Lilongwe: region in Malawi
What exactly constitutes the spatial extent of the city? For these aggregations, we used the Global Human Settlement Layer Urban Center Database (GHS-UCDB) to define the boundaries of the city. These cities -- or urban centers -- cover areas that are densely populated and built-up, and so may extend beyond the spatial borders of these cities that we may be familiar with. The GHS area is shaded in blue.
View Lilongwe, Malawi on the sprawlmap
Most recent snapshot: Taking into account the entire (i.e. aggregate) street network in Lilongwe as of 2014, the overall level of street-network sprawl is 3.94, which is highly disconnected.
Trends in street network construction: The SNDis of street construction for the respective time periods are 3.72, 3.57, 3.51 and 4.1. The disconnectivity of new streets constructed in Lilongwe fell, then rose. In 1991-2000, new street layouts were the most connected.
Quantity of street network construction: The street network in Lilongwe spans a total of 8375 kilometers. It is dominated by roads constructed in 2001-2014. These roads have an SNDi of 4.1, which is highly disconnected.
Effect on the aggregate network: New construction in each period adds to the total stock of streets, but does not change streets that have already been built. Therefore, it has a limited effect on the street network as a whole. The SNDis of the aggregate street network in the respective time periods are 3.72, 3.68, 3.61 and 3.94. The SNDi of the aggregate street network in fell at first, but Lilongwe has worsened in disconnectivity since 2000.
The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Lilongwe was at its lowest in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how street development has changed in Lilongwe, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Lilongwe and Likuni. None of the most populous cities follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Lilongwe was at its lowest in 1976-1990. The level of street-network sprawl in new development in Likuni followed a zig-zag trend with an overall decrease.
How do development practices in Lilongwe fare in comparison to others in Malawi? Most recently in 2001-2014, street construction in Lilongwe was the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 6 regions in Malawi. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Malawi, street construction in Lilongwe has become more connected. Lilongwe ranked 2nd in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.
As of 2014, the city with the most disconnected street network in Lilongwe is Lilongwe with an SNDi of 3.89, which is highly disconnected. Conversely, the most connected city is Likuni with an SNDi of 3.46, which is highly disconnected. See trends for these cities: Likuni, Lilongwe
The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Lilongwe was at its lowest in 1991-2000. To get a sense of how the aggregate street network has changed in Lilongwe, we can consider two of its most populous cities: Lilongwe and Likuni. Out of the two cities, Likuni does not follow the same trend as the region. The level of street-network sprawl in the aggregate network in Likuni fell steadily.
To date, Lilongwe is the 3rd-most disconnected out of the 6 regions in Malawi. Its position in the ranks since 1975 has fallen; relative to other regions in Malawi, the street network in Lilongwe has become more connected. Lilongwe ranked 2nd in 1975, 3rd in 1976-1990, 3rd in 1991-2000 and 3rd in 2001-2014.