Lilongwe, estimated population 440,500 (2003), is the capital of Malawi. It lies in the south west of the country, west of the Malawi River near the border of Malawi and Mozambique and Zambia.

The city was founded in 1947 as a marketing center, and became the national capital in 1975.

An agricultural college is located in Lilongwe. The rainy season is between October and April.