|language=ru|publisher=Turkmenportal}}</ref><ref name=line14>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/8944|title=Состоялось торжественное открытие зданий 14 очереди строительства Ашхабада|date=October 20, 2016|language=ru|publisher=Turkmenportal}}</ref>

Subsequent to conclusion of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the "16th Line" project, a redevelopment of the Köşi neighborhood and extension of Magtymguly Prospect to the west, was begun in 2018.<ref name="sixteen1">{{cite web|url=https://sng.today/ashkhabad/7069-v-ashhabade-nachato-stroitelstvo-novogo-zhilogo-mikrorayona.html|title=В Ашхабаде начато строительство нового жилого микрорайона|language=ru|date=4 May 2018|publisher=SNG.TODAY}}</ref><ref name="sixteen2">{{cite web|url=https://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=16216|title=Началось возведение нового жилого комплекса вдоль проспекта Махтумкули|date=3 May 2018|first=Vladimir|last=Komarov|language=ru|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref> The "16th Line" was dedicated on November 10, 2020; it includes 16 high-rise apartment buildings, the Gül zemin shopping center, and a monument to the [[Central Asian Shepherd Dog|Alabay sheepdog]].<ref name="sixteen3">{{cite news|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=22022|title=Президент Туркменистана открывает комплекс столичных новостроек|date=10 November 2020|publisher="Туркменистан: золотой век"|language=ru}}</ref> In addition, the Gurtly and Choganly housing complexes, both greenfield projects, were constructed.<ref name="parahat">{{cite web|url=http://tdh.gov.tm/news/articles.aspx&article6243&cat40|title=В новых жилых массивах туркменской столицы готовятся к сдаче дома, объекты социальной и транспортной инфраструктуры|date=April 16, 2017|language=ru|publisher=Государственное информационное агентство Туркменистана (TDH) – Туркменистан сегодня}}</ref><ref name="khod">{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=17013|title=Президент Туркменистана ознакомился с ходом реализации программы застройки Ашхабада|date=September 4, 2018|language=ru|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref><ref name="gurtly">{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=18150|title=Началась реализация второй очереди застройки жилого массива Гуртлы|first=Владимир|last=Комаров|date=February 18, 2019|language=ru|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref> In May 2021 the government announced plans for the "17th Line", consisting of a resort complex encircling Golden Lake ({{lang-tk|Altyn köl}}), the former Gurtly Reservoir, to include 268 vacation cottages plus buildings for public services and amenities.<ref name=Line17>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/en/post/54802/modern-cottage-complex-be-built-north-ashgabat |title=Modern cottage complex to be built in the north of Ashgabat |date=29 May 2021|first=Vladimir |last=Komarov |publisher="Turkmenistan: Golden Age"}}</ref>

On 23 August 2022 the government announced plans to demolish one- and two-story houses in several microdistricts of central Ashgabat and to replace them with modern apartment buildings. A map of the areas intended for urban renewal was broadcast on national television that day, but no indication of a timeline was given.<ref name=demolish>{{citation |url=https://www.hronikatm.com/2022/08/ashgabat-demolition-map/ |title=По туркменскому телевидению, кажется, впервые показали план сноса старых жилых домов в Ашхабаде. Их сотни |date=24 August 2022 |language=ru |publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=https://metbugat.gov.tm/newspaper/download?id=8904 |title=Президент Туркменистана ознакомился с положением дел на новостройках столицы |trans-title= President of Turkmenistan acquainted himself with the situation of new construction in the capital city |date=24 August 2022 |language=ru |publisher=[[Neytralny Turkmenistan]]}}</ref>

The largest current residential project is construction of "Ashgabat-City" ''({{lang-tk|Aşgabat-siti}})'' north of the Choganly residential neighborhood, which is planned to include over 200 buildings on 744 hectares, and for the first time in the city's history to feature some buildings as tall as 35 stories.<ref name=siti>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoabad.com/novosti-turkmenistana/proekt-ashhabad-siti-byl-predstavlen-prezidentu-turkmenistana.html|title=Проект "Ашхабад-сити" был представлен Президенту Туркменистана|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=Infoabad|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=siti2>{{cite web|url=https://business.com.tm/tm/post/4004/ashgabat--siti-107-mun-yashayja-niyetleny|title="Aşgabat – siti" 107 müň ýaşaýja niýetlenýär|language=tk|date=June 21, 2019|publisher=Biznes Turkmenistan}}</ref><ref name=ashgabatcity>{{cite news|url=https://www.hronikatm.com/2020/11/skyscraper/|title=В сейсмоопасном Ашхабаде построят 35-этажный небоскреб|date=19 November 2019|publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=acity2>{{cite news|url=https://www.hronikatm.com/2019/06/ashgabat-city/|title=Президенту Туркменистана показали грандиозный проект "Ашхабад-сити" (видео)|date=22 June 2019|publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=tdh>{{cite news|url=http://tdh.gov.tm/news/articles.aspx&article18526&cat11|title=Президент Гурбангулы Бердымухамедов ознакомился с масштабным градостроительным проектом|date=20 June 2019|language=ru|publisher=Туркменистан сегодня}}</ref> These will include 180 12- to 35-story residential buildings containing 17,836 apartments intended to house over 107,000 occupants.<ref name=abatcity1>{{cite news|url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/en/post/54702/president-turkmenistan-participates-ground-breaking-ceremony-ashgabat-city-and-opening-residential-complex | title=The President of Turkmenistan participates in ground-breaking ceremony of Ashgabat city and opening of residential complex | date=25 May 2021 |publisher="Turkmenistan: Golden Age"}}</ref><ref name=abatcity2>{{cite news| url=https://turkmenistan.gov.tm/en/post/54732/exhibition-white-city-ashgabat-achievements-and-perspectives-development-capital | title=Exhibition "White City Ashgabat": Achievements and perspectives of development of the capital |date=24 May 2021 |publisher="Turkmenistan: Golden Age"}}</ref><ref name=urdupoint>{{cite news|url=https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/turkmenistan-begins-capital-expansion-despite-1260026.html |title=Turkmenistan Begins Capital Expansion Despite Economic Crisis |first=Mohammad |last= Ali |date=26 May 2021 |publisher=UrduPoint Network}}</ref>

'''Ashgabat milestones:'''<ref>''Independent Neutral Turkmenistan: 10 Glorious Years of the Epoch of Turkmenbashi the Great'', Ashgabat, 2001, pp. 39–40 {{in lang|ru}}</ref>
* 1882–1918 – administrative center of Russia's [[Transcaspian Region]]
* 1918–1925 – administrative center of the Turkmen Oblast in the [[Turkestan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic]]
* since February 1925 – capital of the [[Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic]]
* since October 1991 – capital of independent Turkmenistan

==Districts==
===Boroughs===
[[File:2018_01_06_ashgabat_etrapy_separation_24784.jpg|thumb|The four boroughs of the city]]

''See also'' [[commons:File:2018 01 06 ashgabat etrapy separation 24784.jpg|Map of the Boroughs of Ashgabat]]

As of January 5, 2018, Ashgabat includes four boroughs (''uly etraplar''), each with a presidentially appointed mayor ({{lang-tk|häkim}}):<ref name=HM /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=15374|title=Постановление о вопросах административно-территориального деления города Ашхабада|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=July 10, 2018|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708220911/http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=15374|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=15380|title=Глава государства подписал Постановления о переименовании и структурной реорганизации некоторых хякимликов Ахалского велаята и Ашхабада|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=July 10, 2018|archive-date=July 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708221040/http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=15380|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tdh.gov.tm/news/articles.aspx&article10747&cat11|title=Меджлис Туркменистана внёс изменения в административно-территориальное деление города Ашхабада|date=January 5, 2018|access-date=May 24, 2021|archive-date=December 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201203221926/http://tdh.gov.tm/news/articles.aspx%26article10747%26cat11|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://gundogar-news.com/index.php?category_id=1&news_id=12299|title=Парламент Туркменистана внёс изменения в административно-территориальное деление Ашхабада|date=January 6, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sng.today/ashkhabad/5651-v-turkmenistane-izmenilis-administrativnye-granicy-ashhabada-i-ahalskogo-regiona.html|title=В Туркменистане изменились административные границы Ашхабада и Ахалского региона|date=January 6, 2018}}</ref><ref name="cci.gov.tm">{{cite web|url=http://cci.gov.tm/index.php/ru/news/turkmenistan-novosti/4745-glava-gosudarstva-podpisal-postanovleniya-o-pereimenovanii-i-strukturnoj-reorganizatsii-nekotorykh-khyakimlikov-akhalskogo-velayata-i-ashkhabada|title=Глава государства подписал Постановления о переименовании и структурной реорганизации некоторых хякимликов Ахалского велаята и Ашхабада|date=January 8, 2018|access-date=July 10, 2018|archive-date=July 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010016/http://cci.gov.tm/index.php/ru/news/turkmenistan-novosti/4745-glava-gosudarstva-podpisal-postanovleniya-o-pereimenovanii-i-strukturnoj-reorganizatsii-nekotorykh-khyakimlikov-akhalskogo-velayata-i-ashkhabada|url-status=dead}}</ref>

# [[Bagtyyarlyk District|Bagtyýarlyk etraby]] (formerly President Niyazov, Lenin District, expanded to include former Ruhabat District plus new territory)
# [[Berkararlyk District|Berkararlyk etraby]] (formerly Azatlyk, Sovetskiy District)
# [[Abadan District|Büzmeýin etraby]] (formerly Abadan District, expanded to include former Arçabil and Çandybil Districts)
# [[Kopetdag District|Köpetdag etraby]] (formerly Proletarskiy District)

This is a reduction from the previous number of boroughs. Arçabil and Çandybil boroughs were merged on February 4, 2015, and the new ''etrap'', named Arçabil, was in turn renamed Büzmeýin in January 2018. At that time the Abadan borough of Ashgabat, created in 2013 by annexing the town of Abadan and surrounding villages to Abadan's south, was abolished and its territory was merged into the newly renamed Büzmeýin borough. The former Ruhabat borough was abolished at the same time and its territory absorbed by Bagtyýarlyk borough.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=4117 |title=Ашхабад прирос новыми территориями |publisher=Государственное информационное агентство Туркменистана |date=2013-05-27 |access-date=2013-11-24 |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901215802/http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=4117 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 15 June 2020, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov announced intention to create a fifth borough of Ashgabat, to be called Altyn etraby, centered on the new resort zone created on the shores of the former Gurtly Water Reservoir, recently renamed "Golden Lake" (Altyn köl).<ref name=newborough>{{cite web|url=https://www.hronikatm.com/2020/06/golden-lake-project/|title=Бердымухамедов открыл Золотое озеро – очередной грандиозный проект|date=16 June 2020|publisher=Хроника Туркменистана|language=ru}}</ref>

===Microdistricts===
Ashgabat's boroughs are subdivided into microdistricts ({{lang-ru|микрорайоны, singular микрорайон}}, {{lang-tk|etrapçalar, singular etrapça}}). These are administrative units that possess no independent governance structures. They are used for management of utilities and publicly owned housing. Ashgabat includes the following microdistricts:

* 1 through 11 Etrapça
* 30 Etrapça
* Howdan A
* Howdan B
* Howdan W
* Parahat 1 through 8<ref>[https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ashgabat#Microdistricts_of_Ashgabat OpenStreetMap / Ashgabat / Microdistricts of Ashgabat]</ref><ref name=sofitel2>{{cite map|title=Ashgabat |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan Enterprise No. 5 |place=Ashgabat |date=2011}}</ref><ref name=touristmap>{{cite map|title=Tourist Map of Turkmenistan / Ashgabat Map of City Centre |publisher=Ministry of Defense of Turkmenistan Enterprise No. 5 |place=Ashgabat |date=2017}}</ref>

==Demographics==
In 1871 a Russian visitor named Strebnitskiy counted over four thousand "nomad tents" (yurts), implying a population of 16 to 20 thousand Ahal Teke Turkmen, many of whom were killed or dispersed in the 1881 [[Battle of Geok Tepe]]. The population was 2,500 in 1881, virtually all Russian.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> By 1886 Askhabad's population was about 10,000, mainly ethnic Russians.<ref name=encyclopedia /><ref name=guide /> Construction of the Trans-Caspian Railway stimulated an influx of migrants seeking employment, particularly from the Caucasus, Volga Valley, and Iran, and Askhabad's subsequent population growth was as follows:

1897: 19,426 
1908: 39,867 
1911: 45,384

Ethnic Russians dominated the population after 1881, with about 20 percent admixture of Caucasus-origin migrants (mainly Armeno-Turkmen).<ref name=encyclopedia /><ref name=turkmenistan /> One source indicates that pre-revolutionary Askhabad had no Turkmen residents at all, and that they lived in nearby ''auls''.<ref name=turkmenistan /> This began to change in the 1920s, following imposition of Soviet power, which brought with it forced [[Collectivization in the Soviet Union|collectivization]]. In 1926 Ashkhabad's population of 51,593 included 52.4% Russians, 13.53% Armeno-Turkmen, 4.3% Persians, , and 29.8% "other". By 1939, Ashkhabad counted 126,500 residents, including 11.7% Armeno-Turkmen. The 1959 census recorded a population of 169,900, which grew to 338,000 by 1983, including 105 nationalities, of which ethnic Armeno-Turkmen constituted 40 percent.<ref name=encyclopedia />

According to estimates of the 2012 Turkmen census the [[Turkmens]] form 78.5% of the city's population. [[Russians]] form 10% of the population, followed by [[Turkish people|Turks]] (1.1%), [[Uzbeks]] (1.1%), and [[Azeris]] (1%).<ref>{{cite web|author=Asgabat|title=Национальный и религиозный состав населения Туркменистана сегодня|url=http://asgabat.net/stati/obschestvo/nacionalnyi-i-religioznyi-sostav-naselenija-turkmenistana-segodnja.html|access-date=2016-05-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624062134/http://asgabat.net/stati/obschestvo/nacionalnyi-i-religioznyi-sostav-naselenija-turkmenistana-segodnja.html|archive-date=June 24, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Architecture==
===Post-1991===
Following independence in 1991, President [[Saparmurat Niyazov]] began hiring foreign architectural and construction firms, most prominently [[Bouygues]] of France and the Turkish firms [[Polimeks]] and Gap Inşaat, the latter a subsidiary of [[Çalık Holding]]. These firms blended Persian-style domes, which Niyazov favored, with Greco-Roman architectural elements such as pillars.<ref name=buig>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/7529|title=French Bouygues to build new buildings for ministry of foreign affairs and ministry of education in Ashgabat|date=October 29, 2008|publisher=Turkmenistan.ru}}</ref><ref name=buig2>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/14896.html|title=President of Turkmenistan inaugurates new residence – Palace Complex "Oguzkhan"|date=May 19, 2011|publisher=Turkmenistan.ru}}</ref><ref name=pricey>{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/third_turkmen_president_palace/24183704.html|title=Third Palace Is A (Pricey) Charm For Turkmen President|date=May 23, 2011|publisher=RFE/RL}}</ref><ref name=polimeks1>{{cite web|url=http://polimeks.com/en/polimeks-construction|title=Polimeks Construction With all its projects}}</ref><ref name=gap>{{cite web|url=https://www.gapinsaat.com/completed-projects|title=Gap Inşaat Completed Projects}}</ref>

Following Niyazov's death, domes began to go out of fashion for buildings other than mosques, and public buildings began to take on more [[Modern architecture|modernist]] characteristics, often with a motif reflecting the structure's intended occupant. For example, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building is topped by a globe of the Earth, inside which is a conference center; the Development Bank building is topped by a giant coin; the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry building is shaped like a stylized [[caduceus]], the dental hospital is shaped like a [[Molar (tooth)|molar]] and the international terminal of [[Ashgabat International Airport]] is shaped like a [[falcon]].<ref name=falcon>{{cite web|url=https://www.calvertjournal.com/articles/show/7061/wild-architecture-new-east|title=Architecture gone wild: the 12 most insanely great contemporary buildings of the New East|publisher=The Calvert Journal|date=November 2, 2016|first=Elise|last=Morton}}</ref> The dominant characteristic of new construction since 1991 has been nearly universal facing with white marble.<ref name=lb>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/International/2013/Feb-24/207704-turkmenistan-rebuilds-capital-into-marble-white-city.ashx#axzz2ha0cVVee|title=Turkmenistan rebuilds capital into marble 'white city'|publisher=Daily Star (Lebanon)/Agence France Presse|first=Anton|last=Lomov|date=February 24, 2013|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=July 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726191844/http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/International/2013/Feb-24/207704-turkmenistan-rebuilds-capital-into-marble-white-city.ashx#axzz2ha0cVVee|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=ria>{{cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20151217/1342501669.html|title=Ашхабад: беломраморный город любви|language=ru|date=December 17, 2015|publisher=Международное информационное агентство "Россия сегодня"}}</ref> Another recurring motif is the eight-pointed star of [[Oghuz Khagan|Oguz Han]], the largest of which is on the television tower and has entered the Guinness Book of World Records.<ref name=star>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=133|title=Звезда Огуз хана – в Книге рекордов Гиннесса|language=ru|date=October 30, 2011|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref><ref name=star2>{{cite web|url=https://www.tema.ru/travel/turkmenistan-1/|title=Туркмения. Часть I. Восьмиконечные звезды и гёли|date=May 31, 2014|language=ru|publisher=Артемий Лебедев}}</ref><ref name=varlamov>{{cite web|url=https://varlamov.ru/1747480.html|title=Ashgabat, Turkmenistan|first=Ilya|last=Varlamov|date=May 29, 2016|publisher=varlamov.ru}}</ref> The official Turkmen government guide book to Ashgabat refers to the star of Oguz Khan as "...the basic dominant of the whole architectural-art decor..."<ref name=guide />

After independence, the city architect's office ordered construction of many high-rise (generally 12-story) residential buildings. Modern construction techniques allow high-rise development with good seismic safety. Primarily consisting of residential towers, the first floor is typically used as retail space and for building maintenance.<ref name=ria/>

===Monuments and statues===
Ashgabat features many sculptures honoring Turkmen, Turkic, and other Islamic poets and heroes. Four statues, of Lenin, [[Alexander Pushkin]], [[Taras Shevchenko]], and [[:ru:Памятник Махтумкули (Ашхабад)|Magtymguly]], date to the Soviet period, as do a statue and a bust of Turkmen composer [[Nury Halmammedov]]. Since then, however, much new sculpture has appeared. In Ylham (Inspiration) Park are found numerous busts and statues. Additional statues can be seen in the VDNH Park. A monumental statue of the current president was dedicated in May 2015 near Ashgabat Stadium. One also finds statues of [[Mustafa Kemal Atatürk]] and [[Alp Arslan]]. In addition to the statue of former President Niyazov atop the Neutrality Monument, a gilded statue of him stands before the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and a gilded seated statue of him graces the entry to the Turkmen Agricultural University.

Since independence in 1991, several monuments to features of Turkmenistan's governance have been erected: to neutrality, to the constitution, to the renaissance of Turkmenistan, to independence, as well as a special monument to former President [[Saparmurat Niyazov]]'s magnum opus, ''[[Ruhnama]]''.

The memorial complex in Bekrewe includes a statue of a bull with the Earth balanced on its horns, symbolizing the 1948 earthquake, and a statue of two traditionally dressed Turkmen warriors guarding a widow grieving the death of her husband in World War II. The exterior wall of the museum features bas reliefs depicting events in Turkmenistan's history.

In advance of the V Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in September 2017, roughly one billion dollars was spent on widening and upgrading Ashgabat's major thoroughfares.<ref name=osm /> Several traffic circles were created, in which were placed mainly abstract monuments. As of 2020 the most recent addition to these are the Bicycle Monument ({{lang-tk|Welosiped binasy}}), which President Berdimuhamedov dedicated on June 3, 2020, and the Turkmen Alabay monument, dedicated on November 10, 2020.<ref name=bike>{{cite web|url=https://business.com.tm/post/5585/bicycle-monument-opened-in-ashgabat-on-world-bicycle-day|title=Bicycle Monument Opened in Ashgabat on World Bicycle Day|date=June 3, 2020|publisher=Business Turkmenistan}}</ref><ref name=alabay>{{cite news|publisher=BBC|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54894828|title=Turkmenistan leader unveils giant gold dog statue|date=12 November 2020}}</ref>

===Controversies===
Much of the urban renewal since 1991 has involved demolition of traditional single-family residential housing, commonly with allegedly forced eviction of residents, and often without compensation to the homeowners. In particular, private homes rebuilt in neighborhoods flattened by the 1948 earthquake, many of which were never formally registered with the government, were subject to confiscation and demolition without compensation, as were former dacha communities like Ruhabat, Berzengi, and Choganly, which in nearly all cases lacked formal ownership documents.<ref name=hrw>{{cite web|url= https://www.hrw.org/news/2011/10/25/turkmenistan-open-letter-president-berdymukhadmedov-regarding-ongoing-expropriation#|title=Turkmenistan: Open Letter to President Berdymukhadmedov regarding ongoing expropriation and demolition of homes in Ashgabat and the surrounding Akhal region|date=October 25, 2011}}</ref><ref name=amnesty>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/10/turkmenistan-satellite-images-reveal-how-mass-forced-evictions-blight-upcoming-asian-games/|title=Turkmenistan: Satellite images reveal how mass forced evictions blight upcoming Asian Games|date=October 27, 2015|publisher=Amnesty International}}</ref><ref name=hrw2>{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/09/04/turkmenistan-homeowners-evicted-denied-compensation|title=Turkmenistan: Homeowners Evicted, Denied Compensation|date=September 4, 2017|publisher=Human Rights Watch}}</ref><ref name=eur>{{cite web|url=https://eurasianet.org/turkmenistan-the-human-toll-of-ashgabats-evictions|title=Turkmenistan: The Human Toll Of Ashgabat's Evictions|date=April 21, 2007|publisher=Eurasianet|first=Farangis|last=Najibullah}}</ref><ref name=statehum1>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2009/sca/136095.htm|title=Turkmenistan: 2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices|date=2009|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref><ref name=statehum2>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-country-reports-on-human-rights-practices/turkmenistan/|title=2018 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Turkmenistan|date=2019|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>

===First Baha'i Temple in the world===
[[File:Ashkabad Temple Bahai.jpg|thumb|left|First Bahá'í House of Worship 1908]]
{{Main|Bahá'í Faith in Turkmenistan}}

When Ashgabat was under [[Bahá'í Faith in Russia|Russian rule]], the number of Bahá'ís in the city rose to over 1,000, and a Bahá'í community was established, with its own schools, medical facilities and cemetery. The community elected one of the first Bahá'í [[Local Spiritual Assembly|local administrative institutions]]. In 1908 the Bahá'í community completed the construction of the first [[Bahá'í House of Worship]], sometimes referred to by its Arabic name of ''mašriqu-l-'aḏkār'' ({{lang-ar|مشرق اﻻذكار}}),<ref name="Smith">{{cite encyclopedia |last= Smith |first= Peter |encyclopedia= A concise encyclopedia of the Bahá'í Faith |title= Mashriqu'l-Adhkhár |year= 2000 |publisher= Oneworld Publications |location= Oxford |isbn= 1-85168-184-1 |page= [https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/235 235] |url= https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/235 }}</ref> where people of all religions may worship [[God]] without denominational restrictions.<ref name="iranica" /> The building was designed under the guidance of [[`Abdu'l-Bahá]] by Ustad' Ali-Akbar Banna Yazdi who also wrote a history of the Baha'is in Ashgabat.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cultural Change and Continuity in Central Asia|first=Shirin |last=Akiner|editor-last=Kegan |editor-first=Paul|year=1991|publisher=Routledge|page=293}}</ref><ref name="us_ashkabad">{{cite web|title=Baha'i House of Worship – Ashkabad, Central Asia |url=http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-ashkabad |access-date=2007-08-03 |year=2007 |publisher=The National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808220600/http://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple-ashkabad |archive-date=August 8, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The House of Worship itself was surrounded by gardens, with four buildings at the four corners of the gardens: a school, a hostel where travelling Bahá'ís were entertained, a small hospital, and a building for groundskeepers.<ref name="us_ashkabad" />

Under the [[Religion in the Soviet Union#Policy toward religions in practice|Soviet policy towards religion]], the Bahá'ís, strictly adhering to their principle of obedience to legal government, abandoned these properties in 1928.<ref name="obey">{{cite book | last = Effendi | first = Shoghi | author-link = Shoghi Effendi | title = The World Order of Bahá'u'lláh | publisher = US Bahá’í Publishing Trust, 1991 first pocket-size edition | date = 1936-03-11 | location = Haifa, Palestine |pages = 64–67 | url =http://reference.bahai.org/en/t/se/WOB/wob-34.html#pg64}}</ref> For the decade from 1938 to 1948, when it was seriously damaged by the earthquake, it was an [[art museum|art gallery]]. It was demolished in 1963.<ref name="iranica">{{cite encyclopedia|encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Iranica |year= 1989 |article=Bahai temples | first = V.| last = Rafati |author2=Sahba, F.}}</ref>

=== Other notable structures===
The [[Arch of Neutrality]] was dismantled and re-erected in its original form in the south of the capital.

[[Turkmenistan Tower]], the television and radio broadcasting tower, at a height of 211 meters is the tallest structure in the country. It was dedicated on October 17, 2011.<ref name=ria />

The administrative center of Ashgabat as the national capital is on the [[Archabil highway]], where several ministries and agencies, as well as educational, research, and cultural centers, are found.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=2877|title=Будущее беломраморной столицы|publisher=Электронная газета "Золотой век"|access-date=2013-11-24|first=Владимир|last=Комаров|archive-date=October 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006124748/http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=2877|url-status=dead}}</ref> The former Novofiryuzenskoye shosse (New Firyuza Highway) was rebuilt by Gap Inşaat in 2004.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

{{wide image|Panorama of Ashgabat.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|Panorama of Ashgabat at night}}

==Economy==
The principal industries are [[cotton]] textiles and metal working. It is a major stop on the [[Trans-Caspian railway]]. A large percentage of the employment in Ashgabat is provided by the state institutions; such as the ministries, undersecretariats, and other administrative bodies of the Turkmenistan government. There are also many foreign citizens working as diplomats or clerks in the embassies of their respective countries. Ashgabat lends its name to the [[Ashgabat agreement]], signed by [[India]], [[Oman]], [[Iran]], [[Turkmenistan]], [[Uzbekistan]] and [[Kazakhstan]], for creating an international transport and transit corridor facilitating transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/Hans-Classroom/2016-03-24/Ashgabat-Agreement/215932|title=Ashgabat Agreement|website=The Hans India|date=March 24, 2016|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>

In 2019 and 2020, Ashgabat was the most expensive city in the world for foreign [[expatriate]]s in [[ECA International]]'s Cost of Living Survey.<ref name="USN-cost">{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/cities/articles/2019-06-18/ashgabat-turkmenistan-is-the-worlds-most-expensive-city-for-expats |publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |title=Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Is the World's Most Expensive City for Expats |first=Wilson |last=Chapman |date=18 June 2019 |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref><ref name=bbc2021 /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3091525/hong-kong-falls-two-places-become-sixth-most |title=Hong Kong falls two places to become sixth-most expensive city for expats |first=Kanis |last=Leung |publisher=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=2 July 2020 |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> It was also listed as the second most expensive city in the world overall by the 2020 [[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer]] Cost of Living Survey.<ref name="Forbes-cost">{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverwilliams1/2020/06/08/the-10-most-expensive-cities-in-the-world-just-became-pricier/#6cabfd626aee |work=[[Forbes]] |first=Ollie |last=Williams |title=The 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World Just Became Pricier |date=8 June 2020 |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> Its high cost of living for foreigners has been attributed to severe inflation and rising import costs.<ref name="USN-cost"/><ref name="Forbes-cost"/><ref name=hanke>{{cite web|url=https://en.hronikatm.com/2018/06/expert-annual-inflation-rate-in-turkmenistan-reached-almost-300/|title=Expert: annual inflation rate in Turkmenistan reached almost 300%|publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan|date=June 6, 2018}}</ref>

===Industry===
Between 1881 and 1921, little industry existed in Ashgabat. Muradov relates that in 1915 the city featured "68 enterprises, mainly semi-handicrafts, with a total of 200-300 workers."<ref name=muradov3 /> Another source relates that as of 1911 roughly half the workforce of somewhat more than 400 "workers" was employed at the railroad depot, engaged in locomotive and railcar maintenance and repair, with the rest occupied in cotton ginning, cottonseed oil extraction, flour milling, and leather-, brick-, glass-, and iron production.<ref name=encyclopedia /> By 1915 the city boasted as well three printing houses, an electrical power station, three cotton gins, a creamery, a tannery, and 35 brickyards.<ref name=guide />

In 1921 Soviet authorities built a new glass plant plus a wine and spirits factory. In the years following several more factories were added, including the "Red Metalworker" iron-working plant (1925), the silk spinning plant (1928), a cotton spinning plant and textile plant (1929), candy factory (1930), garment factory (1933), shoe factory (1934), and a meat cannery (1938).<ref name=encyclopedia /> As of 1948, Ashgabat boasted "about twenty large factory-plant enterprises, which produce fabrics, glass, footwear, garments, meat products, dredges, agricultural implement parts and much else."<ref name=turkmenistan /><ref name=geotext>{{cite book|url=https://docplayer.biz.tr/181461559-Turkmenistanyn-bilim-ministrligi-tarapyndan-hodurlenildi.html#show_full_text|title=Türkmenistanyň Geografiýasy|language=Turkmen|date=2010|place=Ashgabat|publisher=Bilim Ministrligi|last1=Çaryýew|first1=B.|last2=Ilamanow|first2=Ýa.}}</ref>

Annexation of the former city of [[Büzmeýin, Turkmenistan|Buzmeyin]] ({{lang-tk|Büzmeýin}}), which from 2002 to 2018 was known as Abadan,<ref name="cci.gov.tm"/> brought into Ashgabat's city limits its major industrial suburb. Today's Buzmeyin neighborhood features the Buzmeyin State Electrical Power Plant, and factories for production of reinforced concrete, cement, asbestos roofing, pipes, and concrete blocks, as well as a carpet-weaving factory and soft-drink bottling plant.<ref name=encyclopedia />

Today more than 43 large and 128 medium-sized industrial enterprises along with over 1,700 small industrial facilities are located in Ashgabat and its suburbs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ashgabathotels.ru/ashgabat.htm|title=Ашхабад, Туркменистан|access-date=March 12, 2015}}</ref> The most important are Ashneftemash, Turkmenkabel, and Turkmenbashy Textile Complex.<ref>{{cite web|first=Федор|last=Забродин|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/node/16744|title=Сделано в Туркменистане|publisher=Turkmenistan.ru|access-date=March 12, 2015}}</ref>

====Electrical power generation====
The Abadan State Power Plant (now Büzmeýin State Power Plant), commissioned in 1957, was the first large power plant in Turkmenistan. Two gas turbine plants with a capacity of 123 MW each currently generate electricity in this plant.<ref name=minenergo>{{cite web|url=http://www.minenergo.gov.tm/tm/node/14|title="Türkmenenergo" döwlet elektroenergetika korporasiýasy|date=14 February 2016|language=Turkmen|publisher=Ministry of Energy (Turkmenistan)|access-date=11 April 2021|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411201132/http://www.minenergo.gov.tm/tm/node/14|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Ashgabat State Power Plant, located in the southern part of city, began operating in 2006. It is equipped with gas turbine generators with a total capacity of 254.2 megawatts.<ref name=minenergo />

Ashgabat also draws power from the Ahal State Power Plant, located outside the city in [[Ahal Province]]. It began operating in 2010 with two gas turbines producing 254.2 MW. Three small gas turbines were added in 2013 and two more gas turbines in 2014, bringing capacity to 648.1 MW.<ref name=minenergo />

===Shopping===
[[File:Tolkuchka Bazaar in Ashgabat.jpg|thumbnail|[[Turkmen carpet]]s in [[Altyn Asyr Bazaar]]]]

[[Altyn Asyr Bazaar]] in Choganly, also known as "Tolkuchka", features manufactured items including traditional fabrics and hand-woven carpets, as well as livestock and used automobiles. Modern shopping areas are found mostly in central streets, including the modern [[Berkarar]] Mall and the [[Paýtagt Shopping Center|Paýtagt]] and Aşgabat shopping centres, as well as the 15 Years of Independence Shopping Centre ({{lang-tk|15 ýyl Garaşsyzlyk söwda merkezi}}), colloquially known as the "Wholesale Market" ({{lang-ru|Optovyy rynok}}).<ref>[http://www.polimeks.com/eng/UstyapiAsgabatAlisverisMerkezi.aspx Ashgabat Shopping Mall] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005065237/http://www.polimeks.com/eng/UstyapiAsgabatAlisverisMerkezi.aspx |date=October 5, 2013 }}</ref><ref name=optovyy>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenhabargullugy.blogspot.com/2016/11/asgabatdaky-sowda-merkezleri.html|title= Aşgabatdaky Söwda Merkezleri}}</ref><ref name=optovyy2>{{cite web|url=https://foursquare.com/v/15-%C3%BDyl-gara%C5%9Fsyzlyk-s%C3%B6wda-merkezi/4eb66decbe7bfc284ab9863e|title=15 ýyl Garaşsyzlyk söwda merkezi}}</ref>

Local residents tend to shop at traditional bazaars: [[Russian Bazaar, Ashgabat|Gülistan (Russian) Bazaar]], Teke Bazaar, Daşoguz Bazaar, Paytagt (Mir) Bazaar, and Jennet Bazaar. The Turkish-owned Yimpaş department store closed as of December 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.chrono-tm.org/2016/12/the-shopping-centre-yimpas-in-ashgabat-dismisses-staff-before-closing/|title=The shopping centre Yimpas in Ashgabat dismisses staff before closing |date=December 12, 2016|publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>

==Transportation==
[[File:Ashgabat_Airport_(35816758890).jpg|thumb|left|The falcon shape of the international terminal of Ashgabat International Airport]]
[[File:Ashgabat Airport (36075375061).jpg|thumb|left|Inside the international terminal of Ashgabat International Airport]]

The city is served by the [[Ashgabat International Airport]], expansion of which cost $2.3 billion and which has a design capacity of 14,000,000 passengers per year.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkmenistan-airport/turkmenistan-opens-2-3-billion-bird-shaped-international-air-terminal-idUSKCN11N0QX|title=Turkmenistan opens $2.3 billion bird-shaped international air terminal|date=September 17, 2016|publisher=Reuters}}</ref><ref name=poli>{{cite web|url=http://polimeks.com/en/buildingdetail/46/6/ashgabat-international-airport|title=Ashgabat International Airport, Turkmenistan 2016|publisher=Polimeks|access-date=July 26, 2020|archive-date=January 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108183755/http://polimeks.com/en/buildingdetail/46/6/ashgabat-international-airport|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ashgabat International Airport |url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airports/ashgabat-international-airport-asb |website=CAPA Centre for Aviation |publisher=Aviation Week Network |access-date=2 Aug 2020}}</ref> [[Turkmenistan Airlines]] is headquartered at the airport.<ref>"Directory: World Airlines." ''[[Flight International]]''. March 30–5 April 2004. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/2004/2004-09%20-%200330.html?search=%22Turkmenistan%20Airlines%2287].</ref> Ashgabat offers air service to and from all the major cities of the Turkmenistan. Since March 2020, in order to prevent the import and spread of coronavirus infection, all planes arriving in Turkmenistan from abroad are redirected to the Turkmenabat International Airport .<ref>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/25818/aviareisy-izza-predelov-turkmenistana-vremenno-perenapravlyayutsya-v-turkmenabat|title = Авиарейсы из-за пределов Туркменистана временно перенаправляются в Туркменабат | Общество}}</ref>

On 18 October 2006, the [[Ashgabat Cable Car]] opened, connecting the city with the foothills of the [[Kopetdag]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/node/5009 |title=Turkmen president attends inaugurations of three facilities dated to 15th anniversary of Turkmenistan |publisher=Turkmenistan.ru |access-date=2013-11-24}}</ref>

[[Ashgabat Monorail]] commenced service in 2016, becoming the first monorail in the [[Central Asia]] region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intaminworldwide.com/transportation/Home/news/Ashgabat}}</ref><ref name=mono2>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-asian-games-opening/28740101.html |title=International Games Open In Ashgabat |date=17 September 2017 |publisher=[[RFE/RL]]}}</ref><ref name=mono3>{{cite web|url=https://www.monorails.org/tMspages/CnstAshgabat01.html |title=Construction Gallery - Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |publisher=The Monorail Society |date=May 2014}}</ref> It is a loop 5.2 kilometers long and circulates exclusively on the territory of the Olympic Village ({{lang-tk|Olimpiýa şäherçesi}}).<ref name=mono2 /><ref name=mono3 />

In January 2018, it was reported that black cars had been impounded for weeks in Ashgabat, a result of President [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov]]'s conviction that black cars bring bad luck.<ref>{{cite news|title='Bad Luck' For Black Car Owners in Turkmen Capital|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-black-car-owners-bad-luck/28963539.html|publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]|date=January 8, 2018}}</ref>

The Ukrainian construction firm Interbudmontazh has proposed construction of a [[Rapid transit|subway (metropolitan)]] line, to connect the Ashgabat-Siti residential area in the northern suburbs to downtown Ashgabat.<ref name=metro>{{cite news|url=https://www.hronikatm.com/2020/05/metro/|title=Представлен проект метрополитена, который свяжет столицу Туркменистана с "Ашхабад-сити"|date=27 May 2020 |language=Russian |publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan}}</ref>

=== Railway ===
[[File:Turkmen Diesel locomotive2.jpg|thumb|Turkmenistan Railways Diesel locomotive CKD9A in Ashgabat]]
{{Main|Rail transport in Turkmenistan}}
Ashgabat has a single central railway station. In May 2009 the restoration of the [[Ashgabat railway station]] was completed. The railway station is made in Soviet-style architecture with its long point on the building roof.

The Trans-Caspian Railway ([[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]]–[[Balkanabat]]–[[Bereket]]–Ashgabat–[[Mary, Turkmenistan|Mary]]–[[Türkmenabat]]) runs through Ashgabat from east to west. Since 2006 there is also a train line from Ashgabat to the north, the [[Trans-Karakum Railway]].<ref name=rail>{{cite web|url=https://www.railway.gov.tm/ |title=Turkmenistan Railways|language=tk, ru|publisher="Türkmendemirýollary" agentligi}}</ref>

As of July 2021, the following railway routes are scheduled from and to Ashgabat:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sng.today/ashkhabad/17259-turkmenistan-vosstanovil-vnutrennee-zheleznodorozhnoe-soobschenie.html|title = Туркменистан восстановил внутреннее железнодорожное сообщение}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.trend.az/business/transport/3432205.html|title=В Туркменистане полностью восстановлено ж/д сообщение|date=May 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/37296/v-turkmenistane-vveli-novyi-grafik-s-bolshim-chislom-poezdov-po-strane|title = В Туркменистане ввели новый график с большим числом поездов по стране | Туризм}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.railway.gov.tm/ru/schedule|title = Расписание | АООТ "Демирёллары"}}</ref>

*Ashgabat-[[Balkanabat]]
*Ashgabat-[[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]]
* Ashgabat-[[Dashoguz]]
* Ashgabat-[[Sarahs]]
* Ashgabat-[[Serhetabat]]
* Ashgabat-[[Amu Dar'ya (town)|Amyderýa]]

=== City buses and trolleybus ===
[[File:Ashgabat bus stop IMG 5627 (26085205046).jpg|thumb|Bus stop with air conditioning in Ashgabat]]
Public transport in the city consists mainly of buses. More than 100 bus<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ayauk.gov.tm/ru/route/a/index?type=0 |title=Route | |publisher=Ayauk.gov.tm |date= |accessdate=2022-03-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ayauk.gov.tm/ru/item/947|title = В Ашхабаде будет запущен новый автобусный маршрут}}</ref> lines cover a total range of more than {{convert|2230|km|0|abbr=off}} with 700 buses running on urban routes. The city primarily uses [[Iran Khodro]] 0457 (Mercedes-Benz) and [[Hyundai Aero City|Hyundai New Super Aero City]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://awtoulag.gov.tm/ru/gallery/13|title="Hyundai New Super Aero City" тип автобуса | Галерея}}</ref> buses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=3215 |title=Туркменистан: золотой век |publisher=Turkmenistan.gov.tm |language=ru |date=2013-01-28 |access-date=2013-11-24 |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235050/http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=3215 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Bus timetables and detailed schematic map of the route are at every stop. Distances between stops are about 300–500 meters.

Travel in the Ashgabat city public transport for the majority of the country's population incurs a fee. Money is thrown into a box next to the driver. Large bills are given to the driver, he gives change. The fare for travel in city public transport is 50 Turkmen tenge (since 2017).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kdmid.ru/docs.aspx?lst=country_wiki&it=/%D0%A2%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD.aspx |title=ТУРКМЕНИСТАН |language=ru |trans-title=Turkmenistan |publisher=Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia |date= |accessdate=2022-03-16}}</ref> Route taxi ([[marshrutka]]) is 1 manat.

Information about bus routes and stops in Ashgabat is available in the mobile application [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.takykcheshme.gps&hl=ru&gl=US Duralga].<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/43888/novoe-mobilnoe-prilozhenie-duralga-predostavit-informaciyu-ob-avtobusnyh-marshrutah-i-ostanovkah-ashhabada Новое мобильное приложение Duralga предоставит информацию об автобусных маршрутах и остановках Ашхабада]</ref>

From November 1, 2017, the electronic system of payment for public transport came into full force in Ashgabat. Payment can be made using an electronic transport card. There are three types of electronic cards: school, for pensioners and general. When entering through the front door of the bus, the passenger must present the electronic card to the validator. The term of use of the transport electronic card is 4 years.<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/12377/v-stolice-turkmenistane-perehodyat-na-elektronnuyu-sistemu-oplaty-proezda-v-avtobusah В столице Туркменистане переходят на электронную систему оплаты проезда в автобусах]</ref>

The new [[International Passenger Bus Terminal of Ashgabat]] was inaugurated on September 5, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://centralasiaonline.com/en_GB/articles/caii/newsbriefs/2014/09/09/newsbrief-14|title=Turkmenistan to launch international bus service|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/articles/38045.html |title=В Ашхабаде будет построен пассажирский автовокзал международного класса | Интернет-газета |publisher=Turkmenistan.ru|language=ru |access-date=2013-11-24}}</ref> It offers intercity service to [[Bäherden]], [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Türkmenbaşy]], [[Dashoguz]], [[Turkmenabat]], [[Archman]], [[Konye-Urgench]], and Mollagara, as well as points in between.<ref name=busmenzil>{{cite web|url=http://www.awtomenzil.gov.tm/index.php?page=routes|title=International Bus Terminal of Ashgabat|language=tk, ru, en}}</ref> The main intracity bus terminals serving Ashgabat are near the Teke Bazaar and at the domestic airport terminal. Intercity lines are operated by [[Hyundai Universe]] Luxury, [[Iran Khodro]] SC 0457, [[Sahab Renault]] and [[Yutong]] ZK6129H.

Also, suburban communication has been established with [[Ýaşlyk]], [[Geok Tepe]], [[Gorjaw]], [[Yzgant]], [[Babarap]], [[Bugdaýly]], [[Anau, Turkmenistan|Annau]], [[Gämi]], [[Owadandepe]], Watan, Khurmant, Onaldy, Gami Dacha, Kasamly Julge, [[Gäwers, Turkmenistan|Gäwers]], Yashyldepe, Akdashayak, Niyazow, Suitchilik, [[Parahat]]. [[Pavlovo Bus Factory|PAZ]] 32054 buses and [[Volkswagen]] minibuses operate on suburban routes.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://awtomenzil.gov.tm/index.php?page=routes&spid=1 |title=Aşgabat şäherindäki halkara ýolagçy awtomenzili |access-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-date=September 13, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913013130/http://awtomenzil.gov.tm/index.php?page=routes&spid=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From 19 October 1964 to 31 December 2011 the city also had the [[Trolleybuses in Ashgabat|Ashgabat trolleybus system]]. At the beginning of the twentieth century a narrow-gauge steam railway connected the city with the suburb of [[Archabil District|Firyuza]]. As of 2011, there were 7 routes in the city. As of 2011, the Ashgabat trolleybus fleet had 47 trolleybuses ([[Škoda 14Tr]]M) on its balance sheet. In 2000, the last obsolete trolleybuses of the JuMZ-T2 model were written off.

=== Taxi ===

In Ashgabat taxis are available at any time of the day or night.<ref>[https://auh.com.tm/ru/item/153 Заказ такси онлайн]</ref> Awtomobil Ulag Hyzmat OJSC is the monopoly [[taxicab]] operator in the city.<ref>[https://auh.com.tm/item/153 Taksi hyzmatlaryny onlaýn usulynda sargyt etmek 23 Ýanwar 2021]</ref> The fleet uses only new [[Toyota Corolla]]<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/21885/novye-toyota-corolla-popolnili-taksopark-ashhabada Новые Toyota Corolla пополнили таксопарк Ашхабада 25.09.2019]</ref> (white) and [[Hyundai Elantra]] (yellow) automobiles.<ref>[https://sng.fm/12161-na-ulicah-ashhabada-pojavjatsja-novenkie-taksi-toyota-corolla-2019.html На улицах Ашхабада появятся новенькие такси Toyota Corolla-2019]</ref> Taxi fare is from 5 to 30 [[Turkmenistani manat|manats]], depending on the distance from the city center and the results of negotiations with the driver.<ref>[https://www.kdmid.ru/docs.aspx?lst=country_wiki&it=/%D0%A2%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BD.aspx ТУРКМЕНИСТАН Общие сведения о стране]</ref>

Passengers may also hire taxicabs via mobile apps [https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/onla%C3%BDn-taksi/id1607803391 Onlaýn taksi] and [https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gootax.chalt&hl=ru&gl=US Taxi hyzmaty].<ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/43887/v-turkmenistane-zapustili-novyi-onlainservis-zakaza-taksi--onlayn-taksi В Ашхабаде запустили новый сервис заказа такси – Onlaýn taksi]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://awtoulag.gov.tm/ru/item/287 |title=Onlaýn taksi – новый сервис по вызову такси в Ашхабаде |publisher=Awtoulag.gov.tm |date= |accessdate=2022-03-16}}</ref>

== Telecommunication ==
As of 2021, Ashgabat has two mobile phone service providers:
* [[Altyn Asyr (mobile operator)|Altyn Asyr]] is a Turkmen national state company for the provision of communication services, established in 2004. In 2010, the company launched a 3G network of UMTS standard, covering all districts of Ashgabat and the Ashgabat International Airport . On September 18, 2013, the [[4G]] network was put into operation using [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] technology.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tmcell.tm/ru-RU/news-lte-start |title=TMCELL - TMCELL начинает подключение абонетов к сети LTE |website=tmcell.tm |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206052338/http://tmcell.tm/ru-RU/news-lte-start |archive-date=6 December 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Ashgabat City Telephone Network]] provides [[CDMA]] communication services (over 55 thousand subscribers). The network was created and put into operation by the company for the first time in 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://agts.tv/ru/about|title = О нас | АГТС - Ашхабадская городская телефонная сеть}}</ref>

In addition to the mobile network providers, [[Turkmentelecom]] provides [[internet]] services.

[[Turkmenpochta]] is the official national postal operator of Turkmenistan. Based in Ashgabat, it currently operates through 38 postal offices in city.<ref>[https://www.turkmenpost.gov.tm/sahamca Bölümler]</ref>

=== Media ===

Notable newspapers published in Ashgabat include the daily newspapers ''Türkmenistan'' and ''[[Neytralny Turkmenistan]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://metbugat.gov.tm/newspapers?id=11|title=Gazetler | TDNG}}</ref>

[[File:Fernsehturm Türkmenistan teleradio merkezi.jpg|thumb|[[Turkmenistan Tower]]]]

==== TV ====
The main offices of 7 television channels are located in Ashgabat: Altyn Asyr, Yashlyk, Miras, Turkmenistan Sport, Turkmen Owazy, Ashgabat and Turkmenistan TV.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://telecom.tm/ru/onlinetv?tv_alias=3|title = Онлайн ТВ | КЭ "Туркментелеком"}}</ref>

Ashgabat TV is main city channel. The channel tells about the events of social, cultural, economic life, the activities of scientific and educational institutions of the Ashgabat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/articles/35681.html|title=На туркменском телевидении появится шестой канал | Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://regnum.ru/news/cultura/1376430.html|title=В Туркмении в октябре 2011 года откроют новый телеканал}}</ref>

Almost 136<ref name="turkmenportal.com">{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/compositions/145|title = В плей-листе IP TV теперь доступно почти 140 телеканалов}}</ref> international TV channels are available in the [[IPTV]] playlist for subscribers of the [[Ashgabat City Telephone Network]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://agts.tv/ru/iptv|title = IPTV | АГТС - Ашхабадская городская телефонная сеть}}</ref> Most of them are thematic channels: news, sports, scientific and educational, TV channels for children, channels of various genres of cinema, music.<ref name="turkmenportal.com"/>

Residents of Ashgabat also watch television via [[satellite]] dishes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/16525/sluhi-o-zaprete-prodazhi-sputnikovyh-antenn-v-turkmenistane-okazalis-lozhnymi|title = Слухи о запрете продажи спутниковых антенн в Туркменистане оказались ложными | Культура}}</ref>

==== Radio ====
As of 2008, Ashgabat has 4 FM stations: Owaz, Char Tarapdan, Miras and Watan. These stations can additionally be streamed through Turkmentelecom's website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://telecom.tm/ru/radio|title = Радио | КЭ "Туркментелеком"}}</ref>

==Science and education==
{{Main|Education in Turkmenistan|:ru:Образование в Туркмении}}
{{See also|List of universities in Turkmenistan}}
Ashgabat is the most important educational center of Turkmenistan with several institutions of higher education. Magtymguly [[Turkmen State University]] was founded in 1950. The main university building is located on Beýik Saparmyrat Türkmenbaşy şaýoly. [[Turkmen State Medical University]] is situated in Ashgabat as well. It is subordinate to the Ministry of Health and Pharmaceutical Industry of Turkmenistan. Other prominent institutions are the [[Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management]], a main business school founded in 1980, as well as the [[Turkmen State Institute of Architecture and Construction]], [[Turkmen Agricultural University]], and [[The National Institute of Sports and Tourism of Turkmenistan]]. In 2016, the English- and Japanese-medium [[Oguz Khan University of Engineering Technologies]] was opened with support of the Japanese government. The [[International University of Humanities and Development]] is another English-medium institution of higher education. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs' training ground is the [[Institute of International Relations (Turkmenistan)|Institute of International Relations]].<ref name=by>{{cite web|url=http://www.brsu.by/en/Turkmenistan/obrazovanie-v-turkmenistane|title=Образование в Туркменистане|publisher=Brest State A.S. Pushkin University|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=catalog>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/catalog/obrazovanie|title=ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ|publisher=Turkmenportal|language=ru}}</ref>

Ashgabat is home to five military academies: the [[:ru:Военный институт Министерства обороны Туркмении|Military Institute]], the Naval Institute, the Border Guards Institute, the Institute of National Security, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs Institute. In 2020 the Military Institute began accepting applications from women.<ref name=catalog /><ref name=milinst>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/blog/24411/voennyi-institut-turkmenistana-otkryl-priem-na-uchebu-dlya-zhenshchin|title=Военный институт Туркменистана открыл прием на учебу для женщин|date=January 19, 2020|publisher=Turkmenportal|language=ru}}</ref>

Four international secondary schools operate in Ashgabat. The Russian Embassy sponsors the Russian-medium [[Joint Turkmen-Russian Secondary School|A.S. Pushkin Russo-Turkmen School]], the French construction company [[Bouygues]] sponsors a French school for children of its Francophone employees, the Turkish Embassy sponsors the Turkish-medium Turgut Ozal Turkmen-Turkish School, and the American Embassy sponsors the English-medium Ashgabat International School.<ref name=pushkin>{{cite web|url=http://www.trsosh.edu.tm/|title=СОВМЕСТНАЯ ТУРКМЕНО-РОССИЙСКАЯ СРЕДНЯЯ ОБЩЕОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНАЯ ШКОЛА ИМЕНИ А. С. ПУШКИНА|language=ru|publisher=СТРСОШ имени А.С. Пушкина}}</ref><ref name=fra>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlfmonde.org/etablissements/ecole-francaise-mlf-bouygues/|title=Ecole française Mlf Bouygues|language=fr|publisher=Mission laïque française}}</ref><ref name=turk>{{cite web|url=http://atal.meb.k12.tr/tema/okulumuz_hakkinda.php|title=Türkmenistan Aşgabat Türk Anadolu Lisesi|language=tr|publisher=T.C. MİLLÎ EĞİTİM BAKANLIĞI}}</ref><ref name=ais>{{cite web|url=https://www.qsi.org/ashgabat/|title=ASHGABAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL|publisher=Quality Schools International}}</ref>

Prior to establishment of Soviet authority in Turkmenistan, Ashgabat had only 11 schools and no scientific or research centers.<ref name=encyclopedia /> By 1948 Ashgabat had three institutions of higher education, 20 technical schools, 60 libraries, "and approximately the same number of kindergartens."<ref name=turkmenistan />

The [[Turkmen Academy of Sciences]] was founded June 29, 1951, and includes the unique Desert Institute among its 26 scientific research institutes, as well as the State Seismological Service, 17-degree-granting schools, two medical research centers, a library, and two print shops. The Academy of Sciences is the only institution in Turkmenistan accredited to award postgraduate degrees. In 2019, President Berdimuhamedov decreed that state funding of the Academy of Sciences would end within three years.<ref name=encyclopedia /><ref name=akadnauk>{{cite web|url=https://www.gazeta.ru/science/2019/02/11_a_12176593.shtml|title=Денег нет: конец туркменской науки?|date=February 11, 2019|publisher=Газета.Ru (Gazeta.Ru)|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=wapo>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/turkmenistan-to-cut-state-funding-for-science/2019/01/30/76e9528c-24c5-11e9-b5b4-1d18dfb7b084_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131012959/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/turkmenistan-to-cut-state-funding-for-science/2019/01/30/76e9528c-24c5-11e9-b5b4-1d18dfb7b084_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2019|title=Turkmenistan to cut state funding for science|date=January 30, 2019|publisher=Washington Post/Associated Press}}</ref><ref name=decree>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=18003|title=Будет изменена система финансирования Академии наук Туркменистана|work=Туркменистан: золотой век|date=January 29, 2019|language=ru}}</ref><ref name=acadsci>{{cite web|url=http://tdh.gov.tm/news/en/articles.aspx&article16511&cat26|title=Financing of the Academy of Sciences of Turkmenistan to be chnaged [''sic'']|date=January 29, 2019|publisher=state news agency of Turkmenistan – Turkmenistan today}}</ref> Prior to founding of the Turkmen Academy of Sciences, local scientific-research institutes, all located in a single two-story building, were subordinate to the USSR Academy of Sciences.<ref name=turkmenistan />

==Main sights==
[[File:Ahal Velayat Hippodrome - Flickr - Kerri-Jo (89).jpg|thumb|right|Horse racing at the [[International Equestrian Sports Complex]]]]
Museums include the [[Turkmen Fine Arts Museum]] and [[Turkmen Carpet Museum]], noted for their impressive collection of [[woven carpet]]s as well as a Turkmen history museum and the [[Ashgabat National Museum of History]], which displays artifacts dating back to the [[Parthia]]n and [[Persian Empire|Persian]] civilizations. Ashgabat was also home to the [[Arch of Neutrality]], a 75 m (250 ft) tall tripod crowned by a golden statue of late president [[Saparmurat Niyazov]] (also known as ''Turkmenbashy'', or head Turkmen). The 15 m (50 ft) high statue, which rotated in order to always face the sun during daylight hours, was removed on August 26, 2010, after Niyazov's successor, current President Berdimuhamedov, made clear earlier in the year that the statue was to be taken out of Ashgabat's Independence Square.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://centralasianewswire.com/Turkmenistan/Niyazovrsquos-influence-in-Turkmenistan-falls-with-golden-statuenbsp/viewstory.aspx?id=1522 |title=Niyazov's influence in Turkmenistan falls with golden statue |publisher=Centralasianewswire.com |access-date=2013-11-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716210548/http://centralasianewswire.com/Turkmenistan/Niyazovrsquos-influence-in-Turkmenistan-falls-with-golden-statuenbsp/viewstory.aspx?id=1522 |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2011 a [[Monument to the Constitution]] was built, its total height of 185 m (607 ft) makes it the second tallest structure in Turkmenistan.<ref>[http://www.polimeks.com/eng/UstyapiAnayasaAniti.aspx The Monument Of The Constitution] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200249/http://www.polimeks.com/eng/UstyapiAnayasaAniti.aspx |date=October 29, 2013 }}</ref>

[[Alem Cultural and Entertainment Center]] was recognised by ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the world's tallest Ferris wheel in an enclosed space.<ref name="guinness">{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2012/5/turkmenistan-builds-largest-indoor-ferris-wheel-42157/|title=Turkmenistan builds largest indoor Ferris wheel|date=May 24, 2012|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> The [[Ashgabat Flagpole]] is the fifth tallest free–standing [[flagpole]] in the world, standing at {{Convert|436|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} tall. [[Fountain (Ashgabat)|The Ashgabat Fountain]] has the world's greatest number of fountain pools in a public place.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/5000/most-fountain-pools-in-a-public-place|title=Most fountain pools in a public place|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ashgabat.gov.tm/images/books/guinness.pdf |title=Ashgabat in Guinness book |access-date=December 6, 2013 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904061153/http://ashgabat.gov.tm/images/books/guinness.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Ashgabat also features [[Turkmenistan Tower]] which is the tallest tower in Turkmenistan, the decorative octagonal [[Rub el Hizb|Star of Oguzkhan]] is recognized as the world's largest architectural image of the star and entered in the ''Guinness World Records''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2011/11/largest-architectural-star-record-set-in-turkmenistan/|title=Largest architectural star record set in Turkmenistan|date=November 14, 2011|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Palaces===
*[[Oguzhan Presidential Palace]], the official presidential headquarters.
*[[Ruhyýet Palace]], a place for official state events, forums, meetings, inaugurations.
*[[Wedding Palace (Ashgabat)|Wedding Palace]], a civil registry building.<ref>[http://polimeks.com/eng/UstyapiEvlendirmeNikahTorenleri.aspx Weddenig palace] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923011749/http://www.polimeks.com/eng/UstyapiEvlendirmeNikahTorenleri.aspx |date=September 23, 2013}}</ref>

===Theatres===
Ashgabat's major theaters are:
*[[Alp Arslan]] [[Turkmen National Theatre of Youth|National Drama Theatre]]
*[[Magtymguly Musical and Drama Theater|Magtymguly National Musical and Drama Theatre]]
*[[Main Drama Theater (Ashgabat)|Main Drama Theatre named by Saparmurat Turkmenbashi]]
*[[Mollanepes Turkmen Drama Theater|Mollanepes Students Theatre]]
*
*[[Mukam Palace|Mukams Palace]]
*
*[[Alexander Pushkin|Pushkin]] [[Ashgabat Russian Drama Theatre named after Pushkin|State Russian Drama Theatre]]
*Theatre "Art Ist"
*[[Turkmen Puppet Theatre|Turkmen State Puppet Theatere]]
*[[Turkmen State Circus]]
*

Each of several former municipalities annexed by Ashgabat also features local a "house of culture" {{lang-tk|Medeniýet Öýi}}.

===Parks and squares===
Ashgabat has many parks and open spaces, mainly established in the early years of the Independence and well maintained and expanded thereafter. The most important of these parks are: the Botanical Garden, Güneş, Turkmen-Turkish friendship, Independence. The oldest city park, [[Ashgabat (park)|Ashgabat]], was founded in 1887 and is colloquially known as First Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/17718.html|title=Monument-symbol of city and amusement park inaugurated in Ashgabat – Turkmenistan.ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> In the center of Ashgabat is the [[Inspiration Alley]], an art-park complex which is a favorite place for many locals. The amusement park [[World of Turkmenbashi Tales]] is a local equivalent to [[Disneyland]]. Squares: 10 Years of Turkmenistan Independence, Magtymguly, Eternal Flame, Zelili, Chyrchyk, [[Independence Square, Ashgabat|Garashsyzlyk]], March 8, Gerogly, Dolphin, 15 years of Independence, Ruhyýet, 10 ýyl Abadançylyk, Ylham and Tashkent.

The [[Ashgabat Botanical Garden]] was founded on 1 October 1929, and is the oldest botanical garden in [[Central Asia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=7815 |title=Ашхабадскому ботсаду – 85 лет |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611013301/http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=7815 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://infoabad.com/priroda-i-yekologija-turkmenistana/ashhabadskii-botanicheskii-sad-stareishii-v-regione.html |title=Ашхабадский ботанический сад старейший в регионе |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227071830/http://infoabad.com/priroda-i-yekologija-turkmenistana/ashhabadskii-botanicheskii-sad-stareishii-v-regione.html |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[https://sng.today/ashkhabad/10813-v-ashhabade-nachali-rekonstruirovat-botanicheskij-sad.html В Ашхабаде начали реконструировать Ботанический сад]</ref> It covers a territory of approximately 18 hectares, and contains a live exhibition of more than 500 different species of plants coming from various parts of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=17413 |title=Ашхабадский ботанический сад: день вчерашний и завтрашний |access-date=February 27, 2020 |archive-date=December 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219151010/http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=17413 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://turkmenportal.com/blog/20842/botanicheskii-sad-v-ashhabade-budet-rekonstruirovan Ботанический сад в Ашхабаде будет реконструирован]</ref>

==== Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex ====

[[Halk Hakydasy Memorial Complex]] was opened in 2014 in remembrance of those killed in the [[Battle of Geok Tepe]] in 1881, during [[World War II]], and to commemorate of the victims of the [[1948 Ashgabat earthquake]]. It is located in the southwestern part of the city on Bekreve street.<ref>[http://www.akorda.kz/ru/page/page_218581_poseshchenie-memorialnogo-kompleksa- Посещение Мемориального комплекса «Народная память»] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211095522/http://www.akorda.kz/ru/page/page_218581_poseshchenie-memorialnogo-kompleksa- |date=December 11, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/ru/articles/40140.html|title=Президент Туркменистана принял участие в открытии мемориального комплекса и траурных мероприятиях Дня памяти – Интернет-газета Turkmenistan.Ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref>

===Cinemas===
Ashgabat has five cinemas. In 2011, [[Ashgabat cinema|Aşgabat Cinema]], the first 3-D cinema in Turkmenistan, opened in Ashgabat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/15059.html|title=Ashgabat residents get 3D cinema – Turkmenistan.ru|website=www.turkmenistan.ru|access-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> The Watan and Turkmenistan theaters were reconstructed. Additional cinemas are located in the Berkarar Mall and the Gül zemin Mall.

===Mosques===
Major mosques in Ashgabat include:
* [[Türkmenbaşy Ruhy Mosque]]
* [[Ertuğrul Gazi Mosque|Ärtogrul Gazy Mosque]], a gift from Turkey, was inaugurated in 1998 and resembles the [[Sultan Ahmed Mosque|Blue Mosque]] in [[Istanbul]].
* Hezreti Osman Mosque in the 8th microdistrict
* [[Hezreti Omar Mosque]] in the Parahat 7 microdistrict<ref>{{cite web|url=https://turkmenportal.com/tm/blog/15947/parahat--7-yashayysh-toplumynda-hezreti-omar-metjidinin-achylysh-dabarasyndan-fotoreportazh|title="Parahat – 7" ýaşaýyş toplumynda "Hezreti Omar" metjidiniň açylyş dabarasyndan fotoreportaž|date=September 30, 2018|language=tk|publisher=Turkmenportal.com}}</ref>
* Azadi Mosque on Zarpçi köçesi
* Shehitler ({{lang-tk|Şehitler}}) mosque on Görogly köçesi
* Iranian mosque near the Iranian Embassy
*
There are also several mosques in former towns and villages annexed by Ashgabat and thus now neighborhoods within the city limits.

===Churches===
Ashgabat has five operating Christian churches. Four are [[Russian Orthodox Church|Russian Orthodox]] churches:<ref name=roc>{{cite web|url=http://pravoslavie.tm/prikhody|title=Православие в Туркменистане, Приходы|language=ru|date=May 7, 2013}}</ref>

* Saint [[Alexander Nevsky]] Church, founded in 1882 as parish church of the Russian military garrison, consecrated in 1900, located in the 30th Microdistrict ({{lang-ru|Храм святого благоверного великого князя Александра Невского}})
* Temple of Saint Nicholas the Miracle-Worker, located inside the Khitrovka Cemetery ({{lang-ru|храм святителя и Чудотворца Николая}})
* Temple of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, located near the Ruhnama School ({{lang-ru|храм Воскресения Христова}})
* Temple of the Holy Equals to Apostles Cyril and Methodius, located in Büzmeýin ({{lang-ru|Храм святых равноапостольных Кирилла и Мефодия}})

The [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Chapel of the Transfiguration, Ashgabat|Chapel of the Transfiguration]] operates on the grounds of the [[Apostolic nunciature]].

Other Christian denominations exist but as of 2019 only two were registered with the government and thus able to operate legally. The U.S. Department of State reported that Turkmen authorities "scrutinize or obstruct religious
groups attempting to purchase or lease buildings or land for religious purposes."<ref name=religfreedom>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/TURKMENISTAN-2019-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf|title=TURKMENISTAN 2019 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT|date=May 2020|author=U.S. Department of State|publisher=U.S. Department of State}}</ref>

==Sports==
[[File:Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Olympic Stadium.jpg|thumb|[[Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Olympic Stadium|Olympic Stadium]] in Ashgabat]]
The main sporting venues in Ashgabat are the [[Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Olympic Stadium|Olympic Stadium]], [[Ashgabat Stadium]], the National Olympic ice rink, Sports complex for winter sports and the Olympic water sports complex.

Ashgabat was chosen as the host city of the [[2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games]]. Between 2010 and 2017 an Olympic Village was built by the Turkish firm Polimeks south of the city center, at a cost of $5 billion.<ref name=polimeks>Polimeks website, {{cite web|url=http://polimeks.com/en/buildingdetail/32/8/olympic-complex|title=Olympic Complex|access-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref><ref name=hronika>{{cite web|url=https://en.hronikatm.com/2016/12/5-billion-from-the-treasury-spent-on-the-olympic-village-in-ashgabat/|title=$5 billion from the Treasury spent on the Olympic village in Ashgabat|date=December 8, 2016|publisher=Chronicles of Turkmenistan|access-date=July 25, 2020}}</ref>

In October 2017 a Jack Nicklaus Designs Signature 18-hole golf course opened in Ashgabat. It features 82 sand traps and covers 70 hectares.<ref name=golf1>{{cite web|url=http://tdh.gov.tm/news/articles.aspx&article16901&cat15|title=Президент Гурбангулы Бердымухамедов посетил столичный гольф-клуб|language=ru|date=February 24, 2019|publisher=Государственное информационное агентство Туркменистана (TDH) – Туркменистан сегодня}}</ref><ref name=golf2>{{cite web|url=https://www.construction.gov.tm/ru/node/560|title=Президент Туркменистана дал старт спортивной жизни Ашхабадского гольф-клуба|language=ru|date=October 17, 2017|publisher=МИНИСТЕРСТВО СТРОИТЕЛЬСТВА И АРХИТЕКТУРЫ ТУРКМЕНИСТАНА}}</ref><ref name=golf3>{{cite web|url=http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/?id=14851|title=Ашхабадский гольф-клуб – новое слово в развитии отечественной спортивной и рекреационной индустрии|language=ru|date=October 17, 2017|work=Туркменистан: золотой век}}</ref><ref name=golf4>{{cite web|url=https://orient.tm/pervyj-golf-klub-v-turkmenistane-got/|title=Первый гольф-клуб в Туркменистане готовится принять гостей|date=October 16, 2017|language=ru|publisher=ORIENT-ИНФОРМАЦИОННОЕ АГЕНТСТВО "МЕДИА-ТУРКМЕН"}}</ref><ref name=golf5>{{cite web|url=https://www.golfchannel.com/article/doug-ferguson/nicklaus-designing-course-turkmenistan|title=Nicklaus designing course in ... Turkmenistan?|date=December 14, 2016|publisher=Golf Channel}}</ref><ref name=golf6>{{cite web|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-golf-course-berdymukhammedov-nicklaus/28807861.html|title=Let Them Play Golf: Destitute Turkmen Get Designer Golf Course|date=October 21, 2017|publisher=RFE/RL}}</ref><ref name=golf7>{{cite web|url=https://golf.com/travel/jack-nicklaus-is-building-his-newest-golf-course-in-turkmenistan/|title=Jack Nicklaus Is Building His Newest Golf Course in Turkmenistan|date=December 14, 2016|publisher=EB GOLF MEDIA LLC}}</ref>

Ashgabat was the host of the [[2018 World Weightlifting Championships|2018 IWF World Weightlifting Championships]].

The city's professional football clubs [[Altyn Asyr FK]], [[FC Aşgabat]] and [[FK Köpetdag Aşgabat]] play in the [[Ýokary Liga]], the top league of Turkmenistan.

[[Inha Babakova]], 1999 World High Jump champion, was born in Ashgabat.

Weightlifter [[Polina Guryeva]] captured Turkmenistan's first Olympic medal at the [[2020 Summer Olympics]], taking silver in the women's 59 kg.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Asia#Turkmenistan|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Turkmenistan}}
Ashgabat is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref name=twins>{{cite web|title=Kostroma is looking for a twin city in Turkmenistan|url=https://orient.tm/en/kostroma-is-looking-for-a-twin-city-in-turkmenistan/|website=orient.tm|publisher=Orient|date=2020-07-15|access-date=2020-11-12|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112184043/https://orient.tm/en/kostroma-is-looking-for-a-twin-city-in-turkmenistan/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=State visit of President of Turkmenistan to the Republic of Kazakhstan|url=https://www.mfa.gov.tm/en/news/245|website=mfa.gov.tm|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan|date=2017-04-18|access-date=2020-11-12}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Aktau]], Kazakhstan
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]], United States (1990)
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Ankara]], Turkey (1994)
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Astana]], Kazakhstan (2017)
*{{flagicon|GRC}} [[Athens]], Greece
*{{flagicon|MLI}} [[Bamako]], Mali (1974)
*{{flagicon|KGZ}} [[Bishkek]], Kyrgyzstan (2018)
*{{flagicon|TJK}} [[Dushanbe]], Tajikistan (2017)
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Kyiv]], Ukraine (2001)
*{{flagicon|CHN}} [[Lanzhou]], China (1992)
*{{flagicon|UZB}} [[Tashkent]], Uzbekistan (2017)

{{div col end}}

===Partner cities===
Ashgabat cooperates with:<ref name=twins/>
*{{flagicon|ARM}} [[Yerevan]], Armenia (2014)
*{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tokyo]], Japan (2014)

== See also ==
* Boroughs and landmarks of Ashgabat
**[[Bagtyýarlyk District]]
**[[Berkararlyk District]]
**[[Bitarap Turkmenistan Avenue]]
**[[Büzmeýin, Turkmenistan|Büzmeýin]] (Abadan)
**[[Büzmeýin District]]
**[[Galkynysh Square, Ashgabat]]
**[[Gypjak]]
**[[Independence Square, Ashgabat]]
**[[Kopetdag District]]
**[[Magtymguly Avenue]]
**[[Saparmurat Turkmenbashi Avenue|Saparmurat Turkmenbashy Avenue]]
* [[List of cities in Turkmenistan]]
* [https://wiki.openstreetmap.org/wiki/Ashgabat OpenStreetMap wiki article on geography of Ashgabat]
* [[Russian Turkestan]]

== References ==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
*Е. М. Поспелов (Ye. M. Pospelov). "Имена городов: вчера и сегодня (1917–1992). Топонимический словарь." (''City Names: Yesterday and Today (1917–1992). Toponymic Dictionary.'') Москва, "Русские словари", 1993.

==External links==
{{Commons category|Aşgabat}}
{{Wikivoyage|Ashgabat}}
*[http://ashgabat.gov.tm/ Official website]

{{List of Asian capitals by region}}
{{Cities of Turkmenistan}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ashgabat| ]]
[[Category:Subdivisions of Turkmenistan]]
[[Category:Transcaspian Oblast]]
[[Category:Populated places along the Silk Road]]
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Asia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1881]]

Apia

2023-06-01T09:13:30Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital of Samoa}}
{{For|other uses of the term Apia|Apia (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Apia
| native_name =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = 
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = WS-apia-regierg.jpg
| photo2a = Central Bank of Samoa (2009).jpg
| photo2b = Samoa - flight from Apia to Niue.jpg
| photo3a = WS-Apia-Immac-concept.jpg
| size = 260
| spacing = 2
| color = transparent
| border = 0
}}
| image_caption = (from top: left to right) [[Samoa|Government Building in Apia]], [[Central Bank of Samoa]], [[Samoa|Apia Airport]] and [[Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Apia|The Immaculate Conception Cathedral of Apia]].
| image_flag = Flag of Apia.svg
| image_seal = Seal of Apia.svg
| image_shield = Coat of arms of Apia.svg
| nickname =
| motto =
| image_map = Samoa Apia Map.png
| mapsize = 250px
| map_caption = Map of Apia
| pushpin_map = Samoa 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_map_caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|13|50|S|171|45|W|region:WS|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[Samoa]]
| subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Samoa|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Tuamasaga]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Electoral Constituencies of Samoa|Constituency]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Vaimauga West]] and [[Faleata East]]
| subdivision_name3 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1850s
| established_title2 = Became Capital
| established_date2 = 1959
| government_type =
| government_footnotes =
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| unit_pref = Imperial 
| area_footnotes =
| area_total_km2 = 123.81
| area_urban_km2 = 51.8
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/91762.html | title = Weather Underground: Apia, Samoa }}</ref>
| elevation_m = 2
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 35,974
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban = 35,974
| population_density_urban_km2 = auto
| population_note =
| timezone = [[UTC+13:00|WST]]
| utc_offset = +13
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| postal_code_type = 
| postal_code =
| area_code =
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Tropical rainforest climate|Af]]
| website =
| footnotes =
| name =
}}


'''Apia''' ({{IPA-sm|a.pi.a|lang}}) is the [[Capital (political)|capital]] and largest city of [[Samoa]], as well as the nation's only city. It is located on the central north coast of [[Upolu]], Samoa's second-largest island. Apia falls within the political district (''itūmālō'') of [[Tuamasaga]].

The Apia Urban Area (generally known as the City of Apia) has a population of 35,974 (2021 census).<ref name=pop/> Its geographic boundaries extend from the east approximately from [[Letogo]] village in Vaimauga to the west in the newer, industrialized region of Apia which extends to Vaitele village in Faleata.

==History==
{{Main|History of Samoa}}
{{stack|[[File:Seumanutafa Pogai, photograph by Thomas Andrew.jpg|thumb|150px|A high chief of Apia, Seumanutafa Pogai, circa 1890–1910.]]}}
Apia was originally a small village (the 1800 population was 304<ref name=pop>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sbs.gov.ws/Portals/138/PDF/census%20survey/Table%202.%20Population%20byregion,%20faipule%20district%202006.pdf
|work=Samoa Bureau of Statistics
|title=Population and Housing Census Report 2006
|date=July 2008
|access-date=16 December 2009
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721230100/http://www.sbs.gov.ws/Portals/138/PDF/census%20survey/Table%202.%20Population%20byregion%2C%20faipule%20district%202006.pdf
|archive-date=21 July 2011
|df=dmy
}}</ref>), from which the country's capital took its name. Apia Village still exists within the larger modern capital of Apia, which has grown into a sprawling urban area that encompasses many villages. Like every other settlement in the country, Apia Village has its own ''matai'' (leaders) and ''fa'alupega'' (genealogy and customary greetings) according to [[fa'a Samoa]].{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

The modern city of Apia was founded in the 1850s, and it has been the official capital of Samoa since 1959.<ref>"Samoa", ''Encyclopædia Britannica''</ref>

The harbour was the site of a notorious [[Samoan crisis|15 March 1889 naval standoff]] in which seven ships — from Germany, the US, and Britain —refused to leave the harbour, even though a typhoon was clearly approaching, lest the first one to move lose face. All the ships sank or were damaged beyond repair, except for the British cruiser ''Calliope'', which managed to leave port, travelling at a rate of one mile per hour, and was able to ride out the storm. Nearly 200 American and German people died.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1880s/ev-1889/sam-hur.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020404100035/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/ev-1880s/ev-1889/sam-hur.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 April 2002 |date=24 March 2002 |work=US Department of Navy, Naval Historical Center |access-date=13 February 2018 |title=Hurricane at Apia, Samoa 15-16 March 1889}}</ref>

Western Samoa was ruled by Germany as [[German Samoa]] from 1900 to 1914, with Apia as its capital.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

In August 1914, the [[Occupation of German Samoa]] by an expeditionary force from [[New Zealand]] began. New Zealand governed the islands, (as the [[Western Samoa Trust Territory]]) from 1920 until Samoan independence in 1962 – first under a [[League of Nations]] Class C Mandate and then, after 1945, as a United Nations Trust Territory.<ref>
{{cite news | title=Imperialism as a Vocation: Class C Mandates
| url= http://www.jamesrmaclean.com/archives/archive_vocational_imperialism.html | url-status=dead
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825102909/http://www.jamesrmaclean.com/archives/archive_vocational_imperialism.html
| archive-date = 25 August 2007
| author=MacLean, James | date=2 February 2005
| access-date = 27 November 2007}}</ref>

The country underwent a struggle for political independence in the early 1900s, organised under the aegis of the national [[Mau movement]]. During this period, the streets of Apia were the site of non-violent protests and marches, in the course of which many Samoans were arrested. On what became known as "Black Saturday" (28 December 1929), during a peaceful Mau gathering in the town, the [[New Zealand]] constabulary killed the paramount chief [[Tupua Tamasese Lealofi III]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/samoa/rise-of-mau |title=The rise of the Mau movement - New Zealand in Samoa | NZHistory, New Zealand history online |publisher=Nzhistory.net.nz |date=2 September 2014 |author=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101130701/http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/politics/samoa/rise-of-mau |archive-date=1 November 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During [[World War II]] the [[United States Navy]] built and operated [[Naval Base Upolu]] from 1941 to 1944. <ref>[https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/Building_Bases/bases-24.html Built of US Navy bases]''US Navy''</ref> <ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://codenames.info/operation/straw/|title=Straw | Operations & Codenames of WWII|website=codenames.info}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{stack|[[File:Apia, Samoa.JPG|thumb|Orbital view of Apia (2002-06-16, from [[STS-111]]).]]}}
Apia is situated on a natural harbour at the mouth of the [[Vaisigano River]]. It is on a narrow coastal plain with [[Mount Vaea]] (elevation {{convert|472|m}}), the burial place of writer [[Robert Louis Stevenson]], directly to its south. Two main ridges run south on either side of the Vaisigano River, with roads on each. The more western of these is Cross Island Road, one of the few roads cutting north to south across the middle of the island to the south coast of Upolu.{{citation needed|date=May 2018}}

==Climate==
Apia features a [[tropical rainforest climate]] (''Af'' according to the [[Köppen climate classification]]) with consistent temperatures throughout the year. Nevertheless, the climate is not equatorial because the [[trade wind]]s are the dominant aerological mechanism and besides there are a few [[cyclone]]s. Apia's driest months are July and August when on average about {{convert|80|mm}} of rain falls. Its wettest months are December through March when average monthly precipitation easily exceeds {{convert|300|mm}}. Apia's average temperature for the year is {{convert|26|C}}. Apia averages roughly {{convert|3000|mm}} of rainfall annually.
{{Weather box
| location = Apia (Elevation: {{convert|2|m|ft|disp=or|abbr=on}}) 1971–2000
| width = auto
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 33.4
| Feb record high C = 34.0
| Mar record high C = 33.7
| Apr record high C = 33.2
| May record high C = 33.6
| Jun record high C = 32.5
| Jul record high C = 31.7
| Aug record high C = 32.1
| Sep record high C = 32.8
| Oct record high C = 32.4
| Nov record high C = 33.1
| Dec record high C = 34.9
| year record high C = 34.9
| Jan high C = 30.4
| Feb high C = 30.6
| Mar high C = 30.6
| Apr high C = 30.7
| May high C = 30.4
| Jun high C = 30.0
| Jul high C = 29.5
| Aug high C = 29.6
| Sep high C = 29.9
| Oct high C = 30.1
| Nov high C = 30.3
| Dec high C = 30.5
| year high C = 30.2
| Jan mean C = 27.1
| Feb mean C = 27.4
| Mar mean C = 27.3
| Apr mean C = 27.2
| May mean C = 26.9
| Jun mean C = 26.6
| Jul mean C = 26.1
| Aug mean C = 26.2
| Sep mean C = 26.5
| Oct mean C = 26.8
| Nov mean C = 26.9
| Dec mean C = 27.2
| year mean C = 26.9
| Jan low C = 23.9
| Feb low C = 24.2
| Mar low C = 24.0
| Apr low C = 23.8
| May low C = 23.4
| Jun low C = 23.2
| Jul low C = 22.6
| Aug low C = 22.8
| Sep low C = 23.1
| Oct low C = 23.4
| Nov low C = 23.6
| Dec low C = 23.8
| year low C = 23.5
| Jan record low C = 19.4
| Feb record low C = 21.1
| Mar record low C = 21.2
| Apr record low C = 19.5
| May record low C = 17.9
| Jun record low C = 17.6
| Jul record low C = 18.9
| Aug record low C = 18.1
| Sep record low C = 18.1
| Oct record low C = 19.4
| Nov record low C = 19.2
| Dec record low C = 20.7
| year record low C = 17.6
|rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 489.0
| Feb rain mm = 368.0
| Mar rain mm = 352.1
| Apr rain mm = 211.2
| May rain mm = 192.6
| Jun rain mm = 120.8
| Jul rain mm = 120.7
| Aug rain mm = 113.2
| Sep rain mm = 153.9
| Oct rain mm = 224.3
| Nov rain mm = 261.7
| Dec rain mm = 357.5
| year rain mm = 2965.0
|Jan sun = 149
|Feb sun = 160
|Mar sun = 173
|Apr sun = 186
|May sun = 193
|Jun sun = 197
|Jul sun = 213
|Aug sun = 219
|Sep sun = 207
|Oct sun = 199
|Nov sun = 181
|Dec sun = 154
|year sun = 2230
|source 1 = [[World Bank]]<ref name = WBclimate>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161105161301/http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/619871468093590816/pdf/E28540EA0v30P10MF000December0202011.pdf
| archive-date = 5 November 2016
| url = http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/619871468093590816/pdf/E28540EA0v30P10MF000December0202011.pdf
| title = Environmental and Social Management Framework for the Samoa Agriculture Competitiveness Enhancement Project
| publisher = World Bank
| date = 2 December 2011
| page = 54
| access-date = 5 November 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (average high temperature and rainfall)<ref name = WMO>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161105161545/http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1230
| archive-date = 5 November 2016
| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=1230
| title = World Weather Information Service–Apia
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 5 November 2016}}</ref>
| date = October 2015}}

==Administration==
[[File:WS-apia-regierg.jpg|alt=|thumb|Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi government building.]]
Apia is part of the [[Tuamasaga]] [[Districts of Samoa|political district]] and of [[Electoral Constituencies of Samoa|election district]] Vaimauga 1,2,3,4 and Faleata 1,2, and 3. There is no city administration for Apia, as it consists of some 45 individual, independent traditional and freehold villages. Apia proper is just a small village between the mouths of the [[Vaisigano River|Vaisigano]] (east) and [[Mulivai River|Mulivai]] (west) rivers, and is framed by Matautu and Vaiala traditional villages. Together with several freehold villages (no traditional village council), these 45 villages constitute "[[Downtown]] Apia".

The ''Planning and Urban Management Act 2004''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paclii.org/ws/legis/consol_act_2019/pauma2004250/ |title=Planning and Urban Management Act 2004 |publisher=PACLII |date=21 January 2004 |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref> was passed by parliament to better plan for the urban growth of Samoa's built-up areas, with particular reference to the future urban management of Apia. The city's historical haphazard growth from village to colonial trading post to the major financial and business centre of the country has resulted in major infrastructural problems in the city. Problems of flooding are commonplace in the wet season, given the low flood-prone valley that the city is built on. In the inner-city village of Sogi, there are major shoreline pollution and effluent issues given that the village is situated on swamplands. The disparate village administrations of the Apia Urban Area has resulted in a lack of a unified and codified legislative approach to [[sewage|sewerage]] disposal. The significant increase in vehicle ownership has resulted in traffic congestion in the inner city streets and the need for major projects in road-widening and traffic management. The PUMA legislation sets up the Planning Urban Management Authority to manage better the unique planning issues facing Apia's urban growth.

==City features==
[[File:Mulinu'u by Tattersall Studios - Samoa 1893-1949.jpg|thumb|250px|A historical photo of [[Mulinu'u]] showing oval Samoan ''[[Architecture of Samoa|fale]]''. (photo taken between 1893 and 1949)|left]]
[[File:Scene.on.the.Mulinu’u.Peninsula,Upolu.Andrew.Thomas 1900.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Unveiling of the Anglo-American Monument at [[Mulinu'u]] (1900), with [[Mount Vaea]], the burial place of [[Robert Louis Stevenson]], in the background]]
[[File:To the Temple of Gods (30379139910).jpg|thumb|288x288px|The [[Baháʼí House of Worship|Bahá’í House of Worship]] in Apia, Samoa]]
{{Unreferenced section|date=January 2015}}
[[File:Apia Mall (29687974543).jpg|thumb|A Mall in Apia]]
[[Mulinu'u]], the old ceremonial capital, lies at the city's western end, and is the location of the Parliament House (''Maota Fono''), and the historic observatory built during the German era is now the meteorology office.

The historic [[Roman Catholic|Catholic]] cathedral in Apia, the Immaculate Conception of Mary Cathedral, was dedicated 31 December 1867. It was pulled down mid-2011, reportedly due to structural damage from the earthquake of September 2009. A new cathedral was built and dedicated 31 May 2014.

An area of reclaimed land jutting into the harbour is the site of the Fiame Mataafa Faumuina Mulinuu II (FMFM II) building, the multi-storey government offices named after the first Prime Minister of Samoa, and the Central Bank of Samoa. A clock tower erected as a war memorial acts as a central point for the city. The new market (''maketi fou'') is inland at Fugalei, where it is more protected from the effects of [[cyclone]]s. Apia still has some of the early, wooden, colonial buildings which remain scattered around the town, most notably the old courthouse from the German colonial era, with a museum on the upper floor (the new courthouse is in Mulinu'u). Recent infrastructural development and economic growth has seen several multi-storey buildings rise in the city. The ACC building (2001) houses the Accident Compensation Board, the National Bank of Samoa, and some government departments. The mall below it is home to shops and eateries. The Samoatel building (2004) which is the site for Samoa's international telecommunications hub, was built inland at Maluafou, also to protect it from the effects of seasonal cyclones. The DBS building (2007) in Savalalo houses the Development Bank of Samoa and new courts complex in Mulinuu, with the district, supreme, and land & titles courts (2010). The Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Building (2012) in Sogi houses government ministries. Another addition to Apia's skyline is the SNPF Molesi shopping mall, opened in 2013. A new hospital complex was completed at Mot'ootua.

Scottish-born writer [[Robert Louis Stevenson]] spent the last four years of his life here, and is buried on Mt Vaea, overlooking both the city and the home he built, [[Vailima (Samoa)|Vailima]], now a museum in his honour. He made Samoa his home. A Samoan at heart, his Samoan name was Tusitala, meaning Teller of Tales.

[[Falemata'aga - Museum of Samoa]] is located in a former German colonial school in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Falemata'aga {{!}} Apia, Samoa Attractions|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/samoa/apia/attractions/falemataaga/a/poi-sig/1077149/1005170|access-date=2021-04-26|website=Lonely Planet|language=en}}</ref>

The [[Baháʼí Faith|Bahá’í]] [[Baháʼí House of Worship|House of Worship]] for the Pacific is located in Apia, one of only eight continental [[Baháʼí Faith|Bahá’í]] Houses of Worship. Designed by architect [[Hossein Amanat]] and opened in 1984, it serves the island as a gathering space for people of all backgrounds and religions to meditate, reflect, and pray together.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baha'i House of Worship of Samoa|url=https://www.bahaisamoa.ws/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=bahaisamoa|language=en}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[Talofa Airways]], [[Samoa Airways]], and [[Samoa Air]] have their headquarters in Apia.<ref>"[http://www.polynesianairlines.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=26 Our Company] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627002659/http://www.polynesianairlines.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=26 |date=27 June 2009 }}." [[Polynesian Airlines]]. Retrieved on 23 October 2009.</ref> [[Grey Investment Group]] has its headquarters in downtown Apia. This company also owned the first private [[National Bank of Samoa]] in Samoa, with Grey Investment Group, Samoa Artisan Water Company Ltd and Apia Bottling Company Ltd as shareholders. Grey Investment owns a multitude of commercial and residential property investments throughout Samoa and New Zealand.

Thirty per cent of the businesses in downtown Apia are owned by one Chinese family. Ten per cent of the downtown businesses are owned by [[Europeans]], while the other 60% are owned by the local community.

==Transport==
[[File:Samoa - flight from Apia to Niue.jpg|thumb|right|Airplane at the airport]]
Apia Harbour is by far the largest and busiest harbour in [[Samoa]]. International shipping with containers, LPG gas, and fuels all dock here. Ferries to [[Tokelau]] and [[American Samoa]] depart from here.

Apia is served by a good road network, which is generally kept reasonably well maintained. Most of the main roads are sealed; the unsealed roads have lower use. Vehicles drive on the left-hand side of the road since 7 September 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/in-samoa-drivers-switch-to-left-side-of-the-road/ | work=The New York Times | title=In Samoa, Drivers Switch to Left Side of the Road | first=Richard S. | last=Chang | date=8 September 2009}}</ref>

The Samoan government started the second phase of a major upgrading of arterial routes around the Apia Urban Area in 2012, with incremental widening of major roads around the city.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.savalinews.com/2012/07/02/convent-street-first-phase-in-capital-development/ | work=Savali News | title=Convent Street, first phase in capital development | first=Tupuola Terry | last=Tavita | date=2 July 2012}}</ref>

The country has no trains or trams, but is served by an extensive, privatised bus and taxi system. People commonly walk around the town, or even some distances outside it. There are few bicycles and motorcycles, but traffic congestion due to a huge increase in vehicle ownership has necessitated a major upgrade in road infrastructure.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mnre.gov.ws/documents/newspaper/Newsline%207%20November%202008.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029185924/http://www.mnre.gov.ws/documents/newspaper/Newsline%207%20November%202008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 October 2012 |work=Newsline |title=Parking Policy Statement |publisher=MNRE |date=19 November 2008 }}</ref>

[[Fagali'i Airport]], the small airstrip in [[Fagali'i]], is used for internal flights and some international flights to [[Pago Pago]] in [[American Samoa]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Sagapolutele |first=Fili |title=Polynesian to resume flying into Fagali’i airport this week |url=http://www.samoanewsonline.com/viewstory.php?storyid=7346 |work=Samoa News |publisher=SamoaNews.com |access-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006035425/http://www.samoanewsonline.com/viewstory.php?storyid=7346 |archive-date=6 October 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref> The main international airport, [[Faleolo International Airport]], is a 40-minute drive west of the city. Samoa's major domestic airlines, Polynesian Airlines and Talofa Airways, service this airport.

==Education==
Apia is home to a number of pre-schools, primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions,<ref>[http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Asia-and-Oceania/Samoa-EDUCATION.html Encyclopedia of the Nations: Samoa Education]</ref> including Samoa's only university, the [[National University of Samoa]]. In addition, the [[University of the South Pacific]] School of Agriculture maintains a campus<ref>[http://www.usp.ac.fj/index.php?id=alafua University of South Pacific: Alafua Campus]</ref> at [[Alafua]], on the outskirts of Apia. Another major [[School]] in Apia is [[Robert Louis Stevenson School, Samoa|Robert Louis Stevenson School]] which is a private primary and secondary school. Robert Louis Stevenson school is known as Samoa's [[upper class]] school, due to many children of Samoa's wealthy classes attending it.

===Universities===
* [[National University of Samoa]]
* [[University of the South Pacific]]
* [[Oceania University of Medicine]]

===Colleges in Upolu Island===
* LDS Church College of Pesega, Pesega
* Faatuatua Christian College, Vaitele Fou
* Leififi College, Leififi
* Leulumoega-fou College, Malua
* Maluafou College, Maluafou
* Saint Joseph's College, Alafua
* Saint Mary's College, Vaimoso
* Samoa College, Vaivase Tai
* Seventh Day Adventist College, Lalovaea
* Robert Louis Stevenson College, Tafaigata
* Wesley College, Faleula
* Nuuausala College, Nofoalii
* Paul V1 College, Leulumoega Tuai
* Chanel College, Moamoa
* Avele College, Vailima
* Lepa Lotofaga College
* Palalaua College, Siumu
* Aleipata College
* Anoamaa College
* Falealili Coleege
* Safata College
* Aana No. 1 College
* Aana No. 2 College
* Sagaga College

===Colleges in Savaii Island===
* Tuasivi College
* LDS Church College of Vaiola
* Wesleyan College (Uesiliana)
* Don Bosco College
* Itu O Tane College
* Palauli college
* Palauli I Sisifo College
* Amoa College
* Vaimauga College
* Papauta Girls College
*Mataevave College

===Primary schools===
Most of the villages have their own primary schools, but the Churches run most of the primary schools in downtown Apia.
* [[Robert Louis Stevenson School, Samoa|Robert Louis Stevenson School]], Lotopa
* Marist Brothers' School, Mulivai
* Saint Mary's School, Savalalo
* Peace Chapel School, Vaimea
* Apia Baptist School, Aai o Niue
* Seventh-day Adventist primary school, Lalovaea
* All Saints Anglican School, Malifa

==Sport==

===Pacific Games===
Apia hosted the [[Pacific Games]] in 1983 for the first time in the country's history. The Games returned to Apia for the [[2007 Pacific Games]], in which [[Samoa]] finished third. A crowd of 20,000 attended the 2007 Games closing ceremony at [[Apia Park]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/172530/unprecedented-fireworks-display-closes-13th-south-pacific-games |title=Unprecedented fireworks display closes 13th South Pacific Games |publisher=RNZ |date=10 September 2007 |access-date=16 August 2021}}</ref>

===Association football===
Apia hosted the [[Oceania]] region's qualification matches for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]]. As such, Apia was the location of the first goal scored in the 2010 qualifiers, by [[Pierre Wajoka]] of [[New Caledonia national football team|New Caledonia]] against [[Tahiti national football team|Tahiti]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=1135945.html |title=Oceania FIFA World Cup qualifying review - FIFA.com |publisher=M.fifa.com |date=12 January 2017 |access-date=2 February 2017 |archive-date=25 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325222607/http://m.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=1135945.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The qualification matches commenced on 27 August 2007 and finished on 7 September 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.futbolplanet.de/oceania/south_pacific_games/south_pacific_games_2007.htm |title=futbolplanet.de |publisher=futbolplanet.de |access-date=2 February 2017}}</ref> All matches were played at the [[Toleafoa J.S. Blatter Complex]], which is named after [[FIFA]] president [[Sepp Blatter]].

The complex, based in Apia, is also the venue of the [[Samoa national football team]]'s home matches and has a capacity of 3,500.

===Judo===
The capital also hosted from 2009 to 2012 the [[International Judo Federation|IJF]] Judo World Cup, which was downgraded in 2013 to become a regional tournament called the 'Oceania Open'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.judoinside.com/event/5497 |title=IJF World Cup Apia, Event, JudoInside |publisher=Judoinside.com |access-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>

===Cricket===
Apia hosted the [[2012 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight]] tournament at the Faleata Oval's, which consists of four [[cricket]] grounds. The national teams of [[Samoa national cricket team|Samoa]], [[Belgium national cricket team|Belgium]], [[Japan national cricket team|Japan]], [[Suriname national cricket team|Suriname]], [[Ghana national cricket team|Ghana]], [[Bhutan national cricket team|Bhutan]], [[Norway national cricket team|Norway]] and [[Vanuatu national cricket team|Vanuatu]] took part. It was the first time a tournament officially sanctioned by the [[International Cricket Council]] had been held in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2012/TOURNAMENTS/WCL8/index.shtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130221144640/http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2012/TOURNAMENTS/WCL8/index.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 February 2013 |title=World Cricket League Division 8, Apia (Samoa), September 2012 |publisher=cricketeurope4.net |access-date=17 September 2012 }}</ref>

===Basketball===
Apia hosted the [[2018 FIBA Polynesia Basketball Cup]] where [[Samoa's national basketball team]] finished runner-up.

==Sister cities==
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Shenzhen]], [[Guangdong]], China (2015)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.samoagovt.ws/2015/08/apia-signs-sister-city-agreement-with-shenzhen/ |title=Apia signs sister-city agreement with Shenzhen |publisher=samoagovt.ws |access-date=6 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406125925/http://www.samoagovt.ws/2015/08/apia-signs-sister-city-agreement-with-shenzhen/ |archive-date=6 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Compton, CA|Compton, California]], United States (2010)<ref name=Sistercities>{{cite web|url=http://www.comptonsistercities.org/ |title=Sister Cities of Compton |publisher=comptonsistercities.org |access-date=2 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160123040049/http://www.comptonsistercities.org/ |archive-date=23 January 2016 |df=dmy }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[1889 Apia cyclone]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Apia}}
{{wikivoyage|Apia}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140222011340/http://digitallibrary.hsp.org/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/3926 View of Apia, the Capital of Samoa, One of the Islands in the Pacific Ocean], from ''[[Harper's Weekly]]'', 12 January 1895 by D.J. Kennedy, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania

{{List of Oceanian capitals by region}}

{{Tuamasaga}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Apia| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Oceania]]
[[Category:Port cities in Oceania]]
[[Category:Populated places in Tuamasaga]]
[[Category:1850s establishments in Oceania]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1850s]]

Antananarivo

2023-06-01T09:12:03Z

94.140.246.27:

{{short description|Capital and largest city of Madagascar}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{good article}}

{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Antananarivo
| other_name = Tananarive
| settlement_type =  [[Capital city]]
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a =Lake Anosy, Central Antananarivo, Capital of Madagascar, Photo by Sascha Grabow.jpg
|photo2a =Beautiful jacaranda Antananarivo Madagascar.jpg
|photo2b =Lake Anozy in Tananarive (3187711578).jpg
|photo3a =Royal chapel exterior Rova of Antananarivo Madagascar 2013.JPG
|photo3b =Kriegerdenkmal Antananarivo 2019-10-02.jpg
|photo3c =Denkmal Philibert Tsiranana Antananarivo 2019-10-02 .jpg
|photo3d =Mausolee02.JPG
|photo4a =Bahnhof Antananarivo 2019-10-02 4.jpg
|photo4b =Presidential office in Antananarivo Madagascar.JPG
|photo5a =
|photo5b =
|size = 270
|spacing = 1
|color = #FFFFFF
|color_border = white
|border = 1
}}
| image_caption = Lake Anosy Central Antananarivo, Jacarandas blooming, Lake Anozy, Royal chapel, Chemin des Dames, bust of Philibert Tsiranana, Mausolée d'Andrainarivo, Train station, Presidential office
| image_flag = Flag of Antananarivo, Madagascar.svg
| flag_size =
| image_seal = Seal of Antananarivo.svg
| seal_size =
| image_shield = Antananarivo.svg
| shield_size = 100px
| nickname = Tana
| motto =
| map_caption = Location of Antananarivo in Madagascar
| pushpin_map = Madagascar#Africa
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Madagascar]] & [[Africa]]
| pushpin_relief = yes
| coordinates = {{coord|18|56|S|47|31|E|type:city_region:MG|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{Flag|Madagascar}}
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of Madagascar|Region]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Analamanga]]
| subdivision_type3 = Historic Countries/Colonies
| subdivision_name3 = [[Merina Kingdom]] [[Malagasy Protectorate]] [[French Madagascar]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1610 or 1625
| government_type =
| leader_title = [[Mayor of Antananarivo]]
| leader_name = Naina Andriantsitohaina
| area_footnotes =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 85.01
| area_total_sq_mi =
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_land_sq_mi =
| area_water_km2 =
| area_water_sq_mi =
| area_water_percent =
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m = 1276
| elevation_ft =
| elevation_min_ft =
| population_total = 1275207
| population_as_of = 2018 Census
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_urban =
| population_note =<ref>Institut National de la Statistique Madagascar (web)</ref>
| area_code = (+261) 023
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20111119094734/http://www.mairie-antananarivo.mg/ www.mairie-antananarivo.mg] {{in lang|fr}}
| timezone = [[East Africa Time]]
| utc_offset = +3
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| elevation_max_m =
| elevation_max_ft =
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cwb)|Cwb]]
| blank1_name = Major Airport(s)
| blank1_info = [[Ivato International Airport]]
}}

'''Antananarivo''' ([[French language|French]]: ''Tananarive'', {{IPA-fr|tananaʁiv|pron}}), also known by its colonial shorthand form '''Tana''', is the [[Capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Madagascar]]. The administrative area of the city, known as Antananarivo-Renivohitra ("Antananarivo-Mother Hill" or "Antananarivo-Capital"), is the capital of [[Analamanga]] region. The city sits at {{convert|1280|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level in the center of the island, the [[List of capital cities by elevation|highest national capital by elevation]] among the [[Island country|island countries]]. It has been the country's largest population center since at least the 18th century. The [[President of Madagascar|presidency]], [[National Assembly of Madagascar|National Assembly]], [[Senate of Madagascar|Senate]] and Supreme Court are located there, as are [[List of diplomatic missions in Madagascar|21 diplomatic missions]] and the headquarters of many national and international businesses and [[NGO]]s. It has more universities, nightclubs, art venues, and medical services than any city on the island. Several national and local sports teams, including the championship-winning national [[Rugby union in Madagascar|rugby]] team, the [[Madagascar national rugby union team|Makis]] are based here.

Antananarivo was historically the capital of the [[Merina people]], who continue to form the majority of the city's 1,275,207 (2018 Census<ref name="ReferenceA"/>) inhabitants. The surrounding urban areas have a total metropolitan population approaching three million. All eighteen [[Malagasy people|Malagasy ethnic groups]], as well as residents of [[Chinese people in Madagascar|Chinese]], [[Indians in Madagascar|Indian]], [[French people in Madagascar|European]] and other origins, are represented in the city. It was founded circa 1610, when the Merina King [[Andrianjaka]] (1612–1630) expelled the [[Vazimba]] inhabitants of the village of [[Twelve sacred hills of Imerina#Hill of Analamanga|Analamanga]]. Declaring it the site of his capital, Andrianjaka built a ''[[Rova (Madagascar)|rova]]'' (fortified royal dwelling) that expanded to become the [[Rova of Antananarivo|royal palaces]] of the [[Kingdom of Imerina]]. The city retained the name Analamanga until the reign of King [[Andriamasinavalona]] (1675–1710), who renamed it Antananarivo ("City of the Thousand") in honor of Andrianjaka's soldiers.

The city served as the capital of the Kingdom of Imerina until 1710 when Imerina split into four warring quadrants. Antananarivo became the capital of the southern quadrant until 1794, when King [[Andrianampoinimerina]] of [[Ambohimanga]] captured the province and restored it as the capital of a united Kingdom of Imerina, also bringing neighboring ethnic groups under Merina control. These conquests continued under his son, [[Radama I]], who eventually controlled over two-thirds of the island, leading him to be considered the King of Madagascar by European diplomats. Antananarivo remained the island's capital after Madagascar was [[French Madagascar|colonized by the French]] in 1897, and after independence in 1960.

The city is now managed by the ''Commune Urbaine d'Antananarivo'' (CUA) under the direction of its President of the [[Special delegation (France)|Special Delegation]], Ny Havana Andriamanjato, appointed in March 2014. Limited funds and mismanagement have hampered consecutive CUA efforts to manage overcrowding and traffic, waste management, pollution, security, public water and electricity, and other challenges linked to explosive population growth. Major historic landmarks and attractions in the city include the reconstructed royal palaces and the [[Andafiavaratra Palace]], the tomb of [[Rainiharo]], [[Tsimbazaza Zoo]], [[Mahamasina Stadium]], [[Lake Anosy]], four 19th-century [[Christianity in Madagascar|martyr churches]], and the [[University of Madagascar's Museum of Art and Archaeology|Museum of Art and Archaeology]].

==Pronunciation and etymology==
The English pronunciation of Antananarivo is {{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|n|t|ə|ˌ|n|æ|n|ə|ˈ|r|iː|v|oʊ}} or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɑː|n|t|ə|ˌ|n|ɑː|n|ə|ˈ|r|iː|v|oʊ}}.<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antananarivo Dictionary.com: Antananarivo]</ref> The Malagasy pronunciation is {{IPA-mg|antananaˈrivʷ|}}, and the pronunciation of the old French name Tananarive is {{IPAc-en|t|ə|ˌ|n|æ|n|ə|ˈ|r|iː|v}}<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tananarive?s=t Dictionary.com: Tananarive]</ref> or {{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|æ|n|ə|n|ə|ˈ|r|iː|v}}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140903150642/http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/american_english/Tananarive Oxford Dictionary: Tananarive (American English)]</ref> in English and {{IPA-fr|tananaʁiv|}} in French.

Antananarivo was originally the site of a town called ''[[Twelve sacred hills of Imerina#Hill of Analamanga|Analamanga]]'', meaning "Blue Forest" in the [[Central Highlands (Madagascar)|Central Highlands]] dialect of the [[Malagasy language]].{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=158}} Analamanga was established by a community of [[Vazimba]], the island's first occupants. [[Merina Kingdom|Merina]] King [[Andrianjaka]], who migrated to the region from the southeast coast, seized the location as the site of his capital city. According to oral history, he deployed a garrison of 1,000 soldiers to successfully capture and guard the site.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=158}} The hill and its city retained the name Analamanga until the reign of King [[Andriamasinavalona]], who renamed it ''Antananarivo'' ("City of the Thousand") in honor of Andrianjaka's soldiers.{{sfn|Callet|1908|pp=654–656}}

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Antananarivo}}

===Kingdom of Imerina===

[[File:Antananarivo Madagascar old city gate.JPG|thumbnail|left|Old [[Architecture of Madagascar|city gate]]]]
Antananarivo was already a major city before the colonial era. After expelling the Vazimba who inhabited the town at the peak of Analamanga hill, Andrianjaka chose the site for his ''[[Rova (Madagascar)|rova]]'' (fortified royal compound), which expanded over time to enclose the [[Rova of Antananarivo|royal palaces]] and the tombs of Merina royalty.{{sfn|Government of France|1898|pp=918–919}} The city was established in around 1610{{sfn|Desmonts|2004|pp=114–115}} or 1625<ref>Roman Adrian Cybriwsky, ''Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2013, p. 15</ref> according to varying accounts. Early Merina kings used ''[[Corvée|fanampoana]]'' (statute labor) to construct a massive system of irrigated paddy fields and dikes around the city to provide adequate rice for the growing population. These paddy fields, of which the largest is called the Betsimitatatra, continue to produce rice.{{sfn|Callet|1908|p=522}}

[[File:Antananarivo Madagascar andohalo plaza.JPG|thumbnail|Sovereigns addressed the public at the historic town square of Andohalo.]]
Successive Merina sovereigns ruled over the [[Kingdom of Imerina]] from Analamanga through King Andriamasinavalona's reign. This sovereign gave the growing city its current name; he established the Andohalo town square outside the town gate, where all successive sovereigns delivered their royal speeches and announcements to the public, and assigned the names of numerous locations within the city based on the names of similar sites in the nearby village of Antananarivokely.{{sfn|Callet|1908|pp=654–656}} Andriamasinavalona designated specific territories for the ''[[hova (Madagascar)|hova]]'' (commoners) and each ''[[andriana]]'' (noble) subcaste, both within the neighborhoods of Antananarivo and in the countryside surrounding the capital. These territorial divisions were strictly enforced; members of subcastes were required to live within their designated territories and were not authorized to stay for extended periods in the territories reserved for others.{{sfn|Callet|1908|pp=563–565}} Numerous ''[[Fady (taboo)|fady]]'' (taboos), including injunctions against the construction of wooden houses by non-nobles{{sfn|Acquier|1997|pp=63–64}} and the presence of swine within the city limits, were imposed.{{sfn|Oliver|1886|p=221}}

Upon Andriamasinavalona's death in 1710, Imerina split into four warring quadrants, and Antananarivo was made the capital of the southern district.<ref name = UNESCO>{{cite web | title = Royal Hill of Ambohimanga | publisher = UNESCO World Heritage Centre | year = 2012 | url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/950 | access-date = 22 September 2012}}</ref> During the 77-year civil war that followed, the eastern district's capital at [[Ambohimanga]] rose in prominence.{{sfn|Nativel|2005|p=30}} The last king of Ambohimanga, [[Andrianampoinimerina]], successfully conquered Antananarivo in 1793;<ref>{{cite journal | last = Berg | first = Gerald M. | year = 1988 | title = Sacred Acquisition: Andrianampoinimerina at Ambohimanga, 1777–1790 | journal = The Journal of African History | volume = 29 | issue = 2 | pages = 191–211 | doi = 10.1017/S002185370002363X | s2cid = 153668345 }}</ref> he reunited the provinces of Imerina, ending the civil war. He moved the kingdom's political capital back to Antananarivo in 1794,<ref name = UNESCO/> and declared Ambohimanga the kingdom's spiritual capital, a role it still maintains.{{sfn|Campbell|2012|p=454}} Andrianampoinimerina created a large marketplace in Analakely, establishing the city's economic center.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=34}}

===Kingdom of Madagascar===
[[File:Detail of statue in lake anosy in Antananarivo Madagascar 2013.JPG|left|thumbnail|[[Lake Anosy]] was created in the 19th century to provide hydraulic power to industrial factories.]]

By the time Andrianampoinimerina's son [[Radama I]] had ascended the throne upon his father's death in 1810, Antananarivo was the largest and most economically important city on the island, with a population of over 80,000 inhabitants.<ref name="Stats"/> Radama opened the city to the first European settlers, artisan missionaries of the [[London Missionary Society]] (LMS) who arrived in 1820 and opened the city's first public schools.{{sfn|Ade Ajayi|1998|p=165}} [[James Cameron (missionary)|James Cameron]] introduced brickmaking to the island and created [[Lake Anosy]] to generate hydraulic power for industrial manufacturing.{{sfn|Nativel|2005|pp=76–66}} Radama established a military training ground on a flat plain called Mahamasina at the base of Analamanga near the lake. Radama's subjugation of other [[Malagasy people|Malagasy ethnic groups]] brought nearly two-thirds of the island under his control. The British diplomats who concluded trade treaties with Radama recognized him as the "ruler of Madagascar", a position he and his successors claimed despite never managing to impose their authority over the larger portion of the island's south. Thereafter, Merina sovereigns declared Antananarivo the capital of the entire island.{{sfn|Ade Ajayi|1998|p=167}}

[[File:Antananarivo07.jpg|thumb|[[Ranavalona I]] built the staircases connecting the market at Analakely to Antaninarenina (pictured) and Ambondrona in 1832.<ref name = stairs/>]]
Radama's successor [[Ranavalona I]] invited a shipwrecked craftsman named [[Jean Laborde]] to construct the tomb of Prime Minister [[Rainiharo]], and Manjakamiadana (built 1839–1841), the largest palace at the Rova. Laborde also produced a wide range of industrial products at factories in the highland village [[Mantasoa]] and a foundry in the Antananarivo neighborhood of Isoraka.{{sfn|Oliver|1886|p=78}} Ranavalona oversaw improvements to the city's infrastructure, including the construction of the city's two largest staircases at Antaninarenina and Ambondrona, which connect ''la ville moyenne'' ("the middle town") to the central marketplace at Analakely.<ref name = stairs>{{cite news | last = Rakotoarilala | first = Ninaivo | title = D'Antaninarenina à Ambondrona: Andry Rajoelina revisite son adolescence | newspaper = Madagascar Tribune | date = 15 January 2013 | url = http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Andry-Rajoelina-revisite-son,18358.html| access-date = 3 June 2013 | language = fr}}</ref> In 1867, following a series of fires in the capital, Queen [[Ranavalona II]] issued a royal decree that permitted the use of stone and brick construction in buildings other than tombs.{{sfn|Nativel|2005|pp=76–66}} LMS missionaries' first brick house was built in 1869; it bore a blend of English, Creole, and Malagasy design and served as a model for a new style of house that rapidly spread throughout the capital and across the highlands. Termed the ''trano gasy'' ("Malagasy house"), it is typically a two-story, brick building with four columns on the front that support a wooden veranda. In the latter third of the 19th century, these houses quickly replaced most of the traditional wooden houses of the city's aristocratic class.{{sfn|Nativel|2005|p=327}} The growing number of [[Christianity in Madagascar|Christians in Imerina]] prompted the construction of stone churches throughout the highlands, as well as four memorial churches on key sites of martyrdom among early Malagasy Christians under the reign of Ranavalona I.{{sfn|Nativel|2005|pp=122–124}}

[[File:Palais d'Andafiavaratra 01.jpg|thumb|left|[[Andafiavaratra Palace]] was the home of Prime Minister [[Rainilaiarivony]].]]
Until the mid-19th century, the city remained largely concentrated around the Rova of Antananarivo on the highest peak, an area today referred to as ''la haute ville'' or ''la haute'' ("upper town"). As the population grew, the city expanded to the west; by the late 19th century it extended to the northern hilltop neighborhood of Andohalo, an area of low prestige until British missionaries made it their preferred residential district and built one of the city's memorial churches here from 1863 to 1872.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=158}} From 1864 to 1894, Prime Minister [[Rainilaiarivony]] governed Madagascar alongside three successive queens, [[Rasoherina]], Ranavalona II and [[Ranavalona III]], effecting policies that further transformed the city. In 1881, he reinstated mandatory universal education first introduced in 1820 under Radama I, requiring the construction of numerous schools and colleges, including teacher training colleges staffed by missionaries and the nation's first pharmacy, medical college, and modern hospital.{{sfn|Ade Ajayi|1998|p=439}} Rainilaiarivony built the [[Andafiavaratra Palace]] in 1873 as his residence and office at a site near the royal palace.{{sfn|Nativel|2005|p=25}}

===French Madagascar===
[[File:Presidential office in Antananarivo Madagascar.JPG|thumbnail|The colonial French Residency serves today as a presidential office and has been renamed the [[Ambohitsorohitra Palace]].]]

The [[French Madagascar|French military invaded Antananarivo]] in September 1894, prompting the queen's surrender after a cannon shell blasted a hole through a building at the Rova, causing major casualties. The damage was never repaired. Andohalo square was remodeled to feature a gazebo, walkways, and planted landscaping. Claiming the island as a colony, the French administration retained Antananarivo as its capital and transcribed its name as Tananarive.{{sfn|Appiah|Gates|2010|p=114}} They chose Antaninarenina as the site for the French Governor General's Residency; upon independence, it was renamed [[Ambohitsorohitra Palace]] and converted into presidential offices. Under the French, tunnels were constructed through two of the city's largest hills, connecting disparate districts and facilitating the town's expansion. Streets were laid with cobblestones and later paved; sewer systems and electricity infrastructure was introduced. Water, previously obtained from springs at the foot of the hill, was brought from the [[Ikopa River]].{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}}

This period saw a major expansion of ''la ville moyenne'', which spread along the lower hilltops and slopes of the city centered around the French residency. Modern urban planning was applied in ''la ville basse'' ("lower town"), which expanded from the base of the city's central hills into the surrounding rice fields. Major boulevards like ''Avenue de l'Indépendance'', planned commercial areas like the arcades lining either side of the avenue, large parks, city squares, and other landmark features were built.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}} A railway system connecting Soarano station at one end of the ''Avenue de l'Indépendance'' in Antananarive with [[Toamasina]] and [[Fianarantsoa]] was established in 1897.{{sfn|McLean Thompson|Adloff|1965|p=271}} Beyond these planned spaces, neighborhoods densely populated by working-class Malagasy expanded without state oversight or control.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}}

[[File:Beautiful jacaranda Antananarivo Madagascar.jpg|thumbnail|left|Jacarandas planted during the [[French Madagascar|French colonial period]] bloom in October around [[Lake Anosy]].]]
The city expanded rapidly after [[World War II]];{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}} by 1950 its population had grown to 175,000. Roads connecting Antananarivo to surrounding towns were expanded and paved. The first international airport was constructed at [[Arivonimamo]], {{convert|45|km|0|abbr=on}} outside the city; this was replaced in 1967 with [[Ivato International Airport]] approximately {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} from the city center. The [[University of Antananarivo]] was constructed in the Ankatso neighborhood and the [[Museum of Ethnology and Paleontology]] was also built. A city plan written in 1956 created suburban zones where large houses and gardens were established for the wealthy. In 1959, severe floods in ''la ville basse'' prompted the building of large-scale embankments along the edges of the Betsimitatatra rice fields and the establishment of new ministerial complexes on newly drained land in the Anosy neighborhood.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}}

===Post-independence===
[[File:Madagascar senate.JPG|thumbnail|Senate building]]
After independence in 1960, the pace of growth increased further. The city's population reached 1.4 million by the end of the 20th century; in 2013, it was estimated at nearly 2.1 million.<ref name = newpop>{{cite web|title=2005 population estimates for cities in Madagascar|url=http://www.mongabay.com/igapo/2005_world_city_populations/Madagascar.html|access-date=1 April 2014}}</ref> Uncontrolled urban sprawl has challenged the city's infrastructure, producing shortages of clean water and electricity, sanitation and public health problems, and heavy traffic congestion.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}} There are more than 5,000 church buildings in the city and its suburbs, including an [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] and a [[Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Antananarivo|Roman Catholic cathedral]]. Antananarivo is the [[see city]] of Madagascar's [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antananarivo|Roman Catholic Archdiocese]]. The city has repeatedly been the site of large demonstrations and violent political clashes, including the 1972 ''[[rotaka]]'' that brought down President [[Philibert Tsiranana]] and the [[2009 Malagasy political crisis]], which resulted in [[Andry Rajoelina]] replacing [[Marc Ravalomanana]] as head of state.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ifdczZtXnRO9VQb3h7Xm5hDhdxeA |title=AFP: Hundreds protest Madagascar mayor's sacking |date=4 February 2009 |access-date=25 March 2013}}</ref>

[[2022 Antananarivo floods|On 18 January 2022 Antananarivo was hit by deadly floods]].<ref name=":4">{{cite web |date=18 January 2022 |title=10 killed by floods in Madagascar |url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/01/18/10-killed-by-floods-in-madagascar/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220124230142/https://www.africanews.com/2022/01/18/10-killed-by-floods-in-madagascar/ |archive-date=24 January 2022 |access-date=18 January 2022 |publisher=[[Africanews]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Map of Madagascar (LMS, 1869, p.44).jpg|thumb|260px|left|Map of the Country 20 Miles around Antananarivo, Madagascar ([[London Missionary Society|LMS]], 1869, p.44)<ref name="Fruits-LMS">{{cite book|editor1-last=London Missionary Society|title=Fruits of Toil in the London Missionary Society|date=1869|publisher=John Snow & Co.|location=London|page=44|url=https://archive.org/details/fruitsoftoilinth17115gut|access-date=12 September 2016}}</ref>]]
Antananarivo is situated approximately {{convert|1280|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} above sea level in the Central Highlands region of Madagascar, at 18.55' South and 47.32' East.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=7}} The city is located centrally along the north–south axis of the country, and east of the center along the east–west axis. It is {{convert|160|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the east coast and {{convert|330|km|mi|abbr=on}} from the west coast. The city occupies a commanding position on the summit and slopes of a long, narrow, rocky ridge extending north and south for about {{convert|4|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} and rising to about {{convert|200|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} above the extensive rice fields to the west.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=158}}

The official boundaries of the city of Antananarivo encompass an urban area of approximately {{convert|86.4|sqkm|sqmi|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=7}} It was founded {{Convert|1480|meters|feet|abbr=on}} above sea level at the apex of three hill ranges that converge in a Y form, {{Convert|200|meters|feet|abbr=on}} above the surrounding Betsimitatatra paddy fields and the grassy plains beyond. The city gradually spread out from this central point to cover the hillsides; by the late 19th century it had expanded to the flat terrain at the base of the hills. These plains are susceptible to flooding during the rainy season; they are drained by the Ikopa River, which skirts the capital to the south and west. The western slopes and plains, being best protected from cyclone winds originating over the Indian Ocean, were settled before those to the east.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=158}}

Greater Antananarivo is a continuous, urbanized area spreading beyond the city's official boundaries for {{Convert|9|km|miles|abbr=on}} north to south between Ambohimanarina and Ankadimbahoaka, and {{Convert|6|km|miles|abbr=on}} west to east between the Ikopa River dike and Tsiadana.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=153}} The population of the greater Antananarivo area was estimated at 3 million people in 2012; it is expected to rise to 6 million by 2030.<ref name = 2012report/>

===Climate===
Under the [[Köppen-Geiger climate classification system]], Antananarivo has a [[subtropical highland climate]] with dry season defined (''Cwb'')<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://en.climate-data.org/location/548/ |title=Climate: Antananarivo – Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table (altitude: 1293m) |publisher=Climate-Data.org |access-date=24 October 2013 }}</ref> characterized by mild, dry winters and warm, rainy summers.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p = 7}} The city receives nearly all of its average annual rainfall between November and April. Frosts are rare in the city; they are more common at higher elevations. Daily mean temperatures range from {{convert|20.8|C}} in December to {{convert|14.3|C}} in July.

{{Weather box
|location = Antananarivo (1981–2010)
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 33.0
|Feb record high C = 32.0
|Mar record high C = 33.0
|Apr record high C = 31.8
|May record high C = 30.2
|Jun record high C = 32.6
|Jul record high C = 27.0
|Aug record high C = 28.9
|Sep record high C = 32.3
|Oct record high C = 33.1
|Nov record high C = 33.3
|Dec record high C = 32.1

|Jan high C = 26.6
|Feb high C = 26.5
|Mar high C = 26.5
|Apr high C = 25.5
|May high C = 23.7
|Jun high C = 21.2
|Jul high C = 20.6
|Aug high C = 21.7
|Sep high C = 24.2
|Oct high C = 26.0
|Nov high C = 27.0
|Dec high C = 27.2
|year high C = 24.7

|Jan mean C = 20.8
|Feb mean C = 20.8
|Mar mean C = 20.7
|Apr mean C = 19.5
|May mean C = 17.3
|Jun mean C = 15.1
|Jul mean C = 14.3
|Aug mean C = 14.9
|Sep mean C = 16.8
|Oct mean C = 18.7
|Nov mean C = 20.1
|Dec mean C = 20.7
|year mean C = 18.3

|Jan low C = 17.3
|Feb low C = 17.3
|Mar low C = 17.0
|Apr low C = 15.4
|May low C = 13.2
|Jun low C = 10.9
|Jul low C = 9.9
|Aug low C = 10.3
|Sep low C = 11.4
|Oct low C = 13.6
|Nov low C = 15.2
|Dec low C = 16.7
|year low C = 14.0

|Jan record low C = 10.9
|Feb record low C = 11.0
|Mar record low C = 10.0
|Apr record low C = 9.0
|May record low C = 4.0
|Jun record low C = 2.0
|Jul record low C = 2.0
|Aug record low C = 4.4
|Sep record low C = 2.3
|Oct record low C = 6.0
|Nov record low C = 9.3
|Dec record low C = 10.5

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 340
|Feb precipitation mm = 290
|Mar precipitation mm = 191
|Apr precipitation mm = 55
|May precipitation mm = 19
|Jun precipitation mm = 4
|Jul precipitation mm = 8
|Aug precipitation mm = 6
|Sep precipitation mm = 10
|Oct precipitation mm = 68
|Nov precipitation mm = 135
|Dec precipitation mm = 311

|Jan rain days = 19
|Feb rain days = 17
|Mar rain days = 14
|Apr rain days = 7
|May rain days = 5
|Jun rain days = 5
|Jul rain days = 7
|Aug rain days = 6
|Sep rain days = 4
|Oct rain days = 8
|Nov rain days = 11
|Dec rain days = 15

|Jan humidity = 79
|Feb humidity = 80
|Mar humidity = 79
|Apr humidity = 77
|May humidity = 77
|Jun humidity = 77
|Jul humidity = 76
|Aug humidity = 74
|Sep humidity = 70
|Oct humidity = 69
|Nov humidity = 71
|Dec humidity = 77

|Jan sun = 210.5
|Feb sun = 178.0
|Mar sun = 199.1
|Apr sun = 220.5
|May sun = 228.8
|Jun sun = 206.1
|Jul sun = 213.9
|Aug sun = 235.0
|Sep sun = 249.5
|Oct sun = 251.0
|Nov sun = 232.7
|Dec sun = 201.1
|year sun = 2626.2
| source 1 = NOAA<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MG/67083.TXT
| title = Antananarivo Climate Normals 1961–1990 (Sunhours)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 30 November 2013}}</ref>

| source 2 = ''Pogoda''<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate2/67083.htm |title= Antananarivo Climate Normals 1981–2010 (Temperatures, Precipitation, Humidity) |publisher= .pogodaiklimat|access-date=4 May 2016 }}</ref>

|date=May 2016}}

==Cityscape==
[[File:Antananarivo Rova-Palast.jpg|thumbnail|The [[rova of Antananarivo|royal palace]] is built on the peak of [[Twelve sacred hills of Imerina#Analamanga|Analamanga]], the city's highest hill, which dominates its skyline.]]

Antananarivo encompasses three ridges that intersect at their highest point. The Manjakamiadana royal palace is located at the summit of these hills and is visible from every part of the city and the surrounding hills. The Manjakamiadina was the largest structure within the rova of Antananarivo; its stone casing is the only remnant of the royal residences to survive a 1995 fire at the site. For 25 years, the roofless shell dominated the skyline; its west wall collapsed in 2004.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=297}} In 2009, the stone casing had been fully restored and the building was re-roofed. It is illuminated at night. Conservation and reconstruction work at the site is ongoing.<ref>{{cite news| date = 2 December 2010 | language = fr | title = Patrimoine – La première phase des travaux terminée: Le "rova" renaît de ses cendres | newspaper = Le Quotidien de la Réunion et de l'Océan Indien | location = Antananarivo, Madagascar }}</ref> The city skyline is a jumble of colorful, historic houses and churches. More recent residential and commercial buildings and family rice fields occupy lower terrain throughout the capital. The Betsimitatatra and other rice fields surround the city.<ref name = loveme/>

The city's neighborhoods emerge from historic ethnic, religious, and caste divisions. The assignment of certain neighborhoods to particular noble sub-castes under the Kingdom of Imerina established divisions; the highest-ranking nobles were typically assigned to neighborhoods closest to the royal palace and were required to live in higher elevation portions of the city.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=12}} During and after French colonization, the expansion of the city continued to reflect these divisions. Today, the ''haute ville'' is mainly residential and viewed as a prestigious area in which to live; many of the city's wealthiest and most influential Malagasy families live there.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=12}} The part of ''la haute'' closest to the Rova contains much of the city's pre-colonial heritage and is considered it's historic part.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}} It includes the royal palace, Andafiavaratra Palace{{mdash}}the former residence of Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony, Andohalo{{mdash}}the principal town square until 1897, a cathedral near Andohalo built to commemorate early Malagasy Christian martyrs, the city's most intact historic entrance gate and the 19th-century houses of Merina nobles.<ref name=loveme>{{cite news|last=Hellier |first=Chris |date=Summer 1999 |title=Madagascar: Antananarivo – Love Me, Love Me Not |work=Travel Africa Magazine |url=http://www.travelafricamag.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=106 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

Under the Kingdom of Madagascar, the commoner class (''hova'') settled at the periphery of the noble districts,{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=12}} gradually spreading along the slopes of the lower hills during the late 19th century. This ''ville moyenne'' became increasingly populous under French colonial authority, which targeted them for redesign and development. Today, the neighborhoods in the ''ville moyenne'' are densely populated and lively, containing residences, historic sites, and businesses. The neighborhood of Antaninarenina contains the historic Hôtel Colbert, numerous jewelers' shops and other luxury goods stores, and administrative offices. In addition to Antaninarenina, the principal neighborhoods of ''la ville moyenne'' are Ankadifotsy on the eastern hills and Ambatonakanga and Isoraka to the west, all of which are largely residential.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}} Isoraka has developed lively nightlife, with houses converted to upscale restaurants and inns. Isoraka also houses the tomb of Prime Minister Rainiharo (1833–1852), whose sons and later Prime Ministers [[Rainivoninahitriniony]] and Rainilaiarivony are buried with him.{{sfn|Nativel|Rajaonah|2009|p=126}} Bordering these neighborhoods are the commercial areas of Besarety and Andravoahangy.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}}
[[File:Zoma Tananarive (3201311570).jpg|thumbnail|left|The city's historic Zoma market, established by King [[Andrianampoinimerina]] (1787–1810), was discontinued in 1997.]]

The commercial center of town, Analakely, is located on the valley floor between these two ''ville moyenne'' hill ranges.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}} King Andrianampoinimerina established the city's first marketplace{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=34}} on the grounds today occupied by the market's tile-roofed pavilions, constructed in the 1930s.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=297}} Andrianampoinimerina decreed Friday (''Zoma'') as market day,{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=34}} when merchants would erect stalls shaded with white parasols, which extended throughout the valley forming what has been called the largest open-air marketplace in the world.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=312}} The market caused traffic congestion and safety hazards prompting government officials to divide and relocate the Friday merchants to several other districts in 1997.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=79}} The city's other main commercial and administrative neighborhoods, which spread out from Analakely and extend into the adjacent plain, were established by the French, who drained and filled in the extant rice fields and swampland to create much of the area's design and infrastructure. The ''Avenue de l'Indépendance'' runs from the gardens of Ambohijatovo south of the market pavilions, through Analakely to the city's railroad station at Soarano. To the west of Soarano lies the dense commercial district of Tsaralalana; it is the only district to be built on a grid{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}} and is the center of the city's South Asian community.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=221}} Behoririka, to the east of Soarano, is built around a lake of the same name and abuts the sprawling Andravoahangy district at the eastern edge of the city. Antanimena borders Soarano and Behoririka to the north. A tunnel built by the French in the early 20th century cuts through the hillside; it connects Ambohijatovo with Ambanidia and other residential areas in the south of the city.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}}

Since pre-colonial times the lower classes, including those descended from the slave class (''andevo'') and rural migrants, have occupied the flood-prone lower districts bordering the Betsimitatatra rice fields to the west of the city.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=12}} This area is connected to Analakely by a tunnel constructed by the French in the early 20th century. The tunnel opens toward Lake Anosy and the national Supreme Court buildings and provides access to the residential neighborhood of Mahamasina and its stadium. The bordering neighborhood of Anosy was developed in the 1950s to house most of the national ministries and the Senate.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=16}} Anosy, the planned residential district of ''Soixante-Sept Hectares'' (often abbreviated to "67") and the neighborhood of Isotry are among the city's most densely populated, crime-ridden and impoverished neighborhoods.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=232}} Approximately 40 percent of inhabitants with electricity in their homes in the ''ville basse'' obtain it illegally by splicing into city power lines. In these areas, houses are more vulnerable to fires, flooding, and landslides, which are often triggered by the annual cyclone season.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}}

===Architecture===
[[File:Antananarivo houses architecture.JPG|thumbnail|Nineteenth-century ''[[Architecture of Madagascar|trano gasy]]'' houses predominate in the historic ''haute ville''.]]

Before the mid-19th century, all houses and marketplaces in Antananarivo, and throughout Madagascar, were constructed of woods, grasses, reeds, and other plant-based materials viewed as appropriate for structures used by the living. Only family tombs were built from stone, an inert material viewed as appropriate to use for the dead. British missionaries introduced brick-making to the island in the 1820s, and French industrialist Jean Laborde used stone and brick to build his factories over the next few decades. It was not until the royal edict on construction materials was lifted in the 1860s that stone was used to encase the royal palace. Many aristocrats, inspired by the royal palace and the two-story, brick houses with wrapped verandas and divided interior spaces built by British missionaries, copied the British model for their own large homes in the ''haute ville''. The model, known as ''[[Architecture of Madagascar|trano gasy]]'' ("Malagasy house"), rapidly spread throughout the Central Highlands of Madagascar, where it remains the predominant house construction style.<ref name="Testa, J.P.">{{cite news |last=Andriamihaja |first=Nasolo Valiavo |title=Habitat traditionnel ancien par JP Testa (1970), Revue de Madagascar: Evolution syncrétique depuis Besakana jusqu'au trano gasy |newspaper=L'Express de Madagascar |location=Antananarivo |date=5 July 2006 |url=http://www.madatana.com/article-trano-gasy.php |access-date=1 December 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714013648/http://www.madatana.com/article-trano-gasy.php |archive-date=July 14, 2011 |language=fr |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>

Since 1993, the ''Commune urbaine d'Antananarivo'' (CUA) has increasingly sought to protect and restore the city's architectural and cultural heritage. In 2005, CUA authorities partnered with the city planners of the [[Île-de-France]] to develop the ''Plan Vert{{spaced ndash}}Plan Bleu'' strategy for creating a classification system for ''Zones de Protection du Patrimoine Architectural, Urbain et Paysager'', areas of the city benefiting from legal protection and financial support for their historic and cultural heritage. The plan, which is being implemented by the ''Institut des Métiers de la Ville'', prevents the destruction of historic buildings and other structures, and establishes construction codes that ensure new structures follow historic aesthetics. It also provides for awareness-raising campaigns in favor of historic preservation and undertakes projects to restore dilapidated historic buildings and sites. Under this plan, 19th-century sites, like the Ambatondrafandrana tribunal and the second residence of Rainilaiarivony, have been renovated.<ref name = 2012report/>

==Demographics==
Antananarivo has been the largest city on the island since at least the late 18th century when its population was estimated at 15,000.{{sfn|Appiah|Gates|2010|p=114}} By 1810, the population had grown to 80,000 before declining dramatically between 1829 and 1842 during the reigns of Radama I and especially Ranavalona I. Because of a combination of war, forced labor, disease and harsh measures of justice, the population of Imerina fell from 750,000 to 130,000 during this period.<ref name="Stats">{{cite journal | last = Campbell | first = Gwyn | date = October 1991 | title = The state and pre-colonial demographic history: the case of nineteenth-century Madagascar | journal = Journal of African History | volume = 23 | issue = 3 | pages = 415–445| doi = 10.1017/S0021853700031534 }}</ref> In the final years of the Kingdom of Imerina, the population of Antananarivo had recovered to between 50,000 and 75,000; most of the population were slaves who were largely captured in provincial military campaigns.{{sfn|Appiah|Gates|2010|p=114}} In 1950, Antananarivo's population was around 175,000.{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}} By the late 1990s the population of the metropolitan area had reached 1.4 million, and – while the city itself now has a population of 1,275,207 (at the 2018 Census)<ref name="ReferenceA">Institut National de la Statistique, Madagascar.</ref> – with suburbs lying outside the city limits it had grown to almost 2.3 million in 2018.<ref name = newpop/> The metropolitan area is thus home to approaching 10 percent of the island's 25.68 million residents. Rural migration to the capital propels this growth; the city's population exceeds that of the other five provincial capitals combined.{{sfn|Appiah|Gates|2010|p=114}}

As the historic capital of Imerina, Antananarivo is centrally located in the homeland of the Merina people, who comprise about 24 percent of the population and are the largest [[Malagasy people|Malagasy ethnic group]]. The city's history as the island's major center for politics, culture, and trade has ensured a cosmopolitan mix of ethnic groups from across the island and overseas.{{sfn|Appiah|Gates|2010|p=114}} Most Antananarivo residents have strong ties to their ''tanindrazana'' (ancestral village), where the extended family and typically a family tomb or burial place is located; many older residents leave the city upon retirement to return to their rural area of origin.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=171}}

===Crime===
Despite ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Domestic Security, crime has worsened in Antananarivo since 2009. Between 1994 and 1998, the city had an average of eight to twelve police officers for every 10,000 inhabitants; large cities typically have closer to fifteen.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}} Under the mayorship of Marc Ravalomanana (1998–2001), street lights were installed or repaired throughout the city to improve night-time safety. He increased the number of police officers on the streets, leading to a drop in crime.<ref name=economist2000>{{cite news|title=Madagascar's presidential election: Will the yoghurt tycoon take over? |newspaper=The Economist |date=20 December 2001 |url=http://www.economist.com/node/917556 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225070304/http://www.economist.com/node/917556 |archive-date=December 25, 2012 |access-date=2 December 2012 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> {{As of|2012}}, the city lacks a comprehensive strategy for reducing crime. The recent increase in crime and the inadequate response from the CUA has prompted the growth of private security firms in the city.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}}

The [[Antanimora Prison]] is located in the Antanimora district of the city. The facility has a maximum capacity of 800 inmates and has been reported to be severely overcrowded, at times housing more than 4000 detainees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/ImprovingprisonconditionsinMadagascar.aspx|title=OHCHR {{!}} Humanizing the prison world: A diplomatic victory in Madagascar|website=www.ohchr.org|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Avenue de l'Independence Antananarivo Madagascar.JPG|thumbnail|left|''L'Avenue de l'Indépendance'', the city's main thoroughfare, is bordered on both sides by shopping arcades built by the French in the 1930s.]]

Agriculture is the mainstay of the Malagasy economy. The land is used for the cultivation of rice and other crops, raising of [[zebu]] and other livestock, the fabrication of bricks, and other traditional livelihoods. Access to land is guaranteed and protected by law for every resident of the city. The CUA manages requests to lease or purchase land, but demand dramatically outstrips supply, and much of the unallocated land fails to meet the requisite criteria for parceling, such as land where floodwater runoff is diverted. Much of this marginal land has been illegally occupied and developed by land-seeking residents, creating shantytown slums in pockets throughout the lower portions of the city. This uncontrolled development poses sanitation and safety risks to residents in these areas.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=7}}

Industry accounts for around 13 percent of Madagascar's [[gross domestic product]] (GDP) and is largely concentrated in Antananarivo. Key industries include soap production, food and tobacco processing, brewing, textiles, and leather manufacturing, employing around 5.5 percent of the workforce.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=12}} The city's extensive infrastructure and its role as the economic center of the country make it a favorable location for large businesses. Business owners are drivers of growth for the city; in 2010, 60 percent of all new buildings in the country were located in Antananarivo, most of which were built for commercial purposes. Unemployment and poverty are also growing, fueled in part by an inadequately skilled and unprofessional workforce and the lack of a comprehensive national strategy for economic development since 2009. {{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}} Formal sector job growth has not kept pace with population growth, and many residents earn their livelihood in the informal sector as street vendors and laborers.{{sfn|Appiah|Gates|2010|p=115}} Under Ravalomanana, construction in the capital increased sharply; twelve new supermarkets were constructed in two years.<ref name = economist2000/>

The residents of urban areas{{mdash}}in particular Antananarivo{{mdash}}have been hardest hit by economic downturns and economic policy shifts. The national economic crisis in the mid-1970s and early 1980s, and the [[World Bank]]'s imposition of a [[Structural adjustment|structural adjustment program]] lowered living standards for the average resident of the city. The end of state subsidies, rapid inflation, higher taxes, widespread impoverishment, and the decline of the middle class was especially evident in Antananarivo, as was the growing wealth of a tiny political and economic elite in the city.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=12}} In 2007, two-thirds of Antananarivo residents had access to electricity,{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=275}} while ten percent of households owned a scooter, car or another motor vehicle.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=317}} Running water was installed in fewer than 25 percent of homes, small restaurants, and businesses in 2007, necessitating the collection of water from household wells or neighborhood pumps{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=275}} and the use of outdoor [[pit toilet]]s detached from the main building. In 2007, 60 percent of households were using shared public latrines.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=279}} Most homes use charcoal for daily cooking; stocks of charcoal and rice are kept in the kitchen.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|pp=267–268}} The average city household spends just under half of its budget on food.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=106}} Owing to its increasingly high cost, consumption of meat by city residents has sharply declined since the 1970s; the urban poor eat meat on holidays only once or twice a year.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=104}}

==Culture==
In Antananarivo and throughout the highlands, Merina and Betsileo families practice the ''[[famadihana]]'', an ancestor reburial ceremony. This ceremony typically occurs five to seven years after the death of a relative and is celebrated by removing the relative's ''[[lamba (garment)|lamba]]''-wrapped remains from the family tomb, rewrapping it with fresh silk shrouds and returning it to the tomb. Relatives, friends, and neighbors are invited to take part in the music, dancing, and feasting that accompanies the event. The ''famadihana'' is costly; many families sacrifice higher living standards to set aside money for the ceremony.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=141}}

===Historic sites and museums===
[[File:Palais de Justice d'Ambatondrafandrana.jpg|thumb|Palais de Justice d'Ambatondrafandrana, Court of Justice located "At the stone of Rafandrana". The site contains the stone erected by the ancient king Rafandrana but is now the location of the [[Ionic column]] court, open on three sides per Radama's order that all trials be open to public view. Nearby is the Ampamarinana, "Place of hurling", a precipice where Christians were martyred in 1849.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tacchi |first1=A. |editor1-last=Sibree |editor1-first=J. |editor2-last=Baron |editor2-first=R. |title=King Andrianampoinimerina, and the Early History of Antananaviro and Ambohimanga, in The Antananarivo Annual and Madagascar Magazine |date=1892 |publisher=Press of the L.M.S. |location=London |pages=486–487 |edition= Vol. IV 1889–1892 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OoIcAAAAMAAJ |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Brown |first1=Mervyn |title=A History of Madagascar |date=2006 |publisher=Markus Wiener Publishers |location=Princeton |isbn=9781558762923 |pages=163, 186}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ellis |first1=William |title=The Martyr Church: a Narrative of the Introduction, Progress and Triumph of Christianity in Madagascar |date=1870 |publisher=John Snow and Co. |location=London |page=[https://archive.org/details/martyrchurchana00elligoog/page/n200 172] |url=https://archive.org/details/martyrchurchana00elligoog |access-date=27 July 2019}}</ref>]]
The city has numerous monuments, historic buildings, sites of significance, and traditions related to the customs and history of the Central Highlands people.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}} The city skyline is dominated by the Rova of Antananarivo. The nearby Andafiavaratra Palace was the home of 19th-century Prime Minister Rainilaiarivony and contains a museum featuring historic artifacts of the Kingdom of Imerina, including items saved from the fire at the Rova. Downhill from the palaces is Andohalo square, where Merina kings and queens delivered speeches to the public. Tsimbazaza Zoo displays many of the island's unique animal species and a complete skeleton of the extinct [[elephant bird]]. Other historic buildings include the Ambatondrafandrana tribunal where Ranavalona I dispensed judgment, the second residence of Rainilaiarivony with its indigenous medicinal plant garden,<ref name = 2012report/> the recently renovated Soarano railroad station, four late 19th-century memorial churches built to commemorate early Malagasy Christian martyrs, the tomb of Prime Minister Rainiharo, and the early 20th century pavilions of the Analakely market. Open-air markets include Le Pochard and the artisan market at Andravoahangy. The [[University of Madagascar's Museum of Art and Archaeology|Museum of Art and Archaeology]] in the Isoraka neighborhood features exhibits on the history and cultures of Madagascar's diverse ethnic groups.{{sfn|Bradt|Austin|2011|pages=162–163}} The Pirates Museum in Tsaralalàna explains the history of maritime pirates and the story of the pirates in Madagascar and their mysterious Republic of Libertalia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Piratenmuseum Madagaskar - Musée de Pirates Madagascar - Pirate Museum Madagascar |url=https://piratenmuseum.ch/ |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=piratenmuseum.ch |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104022946/https://piratenmuseum.ch/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Arts===
[[File:Cinemas in Antananarivo Madagascar.JPG|thumbnail|left|Cinemas Rex and Ritz]]

The arts scene in Antananarivo is the largest and most vibrant in the country. Madagascar's diverse [[Music of Madagascar|music]] is reflected in the many concerts, cabarets, dance clubs, and other musical venues throughout Antananarivo. In the dry season, outdoor concerts are regularly held in venues including the Antsahamanitra amphitheater and Mahamasina Stadium.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=69}} Concerts and nightclubs are attended mainly by young people of the middle to upper classes who can afford the entrance fees.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=69}} More affordable are performances of traditional ''vakindrazana'' or Malagasy operettas at Isotry Theater and ''[[hiragasy|hira gasy]]'' at the city's outdoor ''cheminots'' theater or ''Alliance française''; these performances are more popular with older and rural audiences than among urban youth.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=70}} Nightlife is the most animated in the ''ville moyenne'' neighborhoods of Antaninarenina, Tsaralalana, Behoririka, Mahamasina, and Andohalo.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=180}}

The ''Palais des Sports'' in the Mahamasina neighborhood is the country's only indoor performance space built to international standards. It was built in 1995 by the [[Government of China]]; it regularly hosts concerts, dance, and other arts performances, expositions, and novelty events like monster truck rallies. The city lacks a dedicated classical music performance space, and concerts by international artists are infrequent. Performances of classical, jazz, and other foreign musical genres, modern and contemporary dance, theater, and other arts occur at cultural arts centers funded by foreign governments or private entities. Among the best-known of these is the ''Centre Culturel [[Albert Camus]]'' and ''[[Alliance française|Alliance française d'Antananarivo]]'', both funded by the [[Cabinet of France|French government]].{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=69}} the ''Cercle Germano-Malgache'', a branch of the [[Goethe-Institut]] funded by the [[Government of Germany|German government]];<ref>{{cite web|title=Qui Sommes Nous? |year = 2013 |url=http://www.goethe.de/ins/mg/ant/uun/frindex.htm |publisher= Goethe Institut Antananarivo |access-date=8 December 2013}}</ref> The American Center is funded by the [[United States Department of State|United States government]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Rakotoharimanana |first1=Volana |last2=Saraléa |first2=Judicaëlle |title=American center: Le high tech au service de la culture |language=fr |date=7 January 2012 |url=http://www.lexpressmada.com/5117/american-8200-center-madagascar/30745-le-8200-high-8200-tech-8200-au-8200-service-8200-de-8200-la-8200-culture.html |publisher=L'Express de Madagascar |access-date=8 December 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214010205/http://www.lexpressmada.com/5117/american-8200-center-madagascar/30745-le-8200-high-8200-tech-8200-au-8200-service-8200-de-8200-la-8200-culture.html |archive-date=December 14, 2013 }}</ref> Antananarivo has two dedicated [[Cinema of Madagascar|cinemas]], the Rex and the Ritz, both of which were built in the colonial era. These venues do not show international releases but occasionally screen Malagasy films or are used for private events and religious services.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=69}}

===Sports===
[[Rugby union in Madagascar|Rugby Union]] is considered the national sport of Madagascar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=53025.html |access-date=24 July 2012 |title=Madagascar take Sevens honours |date=23 August 2007 |publisher=International Rugby Board |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024222252/http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/regional/newsid=53025.html |archive-date=October 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The [[Madagascar national rugby union team|national rugby team]] is nicknamed the Makis after the local word for the indigenous [[ring-tailed lemur]]. The team trains and plays domestic matches at Maki Stadium in Antananarivo. Constructed in 2012, the stadium has a capacity of 15,000 and houses a gym and administrative offices for the team.

Several soccer teams are based in Antananarivo; [[AS Adema]] Analamanga and [[Ajesaia]] are associated with the Analamanga region; [[USCA Foot]] is associated with the CUA and the [[AS Saint Michel]] has been affiliated since 1948 with the historic secondary school of the same name. All four teams train and play local games in [[Mahamasina Municipal Stadium]], the largest sporting venue in the country. The men's basketball teams Challenger and SOE (''Équipe du Stade olympique de l'Emyrne'') are based in Antananarivo and play in the ''Palais des Sports'' at Mahamasina.<ref name="sportsassoc">{{cite web |year=2009 |title=Association Sportive Malgache |url=http://www.sport-madagascar.com/association-sportive-malgache.html |publisher=Sport Madagascar |access-date=8 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231143916/http://www.sport-madagascar.com/association-sportive-malgache.html |archive-date=December 31, 2018 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

The sports facilities of the [[University of Antananarivo]] were used to host the official [[2011 African Basketball Championship]].

== Places of worship ==
[[File:Antananarivo Church.jpg|thumbnail|160px|right|[[Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Antananarivo]]]]
Among the [[places of worship]], they are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches and temples : [[Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]), [[Malagasy Lutheran Church]] ([[Lutheran World Federation]]), [[Assemblies of God]], [[Association of Bible Baptist Churches in Madagascar]] ([[Baptist World Alliance]]), [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Antananarivo]] ([[Catholic Church]]).<ref>J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann, ''Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2010, p. 1768</ref> There are also [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.

==Government==
[[File:Hotel de Ville town hall of Antananarivo Madagascar.JPG|thumbnail|left|The new ''Hôtel de Ville'' was completed in 2009 and replaced the original town hall burned in the 1972 ''[[rotaka]]'' protests.]]

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar, and the federal governance structures, including the [[Senate of Madagascar|Senate]], [[National Assembly (Madagascar)|National Assembly]], the Supreme Court, and the presidential office are housed there. The [[Iavoloha Palace|main presidential offices]] are located {{Convert|15|km|miles|abbr=on}} south of the city. The city hosts diplomatic missions of 21 countries.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.embassypages.com/madagascar |title= Madagascar: Embassies and Consulates |publisher= Embassypages.com | date = 22 August 2014 | access-date= 27 August 2014 }}</ref>

The CUA is divided into six numbered ''[[arrondissement]]s'' (administrative sub-districts); it has historically been administered by an elected mayor and associated staff.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=7}} Since the 2009 political crisis, in which the [[Mayor of Antananarivo]], Andry Rajoelina, unconstitutionally seized power as head of state, the CUA has been administered by a ''délégation spéciale'' ([[Special delegation (France)|special delegation]]) composed of a president and ''de facto'' mayor with the support of two vice presidents, all of whom are appointed by the president.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rakotomalala |first=Mahefa |title=Commune d'Antananarivo: Olga Rasamimanana nommée vice-pds |newspaper=L'Express de Madagascar |date=3 December 2013 |url=http://www.lexpressmada.com/commune-d-antananarivo-madagascar/48620-olga-rasamimanana-nommee-vice-pds.html |access-date=10 December 2013 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214025028/http://www.lexpressmada.com/commune-d-antananarivo-madagascar/48620-olga-rasamimanana-nommee-vice-pds.html |archive-date=December 14, 2013 }}</ref> The position of President of the Special Delegation has been held by Ny Hasina Andriamanjato since March 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last=Radasimalala |first=Vonjy |title=Antananarivo – Les neuf défis d'Andriamanjato |newspaper=L'Express de Madagascar |date=21 March 2014 |url=http://www.lexpressmada.com/blog/actualites/antananarivo-les-neuf-defis-dandriamanjato-7539 |access-date=27 August 2014 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903103814/http://www.lexpressmada.com/blog/actualites/antananarivo-les-neuf-defis-dandriamanjato-7539 |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref>

The mayoral administration of the CUA is empowered to govern the city with ''de jure'' autonomy; a wide range of mechanisms have been established to facilitate governance, although they are of limited effectiveness. An urban master plan guides major policies for city management but personnel within the mayoral office commonly lack the urban planning and management ability to effectively implement the plan in response to long-term and immediate needs. This challenge is compounded by the high turnover rate of mayors and staff that frequently disrupts initiatives begun by previous CUA administrations.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=7}} A mayor under former President [[Didier Ratsiraka]] created "red zones"; areas where public gathering and protests were prohibited. On 28 June 2001, Ravalomanana abolished these areas, liberalizing freedom of assembly.{{sfn|Vivier|2007|p=13}}

Antananarivo has suffered from debt and mismanagement. The CUA estimated in 2012 that the cost of running the city to international standards would reach {{USD|100 million}} annually, while annual revenues average around $12 million. In good years, the CUA can reserve $1–2 million to spend on city improvement projects.<ref name = 2012report/> By 2008, the city's treasury had accumulated 8.2 billion Malagasy ''[[ariary]]''{{mdash}}approximately {{USD|4.6 million}}{{mdash}}in debts under previous mayors.<ref>{{cite news |last=Randria |first=N. |title=Andry Rajoelina hérite de 41 milliards fmg de dettes |newspaper=Madagascar Tribune |date=22 December 2007 |url=http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Andry-Rajoelina-herite-de-41,3713.html |access-date=6 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019105247/http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Andry-Rajoelina-herite-de-41,3713.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |language=fr |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> In 2008, water was cut off at public pumps, and there were regular [[Brownout (electricity)|brownouts]] of city street lights because of 3.3 million ariary of unpaid debts to the [[Jirama]] public utility company by the City of Antananarivo. In response, Mayor Rajoelina undertook an audit that identified and sought to address long-standing procedural irregularities and corruption in the city's administration.<ref>{{cite news |first=N. |last=Randria |title=La CUA et les coupures d'eau et d'électricité: Antananarivo est-elle sanctionnée? |newspaper=Madagascar Tribune |date=7 January 2008 |url=http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Antananarivo-est-elle-sanctionnee,3929.html |access-date=10 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019103740/http://www.madagascar-tribune.com/Antananarivo-est-elle-sanctionnee,3929.html |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |language=fr |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The CUA continues to be challenged by a shortage of revenues relative to its expenses caused by the high cost of retaining a large number of CUA personnel, weak structures for managing revenues from public rents and inadequate collection of tax revenues from city residents and businesses.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=7}}

===Twin towns and sister cities===
Antananarivo has established [[Twin towns and sister cities|sister city]] agreements with four cities. The city was twinned with [[Yerevan]], Armenia in 1981.<ref name="Yerevan twinnings 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.yerevan.am/en/partner/sister-cities/| title=Yerevan – Twin Towns and Sister Cities| access-date=14 November 2013| year = 2013 | publisher=Yerevan Municipality }}</ref> The city is also twinned with [[Vorkuta]], Russia;<ref>{{cite web|url= http://inserbia.info/news/2013/04/world-sister-cities-day/ |title= World Sister Cities Day |publisher= In Serbia | date = 28 April 2013 | last = Stoiljkovic | first = Milena | access-date= 12 January 2014 }}</ref> [[Suzhou]], China;<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.capfa.org.cn/en/city_js.asp?id=354&fatherid=297 |title= Sister Cities |publisher= Chinese-African People's Friendship Association |year= 2014 |access-date= 12 January 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140112143659/http://www.capfa.org.cn/en/city_js.asp?id=354&fatherid=297 |archive-date= January 12, 2014 |url-status= dead |df= mdy-all }}</ref> and [[Montreal|Montreal, Quebec]], Canada.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.vivre-au-quebec.com/montreal-city/villes-jumelages-de-montreal.html |title= Villes-jumelages de Montréal |publisher= Vivre au Québec |year= 2014 |access-date= 12 January 2014 |language= fr |archive-date= January 12, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140112123203/http://www.vivre-au-quebec.com/montreal-city/villes-jumelages-de-montreal.html |url-status= dead }}</ref> A sister city relationship between Antananarivo and [[Nice]], France, established in 1962, is not active.<ref name="Nice Jumellage">{{cite web|url=http://www.nice.fr/Collectivites/La-municipalite/Villes-jumelees-avec-la-Ville-de-Nice |title=Villes jumelées avec la Ville de Nice |access-date=24 June 2013 |publisher=Ville de Nice |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029114949/http://nice.fr/Collectivites/La-municipalite/Villes-jumelees-avec-la-Ville-de-Nice |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> In 2019, the Mayor of the Commune Urbaine Antananarivo was inviting the City of [[Kota Kinabalu]] in Malaysia to enter into a sister relationship with the City of Antananarivo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/132966/madagascar-council-wants-to-bring-more-tourists-to-sabah/|title=Madagascar Council wants to bring more tourists to Sabah|publisher=Daily Express|date=27 March 2019|access-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926021512/http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/132966/madagascar-council-wants-to-bring-more-tourists-to-sabah/|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Université d'Antananarivo.jpg|thumbnail|The [[University of Antananarivo]] was founded in 1958.]]
Most of Madagascar's public and private universities are located in Antananarivo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mesupres.gov.mg/IMG/pdf/LISTE_DES_INSTITUTIONS_SUPERIEURES_HABILITEES_PAR_LE_MESUPRES_17_fevrier_2014.pdf |title=Liste des institutions supérieures dont les offers de formation ont reçu l'habilitation du MESUPRES |publisher=MESUPRES |year=2014 |access-date=30 August 2014 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903094845/http://www.mesupres.gov.mg/IMG/pdf/LISTE_DES_INSTITUTIONS_SUPERIEURES_HABILITEES_PAR_LE_MESUPRES_17_fevrier_2014.pdf |archive-date=September 3, 2014 }}</ref> This includes the country's oldest higher education institute, the College of Medicine established under the Merina monarchy and the [[University of Antananarivo]], established under the French colonial administration. The Centre National de Télé-Enseignement de Madagascar (CNETMAD) is located in Antananarivo.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cntemad.mg/ |title=CNTEMAD – Centre National du Télé-Enseignement de Madagascar |access-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116173330/http://www.cntemad.mg/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> The city hosts many private pre-primary, primary and secondary schools and the national network of public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.instat.mg/pdf/ensomd-2012-2013_2.pdf |title=Enquête Nationale sur le Suivi des indicateurs des Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement (ENSOMD) |publisher=INSTAT |year=2014 |access-date=30 August 2014 |language=fr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904162616/http://www.instat.mg/pdf/ensomd-2012-2013_2.pdf |archive-date=September 4, 2014 }}</ref> The city houses multiple French international schools, including [[Lycée Français de Tananarive]], [[Lycée La Clairefontaine]], [[Lycée Peter Pan]],<ref>"[https://www.aefe.fr/reseau-scolaire-mondial/rechercher-un-etablissement/madagascar-tananarive-lycee-peter-pan Lycée Peter Pan]." [[AEFE]]. Retrieved on 5 July 2018.</ref> and [[École de l'Alliance française d'Antsahabe]].<ref>"[https://www.aefe.fr/reseau-scolaire-mondial/rechercher-un-etablissement/madagascar-tananarive-ecole-de-lalliance École de l'Alliance française d'Antsahabe]." [[AEFE]]. Retrieved on 5 July 2018.</ref> It also houses an American school, [[American School of Antananarivo]], and a Russian school, the [[Russian Embassy School in Antananarivo]] ({{lang-ru|основная общеобразовательная школа при Посольстве России на Мадагаскаре}}).<ref>[http://scooltana.ucoz.ru/ Home]. Russian Embassy School in Antananarivo. Retrieved on 6 July 2018.</ref>

The nation's most prestigious dance school, ''K'art Antanimena'', is located in Antananarivo. Other major dance schools based in the city include ''Le Club de Danse de l'[[Université Catholique de Madagascar]]'', ''Club de danse Kera arts'space à Antanimena'' and ''Le Club Mills''.<ref name = sportsassoc/>

==Health and sanitation==
In general, the availability and quality of health care are better in Antananarivo than elsewhere in Madagascar, although it remains inadequate across the country relative to that in more developed countries. One of Madagascar's two medical schools is located in Antananarivo; most medical technicians and specialists are trained there.{{sfn|Sharp|Kruse|2011|p=64}} Neonatal{{sfn|Sharp|Kruse|2011|p=74}} and antenatal care are significantly better in Antananarivo than elsewhere on the island.{{sfn|Sharp|Kruse|2011|p=40}} Despite the presence of facilities and trained personnel, the high cost of health care places it beyond the reach of most residents of Antananarivo. Pharmaceuticals are imported, making them particularly unaffordable; traditional herbal medicines remain popular and are readily available in local markets frequented by most of the population.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=107}}

The large population in Antananarivo and the high density of its residential zones pose challenges to public health, sanitation, and access to clean drinking water. Processing and disposal of industrial and residential waste are inadequate. Wastewater is often discharged directly into the city's waterways. Air pollution from vehicle exhaust, residential coal-burning stoves, and other sources is worsening.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}} While the city has set up clean water pumps, they remain inadequate and are not distributed according to population density, with poor access in the poorest and most populous parts of the city.{{sfn|UN-Habitat|2012|p=8}} Antananarivo is one of the two urban areas in Madagascar where [[bubonic plague]] is endemic.{{sfn|Sharp|Kruse|2011|p=19}}

In 2017, Antananarivo was ranked as the 7th worst city for particulate-matter air pollution in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cleantechnica.com/2017/08/11/air-pollution-ranking-32-cities-measure/|title=Air Pollution Ranking in 32 Cities â€" How Does Yours Measure Up? (State of Pollution Series)|date=2017-08-11|website=CleanTechnica|language=en-US|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.midi-madagasikara.mg/a-la-une/2018/10/31/rapport-de-loms-antananarivo-parmi-les-villes-les-plus-polluees-au-monde/|title=Rapport de l'OMS : Antananarivo, parmi les villes les plus polluées au monde – Midi Madagasikara|last=Madagasikara|first=Redaction Midi|date=October 31, 2018 |language=fr-FR|access-date=2019-01-18}}</ref>

These problems were diminished but not eliminated under the mayoral administration of Marc Ravalomanana, who prioritized sanitation, security, and public administration. He obtained funds from international donors to establish garbage collection and disposal systems, restore dilapidated infrastructures such as roads and marketplaces, and replanted public gardens.<ref name=PDGRepublique>{{cite web|last=Geslin |first=Jean-Dominique |title=Ravalomanana le PDG de la République |publisher=Jeune Afrique |date=15 January 2007 |url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/LIN14017ravaleuqilb0/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126014659/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/LIN14017ravaleuqilb0/ |archive-date=January 26, 2012 |language=fr |access-date=25 June 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> To improve sanitation in the city, he constructed public latrines in densely populated and highly frequented areas.<ref name=SFGATE>{{cite news|last=Robinson |first=Katya |title=AFRICA / Madagascar Magician / But some ask if cleanup campaign by capital's mayor is only skin deep |newspaper=SFGate |date=21 August 2000 |url=http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/AFRICA-Madagascar-Magician-But-some-ask-if-2743041.php |access-date=6 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020091651/http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/AFRICA-Madagascar-Magician-But-some-ask-if-2743041.php |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

==Transport and communications==
[[File:Soarano train station Antananarivo Madagascar.JPG|thumbnail|left|The Soarano train station is located at the end of ''L'Avenue de l'Indépendance''.]]

The majority of the city's residents move about Antananarivo on foot. The CUA sets and enforces rules that govern a system of 2,400 franchised private minibuses running on 82 numbered routes throughout the city. An additional 2,000 minibuses managed by the Ministry of Transportation run along 8 lines into the neighboring suburbs. These interlinked bus systems served around 700,000 passengers each day.<ref name = 2012report/> These minibuses often fail to meet safety standards or air quality requirements and are typically overcrowded with passengers and their cargo. Police and ''gendarmes'' assist in regulating traffic at peak periods in the morning and evening, or around special events and holidays. Private licensed and unlicensed taxis are common; most vehicles are older [[Renault]]s or [[Citroën|Citroens]]. Newer vehicles congregate near hotels and other locales frequented by foreigners willing or able to pay higher prices for better services.<ref name=2012report>{{cite web|title=Actes du séminaire international sur le développement urbain |publisher=Commune Urbaine d'Antananarivo |date=March 2012 |url=http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/LIN14017ravaleuqilb0/ |language=fr |access-date=31 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126014659/http://www.jeuneafrique.com/Article/LIN14017ravaleuqilb0/ |archive-date=January 26, 2012 }}</ref>

The city is encircled by a ring road and connected by direct ''routes nationales'' (national highways) to [[Mahajanga]], [[Toliara]], [[Antsirabe]], [[Fianarantsoa]] and [[Toamasina]]. Branches and feeder roads from these major highways connect the city to the national road network. Antananarivo was connected by train to Toamasina to the east and [[Manakara]] to the southeast via Antsirabe and Fianarantsoa, but since 2019 passenger trains have not been operated anymore. The city's principal railway station is centrally located at Soarano at one end of the ''Avenue de l'Indépendance''. [[Ivato International Airport]] is located approximately {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=off}} from the center of the city, connecting Antananarivoto to all national airports. Ivato is the hub of the national airline [[Air Madagascar]],{{sfn|Shillington|2004|p=159}} and is the only airport on the island hosting long-haul carriers. Direct flights connect Antananarivo to cities in South Africa and Europe.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=65}}
[[File:Antananarivo Madagascar people reading news.JPG|thumbnail|Newspaper vendor]]
Government television and radio broadcasting centers, and the headquarters of numerous private stations are located in Antananarivo. Eighty percent of households in Antananarivo own a radio; the medium is popular across social classes. Stations like ''[[Fenon'ny Merina]]'' appeal to Merina listeners of all ages by playing traditional and contemporary music of the highlands region. Youth-oriented stations play a blend of Western artists and Malagasy performers of Western genres, as well as fusion and coastal musical styles. Evangelical broadcasts and daily international and local news are available in Malagasy, French, and English.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|pp=275–276}} Forty percent of Antananarivo residents own a television receiver.{{sfn|Fournet-Guérin|2007|p=276}} All major Malagasy newspapers are printed in the city and are widely available. Communications services in Antananarivo are the best in the country. Internet and mobile telephone networks are readily available and affordable, although service disruptions occur periodically. The [[Paositra Malagasy|national postal service]] is headquartered in Antananarivo, and private international shipping companies like [[FedEx]], [[DHL Express]], and [[United Parcel Service]] provide services to the city.{{sfn|Bradt|Austin|2011|pages=105, 159}}

==Notable people==
* [[Lucile Allorge]] (born 1937), botanist

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{See also|Timeline of Antananarivo#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Antananarivo}}
* {{cite book |last = Acquier |first = Jean-Louis |title = Architectures de Madagascar |publisher = Berger-Levrault | location = Berlin |year = 1997 |isbn = 978-2-7003-1169-3 | language = fr }}
* {{Cite book | last = Ade Ajayi | first = Jacob Festus | title = General history of Africa: Africa in the nineteenth century until the 1880s | publisher = UNESCO | location = Paris | year = 1998 |isbn = 978-0-520-06701-1 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=VC7kKcXdDhkC| access-date = February 3, 2011 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Appiah | first1 = Anthony | last2 = Gates | first2 = Henry | title = Encyclopedia of Africa, Volume 1 | publisher = Oxford University Press | year = 2010 | location = London | isbn = 978-0-19-533770-9 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=A0XNvklcqbwC }}
* {{cite book |last1=Bradt |first1=Hilary |last2=Austin |first2=Daniel |title=Madagascar |edition= 10th |publisher=The Globe Pequot Press Inc |year=2011 |location=Guilford, Connecticut |isbn=978-1-84162-341-2 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=uTRPnMlOcwgC }}
* {{cite book | last = Callet | first = François | year = 1908| title = Tantara ny andriana eto Madagasikara (histoire des rois) | publisher = Imprimerie catholique | location = Antananarivo | language = fr }}
* {{cite book | last = Campbell| first = Gwyn | title = David Griffiths and the Missionary "History of Madagascar" | publisher = Brill | location = Leiden, the Netherlands | year = 2012 | isbn = 978-90-04-20980-0 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=7pDNL4apVpgC }}
* {{Cite book | last = Desmonts | title = Madagascar | publisher = Editions Olizane |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=x57t6B-wo6kC | location = New York | year = 2004 | isbn = 978-2-88086-387-6 | language = fr }}
* {{cite book | last = Fournet-Guérin | first = Catherine | title = Vivre à Tananarive: géographie du changement dans la capitale malgache | publisher = Karthala Editions | year = 2007 | location = Paris | isbn = 978-2-84586-869-4 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=U_NHlyeI3mcC }}
* {{cite book | author = Government of France | year = 1898 | language = fr | chapter = L'habitation à Madagascar | title = Colonie de Madagascar: Notes, reconnaissances et explorations | volume = 4 | publisher = Imprimerie Officielle de Tananarive | location = Antananarivo, Madagascar | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Jp3FAAAAMAAJ }}
* {{cite book| title=The Malagasy Republic: Madagascar today| first1=Virginia| last1=McLean Thompson| first2=Richard |last2=Adloff| publisher=Stanford University Press| year=1965| isbn=978-0-8047-0279-9 }}
* {{cite book | last = Nativel | first = Didier | year = 2005 | language = fr | title = Maisons royales, demeures des grands à Madagascar | publisher = Karthala Éditions | location = Antananarivo, Madagascar | isbn = 978-2-84586-539-6 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8IOZLvSrspIC }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Nativel | first1 = D. | first2 = F. | last2 = Rajaonah | title = Madagascar revisitée: en voyage avec Françoise Raison-Jourde | publisher = Karthala Editions | year = 2009 | location = Paris | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=6NHOFJJHOc0C | isbn = 978-2-8111-0174-9 | language = fr }}
* {{cite book | last = Oliver | first = Samuel | year = 1886 | title = Madagascar: An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Island and its Former Dependencies | volume = 1 | publisher = Macmillan and Co | location = New York | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lKtBAAAAIAAJ }}
* {{cite book | last = Shillington | first = Kevin | title = Encyclopedia of African History, Volume 1 | publisher = CRC Press | year = 2004 | location = New York | isbn = 978-1-57958-245-6 }}
* {{cite book | last1 = Sharp | first1 = Maryanne | last2 = Kruse | first2 = Joana | title = Health, Nutrition, and Population in Madagascar, 2000–09 | publisher = World Bank | year = 2011 | location = New York | isbn = 978-0-8213-8538-8 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=CzyjH7BgdlcC }}
* {{cite book | last = UN-Habitat | title = Madagascar: Profil urbain d'Antananarivo | publisher = UNON | location = Nairobi, Kenya | year = 2012 | isbn = 978-92-1-132472-3 | language = fr | url = http://www.unhabitat.org/pmss/getElectronicVersion.aspx?nr=3371&alt=1 | access-date = December 7, 2013 | archive-date = December 11, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131211152033/http://www.unhabitat.org/pmss/getElectronicVersion.aspx?nr=3371&alt=1 | url-status = dead }}
* {{cite book | last = Vivier | first = Jean-Loup | title = Madagascar sous Ravalomanana: La vie politique malgache depuis 2001 | publisher = Editions L'Harmattan | location = Paris | year = 2007 | isbn = 978-2-296-18554-8 | language = fr |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=4rGifG26P4IC }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Antananarivo}}
{{Wikivoyage|Antananarivo}}
{{EB1911 poster|Antanànarìvo}}
{{Portal|Madagascar}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070330230740/http://www.antananarivo.mg/ Antananarivo Renivohitra] Official website. {{in lang|fr}}
* {{Cite NSRW|short=x|wstitle=Tananarivo}}

{{Antananarivo}}
{{List of African capitals}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Antananarivo| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Cities in Madagascar]]
[[Category:Populated places in Analamanga]]
[[Category:Regional capitals in Madagascar]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1620s]]
[[Category:1620s establishments in Africa]]

Amman

2023-06-01T09:09:17Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Jordan}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[Oman]], which has a similar spelling in Arabic as Amman}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Amman
| native_name = {{nobold|عَمَّان}}
| native_name_lang = ar
| settlement_type = Capital city
| image_skyline = AMMAN 2.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_size = 275px
| image_caption = '''Top to bottom, left to right''': [[New Abdali|Abdali Project]] dominating Amman's skyline; [[Abdoun Bridge]]; [[King Abdullah I Mosque]] and [[Raghadan Flagpole]]; [[Temple of Hercules (Amman)|Temple of Hercules]] on [[Amman Citadel]] ; [[Roman Theatre (Amman)|Roman Theater]]; Ottoman [[Hejaz railway]] station; and [[Umayyad Palace]]
| image_seal = Ammanlogo.svg
| seal_alt = Logo
| nicknames = {{unbulleted list|The White Pigeon|The City of Stairs}}<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wGCGLEO-Vs8C&pg=PA36|title=The Cities Book: A Journey Through the Best Cities in the World|isbn=978-1-74179-887-6|page=36|author=Trent Holden, Anna Metcalfe|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications|year=2009|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518195053/https://books.google.com/books?id=wGCGLEO-Vs8C&pg=PA36|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=StFood>{{cite web|title=Amman's Street Food|url=http://beamman.com/food-/175-amman-street-food|access-date=26 September 2015|publisher=BeAmman.com|work=BeAmman.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926043908/http://beamman.com/food-/175-amman-street-food|archive-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>
| image_map = خريطة مدينة عمان.png
| pushpin_map = Jordan#Mediterranean east#Arab world#Asia
| pushpin_relief = 1
| coordinates = {{Coord|31|56|59|N|35|55|58|E|region:JO-AM_type:city(4300000)|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Jordan}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Governorates of Jordan|Governorate]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Amman Governorate]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date =
| established_title2 = [[Greater Amman Municipality|Municipality]]
| established_date2 = 1909
| leader_title = [[List of mayors of Amman|Mayor]]
| leader_name = [[Yousef Shawarbeh]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/new-amman-mayor-pledges-fair-and-responsible%E2%80%99-governance|title=New Amman mayor pledges 'fair and responsible' governance|date=21 August 2017|website=jodantimes.com|access-date=23 October 2018|archive-date=11 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180811055857/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/new-amman-mayor-pledges-fair-and-responsible%E2%80%99-governance|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://globalparliamentofmayors.org/new-member-yousef-al-shawarbeh-amman-jordan/|title=New Member: Yousef Al-Shawarbeh – Amman, Jordan|date=June 2018|website=globalparliamentofmayors.org|access-date=29 December 2018|archive-date=24 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224023821/https://globalparliamentofmayors.org/new-member-yousef-al-shawarbeh-amman-jordan/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_total_km2 = 1680
| elevation_min_m = 700
| population_total = 4,061,150
| population_as_of = 2021
| population_footnotes =
| population_density_km2 = 2380
| population_demonym = Ammani
| population_note =
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = 11110-17198
| area_code = +962(6)
| area_code_type =
| iso_code =
| website = {{URL|http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/gam/index.asp|ammancity.gov.jo}}
| footnotes =
| elevation_max_m = 1100
| timezone =
| utc_offset = +3
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| official_name =
| image_flag = Flag of Amman, Jordan.svg
}}

'''Amman''' ({{IPAc-en|lang|pron|ə|ˈ|m|ɑː|n}}; {{lang-ar|عَمَّان}}, ''{{transliteration|ar|ʿAmmān}}'' {{IPA-ar|ʕamːaːn|pron}})<ref name=Lipiński>{{cite book |last=Lipiński |first=Edward |date=2006 |title=On the Skirts of Canaan in the Iron Age: Historical and Topographical Researches |publisher=Peeters Publishers |page=295 |isbn=978-9042917989}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Parpola |first=Simo |date=1970 |title=Neo-Assyrian Toponyms |url=https://archive.org/details/neoassyriantopon0000parp |location=Kevaeler |publisher=Butzon & Bercker |page=76 |isbn=}}</ref> is the capital and the largest city of [[Jordan]], and the country's economic, political, and cultural center.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.arabianbusiness.com/revealed--20-cities-uae-residents-visit-most-590870.html |title= Revealed: the 20 cities UAE residents visit most |publisher= Arabian Business Publishing Ltd |date= 1 May 2015 |access-date= 21 September 2015 |archive-date= 26 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150926153303/http://www.arabianbusiness.com/revealed--20-cities-uae-residents-visit-most-590870.html |url-status= live }}</ref> With a population of 4,061,150 as of 2021, Amman is Jordan's [[primate city]] and is the [[List of largest cities in the Levant region by population|largest city]] in the [[Levant]] region, the [[list of largest cities in the Arab world|fifth-largest city]] in the [[Arab world]], and the [[list of largest metropolitan areas of the Middle East|ninth-largest metropolitan area]] in the [[Middle East]].<ref name=RefC>{{cite news |title= Population Estimates for The End of 2021 |date= January 2022 |publisher= Department of Statistics (DoS) |url= http://dosweb.dos.gov.jo/DataBank/Population_Estimares/PopulationEstimatesbyLocality.pdf |url-status= live |access-date= 20 November 2021 |archive-date= 28 November 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201128180409/http://dosweb.dos.gov.jo/DataBank/Population_Estimares/PopulationEstimatesbyLocality.pdf }}</ref>

The earliest evidence of settlement in Amman dates to the 8th millennium BC, in a Neolithic site known as [[ʿAin Ghazal|'Ain Ghazal]], where the world's [[ʿAin Ghazal statues|oldest statues of the human form]] have been unearthed. During the [[Iron Age]], the city was known as Rabat Aman and served as the capital of the [[Ammon|Ammonite Kingdom]]. In the 3rd century BC, [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]], [[Pharaoh]] of [[Ptolemaic Kingdom|Ptolemaic Egypt]], rebuilt the city and renamed it "Philadelphia", making it a regional center of [[Hellenistic period|Hellenistic]] culture. Under [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] rule, Philadelphia was one of the ten Greco-Roman cities of the [[Decapolis]] before being directly ruled as part of the [[Arabia Petraea]] province. The [[Rashidun Caliphate]] conquered the city from the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]] in the 7th century AD, restored its ancient Semitic name and called it Amman. Throughout most of the [[Middle Ages]], the city alternated between periods of devastation and abandonment and periods of relative prosperity as the center of the [[Balqa (region)|Balqa]] region. Amman was largely abandoned from the 15th century until 1878, when [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] authorities began settling [[Circassians]] there.

Amman's first municipal council was established in 1909.<ref name=Ref12/> The city witnessed rapid growth after its designation as [[Emirate of Transjordan|Transjordan]]'s capital in 1921, receiving migrations from different Jordanian and Levantine cities, and later several successive waves of refugees: [[Palestinians]] in 1948 and 1967; Iraqis in 1990 and 2003; and Syrians since 2011. It was initially built on [[List of cities claimed to be built on seven hills|seven hills]], but now spans over 19 hills combining 22 areas,<ref name=Ref12>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA35| title=Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia| isbn=978-1-57607-919-5| page=35| year=2007| author1=Michael Dumper| author2=Bruce E. Stanley| publisher=ABC-CLIO| access-date=23 September 2015| archive-date=18 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518200604/https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA35| url-status=live}}</ref> which are administered by the [[Greater Amman Municipality]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/aqel-biltaji-appointed-amman-mayor |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930055247/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/aqel-biltaji-appointed-amman-mayor |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 September 2015 |title=Aqel Biltaji appointed as Amman mayor |publisher=The Jordan News |work=The Jordan Times |date=8 September 2013 |access-date=21 September 2015 }}</ref> Areas of Amman have gained their names from either the hills (''jabal'') or the valleys (''wadi'') they occupy, such as [[Jabal al-Luweibdeh]] and Wadi Abdoun.<ref name=Ref12/> East Amman is predominantly filled with historic sites that frequently host cultural activities, while West Amman is more modern and serves as the economic center of the city.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/west-amman-furnished-apartments-cashing-tourist-influx| title=West Amman furnished apartments cashing in on tour| date=12 August 2014| publisher=The Jordan News| work=The Jordan Times| access-date=21 September 2015| archive-date=4 March 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072858/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/west-amman-furnished-apartments-cashing-tourist-influx| url-status=live}}</ref>

Approximately one million visitors arrived in Amman in 2018, which made it the [[List of cities by international visitors|89th most-visited city]] in the world and the 12th most-visited Arab city. Amman has a relatively fast growing economy,<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethmacbride/2014/12/31/how-a-startup-from-amman-grew-to-1b-views-on-youtube/| title=How a Startup from the Arab World Grabs 1B Views on YouTube| access-date=29 September 2015| date=31 December 2014| work=Forbes| archive-date=29 July 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729115629/https://www.forbes.com/sites/elizabethmacbride/2014/12/31/how-a-startup-from-amman-grew-to-1b-views-on-youtube/| url-status=live}}</ref> and it is ranked as a Beta− [[global city]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]].<ref>{{cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |website=GaWC – Research Network |publisher=Globalization and World Cities |access-date=31 August 2020 |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Moreover, it was named one of the Middle East and North Africa's best cities according to economic, labor, environmental, and socio-cultural factors.<ref>{{cite news| title=Abu Dhab duke City' in MENA region| author=IANS/WAM| newspaper=sify news| date=26 November 2010| url=http://sify.com/news/abu-dhabi-voted-best-city-in-mena-region-news-international-kl0wuhjcbdc.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130082450/http://sify.com/news/abu-dhabi-voted-best-city-in-mena-region-news-international-kl0wuhjcbdc.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=30 November 2010| access-date=22 September 2015}}</ref> The city is among the most popular locations in the [[Arab world]] for multinational corporations to set up their regional offices, alongside [[Doha]] and only behind [[Dubai]].<ref name=dunia>{{cite web |title= Amman Favored by MNCs as New Regional Hub |publisher= Dunia Frontier Consultants, Doha |date= 25 January 2012 |url= http://duniafrontier.com/research/doha-amman |access-date= 28 November 2012 |archive-date=11 March 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130311164305/http://duniafrontier.com/research/doha-amman |url-status=live }}</ref> The city is served by the [[Amman Bus]] and the [[Amman Bus Rapid Transit]] public transportation systems. Another [[Amman-Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit|BRT system]] under-construction will connect the city to nearby [[Zarqa]].

==Etymology==
Amman derives its name from the ancient people of the [[Ammon]]ites, whose capital the city had been since the 13th century BC. The Ammonites named it ''Rabat ʿAmmān'' (𐤓𐤁𐤕 𐤏𐤌𐤍),<ref name=Lipiński/> with the term ''Rabat'' meaning the "Capital" or the "King's Quarters". In the [[Hebrew Bible]], the town is referred to as {{Lang|hbo-latn|Rabbaṯ Bənē ʿAmmōn}} ({{Lang|hbo|רַבַּת בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן}}) or simply {{Lang|hbo-latn|Rabbā}} ({{Lang|hbo|רַבָּה}}),<ref>{{cite web |title=BDB, רַבָּה 1 |url=https://www.sefaria.org/BDB%2C_%D7%A8%D6%B7%D7%91%D6%B8%D6%BC%D7%94.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref> and it appears in English translations as "Rabbath Ammon". [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]], the Macedonian ruler of the [[Ptolemaic Kingdom]] who reigned from 283 to 246 BC, renamed the city "Philadelphia" ({{lang-grc|Φιλαδέλφεια}}; literally: "[[Philia|brotherly love]]"), after himself, after occupying it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mansaf.org/catholic/misdar.htm|access-date=22 September 2015|title=MISDAR|work=mansaf.org|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060813/http://www.mansaf.org/catholic/misdar.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> By the Islamic era, the [[Rashidun Caliphate]] restored its ancient semitic name and called it Amman in the 7th century AD.<ref name=about>{{cite web| url=http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/gam/about.asp| title=About GAM => History| work=Greater Amman Municipality| access-date=22 September 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002102003/http://ammancity.gov.jo/en/gam/about.asp| archive-date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

==History==
{{see also|Timeline of Amman}}

===Neolithic period===
{{Main|ʿAin Ghazal}}
[[File:Head of a two-headed statue from Ain Ghazal, Jordan Museum, Amman.jpg|thumb|150px|left|The [[ʿAin Ghazal statues]] are considered to be the oldest large-scale human statues ever found.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/l/lime_plaster_statues.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912010835/https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/me/l/lime_plaster_statues.aspx|archive-date=12 September 2015 | title=Lime Plaster statues| work=British Museum| publisher=Trustees of the British Museum| access-date=1 June 2016}}</ref>]]

The [[Neolithic]] site of [[ʿAin Ghazal]] today lies in the outskirts of Amman. At its height, around 7000 BC (9000 years ago), it had an area of {{convert|15|ha|abbr=off|sp=us}} and was inhabited by ca. 3000 people (four to five times the population of contemporary [[Tell es-Sultan|Jericho]]). At that time, the site was a typical [[aceramic]] [[Neolithic]] village. Its houses were rectangular mud-bricked buildings that included a main square living room, whose walls were made up of lime plaster.<ref>{{cite web|title=Prehistoric Settlements of the Middle East|url=http://docslide.us/documents/prehistoric-settlements-of-the-middle-east.html|access-date=22 September 2015|work=bhavika1990|date=8 November 2014|archive-date=25 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925132728/http://docslide.us/documents/prehistoric-settlements-of-the-middle-east.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The site was discovered in 1974 as construction workers were working on a road crossing the area. By 1982, when the excavations started, around {{convert|600|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} of road ran through the site. Despite the damage brought by urban expansion, the remains of ʿAin Ghazal provided a wealth of information.<ref name=gard/>

ʿAin Ghazal is well known for a set of small human statues found in 1983, when local archeologists stumbled upon the edge of a large pit containing them.<ref>{{cite book| editor1-first = Chris | editor1-last = Scarre | title = The Human Past | publisher = Thames & Hudson | year = 2005 | page = 222}}</ref> These statues are human figures made with white plaster, with painted eyes. Thirty-two figures were found in two caches, fifteen of them full figures, fifteen busts, and two fragmentary heads. Three of the busts depicted two-headed characters, the significance of which is not clear.<ref name=gard>{{cite book | first1=Fred S. | last1=Kleiner | last2=Mamiya | first2=Christin J. | year=2006 | title=Gardner's Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective: Volume 1 | edition=Twelfth | publisher=Wadsworth Publishing | location=[[Belmont, California]] | isbn=0-495-00479-0 | pages=11–2
}}</ref>

===Iron Age: the Ammonites===
{{Main|Ammon}}
[[File:Rujm Al-Malfouf.jpg|thumb|right|[[Rujm Al-Malfouf]], Ammonite watch tower built around 1000 BC]]

In the 13th century BC, Amman was the capital of the [[Ammon|Ammonite Kingdom]], and became known as "Rabat Amman". Rabat Amman provided several natural resources to the region, including sandstone and limestone, along with a productive agricultural sector that made it a vital location along the [[King's Highway (ancient)|King's Highway]], the ancient trade route connecting [[Ancient Egypt|Egypt]] with [[Mesopotamia]], [[Syria (region)|Syria]] and [[Anatolia]]. As with the [[Edomites]] and [[Moabites]], trade along this route gave the Ammonites considerable revenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_testament.html|access-date=10 October 2015|title=The Old Testament Kingdoms of Jordan|work=kinghussein.gov.jo|publisher=kinghussein.gov.jo|archive-date=6 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506015442/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_testament.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Milcom]] is named in the [[Hebrew Bible]] as the [[national god]] of Rabat Amman. Another ancient [[deity]], [[Moloch]], usually associated with the use of children as offerings, is also mentioned in the Bible as a god of the Ammonites, but this is probably a mistake for Milcom. However, excavations by archeologists near [[Amman Civil Airport]] uncovered a temple, which included an altar containing many human bone fragments. The bones showed evidence of burning, which led to the assumption that the altar functioned as a [[pyre]] and used for [[human sacrifice]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2014/08/temple-human-sacrifice-amman-jordan| access-date=22 September 2015| title=Temple of Human Sacrifice: Amman Jordan| work=Randy McCracken| date=22 August 2014| archive-date=1 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001143535/http://www.biblestudywithrandy.com/2014/08/temple-human-sacrifice-amman-jordan/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/first-person-human-sacrifice-to-an-ammonite-god/| title=First Person: Human Sacrifice to an Ammonite God?| work=Hershel Shanks| publisher=Biblical Archaeology Review| date=September-October 2014| access-date=24 November 2022| archive-date=24 November 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221124042928/https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/ancient-cultures/daily-life-and-practice/first-person-human-sacrifice-to-an-ammonite-god/| url-status=live}}</ref>

Amman is mentioned several times in the Hebrew Bible. According to the biblical narrative, the Ammonite king [[Hanun]] allied with [[Hadadezer ben Rehob|Hadadezer]], king of [[Zobah|Aram-Zobah]], against the [[Kingdom of Israel (united monarchy)|United Kingdom of Israel]]. During the war, [[Joab]], the captain of King [[David]]'s army, laid siege to Rabbah, Hanun's royal capital, and destroyed it ({{Bibleverse|2 Samuel|12:26-28|KJV}}, {{Bibleverse|1 Chronicles|20:1-2|KJV}}). David took a great quantity of plunder from the city, including the king's crown, and brought it to his capital, [[Jerusalem]] ({{Bibleverse|2 Samuel|12:29-31|KJV}}). Hanun's brother, [[Shobi]], was made king in his place, and became a loyal vassal of David ({{Bibleverse|2 Samuel|17:27|KJV}}). Hundreds of years later, the prophet [[Jeremiah]] foresaw the coming destruction and final desolation of the city ({{Bibleverse|Jeremiah|49:2|KJV}}).<ref>Horn, S. H. (1973). The Crown of the King of the Ammonites. ''Andrews University Seminary Studies (AUSS)'', ''11''(2), 3.</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hammond |first=Philip C. |date=1 December 1960 |title=An Ammonite Stamp Seal from 'Amman |url=https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/1355646 |journal=Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research |volume=160 |pages=38–41 |doi=10.2307/1355646 |issn=0003-097X |access-date=23 January 2023 |archive-date=24 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124021940/https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.2307/1355646 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Several Ammonite ruins across Amman exist, such as [[Rujm Al-Malfouf]] and some parts of the [[Amman Citadel]]. The ruins of Rujm Al-Malfouf consist of a stone watchtower used to ensure the protection of their capital and several store rooms to the east.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.livius.org/articles/place/rujm-al-malfouf/| title=Rujm al-Malfouf| access-date=22 September 2015| year=2009| publisher=Livius.org| archive-date=25 July 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725233829/https://www.livius.org/articles/place/rujm-al-malfouf/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/services/histdetails.asp?id=5| title=Rujom Al Malfouf (Al Malfouf heap of stones / Tower)| access-date=22 September 2015| publisher=Greater Amman Municipality| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060715/http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/services/histdetails.asp?id=5| archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The city was later conquered by the [[Neo-Assyrian Empire|Assyrians]], followed by the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire|Babylonians]] and the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid Persians]].<ref name="KHh"/>

===Classical period: Philadelphia===
[[File:A Roman Temple Sunset View in Jabal Al-Qalaa' Amman.jpg|thumb|[[Temple of Hercules (Amman)|Temple of Hercules]] at the [[Amman Citadel]] (Jabal Al-Qalaa)]]

Conquest of the [[Middle East]] and [[Central Asia]] by [[Alexander the Great]] firmly consolidated the influence of [[Hellenism (Greek culture)|Hellenistic culture]].<ref name="KHh">{{cite web| url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_hellenistic.html| title=The Hellenistic Period| access-date=22 September 2015| work=kinghussein.gov.jo| archive-date=1 July 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701042013/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/his_hellenistic.html| url-status=live}}</ref> The Greeks founded new cities in the area of modern-day Jordan, including [[Umm Qays]], [[Jerash]] and Amman. [[Ptolemy II Philadelphus]], the Macedonian ruler of Egypt, who occupied and rebuilt the city, named it "Philadelphia" ({{lang-grc|Φιλαδέλφεια}}), evoking "brotherly love" in [[Greek language|Greek]]. The name was given as an adulation to his own nickname, Philadelphus.<ref name=Cohen2006>{{cite book|author= Cohen, Getzel M. |title=The Hellenistic Settlements in Syria, the Red Sea Basin, and North Africa |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RqdPcxuNthcC&pg=PA268 |date=3 October 2006 |publisher= University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-93102-2|page=268|access-date=29 October 2015|archive-date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521211950/https://books.google.com/books?id=RqdPcxuNthcC&pg=PA268|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of the most original monuments in Jordan, and perhaps in the [[Hellenistic period]] in the Near East, is the village of [[Iraq al-Amir]] in the valley of [[Wadi Al-Seer]], southwest of Amman, which is home to [[Qasr al-Abd]] ('Castle of the Slave'). Other nearby ruins include a village, an isolated house and a fountain, all of which are barely visible today due to the damage brought by a major earthquake that hit the region in the year 362.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fsoipziOWpYC&pg=PA98| isbn=978-0-19-967072-7| page=98| author=Kropp, Andreas J. M.| publisher=OUP, Oxford| date=27 June 2013| title=Images and Monuments of Near Eastern Dynasts, 100 BC – AD 100| access-date=24 August 2017| archive-date=18 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518201432/https://books.google.com/books?id=fsoipziOWpYC&pg=PA98| url-status=live}}</ref> Qasr al-Abd is believed to have been built by Hyrcanus of Jerusalem, who was the head of the powerful [[Jews|Jewish]] [[Tobiads|Tobiad]] family. Shortly after he began the construction of that large building, in {{circa|170}}-168 BC, upon returning from a military campaign in Egypt, Antiochus IV conquered [[Jerusalem]], ransacked the [[Second Temple]] where the treasure of Hyrcanus was kept, and appeared determined to attack Hyrcanus. Upon hearing this, Hyrcanus committed suicide,<ref name=ifpo>{{cite book|url=http://books.openedition.org/ifpo/4894?lang=en|title=The Hellenistic Age – (323 – 30 BC)|author=de l'Institut français du Proche-Orient|series=Contemporain publications|date=11 June 2014|pages=134–141|publisher=Presses de l'Ifpo|isbn=9782351594384|access-date=22 September 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923061820/http://books.openedition.org/ifpo/4894?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> leaving his palace in Philadelphia uncompleted.<ref name=ifpo/> The Tobiads fought the Arab [[Nabateans]] for twenty years until they lost the city to them. After losing Philadelphia, the Tobiad family disappears from written sources.<ref name=DOA>{{cite web |title= The History of a Land |publisher= Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, Department of Antiquities (DoA) |url= http://www.doa.gov.jo/En/inside.php?src=sublinks&SlID=5024&MlID=8 |access-date=30 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215527/http://www.doa.gov.jo/En/inside.php?src=sublinks&SlID=5024&MlID=8 |archive-date= 23 September 2015 |url-status= dead}}</ref>

[[File:Amman Amphitheater 03.JPG|thumb|left|[[Roman theater (Amman)|The Roman Theatre]], built around AD 100]]

The [[Roman Empire|Romans]] conquered much of the [[Levant]] in 63 BC, inaugurating a period of Roman rule that lasted for four centuries. In the northern modern-day Jordan, the Greek cities of Philadelphia (Amman), [[Jerash|Gerasa]], [[Umm Qays|Gedara]], [[Pella]] and [[Irbid|Arbila]] joined with other cities in [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] and [[Syria]]; [[Beit She'an|Scythopolis]], [[Hippos, Israel|Hippos]], [[Capitolias]], [[Qanawat|Canatha]] and [[Damascus]] to form the [[Decapolis|Decapolis League]], a fabled confederation linked by bonds of economic and cultural interest.<ref name=DOA/> Philadelphia became a point along a road stretching from [[Aqaba|Ailah]] to Damascus that was built by Emperor [[Trajan]] in AD 106. This provided an economic boost for the city in a short period of time.<ref name=KH>{{cite web| url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism1.html| title=Tourism| work=kinghussein.gov.jo| publisher=kinghussein.gov.jo| access-date=16 October 2015| archive-date=15 January 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115010437/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism1.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

Roman rule in Jordan left several ruins across the country, some of which exist in Amman, such as the [[Temple of Hercules (Amman)|Temple of Hercules]] at the [[Amman Citadel]], the [[Roman theater (Amman)|Roman Theatre]], the [[Odeon theater (Amman)|Odeon]], and the [[Nymphaeum (Amman)|Nymphaeum]]. The two theaters and the [[nymphaeum]] fountain were built during the reign of Emperor [[Antoninus Pius]] around AD 161. The theatre was the larger venue of the two and had a capacity for 6,000 attendees. It was oriented north and built into the hillside, to protect the audience from the sun. To the northeast of the theatre was a small [[Odeon (building)|odeon]]. Built at roughly the same time as the theatre, the Odeon had 500 seats and is still in use today for music concerts. Archaeologists speculate that the structure was originally covered with a wooden roof to shield the audience from the weather. The Nymphaeum is situated southwest of the Odeon and served as Philadelphia's chief fountain. The Nymphaeum is believed to have contained a {{convert|600|m2|sp=us}} pool which was {{convert|3|m|sp=us}} deep and was continuously refilled with water.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism1.html| title=Amman| publisher=kinghussein.gov.jo| access-date=22 September 2015| archive-date=15 January 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115010437/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism1.html| url-status=live}}</ref> During the late [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] period in the seventh century, several bishops and churches were based in the city.<ref name=KH/>

===Islamic Amman (7th–15th centuries)===
{{see also|Desert castles}}
[[File:Umayyad Palace020.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Umayyad Palace]] on top of the Amman Citadel, built around 700 AD]]
In the 630s, the [[Rashidun Caliphate]] conquered the region from the [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantines]], beginning the Islamic era in the Levant. Philadelphia was renamed "Amman" by the Muslims and became part of the district of [[Jund Dimashq]]. A large part of the population already spoke [[Arabic]], which facilitated integration into the [[caliphate]], as well as several conversions to [[Islam]]. Under the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Umayyad]] caliphs who began their rule in 661 AD, numerous [[desert castle]]s were established as a means to govern the desert area of modern-day Jordan, several of which are still well-preserved. Amman had already been functioning as an administrative centre. The Umayyads built a large palace on the [[Amman Citadel]] hill, known today as the [[Umayyad Palace]]. Amman was later destroyed by several earthquakes and natural disasters, including a particularly severe earthquake in 747. The Umayyads were [[Abbasid Revolution|overthrown]] by the [[Abbasid Caliphate|Abbasids]] three years later.<ref name=DOA/>

Amman's importance declined by the mid-8th century after damage caused by several earthquakes rendered it uninhabitable.<ref name=Ifpo>{{cite book |title=The Exclusion of Amman from Jordanian National Identity |work=Cities, Urban Practices and Nation Building in Jordan |series=Cahiers de l'Ifpo Nr. 6 |author=Ali Kassay |editor=Myriam Ababsa |editor2=Rami Farouk Daher |year=2011 |location=Beirut |publisher=Presses de l'Ifpo |pages=256–271 |isbn=9782351591826 |url=http://books.openedition.org/ifpo/1748?lang=en |access-date=25 December 2015 |archive-date=26 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151226111837/http://books.openedition.org/ifpo/1748?lang=en |url-status=live }}</ref> Excavations among the collapsed layer of the Umayyad Palace have revealed remains of [[kiln]]s from the time of the Abbasids (750–969) and the [[Fatimid Caliphate|Fatimids]] (969–1099).<ref name=Arce>{{cite journal |title=Early Islamic lime kilns from the Near East. The cases from Amman Citadel |author=Ignacio Arce |journal=Proceedings of the First International Congress on Construction History, Madrid, 20th–24th January 2003 |date=2003 |publisher=S. Huerta |location=Madrid |pages=213–224 |url=http://www.sedhc.es/biblioteca/actas/CIHC1_022_Arce%20I.pdf |access-date=26 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085959/http://www.sedhc.es/biblioteca/actas/CIHC1_022_Arce%20I.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the late 9th century, Amman was noted as the "capital" of the [[Balqa (region)|Balqa]] by geographer [[al-Yaqubi]].<ref name=Strange391>Le Strange 1896, p. 391.</ref> Likewise, in 985, the [[Jerusalem]]ite historian [[al-Muqaddasi]] described Amman as the capital of Balqa,<ref name=Strange391/> and that it was a town in the desert fringe of Syria surrounded by villages and cornfields and was a regional source of lambs, grain and honey.<ref>Le Strange 1896, p. 15 and p. 18.</ref> Furthermore, al-Muqaddasi describes Amman as a "harbor of the desert" where Arab Bedouin would take refuge, and that its citadel, which overlooked the town, contained a small mosque.<ref name=Strange392>Le Strange 1896, p. 392.</ref>

[[File:Z Ottoman Ten arches Amman 2.jpg|thumb|left|Ottoman ten-arches bridge, built in 1910 near Amman as part of the [[Hejaz railway]]]]

The occupation of the Citadel Hill by the [[Crusades|Crusader]] [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]] is so far based only on interpretations of Crusader sources. [[William of Tyre]] writes in his ''Historia'' that in 1161 [[Philip of Milly]] received the castle of Ahamant, which is seen to refer to Amman, as part of the lordship of [[Oultrejordain]].<ref name=Barber>[[Malcolm Barber|Barber, Malcolm]] (2003) "The career of Philip of Nablus in the kingdom of Jerusalem," in ''The Experience of Crusading, vol. 2: Defining the Crusader Kingdom'', eds. Peter Edbury and Jonathan Phillips, Cambridge University Press</ref> In 1166 Philip joined the [[Military order (monastic society)|military order]] of the [[Knights Templar]], passing on to them a significant part of his [[fief]] including the castle of Ahamant<ref>{{cite book|last=Barber|first=Malcolm|title=The New Knighthood: A History of the Order of the Temple|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3uFtzINjLAoC&pg=PA86|year=2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-1-107-60473-5|page=86|access-date=24 August 2017|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518204458/https://books.google.com/books?id=3uFtzINjLAoC&pg=PA86|url-status=live}}</ref> or "Haman", as it is named in the deed of confirmation issued by King [[Amalric I of Jerusalem|Amalric]].<ref name=Pringle>{{cite book |title='Amman (P4) |work=Secular Buildings in the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem: An Archaeological Gazetteer |author=Denys Pringle |year=2009 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=112–113 |isbn=9780521102636 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-_NbE5obqRMC&pg=PA152 |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518201421/https://books.google.com/books?id=-_NbE5obqRMC&pg=PA152 |url-status=live }}</ref> By 1170, Amman was in [[Ayyubid dynasty|Ayyubid]] hands.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Johns|first1=Jeremy|editor1-last=Rogan|editor1-first=Eugene L.|editor2-last=Tell|editor2-first=Tariq|title=Village, Steppe and State: The Social Origins of Modern Jordan|date=1994|publisher=British Academic Press|location=London|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lh1_ernmsnwC&pg=PA12|chapter=''The Long Durée'': State and Settlement Strategies in Southern Transjordan across the Islamic Centuries|page=12|isbn=9781850438298|access-date=7 September 2016|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102122154/https://books.google.com/books?id=lh1_ernmsnwC&pg=PA12|url-status=live}}</ref> The remains of a watch tower on Citadel Hill, first attributed to the Crusaders, now are preferentially dated to the [[Ayyubid]] period, leaving it to further research to find the location of the Crusader castle.<ref name=Pringle/> During the Ayyubid period, the Damascene geographer [[al-Dimashqi (geographer)|al-Dimashqi]] wrote that Amman was part of the province of [[al-Karak]], although "only ruins" remained of the town.<ref>Le Strange 1896, p. 41.</ref>

During the [[Mamluk Egypt|Mamluk]] era (late 13th–early 16th centuries), the region of Amman was a part of Wilayat Balqa, the southernmost district of Mamlakat Dimashq (Damascus Province).<ref>Walker 2015, p. 119.</ref> The capital of the district in the first half of the 14th century was the minor administrative post of [[Hisban]], which had a considerably smaller garrison than the other administrative centers in Transjordan, namely [[Ajlun]] and al-Karak.<ref>Walker 2015, pp. 119–120.</ref> In 1321, the geographer [[Abu'l Fida]], recorded that Amman was "a very ancient town" with fertile soil and surrounded by agricultural fields.<ref name=Strange392/> For unclear, though likely financial reasons, in 1356, the capital of Balqa was transferred from Hisban to Amman, which was considered a ''madina'' (city).<ref name=Walker120>Walker 2015, p. 120.</ref> In 1357, Emir [[Sirghitmish]] bought Amman in its entirety, most likely to use revenues from the city to help fund the [[Madrasa of Sarghatmish|Madrasa of Sirghitmish]], which he built in [[Cairo]] that same year.<ref name=Walker120/> After his purchase of the city, Sirghitmish transferred the courts, administrative bureaucracy, markets and most of the inhabitants of Hisban to Amman.<ref name=Walker120/> Moreover, he financed new building works in the city.<ref name=Walker120/>

Ownership of Amman following Sirghitmish's death in 1358 passed to successive generations of his descendants until 1395, when his descendants sold it to Emir Baydamur al-Khwarazmi, the ''na'ib as-saltana'' (viceroy) of Damascus.<ref name=Walker120/> Afterward, part of Amman's cultivable lands were sold to Emir Sudun al-Shaykhuni (died 1396), the ''na'ib as-saltana'' of Egypt.<ref>Walker 2015, pp. 120–121.</ref> The increasingly frequent division and sale of the city and lands of Amman to different owners signalled declining revenues coming from Amman, while at the same time, Hisban was restored as the major city of the Balqa in the 15th century.<ref>Walker 2015, p. 121.</ref> From then until 1878, Amman was an abandoned site periodically used to shelter seasonal farmers who cultivated arable lands in its vicinity and by Bedouin tribes who used its pastures and water.<ref name=Dawn>{{cite book |title=Displacement and Dispossession in the Modern Middle East |series=The Contemporary Middle East (Book 5) |author=Dawn Chatty |year=2010 |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=116–117 |isbn=9780521817929 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8OsgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA117 |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518204153/https://books.google.com/books?id=8OsgAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA117 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=McEvedy>{{cite book |title=Cities of the Classical World: An Atlas and Gazetteer of 120 Centres of Ancient Civilization |author=Colin McEvedy |year=2011 |location=London |publisher=Allen Lane/Penguin Books |page=37 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VZowqTafiacC&pg=PT37 |isbn=9780141967639 |access-date=24 August 2017 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518201422/https://books.google.com/books?id=VZowqTafiacC&pg=PT37 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Ottoman Empire]] annexed the region of Amman in 1516, but for much of the Ottoman period, [[al-Salt]] functioned as the virtual political center of Transjordan.<ref name=Hamed/>

===Modern Amman (1878–today)===
{{multiple image
|footer = The historical center of Amman, showing the Roman ruins in 1878 immediately before its modern resettlement (left), and the same area in 2015 (right)
|image1 = Amman, Vue générale du théâtre et de l'Odeon.jpg
|width1 = 175
|image2 = View of Amman and amphitheatre from Citadel Hill.jpg
|width2 = 209
|align=left
}}

Amman began to be resettled in 1878, when several hundred Muslim [[Circassians]] arrived following their expulsion from the formerly Ottoman Balkans.<ref name=Hamed>{{Cite journal|last=Hamed-Troyansky|first=Vladimir|date=2017|title=Circassians and the Making of Amman, 1878–1914|journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies|volume=49|issue=4|pages=605–623|doi=10.1017/S0020743817000617|s2cid=165801425}}</ref> Between 1878 and 1910, tens of thousands of Circassians had relocated to [[Ottoman Syria]] after being displaced by the [[Russian Empire]] during the events of the [[Russo-Circassian War]].<ref name=Rogan2002>{{cite book| author=Eugene L. Rogan| title=Frontiers of the State in the Late Ottoman Empire: Transjordan, 1850–1921| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AMAbXGQDmDYC&pg=PA73| date=11 April 2002| publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]| isbn=978-0-521-89223-0| page=73| access-date=29 October 2015| archive-date=29 April 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429084437/https://books.google.com/books?id=AMAbXGQDmDYC&pg=PA73| url-status=live}}</ref> The Ottoman authorities directed the [[Circassians in Jordan|Circassian]], who were mainly of peasant stock, to settle in Amman, and distributed arable land among them.{{cn|date=January 2023}} Their settlement was a partial manifestation of the Ottoman statesman [[Kamil Pasha]]'s project to establish a [[vilayet]] centered in Amman, which, along with other sites in its vicinity, would become Circassian-populated townships guaranteeing the security of the Damascus–[[Medina]] highway.<ref name=Hanania2>Hanania 2018, p. 2.</ref> The first Circassian settlers, who belonged to the [[Shapsug]] dialect group,<ref name=Hanania3>Hanania 2018, p. 3.</ref> lived near Amman's Roman theater and incorporated its stones into the houses they built.<ref name=Hamed/> The English traveller [[Laurence Oliphant (author)|Laurence Oliphant]] noted in his 1879 visit that most of the original Circassian settlers had left Amman by then, with about 150 remaining.<ref name=Hanania3/> They were joined by Circassians from the [[Kabardia]]n and [[Abzakh]] groups in 1880–1892.<ref name=Hanania3/>

[[File:Map of Amman from the Survey of Palestine 1889 (as surveyed in 1881).jpg|thumb|right|The first scientific map of Amman, 1881. The British surveyors noted that: "The Circassian colony established by the Sultan at Amman about 1879 [is] neither prosperous nor likely to become so".<ref>[[PEF Survey of Palestine]], [https://archive.org/details/surveyofeasternp00conduoft Survey of Eastern Palestine] (1889), pages 29 and 291</ref>]]

Until 1900 settlement was concentrated in the valley and slopes of the Amman stream and settlers built mud-brick houses with wooden roofs.<ref name=Hanania3/> The French Dominican priest [[Marie-Joseph Lagrange]] commented in 1890 about Amman: "A mosque, the ancient bridges, all that jumbled with the houses of the Circassians gives Amman a remarkable physiognomy".<ref name=Hanania3/> The new village became a ''[[nahiye]]'' (subdistrict) center of the ''[[kaza]]'' of al-Salt in the [[Karak Sanjak]] established in 1894.<ref name=Hanania3/> By 1908 Amman contained 800 houses divided between three main quarters, Shapsug, Kabartai and Abzakh, each called after the Circassian groupings which respectively settled there, a number of mosques, open-air markets, shops, bakeries, mills, a textile factory, a post and telegraph office and a government compound ([[Saray (building)|saraya]]).<ref name=Hanania3/> Kurdish settlers formed their own quarter called "al-Akrad" after them, while a number of townspeople from nearby al-Salt and [[al-Fuheis]], seeking to avoid high taxes and conscription or attracted by financial incentives, and traders from [[Najd]] and [[Morocco]], had also moved to the town.<ref>Hanania 2018, pp. 3–4.</ref>

The city's demographics changed dramatically after the Ottoman government's decision to construct the [[Hejaz Railway]], which linked Damascus and Medina, and facilitated the annual [[Hajj]] pilgrimage and trade. Operational in central Transjordan since 1903, the [[Hejaz Railway]] helped to transform Amman from a small village into a major commercial hub in the region. Circassian entrepreneurship, facilitated by the railway, helped to attract investment from merchants from Damascus, Nablus, and Jerusalem, many of whom moved to Amman in the 1900s and 1910s.<ref name=Hamed/> Amman's first municipal council was established in 1909, and Circassian [[Ismael Babouk]] was elected as its mayor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.albawaba.com/news/deputy-mayor-amman-inaugurates-%E2%80%9Cdocumenting-amman%E2%80%9D-conference|title=Deputy Mayor of Amman Inaugurates "Documenting Amman" Conference|work=Bawaba|access-date=30 January 2019|date=30 July 2009|archive-date=30 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190130162104/https://www.albawaba.com/news/deputy-mayor-amman-inaugurates-%E2%80%9Cdocumenting-amman%E2%80%9D-conference|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[First Battle of Amman|First]] and [[Second Battle of Amman]] were part of the [[Middle Eastern theater of World War I|Middle Eastern theatre]] of [[World War I]] and the [[Arab Revolt]], taking place in 1918. Amman had a strategic location along the Hejaz Railway; its capture by British forces and the [[Sharifian Army|Hashemite Arab army]] facilitated the British advance towards [[Damascus]].<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C&pg=PA98| title=Encyclopedia of World War I: A Political, Social, and Military History| author1=Spencer C. Tucker| author2=Priscilla Mary Roberts| year=2005| publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]| isbn=978-1-85109-420-2| page=98| access-date=24 August 2017| archive-date=18 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518225250/https://books.google.com/books?id=2YqjfHLyyj8C&pg=PA98| url-status=live}}</ref> The second battle was won by the British, resulting in the establishment of the [[Mandate for Palestine|British Mandate]].
[[File:רבת עמון - מראה-JNF001650.jpeg|thumb|Amman 1928]]

In 1921, the Hashemite emir and later king [[Abdullah I of Jordan|Abdullah I]] designated Amman instead of al-Salt to be the capital of the newly created state, the [[Emirate of Transjordan]], which became the [[Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan]] in 1950. Its function as the capital of the country attracted immigrants from different Levantine areas, particularly from al-Salt, a nearby city that had been the largest urban settlement east of the [[Jordan River]] at the time. The early settlers who came from [[Palestine (region)|Palestine]] were overwhelmingly from [[Nablus]], from which many of al-Salt's inhabitants had originated. They were joined by other immigrants from Damascus. Amman later attracted people from the southern part of the country, particularly al-Karak and [[Madaba]]. The city's population was around 10,000 in the 1930s.<ref name=HistoryP>{{cite book |author1=Reem Khamis-Dakwar |author2=Karen Froud |date=2014 |title=Perspectives on Arabic Linguistics XXVI: Papers from the annual symposium on Arabic Linguistics. New York, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ctjLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA31 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing Company |page=31 |isbn=978-9027269683 |access-date=15 April 2015 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725233244/https://books.google.com/books?id=ctjLBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA31 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The British report from 1933 shows around 1,700 Circassians living in Amman.<ref>Report by His Britannic Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of Palestine and Trans-Jordan for the year 1933, Colonial No. 94, His Majesty's Stationery Office, 1934, p. 305.</ref> Yet the community was far from insulated. Local urban and nomadic communities formed alliances with the Circassians, some of which are still present today. This cemented the status of Circassians in the re-established city.<ref name=Hamed/>

Jordan gained its independence in 1946 and Amman was designated the country's capital. Amman received many refugees during wartime events in nearby countries, beginning with the [[1948 Arab–Israeli War]]. A second wave arrived after the [[Six-Day War]] in 1967. In 1970, Amman was a battlefield during the conflict between the [[Palestine Liberation Organization]] (PLO) and the [[Royal Jordanian Army|Jordanian Army]] known as [[Black September in Jordan|Black September]]. The Jordanian Army defeated the PLO in 1971, and the latter were expelled to [[Lebanon]].<ref name=JWT>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordanwildernesstours.com/amman.htm| title=Amman| access-date=22 September 2015| work=Jordan Wild Tours| archive-date=26 October 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025059/http://www.jordanwildernesstours.com/amman.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> The first wave of Iraqi and Kuwaiti refugees settled in the city after the 1991 [[Gulf War]], with a second wave occurring in the aftermath of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]].
[[File:Sprt City Amman.JPG|thumb|Amman in 1985]]


On 9 November 2005, [[Al-Qaeda]] under [[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]]'s leadership launched [[2005 Amman bombings|coordinated explosions]] in three hotel lobbies in Amman, resulting in 60 deaths and 115 injured. The bombings, which targeted civilians, caused widespread outrage among Jordanians.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3eZK7cm6pjoC&pg=PA228| title=Arab-Israeli Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric Wars| author=Anthony H. Cordesman| publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]| date=2006| isbn=978-0-275-99186-9| page=228| access-date=24 August 2017| archive-date=18 October 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018104403/https://books.google.com/books?id=3eZK7cm6pjoC&pg=PA228| url-status=live}}</ref> Jordan's security as a whole was dramatically improved after the attack, and no major terrorist attacks have been reported since then.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.addustour.com/sn/962321/ |title=تـفـجيـرات عمـان.. حدث أليم لم ينل من إرادة الأردنيين |work=Addustor |publisher=Addustor newspaper |language=ar |access-date=23 September 2015 |date=9 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923173807/http://www.addustour.com/sn/962321/ |archive-date=23 September 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.jfranews.com.jo/more-96531-1-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%202005%20%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%AA%20%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%20%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86%20%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1%20%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%B8%D8%A9%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%87%20%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8| title=تفجيرات عمان 2005 دفعت بالأردن ليكون أكثر يقظة في تصديه للإرهاب| access-date=23 September 2015| language=ar| date=9 November 2014| work=JFRA News| publisher=JFRA News| archive-date=26 August 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826094157/http://www.jfranews.com.jo/more-96531-1-%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA%20%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86%202005%20%D8%AF%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%AA%20%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%20%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%88%D9%86%20%D8%A3%D9%83%D8%AB%D8%B1%20%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%B8%D8%A9%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%87%20%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A8| url-status=live}}</ref> Most recently a wave of [[Refugees of the Syrian Civil War|Syrian refugees]] have arrived in the city during the ongoing [[Syrian Civil War]] which began in 2011. Amman was a principal destination for refugees for the security and prosperity it offered.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/09/18/jordan-s-refugee-crisis/ihwc| title=Jordan's Refugee Crisis| access-date=23 September 2015| date=21 September 2015| publisher=[[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]]| author=Alexandra Francis| archive-date=23 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923193733/http://carnegieendowment.org/2015/09/18/jordan-s-refugee-crisis/ihwc| url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Jamal Abdul Nasser Circle Amman Jordan.jpg|thumb|left|Amman in 2013]]

During the 2010s, the city has experienced an economic, cultural and urban boom. The large growth in population has significantly increased the need for new accommodation, and new districts of the city were established at a quick pace. This strained Jordan's scarce water supply and exposed Amman to the dangers of quick expansion without careful municipal planning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nordregio.org/amman-one-of-the-fastest-grown-cities-in-the-world-is-moving-towards-sustainable-city-planning/|title=Amman, one of the fastest grown cities in the world, is moving towards sustainable city planning|date=17 January 2019|accessdate=7 January 2023|work=Nordregio|archive-date=16 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191116014216/https://www.nordregio.org/amman-one-of-the-fastest-grown-cities-in-the-world-is-moving-towards-sustainable-city-planning/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Orthodox church in Amman.jpg|thumb|right|Snow on Greek Orthodox Church in the neighborhood of Khalda]]

Amman is situated on the [[Transjordan (region)|East Bank Plateau]], an upland characterized by three major [[wadi]]s which run through it.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Ham| first1=Anthony| last2=Greenway| first2=Paul| title=Jordan| publisher=Lonely Planet| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5x2pJuvWeOQC&pg=PA19| page=19| year=2003| isbn=9781740591652| access-date=24 September 2015| archive-date=13 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713085723/https://books.google.com/books?id=5x2pJuvWeOQC&pg=PA19| url-status=live}}</ref> Originally, the city had been [[List of cities claimed to be built on seven hills|built on seven hills]].<ref>{{cite book| last=Donagan| first=Zechariah| title=Mountains Before the Temple| publisher=[[Xulon Press]]| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6vg_qlJyo7AC&pg=PA236| page=236| year=2009| isbn=978-1615795307| access-date=24 September 2015| archive-date=29 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529082110/https://books.google.com/books?id=6vg_qlJyo7AC&pg=PA236| url-status=live}}</ref> Amman's terrain is typified by its mountains.<ref>{{cite book| last=Bou| first=Jean| title=Light Horse: A History of Australia's Mounted Arm| publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m1F1tDIeEWwC&pg=PT159| page=159| year=2009| isbn=9781107276307| access-date=24 September 2015| archive-date=8 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160508153817/https://books.google.com/books?id=m1F1tDIeEWwC&pg=PT159| url-status=live}}</ref> The most important areas in the city are named after the hills or mountains they lie on.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.cityscape.jo/page/about-jordan| title=About Jordan| publisher=Cityscape| access-date=23 September 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085655/http://www.cityscape.jo/page/about-jordan| archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The area's elevation ranges from {{convert|abbr=on|1,000 to 1100|m}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aswaqamman.com/books/ammanhights.htm | title=ارتفاعات مناطق عمان الكبرى عن سطح البحر – ارتفاع محافظات المملكة الاردنية عن سطح البحر | work=Aswaq Amman | language=ar | access-date=24 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126135551/http://www.aswaqamman.com/books/ammanhights.htm | archive-date=26 January 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Al-Salt]] and [[al-Zarqa]] are located to the northwest and northeast, respectively, [[Madaba]] is located to the west, and [[al-Karak]] and [[Ma'an]] are to Amman's southwest and southeast, respectively. One of the only remaining springs in Amman now supplies the [[Zarqa River]] with water.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/basins/jordan/index.stm| title=Jordan Basim-Geography, population and climate| access-date=24 September 2015| work=Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations| publisher=FAO| year=2009| archive-date=24 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924151255/http://www.fao.org/nr/water/aquastat/basins/jordan/index.stm| url-status=live}}</ref> Trees found in Amman include [[Pinus halepensis|Aleppo pine]], [[Cupressus sempervirens|Mediterranean cypress]] and [[Juniperus phoenicea|Phoenician juniper]].<ref name=Cordova>{{cite book |author=Cordova, Carlos E. |title=Millennial Landscape Change in Jordan: Geoarchaeology and Cultural Ecology |year=2007 |publisher=University of Arizona Press |isbn=978-0-8165-2554-6 |pages=47–55 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1eWaveyEIlcC&pg=PA47 |access-date=22 January 2019 |archive-date=18 October 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171018104647/https://books.google.com/books?id=1eWaveyEIlcC&pg=PA47 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Climate===
[[File:SPRING IN AMMAN 1.JPG|thumb|right|Spring in Dabouq, an affluent neighborhood in the city]]

Amman's position on the mountains near the [[Mediterranean climate]] zone places it under the [[semi-arid climate]] classification ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate]]: BSh borders on BSk). Summers are moderately long, mildly hot and breezy; however, one or two heat waves may occur during summer. Spring is brief and warm, where highs reach {{convert|28|°C|0|abbr=on}}. Spring usually starts between April and May, and lasts about a month. Winter usually starts around the end of November and continues from early to mid-March. Temperatures are usually near or below {{convert|17|°C|0|abbr=on}}, with snow occasionally falling once or twice a year. Rain averages about {{convert|300|mm|0|abbr=on}} a year and periodic droughts are common, where most rain falls between November and April.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://weatherspark.com/averages/32846/10/Amman-Jordan |title=Average Weather in October For Amman, Jordan |publisher=WeatherSpark |date=26 October 2012 |access-date=25 March 2013 |archive-date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503110555/http://weatherspark.com/averages/32846/10/Amman-Jordan |url-status=live }}</ref>

At least 120 days of heavy fog per year is usual.<ref name=cityscape>{{cite web |url=http://cityscape.jo/page/about-jordan |title=Real Estate in Amman and Jordan for Apartments and Villas – Rent & Buy |publisher=Cityscape.jo |access-date=24 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223357/http://cityscape.jo/page/about-jordan |archive-date=2 December 2013 }}</ref> Difference in elevation plays a major role in the different weather conditions experienced in the city: snow may accumulate in the western and northern parts of Amman (an average altitude of {{convert|1000|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level) while at the same time it could be raining at the city center (elevation of {{cvt|700|m}}.<ref name=cityscape/> Amman has extreme examples of [[microclimate]], and almost every district exhibits its own weather.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arlt-lectures.com/jordan-amman.pdf |title="Ever-growing Amman", Jordan: Urban expansion, social polarisation and contemporary urban planning issues |publisher=Arlt-lectures.com |access-date=24 November 2013 |archive-date=3 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004035/http://arlt-lectures.com/jordan-amman.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Amman
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 23.0
|Feb record high C = 27.3
|Mar record high C = 32.6
|Apr record high C = 37.0
|May record high C = 38.7
|Jun record high C = 40.6
|Jul record high C = 43.4
|Aug record high C = 43.2
|Sep record high C = 40.0
|Oct record high C = 37.6
|Nov record high C = 31.0
|Dec record high C = 27.5
|year record high C = 43.4
|Jan high C = 12.7
|Feb high C = 13.9
|Mar high C = 17.6
|Apr high C = 23.3
|May high C = 27.9
|Jun high C = 30.9
|Jul high C = 32.5
|Aug high C = 32.7
|Sep high C = 30.8
|Oct high C = 26.8
|Nov high C = 20.1
|Dec high C = 14.6
|Jan mean C = 8.5
|Feb mean C = 9.4
|Mar mean C = 12.4
|Apr mean C = 17.1
|May mean C = 21.4
|Jun mean C = 24.6
|Jul mean C = 26.5
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 24.6
|Oct mean C = 21.0
|Nov mean C = 15.0
|Dec mean C = 10.2
|Jan low C = 4.2
|Feb low C = 4.8
|Mar low C = 7.2
|Apr low C = 10.9
|May low C = 14.8
|Jun low C = 18.3
|Jul low C = 20.5
|Aug low C = 20.4
|Sep low C = 18.3
|Oct low C = 15.1
|Nov low C = 9.8
|Dec low C = 5.8
|year high C= 23.7 |year low C= 12.5
|year high F =74.66 |year low F =54.5
|Jan record low C = -4.5
|Feb record low C = -4.4
|Mar record low C = -3.0
|Apr record low C = -3.0
|May record low C = 3.9
|Jun record low C = 8.9
|Jul record low C = 11.0
|Aug record low C = 11.0
|Sep record low C = 10.0
|Oct record low C = 5.0
|Nov record low C = 0.0
|Dec record low C = -2.6
|year record low C = -4.5
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 60.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 62.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 34.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 7.1
|May precipitation mm = 3.2
|Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
|Aug precipitation mm = 0.0
|Sep precipitation mm = 0.1
|Oct precipitation mm = 7.1
|Nov precipitation mm = 23.7
|Dec precipitation mm = 46.3
|year precipitation mm= 245.0
|Jan precipitation days = 11.0
|Feb precipitation days = 10.9
|Mar precipitation days = 8.0
|Apr precipitation days = 4.0
|May precipitation days = 1.6
|Jun precipitation days = 0.1
|Jul precipitation days = 0.0
|Aug precipitation days = 0.0
|Sep precipitation days = 0.1
|Oct precipitation days = 2.3
|Nov precipitation days = 5.3
|Dec precipitation days = 8.4
|year precipitation days=
|Jan sun = 179.8
|Feb sun = 182.0
|Mar sun = 226.3
|Apr sun = 266.6
|May sun = 328.6
|Jun sun = 369.0
|Jul sun = 387.5
|Aug sun = 365.8
|Sep sun = 312.0
|Oct sun = 275.9
|Nov sun = 225.0
|Dec sun = 179.8
|year sun= 3289.7
|source 1 = Jordan Meteorological Department<ref name= JMD>{{cite web
| url = http://jometeo.gov.jo/
| title = Climate and Agricultural Information – Amman
| publisher = Jordan Meteorological Department
| access-date = 27 November 2016
| archive-date = 20 October 2020
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201020150707/http://jometeo.gov.jo/
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = NOAA (sun 1961–1990),<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/TJ/40270.TXT
| title = Amman Airport Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = 18 September 2015
| archive-date = 12 March 2021
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210312034342/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/TJ/40270.TXT
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Pogoda.ru.net (records)<ref name=pogoda>{{cite web
| url = http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate2/40270.htm
| title = Pogoda.ru.net (Weather and Climate-The Climate of Amman)
| access-date = 18 September 2015
| publisher = Weather and Climate
| language = ru
| archive-date = 5 March 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095525/http://www.pogodaiklimat.ru/climate2/40270.htm
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|date=May 2013}}

{|class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|+[[Ultraviolet index]]<ref>[https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/jordan/amman-climate#uv_index Average UV index Amman, Jordan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518194602/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/jordan/amman-climate#uv_index |date=18 May 2020 }} – weather-atlas.com</ref>
|-
!Jan
!Feb
!Mar
!Apr
!May
!Jun
!Jul
!Aug
!Sep
!Oct
!Nov
!Dec
!Year
|-
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|5
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;"|7
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|9
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"|10
|style="background:#6b49c8;color:#000000;"|12
|style="background:#6b49c8;color:#000000;"|12
|style="background:#6b49c8;color:#000000;"| 11
|style="background:#d8001d;color:#000000;"| 9
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;"|6
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|4
|style="background:#f7e400;color:#000000;"|3
|style="background:#f85900;color:#000000;border-left-width:medium"|7.5
|}

==Local government==
{{See also|List of mayors of Amman}}

Amman is governed by a 41-member city council elected in four-year term direct elections. All Jordanian citizens above 18 years old are eligible to vote in the municipal elections. However, the mayor is appointed by the king and not through elections.<ref name=about/> In 1909 a city council was established in Amman by Circassian [[Ismael Babouk]] who became the first-ever mayor of the capital, and in 1914 Amman's first city district center was founded.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/ar/gam/council.asp| title=GAM council| access-date=23 September 2015| publisher=Greater Amman Municipality| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002043553/http://ammancity.gov.jo/ar/gam/council.asp| archive-date=2 October 2015}}</ref>

The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) has been investing in making the city a better place, through a number of initiatives. Green Amman 2020 was initiated in 2014, aiming to turn the city to a [[environmentally friendly|green metropolis]] by 2020. According to official statistics, only 2.5% of Amman is [[urban open space|green space]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/opinion/editorial/greener-amman| title=For a greener Amman| access-date=23 September 2015| date=9 September 2015| publisher=The Jordan News| work=[[The Jordan Times]]| archive-date=25 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925104013/http://www.jordantimes.com/opinion/editorial/greener-amman| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015 GAM and Zain Jordan started operating free-of-charge Wi-Fi services at 15 locations, including [[Wakalat Street]], [[Rainbow Street]], [[The Hashemite Plaza]], Ashrafieh Cultural Complex, Zaha Cultural Center, Al Hussein Cultural Center, [[Al Hussein Public Parks]] and others.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/amman-have-free-wi-fi-service-15-selected-locations| title=Amman to have free Wi-Fi service in 15 selected locations| access-date=23 September 2015| date=25 May 2015| publisher=The Jordan News| work=The Jordan Times| archive-date=25 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925105142/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/amman-have-free-wi-fi-service-15-selected-locations| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
[[Jordan]] is divided into twelve administrative divisions, each called a governorate. [[Amman Governorate]] divides into nine [[Nahias of Jordan|districts]], five of which are divided into sub-districts. The Greater Amman Municipality has 22 areas which are further divided into neighborhoods.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://moi.gov.jo/arabic/pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9.aspx |title=نظام التقسيمات الادارية رقم(46)لسنة2000 وتعديلاته(1) |access-date=25 September 2015 |year=2000 |publisher=moi.gov.jo |language=ar |work=Ministry of Interiors Jordan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926111544/http://moi.gov.jo/arabic/pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9.aspx |archive-date=26 September 2015 }}</ref>

The city is administered as the Greater Amman Municipality and covers 22 areas which include:<ref name=ammancity>{{cite web |url=http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/interactive/districts.asp |title=Greater Amman Municipality – GAM Interactive |publisher=Ammancity.gov.jo |access-date=24 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109003357/http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/interactive/districts.asp |archive-date=9 January 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://web.dos.gov.jo/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/No_of_pop_depand_on_GOV.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=13 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605041844/http://web.dos.gov.jo/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/No_of_pop_depand_on_GOV.pdf |archive-date=5 June 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Districts of Amman Numbered.png|frameless|right|upright=1.35]]
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Number !! Area !! Area (km2) !! Population (2015) !! Number !! Area !! Area (km2) !! Population (2015)
|-
| 1 || [[Madinah area|Al-Madinah]] ||align=center| 3.1 ||align=center| 34,988 || 12 || [[Khrebet Al-Souk, Jawa and Yadoudah area|Kherbet Al-Souk]] ||align=center| 0.5 ||align=center| 186,158
|-
| 2 || [[Basman district|Basman]] ||align=center| 13.4 ||align=center| 373,981 || 13 || Al-Mgablein ||align=center| 23 ||align=center| 99,738
|-
| 3 || [[Marka, Jordan|Marka]] ||align=center| 23 ||align=center| 148,100 || 14 || [[Wadi Al-Seer]] ||align=center| 80 ||align=center| 241,830
|-
| 4 || [[Nasr area|Al-Nasr]] ||align=center| 28.4 ||align=center| 258,829 || 15 || [[Bader Al-Jadeedah area|Badr Al-Jadeedah]]|| align="center" | 19 ||align=center| 17,891
|-
| 5 || [[Yarmouk area|Al-Yarmouk]] ||align=center| 5.5 ||align=center| 180,773 || 16 || [[Sweileh]] ||align=center| 20 ||align=center| 151,016
|-
| 6 || [[Ras Al-Ein area|Ras Al-Ein]]|| align="center" | 6.8 ||align=center| 138,024 || 17 || [[Tla' Al-Ali, Umm Al-Summaq and Khalda area|Tla' Al-Ali]]|| align="center" | 19.8 ||align=center| 251,000
|-
| 7 || [[Bader area|Bader]] ||align=center| 10.1 ||align=center| 229,308 || 18 || [[Jubeiha]] ||align=center| 25.9 ||align=center| 197,160
|-
| 8 || [[Zahran district|Zahran]] ||align=center| 13.8 ||align=center| 107,529 || 19 || [[Shafa Badran area|Shafa Badran]]|| align="center" | 45 ||align=center| 72,315
|-
| 9 || [[Al-Abdali]] ||align=center| 15 ||align=center| 165,333 || 20 || [[Abu Nseir area|Abu Nseir]] ||align=center| 50 ||align=center| 72,489
|-
| 10 || [[Tariq area|Tariq]]|| align="center" | 25 ||align=center| 175,194 || 21 || [[Uhod area|Uhod]] ||align=center| 250 ||align=center| 40,000
|-
| 11 || [[Qweismeh, Abu Alanda, Jweideh and Rujeib area|Qweismeh]] ||align=center| 45.9 ||align=center| 296,763 || 22 || [[Marj Al-Hamam]] ||align=center| 53 ||align=center| 82,788
|}

==Economy==
===Banking sector===
The [[bank]]ing sector is one of the principal foundations of Jordan's economy. Despite the unrest and economic difficulties in the Arab world resulting from the [[Arab Spring]] uprisings, Jordan's banking sector maintained its growth in 2014. The sector consists of 25 banks, 15 of which are listed on the [[Amman Stock Exchange]]. Amman is the base city for the international [[Arab Bank]], one of the largest financial institutions in the Middle East, serving clients in more than 600 branches in 30 countries on five continents. Arab Bank represents 28% of the Amman Stock Exchange and is the highest-ranked institution by [[market capitalization]] on the exchange.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.awraq.com/uploads/research/b7e73be8b70e8bd319cbf637c046d178e431ccdb.pdf| title=Jordan Banking Sector Brief| access-date=23 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305065843/http://www.awraq.com/uploads/research/b7e73be8b70e8bd319cbf637c046d178e431ccdb.pdf| archive-date=5 March 2016| url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Tourism===
[[File:RJ bld, Amman, Jordan.jpg|thumb|right|upright|[[Royal Jordanian Airlines]] headquarters in Amman]]

Amman is the 4th most visited Arab city and the ninth highest recipient of international visitor spending. Roughly 1.8 million tourists visited Amman in 2011 and spent over $1.3 billion in the city.<ref>{{cite web | author=MasterCard Worldwide | url=http://www.slideshare.net/MasterCardNews/global-destination-cities-index-slideshare-final | title=MasterCard Worldwide's Global Destination Cities Index | publisher=Slideshare.net | access-date=28 November 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718210425/http://www.slideshare.net/MasterCardNews/global-destination-cities-index-slideshare-final | archive-date=18 July 2012 }}</ref> The expansion of [[Queen Alia International Airport]] is an example of the Greater Amman Municipality's heavy investment in the city's infrastructure. The recent construction of a public transportation system and a national railway, and the expansion of roads, are intended to ease the traffic generated by the millions of annual visitors to the city.<ref name=capacity>{{cite news |last=Maslen |first=Richard |date=27 March 2013 |title=New Terminal Opening Boosts Queen Alia Airport's Capacity |url=http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/190852/new-terminal-opening-boosts-queen-alia-airports-capacity-/ |newspaper=Routesonline |location=Manchester, United Kingdom |publisher=[[UBM Information]] Ltd |access-date=4 February 2014 |archive-date=23 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140423044547/http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/190852/new-terminal-opening-boosts-queen-alia-airports-capacity-/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Amman, and Jordan in general, is the Middle East's hub for [[medical tourism]]. Jordan receives the most medical tourists in the region and the fifth highest in the world. Amman receives 250,000 foreign patients a year and over $1 billion annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jordantimes.com/jordan-remains-medical-tourism-hub-despite-regional-unrest |title=Jordan remains medical tourism hub despite regional unrest |newspaper=[[The Jordan Times]] |date=18 March 2012 |access-date=28 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203034646/http://jordantimes.com/jordan-remains-medical-tourism-hub-despite-regional-unrest |archive-date=3 December 2012 }}</ref>

===Business===
Amman is introducing itself as a business hub. The city's skyline is being continuously transformed through the emergence of new projects. A significant portion of business flowed into Amman following the 2003 [[Iraq War]]. Jordan's main airport, [[Queen Alia International Airport]], is located south of Amman and is the hub for the country's national carrier [[Royal Jordanian]], a major airline in the region.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2010/august/i_bca01.pdf|title=Royal Jordanian was the first airline in the Middle East to order the 787 Dreamliner|publisher=Boeing|access-date=30 September 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063036/http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2010/august/i_bca01.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The airline is headquartered in [[Zahran district]]. [[Rubicon Group Holding]] and [[Maktoob]], two major regional information technology companies, are based in Amman, along with major international corporations such as [[Hikma Pharmaceuticals]], one of the Middle East's largest pharmaceutical companies, and [[Aramex]], the Middle East's largest logistics and transportation company.<ref name=IraqBiz>{{cite web |url=http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/03/16/erbil-ranked-5th-for-foreign-direct-investment/ |title=Erbil Ranked 5th for Foreign Direct Investment |publisher=Iraq Business News |date=16 March 2011 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=1 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001192438/http://www.iraq-businessnews.com/2011/03/16/erbil-ranked-5th-for-foreign-direct-investment/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Hussein Hachem |url=http://www.busmanagementme.com/article/aramex-middle-easts-biggest-courier-firm/ |title=Aramex MEA: the Middle East's biggest courier firm – Lead Features – Business Management Middle East | GDS Publishing |publisher=Busmanagementme.com |date=24 May 2011 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=13 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513205610/http://www.busmanagementme.com/article/aramex-middle-easts-biggest-courier-firm/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In a report by Dunia Frontier Consultants, Amman, along with [[Doha]], [[Qatar]] and [[Dubai]], [[United Arab Emirates]], are the favored hubs for multinational corporations operating in the Middle East and North Africa region.<ref name=dunia/> In ''FDI'' magazine, Amman was chosen as the Middle Eastern city with the most potential to be a leader in foreign direct investment in the region.<ref name=IraqBiz/> Furthermore, several of the world's largest investment banks have offices in Amman including [[Standard Chartered]], [[Société Générale]], and [[Citibank]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.prlog.org/10313193-courier-companies-of-the-world.html |title=Courier Companies of the World |publisher=PRLog |date=18 August 2009 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=23 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723095551/http://www.prlog.org/10313193-courier-companies-of-the-world.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Historical populations
|title = Historical population of Amman
|type = none
|align = right
|width = 15em
|state = none
|shading = off
|pop_name = Historical population
|percentages = on
|footnote =
|source =<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Amman.aspx|title=Amman|access-date=21 September 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923055949/http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Amman.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downtown.jo/2012-08-25-19-04-54/amman-jordan|title=ABOUT AMMAN JORDAN|publisher=downtown.jo|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923061723/http://www.downtown.jo/2012-08-25-19-04-54/amman-jordan|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=about/>
|7250 BC |3000
|1879 |500
|1906 |5000
|1930 |10000
|1940 |20000
|1952 |108000
|1979 |848587
|1999 |1864500
|2004 |2315600
|2010 |2842629
|2015 |4007526
}}
{| class="infobox" style=left;"
|colspan="2"|'''Largest groups of Arab foreign residents'''<ref>{{cite web|title=٩.٥ ملايين عدد السكان في الأردن|url=http://www.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=257572|publisher=Ammon News|work=Ammon News|access-date=22 January 2016|date=22 January 2016|archive-date=31 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131081628/http://www.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleno=257572|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-\
! Nationality || Population (2015)
|-
|{{flag|Syria}} || 435,578
|-
|{{flag|Egypt}} || 390,631
|-
|{{flag|Palestinian territories}} || 308,091
|-
|{{flag|Iraq}} || 121,893
|-
|{{flag|Yemen}} || 27,109
|-
|{{flag|Libya}} || 21,649
|-
|Other|| 147,742
|-
|}
The population of Amman reached 4,007,526 in 2015; the city contains about 42% of Jordan's entire population.<ref name=RefC/> It has a land area of {{convert|648.7|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|order=flip}} which yields a population density of about {{convert|2380|PD/km2|sp=us}}.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.permaculturenews.org/files/ipc10/Lancaster_Water_Harvesting_Jordan-9-2011.pdf| title=Turning Drains into Sponges and Water Scarcity into Water Abundance| work=Brad Lancaster| publisher=permaculturenews.org| access-date=30 September 2015| archive-date=4 March 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304032505/http://www.permaculturenews.org/files/ipc10/Lancaster_Water_Harvesting_Jordan-9-2011.pdf| url-status=live}}</ref> The population of Amman has risen exponentially with the successive waves of immigrants and refugees arriving throughout the 20th century. From a population of roughly 1,000 in 1890, Amman grew to around 1,000,000 inhabitants in 1990, primarily as a result of immigration, but also due to the high birthrate in the city.<ref name=DS34>Dumper and Stanley, p. 34.</ref> Amman had been abandoned for centuries until hundreds of [[Circassians]] settled it in the 19th century. Today, about 40,000 Circassians live in Amman and its vicinity.<ref>Albala, p. 267.</ref> After Amman became a major hub along the [[Hejaz Railway]] in 1914, many Muslim and Christian merchant families from al-Salt immigrated to the city.<ref>Richmond, p. 124.</ref> A large proportion of Amman's inhabitants have [[Palestinians|Palestinian]] roots (urban or rural origin), and the two main demographic groups in the city today are Arabs of Palestinian or Jordanian descent. Other ethnic groups comprise about 2% of the population. There are no official statistics about the proportion of people of Palestinian or Jordanian descent.<ref>Dakwar, pp. 31–32.</ref>

New arrivals consisting of Jordanians from the north and south of the country and immigrants from Palestine had increased the city's population from 30,000 in 1930 to 60,000 in 1947.<ref name=Suleiman101>Suleiman, p. 101.</ref> About 10,000 Palestinians, mostly from [[Safed]], [[Haifa]] and [[Acre, Israel|Acre]], migrated to the city for economic opportunities before the [[1948 Palestine war|1948 war]].<ref name=Plascov33/> Many of the immigrants from al-Salt from that time were originally from [[Nablus]].<ref>Dakwar, p. 31.</ref> The 1948 war caused an exodus of urban Muslim and Christian Palestinian refugees, mostly from [[Jaffa]], [[Ramla]] and [[Lod|Lydda]], to Amman,<ref name=Plascov33>Plascov, p. 33.</ref> whose population swelled to 110,000.<ref name=Suleiman101/> With Jordan's capture of the [[West Bank]] during the war, many Palestinians from that area steadily migrated to Amman between 1950 and 1966, before another mass wave of Palestinian refugees from the West Bank moved to the city during the [[Six-Day War|1967 War]]. By 1970, the population had swelled to an estimated 550,000.<ref name=Suleiman101/> A further 200,000 Palestinians arrived after their expulsion from Kuwait during the 1991 [[Gulf War]]. Several large [[Palestinian refugee camp]]s exist around the center of Amman.<ref name=DS35>Dumper and Stanley, p. 35.</ref>

Because Amman lacks a deep-rooted native population, the city does not have a distinct Arabic [[dialect]], although recently such a dialect utilizing the various Jordanian and Palestinian dialects, has been forming.<ref>Owens, p. 260.</ref> The children of immigrants in the city are also increasingly referring to themselves as "Ammani", unlike much of the first-generation inhabitants who identify more with their respective places of origin.<ref>Jones, p. 64.</ref>

===Religion===
Amman has a mostly [[Sunni Muslim]] population, and the city contains numerous [[mosque]]s.<ref>Ring, Salkin and LaBoda, p. 65.</ref> Among the main mosques is the large [[King Abdullah I Mosque]], built between 1982 and 1989. It is capped by a blue mosaic [[dome]] beneath which 3,000 Muslims may offer prayer. The Abu Darweesh Mosque, noted for its checkered black-and-white pattern, has an architectural style that is unique to Jordan.<ref name=JTravel>{{cite web |title= Amman – a modern city built on the sands of time |publisher= jordantoursandtravel.com |work= Jordan Travel |url= http://www.jordantoursandtravel.com/amman.html |access-date= 22 September 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030150/http://www.jordantoursandtravel.com/amman.html |archive-date= 4 March 2016 |url-status= dead}}</ref> The mosque is situated on Jabal Ashrafieh, the highest point in the city. The mosque's interior is marked by light-colored walls and Persian carpets. During the 2004 Amman Message conference, edicts from various clergy-members afforded the following schools of thought as garnering collective recognition: [[Hanafi]], [[Hanbali]], [[Maliki]], Shafi'i, Ja'fari, Zahiri, Zaydi, [[Ibadi]], tassawuf-related [[Sufism]], [[Muwahhidism]] and [[Salafism]].<ref>Global Security Watch—Jordan – Page 134, W. Andrew Terrill – 2010</ref> Amman also has a small [[Druze]] community.<ref>{{cite book| author=U.S. Senate: Committee on Foreign Relations| title=Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, 2004| publisher=[[Government Printing Office]]| year=2005| page=563| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=04dlwzB2SvcC&pg=PA563| isbn=978-0-16-072552-4| access-date=23 September 2015| archive-date=18 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518232337/https://books.google.com/books?id=04dlwzB2SvcC&pg=PA563| url-status=live}}</ref>

Large numbers of [[Christianity in Jordan|Christians]] from throughout Jordan, particularly from al-Salt, have moved to Amman. Nearby [[Fuheis]] is a predominantly [[Arab Christians|Christian]] town located to the northwest of the city.<ref>{{cite journal| last=Miller| first=Duane Alexander| title=The Episcopal Church in Jordan: Identity, Liturgy, and Mission| journal=[[Journal of Anglican Studies]]| date=November 2011| volume=9| issue=2| pages=134–153| url=https://www.academia.edu/1482555| access-date=16 November 2012| doi=10.1017/S1740355309990271| s2cid=144069423| archive-date=13 July 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210713085729/https://www.academia.edu/1482555| url-status=live}}</ref> A small [[Armenian Catholic]] community of around 70 families is present in the city.<ref>Kildani, p. 678.</ref> [[Ecclesiastical court]]s for matters of personal status are also located in Amman. A total of 16 historic churches are located in [[Umm ar-Rasas]] ruins in [[Al-Jeezah]] district; the site is believed to have initially served as [[Roman Empire|Roman]] fortified military camps which gradually became a town around the 5th century AD. It has not been completely excavated. It was influenced by several civilizations including the Romans, Byzantines and Muslims. The site contains some well-preserved mosaic floors, particularly the mosaic floor of the Church of Saint Stephen.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1093/| title=Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a)| access-date=6 October 2015| year=2004| publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Center| work=unesco.org| archive-date=2 January 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210102191504/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1093/| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Cityscape==
{{wide image|East Amman panorama.jpg|1000px|align-cap=center|A panoramic view of east Amman from atop the [[Amman Citadel]] overlooking the Roman theater}}

[[Downtown Amman]], the city center area (known in Arabic as ''Al-Balad''), has been dwarfed by the sprawling urban area that surrounds it. Despite the changes, much remains of its old character. [[Jabal Amman]] is a well-known tourist attraction in old Amman, where the city's greatest souks, fine museums, ancient constructions, monuments, and cultural sites are found. Jabal Amman also contains the famous [[Rainbow Street]] and the cultural [[Souk Jara]] market.<ref>{{cite web |title=A Newly Stylish Amman Asserts Itself |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/travel/22next.html |publisher=[[The New York Times]] |date=19 November 2009 |accessdate=20 January 2023 |last=Ferren |first=Andrew |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007023427/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/travel/22next.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:East-Amman-Slums.jpg|thumb|A view of an East Amman slum]]

===Architecture===
[[File:View of Abdali project 2018.jpg|thumb|right|Progress at [[Abdali Project]] {{As of|2018|lc=y}}]]

Residential buildings are limited to four stories above street level and if possible another four stories below, according to the [[Greater Amman Municipality]] regulations. The buildings are covered with thick white or beige limestone or sandstone.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.csbe.org/publications-and-resources/articles-and-lectures-on-architectural-issues/stone-as-wall-paper-the-evolution-of-stone-as-a-sheathing-material-in-twentieth-century-amman/the-use-of-stone-in-amman-by-may-shaer/| access-date=23 September 2015| title=Stone as Wall Paper: The Evolution of Stone as a Sheathing Material in Twentieth-Century Amman| publisher=CSBE| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923085707/http://www.csbe.org/publications-and-resources/articles-and-lectures-on-architectural-issues/stone-as-wall-paper-the-evolution-of-stone-as-a-sheathing-material-in-twentieth-century-amman/the-use-of-stone-in-amman-by-may-shaer/| archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> The buildings usually have balconies on each floor, with the exception of the ground floor, which has a front and back yard. Some buildings make use of [[Mangalore tiles]] on the roofs or on the roof of covered porches. Hotels, towers and commercial buildings are either covered by stone, plastic or glass.<ref>{{cite news |author=Mohammed Subaihi |title=فوضى التنظيم والأبنية في عمان |newspaper=[[Al Ra'i (Jordanian newspaper)|Al Ra'i]] |url=http://www.alrai.com/article/612950.html |date=22 October 2013 |access-date=23 September 2015 |language=ar |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221173526/http://alrai.com/article/612950.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===High-rise construction and towers===
{{see also|List of tallest buildings in Amman}}
[[File:Amman's Gate Towers.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Jordan Gate Towers as seen from the west]]

[[Zahran district]] in west Amman is the location of the [[Jordan Gate Towers]], the first high-rise towers in the city. It is a high-class commercial and residential project under construction, close to the [[6th Circle]]. The towers are one of the best-known skyscrapers in the city.<ref name=Gate>{{cite web| url=http://www.systemair.com/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?show=1320&id=1105&epslanguage=ru-RU| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001181726/http://www.systemair.com/Templates/Pages/Article.aspx?show=1320&id=1105&epslanguage=ru-RU| url-status=dead| archive-date=1 October 2015| title=Jordan Gate Towers, Amman| access-date=30 September 2015| publisher=systemair AB| work=systemair.com}}</ref> The southern tower will host a Hilton Hotel, while the northern tower will host offices. The towers are separated by a podium that is planned to become a mall. It also contains bars, swimming pools and conference halls. The developers are Bahrain's [[Gulf Finance House]], the Kuwait Investment and Finance Company (KIFC). The project is expected to be opened by 2025.<ref name=Gate/>

[[Abdali Urban Regeneration Project]] in [[Al-Abdali|Abdali]] district will host a mall, a boulevard along with several hotels, commercial and residential towers. Valued at more than US$5 billion, the Abdali project will create a new visible center for Amman and act as the major business district for the city.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.abdali.jo/index.php?r=site/page&id=4| access-date=23 September 2015| publisher=Abdali PSC| title=About the Abdali Project| archive-date=25 February 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225192243/https://abdali.jo/index.php?r=site%2Fpage&id=4| url-status=live}}</ref> The first phase contains about ten towers, five of which are under construction to be completed by 2016.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.abdali.jo/index.php?r=site/page&id=4| title=Project Overview| access-date=23 September 2015| publisher=Abdali PSC| archive-date=25 February 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225192243/https://abdali.jo/index.php?r=site%2Fpage&id=4| url-status=live}}</ref> Across 30,000 square meters of land, a central dynamic park is the main feature of phase II which will serve as a focal theme for mainly residential, office, hotel and retail developments over 800,000 square meters.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.albawaba.com/business/jordan-fdi-megaprojects-579560| title=Jordan's $5 billion Abdali project: Serious investment potential| date=28 May 2015| access-date=23 September 2015| website=Al Bawaba| archive-date=23 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060026/http://www.albawaba.com/business/jordan-fdi-megaprojects-579560| url-status=live}}</ref>

The towers in the first phase include [[Rotana Hotel Amman]], [[W Hotel Amman]], [[The Heights Tower]], Clemenceau Medical Center tower, Abdali mall tower, [[Abdali Gateway]] tower, K tower, Vertex Tower, Capital tower, Saraya headquarters tower and Hamad tower.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.abdali.jo/index.php?r=site/page&id=6| access-date=23 September 2015| title=Abdali – Facts & Figures| publisher=Abdali PSC| work=abdali.jo| archive-date=25 July 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725234752/http://www.abdali.jo/index.php?r=site%2Fpage&id=6| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Culture==

===Museums===
{{See also|Category:Museums in Amman}}
[[File:Jordan Museum.JPG|thumb|right|The Jordan Museum, located near downtown]]

The largest museum in Jordan is [[The Jordan Museum]]. It contains much of the valuable archeological findings in the country,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/scrolling-through-the-millennia-at-the-new-jordan-museum-in-amman| title=Scrolling through the millennia at the new Jordan Museum in Amman| access-date=2015-09-25| date=2014-03-13| work=The National| archive-date=26 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926083840/http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/scrolling-through-the-millennia-at-the-new-jordan-museum-in-amman| url-status=live}}</ref> including some of the [[Dead Sea Scrolls]], the Neolithic limestone statues of [['Ain Ghazal]], and a copy of the [[Mesha Stele]]. Other museums include [[the Duke's Diwan]], [[Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts]], [[Jordan Archaeological Museum]], [[The Children's Museum Jordan]], [[The Martyrs' Memorial and Museum]], the [[Royal Automobile Museum]], the [[Prophet Mohammad Museum]], the [[Museum of Parliamentary Life]], the [[Jordan Folklore Museum]], and museums at the [[University of Jordan]].<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KcGcDdi20SwC&pg=PA35| title=Jordan| isbn=978-1-84162-398-6| page=35| publisher=Bradt Travel Guides| year=2012| author=Carole French| access-date=24 August 2017| archive-date=14 January 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114084308/https://books.google.com/books?id=KcGcDdi20SwC&pg=PA35| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Lifestyle===

Amman is considered one of the most liberal cities in the [[Arab world]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.historyofjordan.com/jordan2/jh/collection.php?album=%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86| title=Amman| work=History of Jordan| access-date=25 September 2015| archive-date=5 March 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305104650/http://www.historyofjordan.com/jordan2/jh/collection.php?album=%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86| url-status=live}}</ref> The city has become one of the most popular destinations for expatriates and college students who seek to live, study, or work in the [[Middle East]] or the Arab world in general.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.amideast.org/abroad/programs/jordan/why-jordan-why-amman| title=Why Jordan? Why Amman?| access-date=25 September 2015| publisher=amideast.org| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026030523/https://www.amideast.org/abroad/programs/jordan/why-jordan-why-amman| archive-date=26 October 2018| url-status=dead}}</ref> The city's culinary scene has changed from its [[shawerma|shawarma]] stands and [[falafel]] joints to embrace many popular international restaurants and fast-food outlets such as [[Asian fusion]] restaurants, French [[bistro]]s and Italian [[trattoria]]s. The city has become famous for its fine dining scene among Western expatriates and [[Persian Gulf]] tourists.<ref name=NYTtrav>{{cite news |work= The New York Times |title=A Newly Stylish Amman Asserts Itself |first=Andrew |last=Ferren |date=22 November 2009 |url= http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/travel/22next.html |access-date= 30 March 2010 |archive-date=27 November 2009 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091127181056/http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/travel/22next.html?pagewanted=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Souk Jara 4 Jul 2008 (7).JPG|thumb|Souk Jara is one of the most famous outdoor markets managed by the Jabal Amman Residents Association (JARA).]]

Large [[shopping mall]]s were built during the 2000s in Amman, including the [[Mecca Mall]], Abdoun Mall, [[City Mall (Amman)|City Mall]], Al-Baraka Mall, Taj Mall, Zara Shopping Center, Avenue Mall, and [[Abdali Mall]] in Al Abdali.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KcGcDdi20SwC&pg=PA108| title=Jordan| page=108| author=Carole French| publisher=Bradt| year=2012| isbn=9781841623986| access-date=24 August 2017| archive-date=18 May 2020| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518201155/https://books.google.com/books?id=KcGcDdi20SwC&pg=PA108| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wakalat Street]] ("Agencies Street") is Amman's first pedestrian-only street and carries a lot of name-label clothes. The [[Sweifieh]] area is considered to be the main shopping district of Amman.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://islahnews.net/209994.html| title=اعادة دراسة واقع شارع الوكالات| access-date=25 September 2015| date=3 October 2013| work=Islah News| publisher=islahnews.net| language=ar| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190709054705/http://islahnews.net/209994.html| archive-date=9 July 2019| url-status=dead}}</ref>

Nightclubs, music bars and [[Hookah lounge|shisha lounges]] are present across Amman, changing the city's old image as the conservative capital of the kingdom. This burgeoning new nightlife scene is shaped by Jordan's young population.<ref>{{cite news| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215215544/http://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/amman-bustles-with-nightlife-shedding-old-image-1913627.html| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/amman-bustles-with-nightlife-shedding-old-image-1913627.html| title= Amman bustles with nightlife, shedding old image |newspaper= [[The Independent]] |archive-date=15 December 2013 | url-status=dead| access-date=30 September 2015}}</ref> In addition to the wide range of drinking and dancing venues on the social circuit of the city's affluent crowd, Amman hosts cultural entertainment events, including the annual Amman Summer Festival. [[Souk Jara]] is a Jordanian weekly [[flea market]] event that occurs every Friday throughout the summer.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/souk-jara-open-9pm-2am-ramadan| title=Souk JARA open from 9 pm to 2 am in Ramadan| publisher=The Jordan News| date=24 June 2015| work=The Jordan Times| access-date=30 September 2015| archive-date=1 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001195829/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/souk-jara-open-9pm-2am-ramadan| url-status=live}}</ref> [[Sweifieh]] is considered to be the unofficial red-light district of Amman as it holds most of the city's nightclubs, bars.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://country-stats.com/en/countries/asia/jordan/10185-jordan-politics.html| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305053911/http://country-stats.com/en/countries/asia/jordan/10185-jordan-politics.html| url-status=dead| archive-date=5 March 2016| title=Jordan – Politics| access-date=29 September 2015| work=country-stats.com}}</ref> Jabal Amman and [[Jabal al-Luweibdeh]] are home to many pubs and bars as well, making the area popular among bar hoppers.<ref name=NYTtrav/>

Alcohol is widely available in restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and supermarkets.<ref>{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5x2pJuvWeOQC&pg=PA77| title=Jordan| author1=Anthony Ham| author2=Paul Greenway| year=2003| isbn=978-1-74059-165-2| page=77| publisher=[[Lonely Planet]]| access-date=24 August 2017| archive-date=18 October 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018104900/https://books.google.com/books?id=5x2pJuvWeOQC&pg=PA77| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| url=https://archive.org/details/jordan0000tell| url-access=registration| title=Jordan| author=Matthew Teller|isbn=978-1-85828-740-9|page=[https://archive.org/details/jordan0000tell/page/44 44]| year=2002| publisher=[[Rough Guides]]}}</ref> There are numerous nightclubs and bars across the city, especially in West Amman. {{as of|2011}}, there were 77 registered nightclubs in Jordan (excluding bars and pubs), overwhelmingly located in the capital city.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=11349 | title=3% of Nightclub women are Jordanian | Editor's Choice | Ammon News | publisher=En.ammonnews.net | date=19 January 2011 | access-date=24 November 2013 | archive-date=2 December 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230557/http://en.ammonnews.net/article.aspx?articleNO=11349#.UpAderQTvow | url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2009, there were 222 registered liquor stores in Amman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sarayanews.com/index.php?page=article&id=13779|title=الاردن يستورد خمور بقيمة مليونين و(997) الف دينار خلال عام 2008|date=25 September 2009|access-date=23 September 2015|language=ar|publisher=sarayanews.com|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923164449/http://www.sarayanews.com/index.php?page=article&id=13779|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
{{See also|Jordanian cuisine}}

Danielle Pergament of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described Ammani cuisine as a product of several cuisines in the region, writing that it combines "the bright vegetables from Lebanon, crunchy falafels from Syria, juicy kebabs from Egypt and, most recently, spicy meat dishes from Jordan's neighbor, Iraq. It's known as the food of the [[Levant]] – an ancient word for the area bounded by the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian peninsula. But the food here isn't just the sum of its calories. In this politically, religiously and ethnically fraught corner of the world, it is a symbol of bloodlines and identity."<ref name=NYTcuisine>{{cite news | url= https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/travel/13choicetables.html | last= Pergament | first= Danielle | title= All the Foods of the Mideast at Its Stable Center | newspaper= [[The New York Times]] | date= 13 January 2008 | access-date= 21 February 2017 | archive-date= 23 June 2017 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170623191059/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/13/travel/13choicetables.html | url-status= live }}</ref> However, the city's street food scene makes the Ammani cuisine distinctive.<ref name=StFood/><ref>{{cite web| url=http://beamman.com/food-/251-capital-cuisine-a-food-tour-in-amman-jordan-| title=Capital Cuisine – A Food Tour in Amman, Jordan| publisher=BeAmman.com| work=BeAmman.com| access-date=26 September 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926043547/http://beamman.com/food-/251-capital-cuisine-a-food-tour-in-amman-jordan-| archive-date=26 September 2015}}</ref>

===Sports===

Amman-based [[Association football|football]] clubs [[Al-Wehdat SC|Al-Wehdat]] and [[Al-Faisaly SC (Amman)|Al-Faisaly]], both former league champions, share one of the most popular rivalries in the local football scene.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.goethe.de/ins/jo/amm/prj/ema/far/jof/enindex.htm| title=Political rivalry overshadows Amman's derby| access-date=25 September 2015| publisher=[[Goethe-Institut]]| work=Goethe-Institut| archive-date=26 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926031114/http://www.goethe.de/ins/jo/amm/prj/ema/far/jof/enindex.htm| url-status=live}}</ref> Amman hosted the [[2016 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup]] along with [[Irbid]] and [[Zarqa]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/amman-municipality-revamping-stadiums-u-17-women%E2%80%99s-world-cup| title=Amman municipality revamping stadiums for U-17 Women's World Cup| access-date=23 September 2015| date=23 July 2015| publisher=The Jordan News| work=[[The Jordan Times]]| archive-date=23 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923031804/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/amman-municipality-revamping-stadiums-u-17-women%E2%80%99s-world-cup| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/destination/cities/city=1913/index.html| title=Amman| publisher=[[FIFA]]| access-date=23 September 2015| archive-date=14 December 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214042814/http://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/destination/cities/city=1913/index.html| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[2007 Asian Athletics Championships]] and more than one edition of the [[IAAF World Cross Country Championships]] were held in the city.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/destination-amman-1| title=Destination Amman| publisher=[[International Association of Athletics Federations]]| date=28 March 2009| access-date=24 September 2015| archive-date=7 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007151918/http://www.iaaf.org/news/news/destination-amman-1| url-status=live}}</ref> Amman also hosts the [[Jordan Rally]], which form part of the [[FIA]] [[World Rally Championship]], becoming one of the largest sporting events ever held in Jordan.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/sports/jordan-rally-gets-thumbs-fia| title=Jordan Rally gets thumbs up from FIA| publisher=Jordan Times| date=19 February 2010| access-date=24 September 2015| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925144348/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/sports/jordan-rally-gets-thumbs-fia| archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

Amman is home to a growing number of foreign sports such as [[skateboarding]] and [[Rugby football|rugby]]; the latter has two teams based in the city: Amman Citadel Rugby Club and Nomads Rugby Club.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.albawaba.com/sport/jordan-rugby-dubai-sevens-619023| title=Against all odds, Jordan's rugby greats are set to storm the Dubai Sevens| access-date=23 September 2015| date=4 November 2014| archive-date=23 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923055946/http://www.albawaba.com/sport/jordan-rugby-dubai-sevens-619023| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2014, German non-profit organization [[Make Life Skate Life]] completed construction of the [[7Hills Skatepark]], a 650 square meter concrete skatepark located at [[Samir Rifai]] park in [[Downtown Amman]].<ref>{{citation| url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/02/volunteers-open-jordan-skate-park-150206102827914.html| title=Volunteers open Jordan's first skate park| date=12 February 2015| publisher=Al Jazeera Media Network| work=aljazeera.com| access-date=30 September 2015| archive-date=1 October 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001071615/http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/02/volunteers-open-jordan-skate-park-150206102827914.html| url-status=live}}</ref>

{{wide image|Amman Sport City Panorama.jpg|1025px|align-cap=center|A panoramic view of [[Amman International Stadium]] in the Sport City}}

===Media and music===

The majority of Jordan's radio stations are based in Amman. The first radio station to originate in the city was ''Hunna Amman'' in 1959; it mainly broadcast traditional [[Bedouin]] music.<ref>{{cite book| last=Massad| first=Joseph A.| title=Colonial Effects: The Making of National Identity in Jordan| publisher=[[Columbia University Press]]| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c70NwhRNmosC&pg=PA76| page=76| year=2001| isbn=978-0231123235| access-date=22 September 2015| archive-date=12 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512214537/https://books.google.com/books?id=c70NwhRNmosC&pg=PA76| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2000, Amman Net became the first de facto private radio station to be established in the country, despite private ownership of radio stations being illegal at the time.<ref>{{cite book| last1=Zweiri| first1=Mahjoob| last2=Murphy| first2=Emma C.| title=The New Arab Media: Technology, Image and Perception| publisher=Ithaca Press| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v93Fj7P3uUwC&pg=PA143| page=143| year=2012| isbn=978-0863724176| access-date=22 September 2015| archive-date=20 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520103850/https://books.google.com/books?id=v93Fj7P3uUwC&pg=PA143| url-status=live}}</ref> After private ownership was legalized in 2002, several more radio stations were created.<ref>{{cite book| title=The Report: Emerging Jordan 2007| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YuSY8llhkPQC&pg=PA191| publisher=Oxford Business Group| page=184| year=2007| isbn=9781902339740| access-date=22 September 2015| archive-date=6 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506130443/https://books.google.com/books?id=YuSY8llhkPQC&pg=PA191| url-status=live}}</ref>

Most Jordanian newspapers and news stations are situated in Amman. Daily newspapers published in Amman include ''[[Alghad]]'',<ref name=alghad>{{cite web |url=http://www.alrai.com |title=الرأي الأردنية | أخبار الأردن والشرق الأوسط والعالم|صحيفة يومية تصدر في عمان الأردن |publisher=Alrai.com |language=ar |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=4 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904043653/http://www.alrai.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[Ad-Dustour (Jordan)|Ad-Dustour]]'',<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.addustour.com | language=ar | title=:: جريدة الدستور :: | publisher=Addustour.com | access-date=28 November 2012 | archive-date=8 August 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808190011/http://www.addustour.com/ | url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Jordan Times]]'',<ref name=alghad/> and ''[[Al Ra'i (Jordanian newspaper)|Al Ra'i]]'', the most circulated newspaper in the country.<ref name="Journ">{{cite book| last1=Kalyango| first1=Yusuf Jr.| last2=Mould| first2=David H.| title=Global Journalism Practice and New Media Performance| publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]]| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-IOoBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA78| page=78| year=2014| isbn=978-1137440556| access-date=22 September 2015| archive-date=7 May 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507023445/https://books.google.com/books?id=-IOoBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA78| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, ''Al Ra'i'' was ranked the 5th most popular newspaper in the Arab world by Forbes Middle-East report.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/al-rai-ranks-fifth-among-region%E2%80%99s-online-newspapers| title=Al Rai ranks fifth among region's online newspapers| access-date=30 September 2015| date=30 November 2011| work=The Jordan Times| publisher=The Jordan News| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002000553/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/al-rai-ranks-fifth-among-region%E2%80%99s-online-newspapers| archive-date=2 October 2015}}</ref> ''[[Al Arab Al Yawm (newspaper)|Al-Arab Al-Yawm]]'' is the only daily pan-Arab newspaper in Jordan. The two most popular Jordanian TV channels, [[Ro'ya TV]] and [[JRTV]], are based in Amman.<ref name="Journ"/>[[File:Amman, Roman Theatre, Jordan.jpg|thumb|right|Celebrations of Amman's centennial in 2009]]

Aside from mainstream [[Arabic pop]], there is a growing independent music scene in the city which includes many bands that have sizable audiences across the [[Arab world]]. Local Ammani bands along with other bands in the [[Middle East]] gather in the Roman Theater during the [[Al-Balad Music Festival]] held annually in August. Music genres of the local bands are diverse, ranging from [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] to [[Arabic Rock]], [[jazz]] and [[rap]]. Performers include [[JadaL]], [[Torabyeh]], [[Bilocate]], [[Akher Zapheer]], [[Autostrad (band)|Autostrad]] and [[El Morabba3]].<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/the-promise-of-ammans-independent-music-scene_32052| title=The promise of Amman's independent music scene| access-date=23 September 2015| publisher=Your Middle East| date=13 May 2015| archive-date=20 August 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820160855/http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/culture/the-promise-of-ammans-independent-music-scene_32052| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Events===

Many events take place in Amman, including [[Red Bull]]-sponsored events Soundclash and Soapbox race, the second part of [[Jerash Festival]], Al-Balad Music Festival, [[Amman Marathon]], Made in Jordan Festival, Amman Book Festival and [[New Think Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beamman.com/calendar|title=BEAMMAN CALENDAR|access-date=25 September 2015|work=BeAmman.com|publisher=BeAmman.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005190840/http://beamman.com/calendar|archive-date=5 October 2015}}</ref> Venues for such cultural events often include the [[Roman Theater (Amman)|Roman]] and [[Odeon theater (Amman)|Odeon]] Theaters downtown, the [[Ras Al-Ein area|Ras al Ain Hanger]], [[King Hussein Business Park]], Rainbow Theater and Shams Theater, the [[Royal Film Commission – Jordan|Royal Film Commission]], Shoman libraries and [[Darat al Funun]], and the Royal Cultural Center at [[Sports City (Amman)|Sports City]]. In addition to large-scale events and institutional planning, scholars point to [[tactical urbanism]] as a key element of the city's cultural fabric.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Tarawneh|first=Deyala|date=17 January 2018|title=Tactical urbanism in Amman; Small practices and big changes.|url=https://www.interiorph.com/architecture/tactical-urbanism-amman-small-practices-big-changes/|access-date=11 December 2020|website=InteriorPH|language=en-US|archive-date=10 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010061927/http://www.interiorph.com/architecture/tactical-urbanism-amman-small-practices-big-changes/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Transportation==
===Airports===
[[File:Queen Alia International Airport Terminal.jpg|thumb|right|Queen Alia International Airport]]

The main airport serving Amman is [[Queen Alia International Airport]], situated about {{convert|30|km|2|abbr=on}} south of Amman. Much smaller is [[Amman Civil Airport]], a one-terminal airport that serves primarily domestic and nearby international routes and the army. Queen Alia International Airport is the major [[international airport]] in Jordan and the [[airline hub|hub]] for [[Royal Jordanian]], the [[flag carrier]]. Its expansion was recently done and modified, including the decommissioning of the old terminals and the commissioning of new terminals costing $700M, to handle over 16 million passengers annually.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albawaba.com/accelerating-passenger-growth-jordan%E2%80%99s-qaia-suggests-confidence-returning-386395 |title=Accelerating passenger growth at Jordan's QAIA suggests confidence returning |website=Al Bawaba |date=1 August 2011 |access-date=28 November 2012 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402232923/http://www.albawaba.com/accelerating-passenger-growth-jordan%E2%80%99s-qaia-suggests-confidence-returning-386395 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is now considered a state-of-the-art airport and was named 'the best airport in the [[Middle East]]' for 2014 and 2015 and 'the best improvement in the Middle East' for 2014 by [[List of Airport Service Quality Award winners|Airport Service Quality]] Survey, the world's leading airport passenger satisfaction benchmark program.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.aig.aero/en/content/1st-place-service-quality-rankings-qaia-named-best-airport-region-middle-east-and-best| access-date=23 September 2015| title=1st Place Service Quality Rankings: QAIA Named 'Best Airport by Region – Middle East' and 'Best Improvement by Region – Middle East'| date=23 February 2015| archive-date=25 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925072005/http://www.aig.aero/en/content/1st-place-service-quality-rankings-qaia-named-best-airport-region-middle-east-and-best| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Roads===
{{see also|List of roads in Amman}}

Amman has an extensive road network. Eight [[roundabout]] "circles", which formerly marked neighborhoods, are used as landmarks.<ref name="HusseinTourism"/> The road network includes many bridges and tunnels due to the mountainous nature of the terrain. A leading example is the [[Abdoun Bridge]], which spans [[Wadi Abdoun]] and connects the [[List of roads in Amman#Circles|4th Circle]] to [[Abdoun Circle]]. It is considered one of Amman's many landmarks and is the first curved suspended bridge to be built in the country.<ref name="HusseinTourism">{{cite web| url=http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism1.html| title=Tourism in Amman| access-date=2 September 2015| archive-date=15 January 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115010437/http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/tourism1.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
[[File:Abdoun Bridge (7).jpg|thumb|right|Abdoun Bridge, considered one of Amman's landmarks]]

Successive waves of refugees to the city has led to the rapid construction of new neighborhoods, but Amman's capacity for new or widened roads remains limited despite the influx. This has resulted in increasing traffic jams, particularly during summer when there are large numbers of tourists and Jordanian expatriates visiting.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/amman-residents-complain-about-daylong-car-jams| title=Amman residents complain about daylong car jams| access-date=23 September 2015| date=8 June 2014| publisher=The Jordan News| work=[[The Jordan Times]]| archive-date=25 September 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925114322/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/amman-residents-complain-about-daylong-car-jams| url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, a [[ring road]] encompassing the city was constructed, which aims to connect the northern and southern parts of the city in order for traffic to be diverted outside Amman and to improve the environmental conditions in the city.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/pm-inaugurates-second-phase-amman-road-project| title=PM inaugurates second phase of Amman road project| access-date=23 September 2015| date=5 February 2012| publisher=The Jordan News| work=The Jordan Times| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925104750/http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/pm-inaugurates-second-phase-amman-road-project| archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
[[File:BRT in Amman, Jordan 3.jpg|thumb|right|175px|BRT bus at a stop along its route]]

The [[Amman Bus]] and the [[Amman Bus Rapid Transit]] public transportation systems currently serve the city. Construction work on the BRT system started in 2010, but was halted soon after amid feasibility concerns. Resuming in 2015, the first route of the BRT system was inaugurated in 2021, and the second in 2022. Another BRT route [[Amman-Zarqa Bus Rapid Transit|connecting Amman with Zarqa]] is also under construction and is expected to be operational by 2023.<ref name=BRT>{{cite web|url=https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/brt-offers-new-commuting-experience-trial-run-continues|title=BRT offers new commuting experience as trial run continues|accessdate=8 February 2022|date=29 July 2021|work=the Jordan Times|archive-date=8 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220208010439/https://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/brt-offers-new-commuting-experience-trial-run-continues|url-status=live}}</ref>

The BRT system in Amman runs on 2 routes: the first from [[Sweileh]] in northwest Amman to the Ras Al-Ain area next to [[downtown Amman]], and the second from Sweileh to Mahatta terminal in eastern Amman. Both routes meet at the Sports City intersection. The first route is currently served by three lines: 98, 99 and 100.<ref name=BRT/> Ticket price for all lines of Amman Bus and Amman BRT are bought either online via the Amman Bus mobile application or as a rechargeable card in major terminals. Passengers scan their cards or QR codes on phone when boarding the bus, where the price ticket is subtracted from the available balance. The buses are air-conditioned, accessible, monitored with security cameras and have free internet service.<ref name=BRT/>

===Bus and taxi===

The city has frequent bus connections to other cities in Jordan, as well as to major cities in neighboring countries; the latter are also served by service taxis. Internal transport is served by a number of bus routes and taxis. Service taxis, which most often operate on fixed routes, are readily available and inexpensive. The two main bus and taxi stations are Abdali (near the [[King Abdullah I Mosque|King Abdullah Mosque]], the [[Parliament of Jordan|Parliament]] and Palace of Justice) and the Raghadan Central Bus Station near the Roman theater in the city center. Popular Jordanian bus company services include JETT and Al-Mahatta. Taxis are the most common way to get around in Amman due their high availability and inexpensiveness.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/jordan/city/amman/cultureCorner/transportation | title=Transportation in Amman | access-date=2 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925105718/http://studiesabroad.com/programs/country/jordan/city/amman/cultureCorner/transportation | archive-date=25 September 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Education==
{{See also|List of universities in Jordan}}
[[File:Isra University.JPG|thumb|right|Al-Isra University in Amman]]

Amman is a major regional center of education. The Amman region hosts Jordan's highest concentration of education centers. There are 20 universities in Amman. The [[University of Jordan]] is the largest public university in the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ju.edu.jo/Pages/AboutUJ/UJInBrief.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120729011718/http://www.ju.edu.jo/Pages/AboutUJ/UJInBrief.aspx |archive-date=29 July 2012 |title=JU In Brief }}</ref> There are 448 private schools in the city attended by 90,000 students,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://site.awa2el.net/article.aspx?ArticleNo=880|language=ar|title=كشف بأسماء المدارس الخاصة في عمان|access-date=23 September 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923031734/http://site.awa2el.net/article.aspx?ArticleNo=880|archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref> including [[Amman Baccalaureate School]], Amman Academy, [[Amman National School]], [[Modern American School (Jordan)|Modern American School]], [[American Community School in Amman]], and [[National Orthodox School]].[[File:University of Jordan Monuments and Buildings 114.jpg|thumb|right|University of Jordan library]]

Universities include:
*[[University of Jordan]]
*[[Al-Ahliyya Amman University]]
*[[Al-Isra University]]
*[[Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan]]
*[[Amman Arab University]]
*[[Applied Science Private University|Applied Science University]]
*[[Arab Academy for Banking and Financial Sciences]]
*[[Arab Open University]]
*[[Columbia University]]: Amman Branch
*[[German-Jordanian University]]: Amman Branch
*[[Jordan Academy for Maritime Studies]]
*[[Jordan Academy of Music]]
*[[Jordan Institute of Banking Studies]]
*[[Jordan Media Institute]]
*[[Middle East University (Jordan)|Middle East University]]
*[[University of Petra]]
*[[Philadelphia University (Jordan)|Philadelphia University]]
*[[Princess Sumaya University for Technology]]
*[[Queen Noor Civil Aviation Technical College]]
*[[World Islamic Sciences and Education University]]

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Jordan}}
Amman is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/gam/a.asp?id=1| title=Twin City Agreements| access-date=30 September 2015| work=GAM| publisher=Greater Amman Municipality| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001162134/http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/en/gam/a.asp?id=1| archive-date=1 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/english/relations/r12.asp| title=Amman's Relations with Other Cities| publisher=Ammancity.gov.jo| access-date=31 December 2013| archive-date=7 March 2005| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050307063658/http://www.ammancity.gov.jo/english/relations/r12.asp}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*{{flagicon|OMA}} [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], Oman (1986)
*{{flagicon|KSA}} [[Jeddah]], Saudi Arabia (1988)
*{{flagicon|EGY}} [[Cairo]], Egypt (1988)
*{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Rabat]], Morocco (1988)
*{{flagicon|YEM}} [[Sanaa]], Yemen (1989)
*{{flagicon|PAK}} [[Islamabad]], Pakistan (1989)
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Ankara]], Turkey (1992)
*{{flagicon|SDN}} [[Khartoum]], Sudan (1993)
*{{flagicon|QAT}} [[Doha]], Qatar (1995)
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey (1997)
*{{flagicon|ALG}} [[Algiers]], Algeria (1998)
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Bucharest]], Romania (1999)
*{{flagicon|MTN}} [[Nouakchott]], Mauritania (1999)
*{{flagicon|TUN}} [[Tunis]], Tunisia (1999)
*{{flagicon|BUL}} [[Sofia]], Bulgaria (2000)
*{{flagicon|LIB}} [[Beirut]], Lebanon (2000)
*{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Pretoria]], South Africa (2002)
*{{flagicon|HON}} [[Tegucigalpa]], Honduras (2002)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chicago]], United States (2004)<ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.chicagosistercities.com/|publisher=Chicago Sister Cities International|access-date=17 June 2020|archive-date=5 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191105104454/http://www.chicagosistercities.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Calabria]], Italy (2005)
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Moscow]], Russia (2005)
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Astana]], Kazakhstan (2005)
*{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Mostar]], Bosnia and Herzegovina (2006)<ref>{{cite web|title=Gradovi prijatelji|url=http://www.mostar.ba/gradovi-prijatelji.html|publisher=Mostar|language=bs|access-date=17 June 2020|archive-date=30 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030103002/http://www.mostar.ba/gradovi-prijatelji.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|BHR}} [[Central Governorate (Bahrain)|Central Governorate]], Bahrain (2006)
*{{flagicon|KGZ}} [[Bishkek]], Kyrgyzstan (2006)
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[San Francisco]], United States (2010)<ref>{{cite web|title=San Francisco Sister Cities|url=https://oewd.org/san-francisco-sister-cities|publisher=City and County of San Francisco|access-date=17 June 2020|archive-date=16 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616134724/https://oewd.org/san-francisco-sister-cities|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{Flagicon|BAN}} [[Sylhet]], Bangladesh
*{{flagicon|SGP}} [[Singapore]], Singapore (2014)
*{{flagicon|ARM}} [[Yerevan]], Armenia (2015)<ref>{{cite web|title=Sister cities|url=https://www.yerevan.am/en/partner/sister-cities/|publisher=Yerevan Municipal Government|access-date=17 June 2020|archive-date=29 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329102031/http://www.yerevan.am/en/partner/sister-cities/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Cincinnati]], United States (2015)
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Colorful Lovely Lights of Amman.jpg|[[Le Royal Hotel (Amman)|Le Royal Hotel]]
File:Alsa'adah Street. King Fisal I Square, Amman 19.JPG|[[Downtown Amman]]
File:Aerial photograph of Amman (3).JPG|Aerial view
</gallery>

{{Panorama
|image = File:Amman Panorama.jpg
|height = 230
|width =
|alt = Panorama of Amman, the capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, from the Citadel hill
|caption = Panorama of Amman from the Citadel hill
|dir =
}}

==See also==
* [[List of tallest buildings in Amman]]
{{Portal bar|Jordan|History|Asia}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last1=Albala|first1=Ken|title=Food Cultures of the World Encyclopedia, Volume 1|date=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9780313376269|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NTo6c_PJWRgC&pg=PA267|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518200842/https://books.google.com/books?id=NTo6c_PJWRgC&pg=PA267|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|title=Cities of the Middle East and North Africa: A Historical Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA35|first1=Michael|last1=Dumper|first2=Bruce E.|last2=Stanley|year=2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=9781576079195|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518200604/https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA35|url-status=live}}
*{{cite journal|last=Hamed-Troyansky|first=Vladimir|date=2017|title=Circassian Refugees and the Making of Amman, 1878–1914|journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies|volume=49|issue=4|pages=605–623|doi=10.1017/S0020743817000617|s2cid=165801425}}
* {{cite book|last1=Jones|first1=Mari C.|title=Language Change: The Interplay of Internal, External, and Extra-linguistic Factors|date=2002|publisher=Walter de Gruyter|isbn=9783110172027|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hKftmhoP4gYC&pg=PA64|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518194848/https://books.google.com/books?id=hKftmhoP4gYC&pg=PA64|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Kildani|first1=Hanna|title=Modern Christianity in the Holy Land: Development of the Structure of Churches and the Growth of Christian Institutions in Jordan and Palestine|date=2010|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=9781449052850|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZrvHHROsgt8C&pg=PA678|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518204659/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZrvHHROsgt8C&pg=PA678|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Owens|first1=Jonathan|title=The Oxford Handbook of Arabic Linguistics|date=2013|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780199344093|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1IJoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA260|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518233156/https://books.google.com/books?id=1IJoAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA260|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Plascov|first1=Avi|title=The Palestinian Refugees in Jordan 1948–1957|date=1981|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9780714631202|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=daLPXTYcoewC&pg=PA33|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518201433/https://books.google.com/books?id=daLPXTYcoewC&pg=PA33|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book |last1=Richmond |first1=Walter |title=The Circassian Genocide |date=2013 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=9780813560694 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LHlwZwpA70cC&pg=PA124 |access-date=23 September 2015 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518194749/https://books.google.com/books?id=LHlwZwpA70cC&pg=PA124 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |title=International Dictionary of Historic Places: Middle East and Africa |volume=4 |page=289 |first1=Trudy |last1=Ring |first2=Robert M. |last2=Salkin |first3=Paul E. |last3=Schellinger |publisher=Taylor & Francis |year=1994 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2aOpeBnbxvsC&pg=PA289 |isbn=9781884964039 |access-date=16 March 2018 |archive-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518204724/https://books.google.com/books?id=2aOpeBnbxvsC&pg=PA289 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite book |last1=Le Strange |first1=Guy |title=Palestine Under the Moslems: A Description of Syria and the Holy Land from A.D. 650 to 1500 |date=1890 |publisher=Alexander P. Watt for the Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ENANAAAAIAAJ/page/n440 391] |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ENANAAAAIAAJ }}
* {{cite book|last1=Suleiman|first1=Yasir|title=A War of Words: Language and Conflict in the Middle East|date=2004|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9780521546560|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Neu3q8Vt01sC&pg=PA101|access-date=23 September 2015|archive-date=18 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518195206/https://books.google.com/books?id=Neu3q8Vt01sC&pg=PA101|url-status=live}}
* {{cite book|last1=Walker|first1=Bethany J.|editor1-last=Talmon-Heller|editor1-first=Daniela|editor2-last=Cytryn-Silverman|editor2-first=Katia|title=Material Evidence and Narrative Sources: Interdisciplinary Studies of the History of the Muslim Middle East|date=2015|publisher=Brill|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oIEcBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA120|chapter=On Archives and Archaeology: Reassessing Mamluk Rule from Documentary Sources and Jordanian Fieldwork|isbn=9789004279667|access-date=22 February 2016|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102142747/https://books.google.com/books?id=oIEcBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA120|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web|date=9 November 2018|title=الملك: تفجيرات عمان الأليمة أظهرت للعالم مقدار قوة شعبنا|url=https://jo24.net/article/295889|access-date=1 December 2020|website=الأردن 24|archive-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303115404/https://jo24.net/article/295889|url-status=live}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Amman}}
{{Wikivoyage|Amman}}
* [https://www.facebook.com/Amman?fref=ts Amman Digital Community Facebook page]
* [https://www.facebook.com/cityofamman?fref=ts Greater Amman Municipality Facebook page]
* [http://maannasel.net/map/ Amman public transportation map]
* [https://acor.digitalrelab.com/index.php?s=filter=place_name:Amman%20(Jordan) Photos of Amman from the American Center of Research]

{{Navboxes
|list=
{{Amman Governorate}}
{{Decapolis cities}}
{{Capitals of Arab countries}}
{{List of Asian capitals by region}}
{{Arab Capital of Culture}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Amman| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]
[[Category:Levant]]
[[Category:Populated places in Amman Governorate]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1878]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 8th millennium BC]]

Algiers

2023-06-01T09:07:23Z

94.140.246.27:

{{Short description|Capital and largest city of Algeria}}
{{About|the capital of Algeria}}
{{Redirect|Algerine}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Algiers
| native_name = {{native name|ber-Latn|Dzayer}} {{native name|ar|الجزائر}} {{native name|fr|Alger}}
| other_name =
| official_name =
| nicknames = Algiers the White; Algiers the Dazzling
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]]
| imagesize = 275px
| image_skyline = Algiers Montage.png
| image_caption = '''From top, left to right''': Coast, [[Martyrs' Memorial, Algiers|Martyrs' Memorial]], [[Ministry of Finance (Algeria)|Ahmed Francis Building]], [[Notre-Dame d'Afrique|Basilica of Our Lady of Africa]], [[Grande Poste d'Alger|Central Post Office]], [[Ketchaoua Mosque]], Harbour
| image_flag = Flag of Algiers.svg
| image_shield = Algiers-COA.svg
| pushpin_map = Algeria#Arab world#Africa
| pushpin_relief = yes
| pushpin_mapsize = 275
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[Algeria]] and [[Africa]]
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_type1 = [[Provinces of Algeria|Province]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Algiers Province]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Algeria|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Sidi M'Hamed District]]
| subdivision_name = Algeria
| leader_title = [[Wali (administrative title)|Wali]] ([[Governor]])
| leader_name = Ahmed Maâbed (since 2021)
| established_title = Re-founded
| established_date =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 363
| area_metro_km2 = 1190
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref name=citypop>{{Cite web|url=http://citypopulation.de/Algeria.html
|title=Population of the city proper according to the 2008 census|publisher=Citypopulation.de
|access-date=2010-06-27| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100615060640/http://www.citypopulation.de/Algeria.html| archive-date= 15 June 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref name=wup>{{Cite web|url=http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp?panel=2 |title=UN World Urbanization Prospects
|publisher=Esa.un.org |access-date=2010-06-27 |url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091223005931/http://esa.un.org/unup/index.asp?panel=2
|archive-date=2020 }}</ref>
| population_total = 4,510,000
| population_density_km2 = 12,424
| population_density_metro_km2 = 7012
| timezone = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset = +01:00
| coordinates = {{coord|36|45|14|N|3|3|32|E|region:DZ_type:city|display=inline}}
| elevation_min_m = 2
| elevation_max_m = 424
| postal_code_type = Postal codes
| postal_code = 16000–16132
| area_code = (+213) 021
| blank_name = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info = [[Mediterranean climate|Csa]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}
'''Algiers''' ({{IPAc-en|æ|l|ˈ|dʒ|ɪər|z}} {{respell|al|JEERZ}}; {{lang-ar|الجزائر|al-Jazāʾir}}; {{lang-ber|Dzayer|script=Latn}}; {{lang-fr|Alger}}, {{IPA-fr|alʒe|}}) is the [[capital city|capital]] and largest city of [[Algeria]]. The city's population at the 2008 census was 2,988,145<ref name="ReferenceA">Census 14 April 2008: Office National des Statistiques de l'Algérie (web).</ref> and in 2020 was estimated to be around 4,500,000. Algiers is in the north-central part of Algeria.<ref name=wup/>

Algiers is situated on the west side of the Bay of Algiers, in the Mediterranean Sea. The modern part of the city is built on the level ground by the seashore; the old part, the ancient city of the [[dey]]s, climbs the steep hill behind the modern town and is crowned by the [[Casbah of Algiers|Casbah]] or citadel (a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]]),<ref>[[UNESCO]], [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/565 ''Decision Text''], World Heritage Centre, retrieved 21 July 2017.</ref> {{convert|122|m|0}} above the sea. The Casbah and the two quays form a triangle.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=653}}

{{anchor|Etymology|Toponymy|Name}}

==Names==
The city's name is derived via [[French language|French]] and [[Catalan language|Catalan]] {{lang|ca|Alger}}<ref name=leschi>''Origins of Algiers'' by [[Louis Leschi]], speech delivered June 16, 1941, published in ''El Djezair Sheets'', July 1941 [http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/alger_son_histoire/textes/3_origines_alger_1941_feuillets.htm History of Algeria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116134513/http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/alger_son_histoire/textes/3_origines_alger_1941_feuillets.htm |date=2013-01-16 }} {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> from the Arabic name {{Lang|ar-latn|al-Jazāʾir}} ({{lang|ar|الجزائر}}), "The Islands". This name refers to the four former islands which lay off the city's coast before becoming part of the mainland in 1525. {{Lang|ar-latn|Al-Jazāʾir}} is itself a truncated form of the city's older name {{Lang|ar-latn|Jazaʾir Banī Mazghanna}} ({{lang|ar|جزائر بني مزغانة}}), "The Islands of the {{Lang|ar-latn|[[Banu (Arabic)|Banu]]|italic=no}} Mazghanna", used by early medieval geographers such as [[Muhammad al-Idrisi]] and [[Yaqut al-Hamawi]].

In [[classical antiquity]], the [[list of Graeco-Roman geographers|ancient Greeks]] knew the town as {{Lang|grc-latn|Ikósion}} ({{lang-grc|Ἰκόσιον}}), which was [[latinization of names|Latinized]] as [[Icosium]] under [[Roman Republic|Roman rule]]. The Greeks [[folk etymology|explained the name]] as coming from their word for "twenty" ({{lang|grc|εἴκοσι}}, {{Lang|grc-latn|eíkosi}}), supposedly because it had been founded by 20 companions of [[Hercules]] when he visited the [[Atlas Mountains]] during [[Labors of Hercules|his labors]].<ref name=backtalk>{{cite book | author = Edward Lipiński | date = 2004 | title = Itineraria Phoenicia | publisher = Peeters Publishers | page = 403 | isbn = 978-90-429-1344-8 | oclc = 1026236463 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=SLSzNfdcqfoC&pg=PA403}}</ref>

Algiers is also known as {{Lang|ar-latn|el-Behdja}} ({{lang|ar|البهجة}}, "The Joyous") or "Algiers the White" ({{lang-fr|Alger la Blanche|links=no}}) for its whitewashed buildings.

==History==
{{For timeline}}

===Early history===
{{main|Icosium}}
The city's earliest history was as a small port in [[Carthage]] where [[Phoenicians]] were trading with other Mediterraneans. After the [[Punic Wars]], the [[Roman Republic]] eventually took over administration of the town, which they called [[Icosium]]. Its ruins now form part of the modern city's marine quarter, with the Rue de la Marine following a former [[Roman road]]. Roman cemeteries existed near [[Bab-el-Oued]] and [[Bab Azoun]]. The city was given [[Latin rights]] by the emperor [[Vespasian]]. The [[bishop]]s of Icosium are mentioned as late as the 5th century,{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}} but the ancient town fell into obscurity during the [[Muslim conquest of the Maghreb]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of Algeria - Key Figures in Algeria's history |url=https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/History/Algeria-history.htm |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=www.nationsonline.org}}</ref>

The present city was founded in 944 by [[Buluggin ibn Ziri]], the founder of the [[Berbers|Berber]] [[Zirid dynasty]]. He had built his own house and a [[Sanhaja]] center at Ashir in 935 just south of Algiers. Although the Zirid dynasty was overthrown by [[Roger II of Sicily]] in 1148, the Zirids had already lost control of Algiers to their cousins the [[Hammadid]]s in 1014.<ref name="Ruedy2005">{{cite book | author = John Ruedy | date = 12 August 2005 | title = Modern Algeria, Second Edition: The Origins and Development of a Nation | publisher = Indiana University Press | pages = 13– | isbn = 978-0-253-21782-0 | oclc = 1025661094 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=WIRWgrbE_fEC&pg=PA13}}</ref>

The city was wrested from the Hammadids by the [[Almohad Caliphate]] in 1159, and in the 13th century came under the dominion of the [[Ziyanid]] sultans of the [[Kingdom of Tlemcen]]. Nominally part of the sultanate of Tlemcen, Algiers had a large measure of independence under [[Thaaliba]] [[amir]]s of its own due to [[Oran]] being the chief seaport of the Ziyanids.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}

The [[Peñón of Algiers]], an islet in front of Algiers harbour, had been occupied by the Spaniards as early as 1302. Thereafter, a considerable amount of trade began to flow between Algiers and [[Spain]]. However, Algiers continued to be of comparatively little importance until after the [[Reconquista#Conversions and expulsions|expulsion of the Moors]] from Spain, many of whom sought asylum in the city. In 1510, following their occupation of Oran and other towns on the coast of Africa, the Spaniards fortified the islet of Peñon{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}} and imposed a levy intended to suppress the [[Barbary pirates]].<ref name="Çelik1997">{{cite book | author = Zeynep Çelik | date = 1997 | title = Urban Forms and Colonial Confrontations: Algiers Under French Rule | publisher = University of California Press | page = 13| isbn = 978-0-520-20457-7 | oclc = 208879670 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hSSLQgAACAAJ}}</ref>

===Ottoman rule===
[[File:Civitates orbis terrarum. De praecipuis totius universi urbibus. Liber secundus (page 128).jpg|thumb|Algiers by [[Antonio Salamanca]], circa 1540, published in [[Civitates Orbis Terrarum]]]]
[[File:Duquesne fait liberer des captifs chretiens apres le bombardement d Alger en 1683.jpg|thumb|[[Abraham Duquesne]] delivering Christian captives in Algiers after the bombing in 1683.]]
In 1516, the amir of Algiers, Selim b. Teumi, invited the corsair brothers [[Oruç Reis]] and [[Hayreddin Barbarossa]] to expel the [[Habsburg Spain|Spaniards]]. Oruç Reis came to Algiers, ordered the assassination of Selim, and seized the town and ousted the Spanish in the [[Capture of Algiers (1516)]]. Hayreddin, succeeding Aruj after the latter was killed in battle against the Spaniards in the [[Fall of Tlemcen (1518)|1518 fall of Tlemcen]], was the founder of the ''[[pashaluk]]'', which subsequently became the ''[[bey]]lik'', of Algeria. Barbarossa lost Algiers in 1524 but regained it with the [[Capture of Peñón of Algiers (1529)|1529 Capture of Peñón of Algiers]], and then formally invited the Sultan [[Suleiman the Magnificent]] to accept sovereignty over the territory and to annex Algiers to the [[Ottoman Empire]].

[[File:Algiers and Bejaia by Piri Reis.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Historic map of Algiers by [[Piri Reis]]]]
{{Anchor|Algerine}}
Algiers from this time became the chief seat of the [[Barbary pirates]]. In October 1541 in the [[Algiers expedition (1541)|Algiers expedition]], the King of Spain and [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor]] sought to capture the city, but a storm destroyed a great number of his ships, and his army of some 30,000, chiefly made up of Spaniards, was defeated by the Algerians under their [[pasha]], Hassan.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}
[[File:Sm Bombardment of Algiers, August 1816-Luny.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Bombardment of Algiers (1816)|bombardment of Algiers]] under [[Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth|Viscount Exmouth]], August 1816, painted by [[Thomas Luny]]]]
[[File:Ottoman cannon end of 16th century length 385cm cal 178mm weight 2910 stone projectile founded 8 October 1581 Alger seized 1830.jpg|right|thumb|Ornate [[Ottoman weapons|Ottoman cannon]] found in Algiers on 8 October 1581 by Ca'fer el-Mu'allim. Length: 385 cm, cal:178 mm, weight: 2910 kg, stone projectile. Seized by France during the [[invasion of Algiers in 1830]]. [[Army Museum (Paris)|Army Museum, Paris]].]]

Formally part of the Ottoman Empire but essentially free from Ottoman control, starting in the 16th century Algiers turned to piracy and ransoming. Due to its location on the periphery of both the Ottoman and European economic spheres, and depending for its existence on a Mediterranean that was increasingly controlled by European shipping, backed by European navies, piracy became the primary economic activity. Repeated attempts were made by various nations to subdue the pirates that disturbed shipping in the western Mediterranean and engaged in slave raids as far north as Iceland.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.heimaslod.is/index.php/Tyrkjar%C3%A1ni%C3%B0 |title=Tyrkjaránið – Heimaslóð |language=is |publisher=Heimaslod.is |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527072348/http://www.heimaslod.is/index.php/Tyrkjar%C3%A1ni%C3%B0 |archive-date=2011-05-27 |url-status=live }}</ref> By the 17th century, up to 40% of the city's 100,000 inhabitants were enslaved Europeans.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/4547299|title=From Amrum to Algiers and Back: The Reintegration of a Renegade in the Eighteenth Century|author=Martin Reinheimer|journal=Central European History|year=2003|volume=36|issue=2|pages=209–233|access-date=2021-06-23|publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]]|doi=10.1163/156916103770866121|jstor=4547299|s2cid=143504775}}</ref> The [[United States]] fought two wars (the [[First Barbary War|First]] and [[Second Barbary War]]s) over Algiers' attacks on shipping.

Among the notable people held for ransom was the future Spanish novelist, [[Miguel de Cervantes]], who was held captive in Algiers for almost five years, and wrote two plays set in Algiers of the period. The primary source for knowledge of Algiers of this period, since there are no contemporary local sources, is the ''Topografía e historia general de Argel'' (1612, but written earlier), published by Diego de Haedo, but whose authorship is disputed.<ref>{{cite journal
|first=Daniel
|last=Eisenberg
|author-link=:es:Daniel Eisenberg
|title=Cervantes, autor de la ''Topografía e historia general de Argel'' publicada por Diego de Haedo
|journal=Cervantes: Bulletin of the Cervantes Society of America
|volume=16
|number=1
|year=1996
|pages=32–53
|url=http://www.h-net.org/~cervantes/csa/artics96/topograf.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150318061159/http://www.h-net.org/~cervantes/csa/artics96/topograf.htm |archive-date=2015-03-18}} Others have disputed Eisenberg's attribution of the work to Cervantes.</ref><ref>{{cite book
|author-link=:es:Daniel Eisenberg
|first=Daniel
|last=Eisenberg
|contribution=¿Por qué volvió Cervantes de Argel?" ("Why Did Cervantes return from Algiers?
|title=''Ingeniosa invención'': Essays on Golden Age Spanish Literature for Geoffrey L. Stagg in Honor of his Eighty-Fifth Birthday
|location=[[Newark, Delaware]]
|publisher=Juan de la Cuesta
|year=1999
|isbn=0936388838
|pages=[https://archive.org/details/ingeniosainvenci0000unse/page/241 241–253]
|url=https://archive.org/details/ingeniosainvenci0000unse/page/241
}}</ref> This work describes in detail the city, the behavior of its inhabitants, and its military defenses, with the unsuccessful hope of facilitating an attack by Spain so as to end the piracy.

A significant number of renegades lived in Algiers at the time, Christians converted voluntarily to [[Islam]], many fleeing the law or other problems at home. Once converted to Islam, they were safe in Algiers. Many occupied positions of authority, such as [[Samson Rowlie]], an Englishman who became Treasurer of Algiers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35843991|title=The First Muslims in England|work=BBC News|date=20 March 2016|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321043520/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35843991|archive-date=2016-03-21|url-status=live}}</ref>

The city under Ottoman control was enclosed by a wall on all sides, including along the seafront. In this wall, five gates allowed access to the city, with five roads from each gate dividing the city and meeting in front of the Ketchaoua Mosque. In 1556, a citadel was constructed at the highest point in the wall. A major road running north to south divided the city in two: The upper city (al-Gabal, or 'the mountain') which consisted of about fifty small quarters of [[Andalusians|Andalusian]], [[Algerian Jews|Jewish]], [[Moors|Moorish]] and [[Kabyle people|Kabyle]] communities, and the lower city (al-Wata, or 'the plains') which was the administrative, military and commercial centre of the city, mostly inhabited by [[Kouloughlis|Ottoman Turkish dignitaries]] and other upper-class families.<ref>Celik, Zeynep, ''Urban Forms and Colonial Confrontations: Algiers Under French Rule'', University of California Press, 1997, pp. 13–14.</ref>

In August 1816, the city was bombarded by a British squadron under [[Edward Pellew, 1st Viscount Exmouth|Lord Exmouth]] (a descendant of Thomas Pellew, taken in an Algerian slave raid in 1715<ref>{{Cite book|title=Africa (a-z).|last=Godfrey.|first=Mugoti|date=2009|publisher=Lulu Com|isbn=978-1435728905|location=[Place of publication not identified]|oclc=946180025}}{{self-published source|date=February 2020}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=February 2020}}), assisted by men-of-war from the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]], destroying the corsair fleet harboured in Algiers.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}

===French rule===
[[File:Algiers - depot and station grounds of Algerian Railway LCCN2004707260.tif|thumb|Algiers depot and station grounds of Algerian Railway, 1894]]
The history of Algiers from 1830 to 1962 is bound to the larger history of [[Algeria]] and its relationship to [[France]]. On July 4, 1830, under the pretext of an affront to the French consul—whom the [[dey]] had hit with a [[fly-whisk]] when the consul said the French government was not prepared to pay its large outstanding debts to two Algerian merchants—a French army under [[Louis-Auguste-Victor, Count de Ghaisnes de Bourmont|General de Bourmont]] attacked the city in the [[invasion of Algiers in 1830|1830 invasion of Algiers]]. The city capitulated the following day. Algiers became the capital of [[French Algeria]].

Many Europeans settled in Algiers, and by the early 20th century they formed a majority of the city's population.<ref>Albert Habib Hourani, Malise Ruthven (2002). "''[https://books.google.com/books?id=egbOb0mewz4C&pg=PA323 A history of the Arab peoples] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906022938/https://books.google.com/books?id=egbOb0mewz4C&pg=PA323&dq&hl=en |date=2015-09-06 }}''". Harvard University Press. p.323. {{ISBN|0-674-01017-5}}</ref> During the 1930s, the architect [[Le Corbusier]] drew up plans for a complete redesign of the colonial city. Le Corbusier was highly critical of the urban style of Algiers, describing the European district as "nothing but crumbling walls and devastated nature, the whole a sullied blot". He also criticised the difference in living standards he perceived between the European and African residents of the city, describing a situation in which "the 'civilised' live like rats in holes" whereas "the 'barbarians' live in solitude, in well-being".<ref>Celik, Zeynep, ''Urban Forms and Colonial Confrontations: Algiers Under French Rule'', University of California Press, 1997, p. 5.</ref> However, these plans were ultimately ignored by the French administration.

During [[World War II]], Algiers was the first city to be seized from the Axis by the Allies in [[Operation Terminal]], a part of [[Operation Torch]].
[[File:Algiers CNE-v1-p58-J.jpg|thumb|left|City and harbour of Algiers, {{circa|1921}}]]

In 1962, after a bloody independence struggle in which hundreds of thousands (estimates range between 350,000 and 1,500,000) died (mostly Algerians but also French and [[Pied-Noir|Pieds-Noirs]]) during fighting between the [[French Army]] and the Algerian [[National Liberation Front (Algeria)|Front de Libération Nationale]], Algeria gained its independence, with Algiers as its capital. Since then, despite losing its entire ''[[pied-noir]]'' population, the city has expanded massively. It now has about five million inhabitants, or 10 percent of Algeria's population—and its suburbs now cover most of the surrounding [[Geography of Algeria|Mitidja]] plain.

===Algerian War===
[[File:1962-03-22 Algeria tense cease fire.ogv|thumb|right|The "tense truce" between Algerian rebels, French army and the OAS in 1962]]
Algiers also played a pivotal role in the [[Algerian War]] (1954–1962), particularly during the [[Algerian War#Battle of Algiers|Battle of Algiers]] when the 10th Parachute Division of the French Army, starting on January 7, 1957, and on the orders of the French Minister of Justice [[François Mitterrand]] (who authorized any means "to eliminate the insurrectionists"{{Citation needed|date=June 2008}}), led attacks against the Algerian fighters for independence. Algiers remains marked by this battle, which was characterized by merciless fighting between FLN forces which carried out a guerrilla campaign against the French military and police and pro-French Algerian soldiers, and the French Army which responded with a bloody repression, torture and blanket terrorism against the native population. The demonstrations of May 13 during the crisis of 1958 provoked the fall of the [[French Fourth Republic|Fourth Republic]] in France, as well as the return of General [[Charles de Gaulle|de Gaulle]] to power.

===Independence===
Algeria achieved [[independence]] on July 5, 1962. Run by the FLN that had secured independence, Algiers became a member of [[Non-Aligned Movement]] during the [[Cold War]]. In October 1988, one year before the fall of the [[Berlin Wall]], Algiers was the site of demonstrations demanding the end of the single-party system and the creation of a ''real'' [[democracy]] baptized the "Spring of Algier". The demonstrators were repressed by the authorities (more than 300 dead), but the movement constituted a turning point in the political history of modern Algeria. In 1989, a new constitution was adopted that put an end to the one-party rule and saw the creation of more than fifty political parties, as well as official freedom of the press.

===Crisis of the 1990s===
The city became the theatre of many political demonstrations of all descriptions until 1993. In 1991, a political entity dominated by religious conservatives called the [[Islamic Salvation Front]] engaged in a political test of wills with the authorities. In the 1992 elections for the Algerian National Assembly, the Islamists garnered a large amount of support in the first round. Fearing an eventual win by the Islamists, the army canceled the election process, setting off a [[Algerian Civil War|civil war]] between the State and armed religious conservatives which would last for a decade.

On December 11, 2007, two car [[11 December 2007 Algiers bombings|bombs exploded in Algiers]]. One bomb targeted two [[United Nations]] office buildings and the other targeted a government building housing the Supreme Court. The death toll was at least 62, with over two hundred injured in the attacks.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Les autorités accusent al-Qaïda|publisher=RFI|url=http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/096/article_60149.asp|access-date=2007-12-11| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071213023440/http://www.rfi.fr/actufr/articles/096/article_60149.asp| archive-date= 13 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref> However, only 26 remained hospitalized the following day.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Toll in Algiers bombings rises to 31 |agency=Associated Press |url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071212/ap_on_re_af/algeria_explosion |access-date=2007-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214021257/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071212/ap_on_re_af/algeria_explosion |archive-date=2007-12-14 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{as of|2008}}, it is speculated that the attack was carried out by the Al Qaida cell within the city.<ref>{{cite news|title=Al Qaeda blamed for Algeria bombs|publisher=CNN|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/12/11/algeria.blast/index.html|access-date=2007-12-11 | date=2007-12-12| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071212153122/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/12/11/algeria.blast/index.html| archive-date= 12 December 2007 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Indigenous terrorist groups have been actively [[Islamic insurgency in Algeria (2002–present)#2007|operating in Algeria since around 2002]].

==Geography==

===Districts of Algiers===
[[File:NOTRE DAME D'AFRIQUE.ALGER.jpg|thumb|[[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], built by European settlers in 1872<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8766/ |title = Notre Dame d'Afrique and Carmelite Convent, Algiers, Algeria |website = [[World Digital Library]] |year = 1899 |access-date = 2013-09-25 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927125818/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8766/ |archive-date = 2013-09-27 |url-status = live }}</ref>]]
* '''[[Casbah of Algiers|The Casbah]]''' (of ''Al Qasbah'', "the Citadel"), Ier District of Algiers: called ''Al-Djazaïr Al Mahroussa'' ("Well Kept Algiers"), is founded on the ruins of old Icosium. It is a small city which, built on a hill, goes down towards the sea, divided in two: the High city and the Low city. One finds there masonries and mosques of the 17th century; Ketchaoua mosque (built in 1794 by the Dey Baba Hassan) flanked by two minarets, mosque el Djedid (built in 1660, at the time of Turkish regency) with its large finished ovoid cupola points some and its four coupolettes, mosque El Kébir (oldest of the mosques, it was built by [[Almoravid]] [[Youssef Ibn Tachfin]] and rebuilt later in 1794), mosque Ali Betchnin (Raïs, 1623), Dar Aziza, palate of Jénina. In the Kasbah, there are also labyrinths of lanes and houses that are very picturesque, and if one gets lost there, it is enough to go down again towards the sea to reposition oneself.
* ''' [[Bab El Oued]]''': Literally ''the River's Gate'', the popular district which extends from the Casbah beyond "the gate of the river". It is the capital's darling and best liked borough. Famous for its square with "the three clocks" and for its "market Triplet", it is also a district of workshops and manufacturing plants.
* ''' [[Edge of sea]]''': from 1840, the architects Pierre-August Guiauchain and [[Charles Frédéric Chassériau]] designed new buildings apart from the Casbah, town hall, law courts, buildings, theatre, palace of the Governor, and casino, to form an elegant walk bordered by arcades which is today the boulevard [[Che Guevara]] (formerly the Boulevard of the [[Republic]]).
* ''' [[Kouba, Algeria|Kouba]]''' ([[will daira]] of [[Hussein-dey]]): Kouba is an old village which was absorbed by the expansion of the town of Algiers. Kouba quickly developed under the French colonial era then continued growing due to formidable demographic expansion that Algiers saw after the independence of Algeria in 1962. It is today a district of Algiers which is largely made up of houses, villas, and buildings not exceeding five stories.
* [[El Harrach]], a suburb of Algiers, is located about {{convert|10|km|0|abbr=off}} to the east of the city.
* The communes of [[Hydra (Algiers) will|Hydra]], [[Ben Aknoun]], [[El-Biar]] and [[Bouzareah]] form what the inhabitants of Algiers call the "Heights of Algiers". These communes shelter the majority of the foreign embassies of Algiers, of many ministries and university centres, which makes it one of the administrative and policy centres of the country.
* The '''Didouche Mourad street''' is located in the 3rd district Of Algiers. It extends from the '''Grande Post office''' to the Heights of Algiers. It crosses in particular the '''place Audin''', '''the [[Algiers 1 University|Faculty of Algiers]]''', '''The Crowned Heart''' and '''the Freedom Park (formerly Galland)'''. It is bordered by smart stores and restaurants along most of its length. It is regarded as the heart of the capital.
[[File:Algiers, Algeria.jpg|thumb|Astronautical view of Algiers]]

===Climate===
Algiers has a [[Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Csa''). Its proximity to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] aids in moderating the city's temperatures. As a result, Algiers usually does not see the extreme temperatures that are experienced in the adjacent interior. Algiers on average receives roughly {{convert|600|mm|in|0}} of rain per year, the bulk of which is seen between October and April. The precipitation is higher than in most of coastal Mediterranean [[Spain]], and similar to most of coastal Mediterranean [[France]], as opposed to the interior North African semi-arid or arid climate.

Snow is very rare; in 2012, the city received {{convert|100|mm|in|0}} of snowfall, its first snowfall in eight years.<ref>{{cite news |title=European Chill Moves West, 122 Die in Ukraine |first=Richard |last=Balmforth |date=4 February 2012 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-weather-idUSTRE8130NK20120204 |access-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914142912/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/04/us-europe-weather-idUSTRE8130NK20120204 |archive-date=14 September 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Algiers ([[Houari Boumediene Airport]] ) 1976–2005 averages, extremes 1838–present
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 27.6
|Feb record high C = 31.4
|Mar record high C = 36.3
|Apr record high C = 36.5
|May record high C = 41.1
|Jun record high C = 44.6
|Jul record high C = 45.2
|Aug record high C = 47.5
|Sep record high C = 44.4
|Oct record high C = 39.5
|Nov record high C = 34.4
|Dec record high C = 30.4
|year record high C = 47.5
|Jan high C = 16.7
|Feb high C = 17.4
|Mar high C = 19.3
|Apr high C = 20.9
|May high C = 23.9
|Jun high C = 28.2
|Jul high C = 31.2
|Aug high C = 32.2
|Sep high C = 29.6
|Oct high C = 25.9
|Nov high C = 20.8
|Dec high C = 17.9
|year high C = 23.7
|Jan mean C = 11.1
|Feb mean C = 11.7
|Mar mean C = 13.2
|Apr mean C = 14.9
|May mean C = 18.1
|Jun mean C = 22.2
|Jul mean C = 25.1
|Aug mean C = 26.0
|Sep mean C = 23.6
|Oct mean C = 20.1
|Nov mean C = 15.3
|Dec mean C = 12.6
|year mean C = 17.8
|Jan low C = 5.5
|Feb low C = 5.9
|Mar low C = 7.1
|Apr low C = 8.8
|May low C = 12.3
|Jun low C = 16.1
|Jul low C = 18.9
|Aug low C = 19.8
|Sep low C = 17.6
|Oct low C = 14.2
|Nov low C = 9.8
|Dec low C = 7.2
|year low C = 11.9
|Jan record low C = -3.3
|Feb record low C = -1.9
|Mar record low C = -1.0
|Apr record low C = -0.8
|May record low C = 2.6
|Jun record low C = 5.5
|Jul record low C = 9.0
|Aug record low C = 9.5
|Sep record low C = 8.2
|Oct record low C = 4.1
|Nov record low C = -0.1
|Dec record low C = -2.3
|year record low C = -3.3
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 81.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 72.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 55.0
|Apr precipitation mm = 58.4
|May precipitation mm = 41.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 8.5
|Jul precipitation mm = 4.5
|Aug precipitation mm = 8.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 28.3
|Oct precipitation mm = 58.8
|Nov precipitation mm = 89.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 91.0
|year precipitation mm = 598.3
|unit precipitation days = 0.1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 11.4
|Feb precipitation days = 10.6
|Mar precipitation days = 9.7
|Apr precipitation days = 9.1
|May precipitation days = 7.3
|Jun precipitation days = 2.5
|Jul precipitation days = 1.5
|Aug precipitation days = 2.5
|Sep precipitation days = 5.3
|Oct precipitation days = 8.6
|Nov precipitation days = 11.1
|Dec precipitation days = 12.1
|year precipitation days = 91.7
|Jan humidity = 71
|Feb humidity = 66
|Mar humidity = 65
|Apr humidity = 62
|May humidity = 66
|Jun humidity = 66
|Jul humidity = 67
|Aug humidity = 65
|Sep humidity = 68
|Oct humidity = 66
|Nov humidity = 68
|Dec humidity = 68
|year humidity = 67
|Jan sun = 139.5
|Feb sun = 158.2
|Mar sun = 207.7
|Apr sun = 228.0
|May sun = 300.7
|Jun sun = 300.0
|Jul sun = 353.4
|Aug sun = 325.5
|Sep sun = 267.0
|Oct sun = 198.4
|Nov sun = 153.0
|Dec sun = 145.7
|year sun = 2777.1
|Jand sun = 4.5
|Febd sun = 5.6
|Mard sun = 6.7
|Aprd sun = 7.6
|Mayd sun = 9.7
|Jund sun = 10.0
|Juld sun = 11.4
|Augd sun = 10.5
|Sepd sun = 8.9
|Octd sun = 6.4
|Novd sun = 5.1
|Decd sun = 4.7
|yeard sun = 7.6
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (average temperatures and precipitation, 1976–2005)<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=242
| title = World Weather Information Service–Algiers
| publisher = World Meteorological Organization
| access-date = 16 October 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161018205356/http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=242
| archive-date = 18 October 2016
| url-status = live
}}</ref>
|source 2 = Arab Meteorology Book (humidity and sun),<ref name=climate>{{cite web
| url = http://extras.springer.com/2007/978-1-4020-4577-6/Book_Shahin_ISBN_9781402045776_Appendix.pdf
| title = Appendix I: Meteorological Data
| publisher = Springer
| access-date = 16 October 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072830/http://extras.springer.com/2007/978-1-4020-4577-6/Book_Shahin_ISBN_9781402045776_Appendix.pdf
| archive-date = 4 March 2016
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)<ref name = meteoclimat>
{{cite web
| url = http://meteo-climat-bzh.dyndns.org/index.php?page=stati&id=15
| title = Station Alger
| publisher = Meteo Climat
|language = fr
| access-date = 16 October 2016}}</ref>
|date=January 2011}}

==== Climate change ====
A 2019 paper published in [[PLOS One]] estimated that under [[Representative Concentration Pathway#4.5|Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5]], a "moderate" scenario of [[climate change]] where global warming reaches ~{{convert|2.5-3|C-change|F-change}} by 2100, the climate of Algiers in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of [[Perth]] in [[Australia]]. The annual temperature would increase by {{convert|2.6|C-change|F-change}}, and the temperature of the warmest month by {{convert|1.9|C-change|F-change}}, while the temperature of the coldest month would be {{convert|3.8|C-change|F-change}} higher.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Bastin |first1=Jean-Francois |last2=Clark |first2=Emily |last3=Elliott |first3=Thomas |last4=Hart |first4=Simon |last5=van den Hoogen |first5=Johan |last6=Hordijk |first6=Iris |last7=Ma |first7=Haozhi |last8=Majumder |first8=Sabiha |last9=Manoli |first9=Gabriele |last10=Maschler |first10=Julia |last11=Mo |first11=Lidong |last12=Routh |first12=Devin |last13=Yu |first13=Kailiang |last14=Zohner |first14=Constantin M. |last15=Thomas W. |first15=Crowther |title=Understanding climate change from a global analysis of city analogues |journal=PLOS ONE |date=10 July 2019 |volume=14 |issue=7 |at=S2 Table. Summary statistics of the global analysis of city analogues. |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0217592 |pmid=31291249 |pmc=6619606 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://crowtherlab.pageflow.io/cities-of-the-future-visualizing-climate-change-to-inspire-action |title=Cities of the future: visualizing climate change to inspire action |at=Current vs. future cities |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref> According to [[Climate Action Tracker]], the current warming trajectory appears consistent with {{convert|2.7|C-change|F-change}}, which closely matches RCP 4.5.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://climateactiontracker.org/global/cat-thermometer/ |title=The CAT Thermometer |access-date=8 January 2023}}</ref>

Moreover, according to the 2022 [[IPCC Sixth Assessment Report]], Algiers is one of 12 major African cities ([[Abidjan]], [[Alexandria]], Algiers, [[Cape Town]], [[Casablanca]], [[Dakar]], [[Dar es Salaam]], [[Durban]], [[Lagos]], [[Lomé]], [[Luanda]] and [[Maputo]]) which would be the most severely affected by the future [[sea level rise]]. It estimates that they would collectively sustain cumulative damages of USD 65 billion under RCP 4.5 and USD 86.5 billion for the high-emission scenario RCP 8.5 by the year 2050. Additionally, RCP 8.5 combined with the hypothetical impact from [[marine ice sheet instability]] at high levels of warming would involve up to 137.5 billion USD in damages, while the additional accounting for the "low-probability, high-damage events" may increase aggregate risks to USD 187 billion for the "moderate" RCP4.5, USD 206 billion for RCP8.5 and USD 397 billion under the high-end ice sheet instability scenario.<ref name="AR6Ch9"></ref> Since sea level rise would continue for about 10,000 years under every scenario of climate change, future costs of sea level rise would only increase, especially without adaptation measures.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_Full_Report.pdf |title=Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change |date=August 2021 |publisher=IPCC |page=TS14 |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref> Finally, The Casbah is on the list of 10 African cultural heritage sites most threatened by sea level rise.<ref name="AR6Ch9">Trisos, C.H., I.O. Adelekan, E. Totin, A. Ayanlade, J. Efitre, A. Gemeda, K. Kalaba, C. Lennard, C. Masao, Y. Mgaya, G. Ngaruiya, D. Olago, N.P. Simpson, and S. Zakieldeen 2022: [https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGII_Chapter09.pdf Chapter 9: Africa]. In [https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg2/ Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability] [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, M. Tignor, E.S. Poloczanska, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke,V. Möller, A. Okem, B. Rama (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA, pp. 2043–2121 </ref>

==Government==
{{further|List of mayors of Algiers}}
{{See also|:fr:Alger#Administration et politique}}
The city (and province) of Algiers is composed of 13 administrative districts, sub-divided into 57 ''communes'' listed below with their populations at the 1998 and 2008 Censuses:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! '''Name'''
! '''Name in Arabic '''
! '''Population (1998)'''<ref>Census of 25 June 1998: Office National des Statistiques de l'Algérie (web).</ref>
! '''Population (2008)'''<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
|-
| [[Bab El Oued]]
| باب الوادي
| align=right | 87,557
| align=right | 64,732
|-
| [[Bologhine]]
| بولوغين
| align=right | 43,283
| align=right | 43,835
|-
| [[Casbah of Algiers|Casbah]]
| القصبة
| align=right | 50,453
| align=right | 36,762
|-
| [[Oued Koriche]]
| وادي قريش
| align=right | 53,378
| align=right | 46,182
|-
| [[Raïs Hamidou, Algeria|Raïs Hamidou]]
| الرايس حميدو
| align=right | 21,518
| align=right | 28,451
|-
| '''''[[Bab El Oued District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 256,189
| align=right | 219,962
|-
| [[Baraki, Algiers|Baraki]]
| براقي
| align=right | 95,247
| align=right | 116,375
|-
| [[Les Eucalyptus]]
| الكليتوس
| align=right | 96,310
| align=right | 116,107
|-
| [[Sidi Moussa, Algeria|Sidi Moussa]]
| سيدي موسى
| align=right | 27,888
| align=right | 40,750
|-
| '''''[[Baraki District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 219,445
| align=right | 273,232
|-
| [[Bir Mourad Raïs]]
| بئر مراد رايس
| align=right | 43,254
| align=right | 45,345
|-
| [[Birkhadem]]
| بئر خادم
| align=right | 55,084
| align=right | 77,749
|-
| [[Djasr Kasentina]]
| جسر قسنطينة
| align=right | 82,729
| align=right | 133,247
|-
| [[Hydra (Algiers) will|Hydra]]
| حيدرة
| align=right | 35,727
| align=right | 31,133
|-
| [[Saoula]]
| سحاولة
| align=right | 31,388
| align=right | 41,690
|-
| '''''[[Bir Mourad Raïs District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 248,182
| align=right | 329,164
|-
| [[Birtouta]]
| بئر توتة
| align=right | 21,808
| align=right | 30,575
|-
| [[Ouled Chebel]]
| أولاد الشبل
| align=right | 16,335
| align=right | 20,006
|-
| [[Tessala El Merdja]]
| تسالة المرجى
| align=right | 10,792
| align=right | 15,847
|-
| '''''[[Birtouta District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 48,935
| align=right | 66,428
|-
| [[Ben Aknoun]]
| بن عكنون
| align=right | 19,404
| align=right | 18,838
|-
| [[Beni Messous]]
| بني مسوس
| align=right | 17,490
| align=right | 36,191
|-
| [[Bouzareah]]
| بوزريعة
| align=right | 69,153
| align=right | 83,797
|-
| [[El-Biar|El Biar]]
| الأبيار
| align=right | 52,582
| align=right | 47,332
|-
| '''''[[Bouzareah District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 158,629
| align=right | 186,158
|-
| [[Aïn Bénian, Algiers|Aïn Bénian]]
| عين البنيان
| align=right | 52,343
| align=right | 68,354
|-
| [[Chéraga]]
| الشراقة
| align=right | 60,374
| align=right | 80,824
|-
| [[Dely Ibrahim]]
| دالي إبرهيم
| align=right | 30,576
| align=right | 35,230
|-
| [[El Hammamet]]
| الحمامات الرومانية
| align=right | 19,651
| align=right | 23,990
|-
| [[Ouled Fayet]]
| أولاد فايت
| align=right | 15,209
| align=right | 27,593
|-
| '''''[[Chéraga District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 178,153
| align=right | 235,991
|-
| [[Aïn Taya]]
| عين طاية
| align=right | 29,515
| align=right | 34,501
|-
| [[Bab Ezzouar]]
| باب الزوار
| align=right | 92,157
| align=right | 96,597
|-
| [[Bordj El Bahri]]
| برج البحري
| align=right | 27,905
| align=right | 52,816
|-
| [[Bordj El Kiffan]]
| برج الكيفان
| align=right | 103,690
| align=right | 151,950
|-
| [[Dar El Beïda]]
| الدار البيضاء
| align=right | 44,753
| align=right | 80,033
|-
| [[El Marsa, Algiers|El Marsa]]
| المرسى
| align=right | 8,784
| align=right | 12,100
|-
| [[Mohammedia, Algiers|Mohammedia]]
| المحمدية
| align=right | 42,079
| align=right | 62,543
|-
| '''''[[Dar El Beïda District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 348,883
| align=right | 490,540
|-
| [[Baba Hassen]]
| بابا حسن
| align=right | 13,827
| align=right | 23,756
|-
| [[Douera]]
| دويرة
| align=right | 41,804
| align=right | 56,998
|-
| [[Draria]]
| درارية
| align=right | 23,050
| align=right | 44,141
|-
| [[El Achour]]
| العاشور
| align=right | 19,524
| align=right | 41,070
|-
| [[Khraicia]]
| خراسية
| align=right | 17,690
| align=right | 27,910
|-
| '''''[[Draria District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 115,895
| align=right | 193,875
|-
| [[Bachdjerrah]]
| باش جراح
| align=right | 90,073
| align=right | 93,289
|-
| [[Bourouba]]
| بوروبة
| align=right | 77,498
| align=right | 71,661
|-
| [[El Harrach]]
| الحراش
| align=right | 48,167
| align=right | 48,869
|-
| [[Oued Smar]]
| وادي سمار
| align=right | 21,397
| align=right | 32,062
|-
| '''''[[El Harrach District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 237,135
| align=right | 245,881
|-
| [[El Magharia]]
| المغارية
| align=right | 30,457
| align=right | 31,453
|-
| [[Hussein Dey (commune)|Hussein Dey]]
| حسين داي
| align=right | 49,921
| align=right | 40,698
|-
| [[Kouba, Algeria|Kouba]]
| القبة
| align=right | 105,253
| align=right | 104,708
|-
| [[Mohamed Belouizdad]] (Hamma Annassers)
| الحامة العناصر
| align=right | 59,248
| align=right | 44,050
|-
| '''''[[Hussein Dey District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 244,879
| align=right | 220,909
|-
| [[Haraoua]]
| الهراوة
| align=right | 18,167
| align=right | 27,565
|-
| [[Reghaïa]]
| رغاية
| align=right | 66,215
| align=right | 85,452
|-
| [[Rouïba]]
| الرويبة
| align=right | 49,881
| align=right | 61,984
|-
| '''''[[Rouïba District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 134,263
| align=right | 175,001
|-
| [[Alger Centre]]
| الجزائرالوسطى
| align=right | 96,329
| align=right | 75,541
|-
| [[El Madania]]
| المدنية
| align=right | 51,404
| align=right | 40,301
|-
| [[El Mouradia]]
| المرادية
| align=right | 29,503
| align=right | 22,813
|-
| [[Sidi M'Hamed]]
| سيدي امحمد
| align=right | 90,455
| align=right | 67,873
|-
| '''''[[Sidi M'Hamed District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 267,691
| align=right | 206,528
|-
| [[Mahelma]]
| محالمة
| align=right | 14,810
| align=right | 20,758
|-
| [[Rahmania]]
| الرحمانية
| align=right | 5,759
| align=right | 7,396
|-
| [[Souidania]]
| سويدانية
| align=right | 11,620
| align=right | 17,105
|-
| [[Staoueli]]
| سطاوالي
| align=right | 38,915
| align=right | 47,664
|-
| [[Zéralda]]
| زرالدة
| align=right | 33,047
| align=right | 51,552
|-
| '''''[[Zéralda District]]'''''
|
| align=right | 104,151
| align=right | 144,475
|-
| '''''Totals'''''
| الجزائر
| align=right | 2,562,428
| align=right | 2,988,145
|-
|}

==Local architecture==
[[File:Alger front de mer.jpg|thumb|upright=1.65|Algiers waterfront]]
[[File:Algeri04.jpg|thumb|Cosmopolitan Algiers]]
{{Further|List of mosques in Algeria}}
There are many public buildings of interest, including the whole [[Kasbah]] quarter, Martyrs Square (''Sahat ech-Chouhada'' ساحة الشهداء), the government offices (formerly the [[United Kingdom|British]] consulate), the "[[Djamaa el Kebir|Grand]]", "[[Djamaa el Djedid|New]]", and [[Ketchaoua Mosque|Ketchaoua]] [[Mosque]]s, the [[Roman Catholic]] cathedral of [[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], the [[Bardo National Museum of Prehistory and Ethnography|Bardo Museum]], the old ''Bibliothèque Nationale d'Alger''—a moorish palace built in 1799–1800 and the new [[National Library of Algeria|National Library]], built in a style reminiscent of the [[British Library]].

The main building in the Kasbah was begun in 1516 on the site of an older building, and served as the palace of the deys until the French conquest. A road has been cut through the centre of the building, the mosque turned into [[barracks]], and the hall of audience allowed to fall into ruin. There still remain a [[minaret]] and some marble arches and columns. Traces exist of the vaults in which were stored the treasures of the dey.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

[[Djamaa el Kebir]] (''Jamaa-el-Kebir'' الجامع الكبير) is the oldest mosque in Algiers. It was first built by [[Yusuf ibn Tashfin]], but reconstructed many times. The pulpit (''[[minbar]]'' منبر) bears an inscription showing that the building existed in 1097. The minaret was built by the sultan of [[Tlemcen]], in 1324.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8764/ |title = Fountain in Mosque of El Kebir, Algiers, Algeria |website = [[World Digital Library]] |year = 1899 |access-date = 2013-09-24 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130927125712/http://www.wdl.org/en/item/8764/ |archive-date = 2013-09-27 |url-status = live }}</ref> The interior of the mosque is square and is divided into aisles by columns joined by [[Moors|Moorish]] arches.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

The [[Djamaa el Djedid|New Mosque]] (''Jamaa-el-Jedid'' الجامع الجديد), dating from the 17th century, is in the form of a [[Greek cross]], surmounted by a large white cupola, with four small cupolas at the corners. The minaret is {{convert|27|m|0}} high. The interior resembles that of the Grand Mosque.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

The church of the Holy Trinity (built in 1870) stands at the southern end of the ''rue d'Isly'' near the site of the demolished Fort Bab Azoun باب عزون. The interior is richly decorated with various coloured marbles. Many of these marbles contain memorial inscriptions relating to the British residents (voluntary and involuntary) of Algiers from the time of John Tipton, the first English consul, in 1580 (NB Some sources give 1585). One tablet records that in 1631 two Algerine pirate crews landed in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], sacked [[Baltimore, County Cork|Baltimore]], and enslaved its inhabitants.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

[[File:Mosquée Ketchaoua.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Ketchaoua Mosque]]

The [[Ketchaoua Mosque]] (''Djamaa Ketchaoua'' جامع كتشاوة), at the foot of the Casbah, was before independence in 1962 the cathedral of St Philippe, itself made in 1845 from a mosque dating from 1612. The principal entrance, reached by a flight of 23 steps, is ornamented with a [[portico]] supported by four black-veined marble columns. The roof of the nave is of [[Moorish Empire|Moorish]] [[plaster]] work. It rests on a series of arcades supported by white marble columns. Several of these columns belonged to the original mosque. In one of the chapels was a tomb containing the bones of [[Geronimo (martyr)|Geronimo]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}} The building seems a curious blend of Moorish and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] styles.

Algiers possesses a college with schools of law, medicine, science and letters. The college buildings are large and handsome. The [[Bardo National Museum (Algiers)|Bardo Museum]] holds some of the ancient sculptures and mosaics discovered in Algeria, together with medals and Algerian money.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

The port of Algiers is sheltered from all winds. There are two harbours, both artificial—the old or northern harbour and the southern or Agha harbour. The northern harbour covers an area of {{convert|95|ha|acre|0}}. An opening in the south [[jetty]] affords an entrance into Agha harbour, constructed in Agha Bay. Agha harbour has also an independent entrance on its southern side. The inner harbour was begun in 1518 by [[Khair-ad-Din Barbarossa]] (see History, below), who, to accommodated his pirate vessels, caused the island on which was Fort Penon to be connected with the mainland by a [[mole (architecture)|mole]]. The lighthouse which occupies the site of [[Fort Penon]] was built in 1544.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

Algiers was a walled city from the time of the deys until the close of the 19th century. The French, after their occupation of the city (1830), built a [[Defensive wall|rampart]], [[parapet]] and [[ditch (fortification)|ditch]], with two terminal forts, [[Bab Azoun]] باب عزون to the south and [[Bab-el-Oued]] اد to the north. The forts and part of the ramparts were demolished at the beginning of the 20th century, when a line of forts occupying the heights of [[Bouzareah]] بوزريعة (at an elevation of {{convert|396|m|0}} above the sea) took their place.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=654}}

[[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], a church built (1858–1872) in a mixture of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] and [[Byzantine Empire|Byzantine]] styles, is conspicuously situated overlooking the sea, on the shoulder of the [[Bouzareah]] hills, {{convert|3|km|0|abbr=on}}
to the north of the city. Above the altar is a statue of the [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Virgin]] depicted as a black woman. The church also contains a solid silver statue of the [[archangel Michael]], belonging to the confraternity of [[Naples|Neapolitan]] fishermen.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=655}}

[[Villa Abd-el-Tif]], former residence of the [[dey]], was used during the French period, to accommodate French artists, chiefly painters, and winners of the [[Abd-el-Tif prize]], among whom [[Maurice Boitel]], for a while of two years. Nowadays, Algerian artists are back in the villa's studios.

===Monuments===
[[File:Makamelchahid.JPG|thumb|right|The Monument of the Martyrs (Maquam E'chahid)]]
[[File:Alger - Grande Poste.jpg|thumb|right|Grand Post Office]]
* [[Notre Dame d'Afrique]], accessible by one [[Aerial tramway|cable car]], is one of the city's most outstanding monuments: located in the district of Z' will ghara, the basilica was built around 1858.
* [[Monument des Martyrs]] (''Marquand E' chahid''): an iconic concrete monument commemorating the [[Algerian War|Algerian war for independence]]. The monument was opened in 1982 on the 20th anniversary of Algeria's independence. It is fashioned in the shape of three standing palm leaves which shelter the "Eternal Flame" beneath. At the edge of each palm leaf stands a statue of a soldier, each representing a stage of Algeria's struggle.
[[File:Algiers mosque.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The El Jedid mosque at the Place des Martyrs]]
* The El Jedid mosque at the Place des Martyrs near the port.
* Place of the Emir Abdelkader (formerly [[Thomas-Robert Bugeaud|Bugeaud]]): in memory of the famous emir [[Abd al-Qadir al-Jaza'iri|Abd El-Kader]], resistant during [[French conquest of Algeria]].
* Grand Post Office (1910, by [[Voinot]] and [[Tondoire]]): construction of the neo-Moorish type which is in full centre town of Algiers.
* The Jardin d'essai (''Garden of Test''; ''El-Hamma''): situated in the east of Algiers, it extends over {{convert|80|ha|acre|0}} and contains exotic plants and gardens. It was created in 1832 by A. Hardy.
* Villa Abd-el-Hair, with the top of the Garden of test, one of the old residences of the dey, where until 1962, were placed the artists prizes winner of [[Price Abd-el-Hair]], and in particular [[Maurice Boitel]] and [[Andre Hamburg]].
* Citadel.
* Riadh El-Feth (shopping centre and art gallery).
* [[Ketchaoua Mosque]] (This mosque became the Saint-Philippe cathedral during colonization before becoming again a mosque).
* [[National Library of Algeria|National Library]], is in the district of El HAMMA and was built in the 1990s.
* [[Djamaa el Kebir]] at the [[Rue de la Marine]]. It is the oldest mosque of Algiers and was built during the reign of the [[Almoravid]] sultan [[Yusuf ibn Tashfin]].
* [[Palais des Rais|Le Bastion 23 – Palais des Rais]], built in 1576 by Dey Ramdhan Pacha and located in the lower Casbah in the Bab El Oued neighborhood.

==Demographics==
{| style="float: right; border:1"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Year
! style="background:#efefef;" | Population
|-
| 1977 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 1,523,000<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{Cite web |url=http://citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html |title=Algeria: Provinces & Major Cities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information |access-date=2019-03-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001025954/http://citypopulation.de/Algeria-Cities.html |archive-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 1987 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 1,507,241<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|-
| 1998 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 2,086,212<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|-
| 2008 (Census) || style="text-align:right;"| 2,364,230<ref name="citypopulation.de"/>
|}

Algiers has a population of about 3,335,418 (2012 estimate).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gadm&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-66&srt=npan&col=aohdq |title=Algiers in the World Gazetteer |publisher=World-gazetteer.com |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930225838/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gadm&lng=en&dat=32&geo=-66&srt=npan&col=aohdq |archive-date=2007-09-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The ethnic distribution is 53% from an Arabic-speaking background, 44% from a Berber-speaking background and 3% foreign-born.
* 1940 – 300,000 people lived in Algiers.
* 1960 – 900,000 people lived in Algiers.
* 1963 – 600,000 people lived in Algiers.

==Economy==
[[File:Ministerefinacealger.jpg|thumb|Ministry of Finance of Algeria]]
Algiers is an important economic, commercial and financial center, with in particular a stock exchange with a capitalisation of 60 million euros. The city has the highest cost of living of any city in [[North Africa]], as well as the 50th highest worldwide, as of March 2007, having gained one position compared to the previous year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mercerhr.com/costofliving |title=MERCER Human Resources Consulting – Moscow tops Mercer's cost of living list; London is close behind |publisher=Mercerhr.com |access-date=2010-06-27| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100701021708/http://www.mercerhr.com/costofliving| archive-date= 1 July 2010 | url-status= live}}</ref>

Mohamed Ben Ali El Abbar, president of the Council of Administration of the Emirate Group EMAAR, presented five "megaprojects" to Algerian President [[Abdelaziz Bouteflika]], during a ceremony which took place Saturday, July 15, in the [[People's Palace (Algiers)|People's Palace]] of Algiers. These projects will transform the city of Algiers and its surroundings by equipping them with a retail area and restoration and leisure facilities.

The first project will concentrate on the reorganization and the development of the infrastructures of the railway station "Aga" located in the downtown area. The ultramodern station intended to accommodate more than 80.000 passengers per day, will become a centre of circulation in the heart of the grid system, surrounded by commercial offices and buildings and hotels intended for travellers in transit. A shopping centre and three high-rise office buildings rising with the top of the commercial zone will accompany the project.

The second project will not relate to the bay of Algiers and aims to revitalize the sea front. The development of the {{convert|44|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} sea front will include marinas, channels, luxury hotels, offices, apartments of great standing, luxury stores and leisure amenities. A crescent-shaped peninsula will be set up on the open sea. The project of the bay of Algiers will also comprise six small islands, of which four of round form, connected to each other by bridges and marinas and will include tourist and residential complexes.
[[File:Alger Tunnel-des-Facultes - Place-Maurice-Audin IMG 0236.JPG|thumb|left|[[Air Algérie]] head office in Place [[Maurice Audin|Audin]] near the [[University of Algiers]], in Alger-Centre]]
The third project will relate to restructuring an area of Algiers, qualified by the originators of the project of "city of wellness". El Abbar indicated to the journalists that the complex would be "agreeable for all those which will want to combine tourism and well-being or tourism and relaxation". The complex will include a university, a research center and a medical centre. It should also include a hospital complex, a care centre, a hotel zone, an urban centre and a thermal spa with villas and apartments. The university will include a medical school and a school for care male nurses which will be able to accommodate 500 students. The university campus will have the possibility of seeing setting up broad ranges of buildings of research laboratories and residences.

Another project relates to technological implantation of a campus in Sidi Abdellah, {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} south-east from Algiers. This {{convert|90|ha|acre|0|}} site will include shopping centres, residential zones with high standard apartments and a golf course surrounded by villas and hotels. Two other residential zones, including 1.800 apartments and 40 high standard villas, will be built on the surrounding hills.

The fifth project is that of the tourist complex Colonel Abbès, which will be located {{convert|25|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} west from Algiers. This complex will include several retail zones, meeting places, and residential zones composed of apartments and villas with views of the sea.<ref>{{cite book |title=The report 2008 : Algeria. |publisher=Oxford Business Group |isbn=978-1-902339-09-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zPz9FHXJVLUC&q=Colonel+Abbes++tourist+complex&pg=PA32 |language=en|year=2008 }}</ref>

There is another project under construction, by the name of Algiers Medina. The first step of the project is nearly complete.

A [[Hewlett-Packard]] office for French-speaking countries in Africa is in Algiers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://welcome.hp.com/gms/emea_africa/en/contact/office_locs.html |title=HP Office locations |publisher=Welcome.hp.com |access-date=2010-06-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928005628/http://welcome.hp.com/gms/emea_africa/en/contact/office_locs.html |archive-date=2009-09-28 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Tourist installations==
[[File:Algeri08.jpg|thumb|Panorama of the city as seen from [[Bologhine]] district]]

Some {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the west of Algiers are such seaside resorts as [[Sidi-Ferruch|Sidi Fredj]] (ex-Sidi Ferruch), [[Palm Beach (Algeria)|Palm Beach]], [[Douaouda]], [[Zéralda]], and the ''Club of the Pines'' (residence of State); there are tourist complexes, Algerian and other restaurants, souvenir shops, supervised beaches, and other amenities. The city is also equipped with important hotel complexes such as the hotel Hilton, El-Aurassi or El Djazair. Algiers also has the first [[water park]] in the country. The [[tourism]] of Algiers is growing but is not as developed as that of the larger cities in [[Morocco]] or [[Tunisia]].

==Education==
{{expand section|date=January 2017}}

The presence of a large diplomatic community in Algiers prompted the creation of multiple international educational institutions. These schools include :

* [[American International School of Algiers]];
* El Kalimat School (English-language school);
* [[Lycée International Alexandre-Dumas|Lycée International Alexandre-Dumas d'Alger]] (French school);
* Roma Italian School of Algiers;
* Russian Embassy School in Algiers.

There was formerly the École japonaise d'Alger (アルジェ日本人学校 ''Aruje Nihonjin Gakkō''), a [[Nihonjin gakko|school for Japanese children]].<ref>Kobori, Iwao (Conseiller aupres del'Universite des Nations Unies). "[http://www.japan-algeria-center.jp/andalg/fr/andalg20010705f.html L'Algerie et moi]" ( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116182909/http://www.japan-algeria-center.jp/andalg/fr/andalg20010705f.html |date=2015-01-16 }}). Japan-Algeria Center. Retrieved on 16 January 2015.</ref><ref>"[http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/1338806.htm 過去に指定・認定していた在外教育施設]" ( {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115030344/http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/clarinet/002/1338806.htm |date=2015-01-15 }}). [[Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology]]. Retrieved on January 15, 2015.</ref>

==Public transport==
[[File:Metro, suburban train and tramway map of Algiers.png|thumb|left|Public transport of Algiers]]
[[File:Transportations in algiers.jpg|thumb|Various means of transport in Algiers]]
* [[ETUSA]] (urban and suburban bus transportation for Algiers) operates bus service in Algiers and the surrounding suburbs. 54 lines are operating, with service from 5:30 a.m. to 12:45 a.m.
* [[SNTF]] (national railroad company) operates commuter-rail lines connecting the capital to the surrounding suburbs.
* [[Algiers Metro]], opened November 1, 2011.
* [[Algiers tramway]], opened on May 8, 2011.
* [[Houari Boumediene Airport]] is located {{convert|20|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} from the city. The airport serves domestics, many European cities, [[West Africa]], the [[Middle East]], [[Asia]] and [[North America]]. On July 5, 2006, a new international air terminal was opened for service. The terminal is managed by [[Aéroports de Paris]].

4 urban beltways:
* El Madania – Belouizdad
* Notre Dame d'Afrique – Bologhine
* Memorial des Martyres/Riad el Feth – Jardin d'essais
* Palais de la culture – Oued Kniss

==Sports==
Algiers is the sporting centre of [[Algeria]]. The city has a number of professional clubs in the variety of sports, which have won national and international titles. Among the sports facilities within the city, there is an enormous sporting complex – Complex of OCO – [[Mohamed Boudiaf]]. This includes the [[Stade 5 Juillet 1962]] (capacity {{Formatnum:64000}}), a venue for [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]], an Olympic [[swimming pool]], a multisports room (the Cupola), an 18-hole golf course, and several tennis courts.

The following major sporting events have been held in Algiers (not-exhaustive list):
{{div col|content=
* [[Mediterranean Games]] 1975.
* [[All-Africa Games]] 1978, 2007.
* [[African Cup of Nations]] [[1990 African Cup of Nations|1990]].
* [[African Handball Nations Championship]] 1989, 2001.
* [[Pan Arab Games]] 2004.
* [[FIBA Africa Championship]] 2005.
* [[Boys' U19 Volleyball World Championship|Men's U19 World Championship]] 2005.
}}

===Football clubs===
Major [[association football]] club based in Algiers include:

{{div col|content=
* [[MC Alger]]
* [[CR Belouizdad]]
* [[USM Alger]]
}}

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa#Algeria|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Algeria}}
{{More citations needed section|date=June 2015}}

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Algiers is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}

*[[Montreal]], Canada<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www11.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sherlock2/servlet/template/sherlock%2CAfficherDocumentInternet.vm/nodocument/20146;jsessionid=24C10045060CDD0AA23BD919B260FD0F|title=Sherlock, banque d'information de la Ville de Montréal|publisher=1.ville.montreal.qc.ca|access-date=2010-06-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223231510/http://www11.ville.montreal.qc.ca/sherlock2/servlet/template/sherlock%2CAfficherDocumentInternet.vm/nodocument/20146%3Bjsessionid%3D24C10045060CDD0AA23BD919B260FD0F|archive-date=2009-02-23 }}</ref>
*[[Moscow]], Russia{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}
*[[Sofia]], Bulgaria<ref>{{cite web |title=Градина "Алжир" – София|url=https://opoznai.bg/view/gradina-aljir-sofiia|website=opoznai.bg|publisher=Opoznai.bg|language=bg|date=2015-06-19|access-date=2021-05-19}}</ref>
{{div col end}}

In addition, many of the wards and cities within Algiers maintain sister-city relationships with other foreign cities.

===Cooperation agreements===
Algiers has cooperation agreements with:
*[[Lisbon]], Portugal<ref name="Lisbon twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M1100|title=Lisboa – Geminações de Cidades e Vilas|access-date=2013-08-23|work=Associação Nacional de Municípios Portugueses [National Association of Portuguese Municipalities]|language=pt|trans-title=Lisbon – Twinning of Cities and Towns|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201175323/http://www.anmp.pt/anmp/pro/mun1/gem101l0.php?cod_ent=M1100|archive-date=2015-02-01|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Lisbon twinnings 2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionais |title=Acordos de Geminação, de Cooperação e/ou Amizade da Cidade de Lisboa |access-date=2013-08-23 |work=Camara Municipal de Lisboa |language=pt |trans-title=Lisbon – Twinning Agreements, Cooperation and Friendship |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031202617/http://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionais |archive-date=2013-10-31 }}</ref>
*[[Paris]], France<ref>{{cite web|url=http://next.paris.fr/english/paris-a-city-with-an-international-profile/international-action-cooperation/friendship-and-cooperation-agreements/rub_8139_stand_29940_port_18784 |title=Friendship and cooperation agreements |publisher=Marie de Paris |location=Paris |access-date=2016-09-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160701024003/http://next.paris.fr/english/paris-a-city-with-an-international-profile/international-action-cooperation/friendship-and-cooperation-agreements/rub_8139_stand_29940_port_18784 |archive-date=2016-07-01 }}</ref>

==Films about Algiers==
[[File:Battle-of-Algiers-screenshot.jpg|thumb|''[[The Battle of Algiers]]'' (1966), Italian-Algerian movie by [[Gillo Pontecorvo]].]]
* ''[[Algiers (film)|Algiers]]'', 1938, starring Charles Boyer and Hedy Lamarr, and directed by [[John Cromwell (director)|John Cromwell]];
* ''[[The Battle of Algiers (film)|The Battle of Algiers]]'', 1966, directed by [[Gillo Pontecorvo]];
* ''Tahya ya Didou, Alger Insolite'', 1970, Mohammed Zinet;
* ''[[Bab El-Oued City]]'', 1994, directed by [[Merzak Allouache]];
* ''Viva Laldjérie'', 2003, directed by Nadir Moknèche, with [[Biyouna]] and [[Lubna Azabal]];
* ''Bab el Web'', 2004, directed by Merzak Allouache, with [[Samy Naceri]], [[Julie Gayet]], [[Faudel]];
* ''Once upon a time in the Oued'', 2005, directed by Djamel Bensalah;
* ''Beur, White, Red'', 2005, directed by Mahmoud Zemmouri.
* ''[[Delice Paloma]]'', 2007, directed by Nadir Moknèche, with [[Biyouna]] and Nadia Kaci.
* ''[[Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion]]'', 1950, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello.
* ''[[Carry on Spying]]'' 1964, directed by [[Gerald Thomas]] with [[Kenneth Williams]], [[Charles Hawtrey (actor, born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]], [[Barbara Windsor]] & [[Renee Houston]]

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Algiers Province}}


{{columns-list|colwidth=35em|
*[[Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi|Sidi Abd al-Rahman al-Tha'alibi]], 15th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Ahmed Zouaoui|Sidi Ahmed Zouaoui]], 15th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Sidi M'hamed Bou Qobrine]], 18th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Mohamed ben Zamoum]], 19th-century resistant against French colonization.
*[[Khalid ibn Hashim]], 19th-20th-century resistant against French colonization.
* [[Albert Camus]] 20th-century Nobel Laureate
*[[Abdelhalim Bensmaia]], 20th-century scholar, reformist, humanist and musician.
*[[Lyès Deriche]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Brahim Boushaki]], 20th-century theologian and sufi.
*[[Ali La Pointe]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Aïchaoui]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Seghir Boushaki]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[El Hadj M'Hamed El Anka]], 20th-century artist.
*[[Ahmed Mahsas]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Hocine Mezali]], 20th-21st-century journalist and writer.
*[[Djamila Bouhired]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Hassiba Ben Bouali]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Belouizdad]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement against the French.
*[[Djamila Boupacha]], 20th-century militant of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Mohamed Bencheneb]], 20th-century professor, writer and historian.
*[[Mourad Didouche]], 20th-century leader of the Algerian national political movement.
*[[Islam Slimani]], footballer
*[[Ali Haroun]], 20th-century politician and lawyer.
*[[Mohamed Missouri]], 20th-century boxer and coach.
*[[Hamdan Khodja]], 19th-century dignitary and scholar.
*[[Mohamed Belhocine]], 20th-21st-century professor of internal medicine and epidemiology.
*[[Amine ibn El Boushaki]], 20th-21st-century judoka.
*[[Amina Belouizdad]], 20th-century television presenter.
*[[Ali Fawzi Rebaine]], 21st-century politician and doctor.
*[[Mohamed Arkab]], 20th-21st-century politician and engineer.
*[[Rezki Zerarti]], 20th-21st-century politician and engineer.
*[[Gaston Ricci]] (1869-1952), French politician, born in Algiers.
*[[Raymond Laquière]] (1881-1973), French politician, born in Algiers.
*[[Jean-Marie Guastavino]] (1886-1960), French politician, born in Algiers.
*[[Mustapha Khedali]] (1934 in Alger; died 2008), Algerian football player and manager
*[[Mohamed Harrat]] (born 1976), footballer
*[[Lotfi Laggoun]] (born 1984 in Alger), footballer
*[[Arezki Hamza Dembri]] (born 2004), Algerian footballer
}}

==See also==
* [[Barbary pirates]]
* [[Botanical Garden Hamma]]
* [[List of Ottoman governors of Algiers]]

==References==
{{Portal|Algeria}}
{{hatnote|This article was originally based on a translation of the [[French Wikipedia]]'s [[:fr:Alger|article "Alger"]].}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Bibliography===
{{See also|Timeline of Algiers#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Algiers}}
* {{EB1911|wstitle=Algiers|volume=1|pages=653–655}}
* Carroll, David. ''Albert Camus the Algerian'' (Columbia University Press, 2007).
* Emerson, Charles. ''1913: In Search of the World Before the Great War'' (2013) compares Algiers to 20 major world cities; pp 267–79.
* {{citation |first=Nacéra |last=Benseddik |contribution=Chronique d'une Cité Antique |title=Alger: Lumières sur la Ville |series=''Actes du Colloque de l'EPAU 4–6 May 2001'' |location=Algiers |date=2004 |pages=29–34 }}. {{in lang|fr}}
* {{citation |last=Ghaki |first=Mansour |contribution=Toponymie et Onomastique Libyques: L'Apport de l'Écriture Punique/Néopunique |contribution-url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/50105050/Toponymie_et_onomastique_Lapport_de_lecriture_punique_neopunique.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/50105050/Toponymie_et_onomastique_Lapport_de_lecriture_punique_neopunique.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |pages=65–71 |date=2015 |location=Naples |publisher=Unior |editor=Anna Maria di Tolla |display-editors=0 |title=La Lingua nella Vita e la Vita della Lingua: Itinerari e Percorsi degli Studi Berberi |series=Studi Africanistici: Quaderni di Studi Berberi e Libico-Berberi |volume=No. 4 |isbn=978-88-6719-125-3 |issn=2283-5636 }}. {{in lang|fr}}
* {{citation |last=Lipiński |first=Edward |author-link=Edward Lipinski (orientalist) |title=Itineraria Phoenicia |series=''Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta'', No.{{nbsp}}127, ''Studia Phoenicia'', Vol.{{nbsp}}XVIII |publisher=Uitgeverij Peeters |location=Leuven |date=2004 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLSzNfdcqfoC |isbn=9789042913448 }}.

{{wikivoyage|Algiers}}
{{Commons category|Algiers}}
{{Algiers}}
{{Algiers Province}}
{{Province seats of Algeria}}
{{Phoenician cities and colonies navbox|state=collapsed}}
{{Capitals of Arab countries}}
{{List of African capitals}}
{{All-Africa Games Host Cities}}
{{Arab Capital of Culture}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Algiers| ]]
[[Category:944 establishments]]
[[Category:Barbary Wars]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Former Spanish colonies]]
[[Category:Mediterranean port cities and towns in Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated coastal places in Algeria]]
[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Algeria]]
[[Category:Coastal cities in Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated places in Algiers Province]]
[[Category:Province seats of Algeria]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 10th century]]
[[Category:10th-century establishments in Africa]]