It serves as the country's primary port, cultural and urban centre and occupies 44.8 square miles.

[5] The original prewar Luanda Province grew in size during the 20th century due to the urbanization of Angola.

It formerly had an area of 2,417 square kilometres (933 sq mi) and a reported population of 6,542,942 in 2014, before accounting for reorganization[2] Despite this, the city occupied 113 square kilometres (44 sq mi), or less than five percent of the total area of the former province.

[citation needed] The province has created the Instituto de Planeamento e Gestão Urbana de Luanda (IPGUL, Institute for urban planning and management of Luanda) as an independent organ for urban planning of the province.

[11] The province of Luanda contains the following communes (Portuguese: comunas); sorted by their respective municipalities: [12] Up to 1991, the official name was Provincial Commissioner