List of Capital Cities of All Countries in the World

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Browse a complete alphabetical list of all countries and their capital cities.

Capital cities are often more than just seats of government—they’re the symbolic and cultural hearts of their nations. Understanding the capital cities of countries around the world is not just useful for students, travelers, and trivia lovers—it's essential for grasping how nations function. Capital cities often serve as the political, administrative, and cultural heartbeat of a country, and knowing them deepens our knowledge of geography, history, and global affairs.

On this page, you’ll find a comprehensive alphabetical list of the world’s capitals, largest cities beyond names and flags. Whether you're a curious learner, frequent traveler, or global citizen, this resource offers a vivid snapshot of how countries organize and define themselves.

What Is a Capital City?

A capital city is typically the seat of a nation’s government, housing its central institutions, such as the parliament, presidential palace, or supreme court. Capitals are often symbolic representations of national identity and power. But capitals come in many forms:

  • Some countries share capitals with their largest cities (e.g. Paris, Tokyo), while others choose smaller, planned cities for their political center (Canberra, Naypyidaw).

  • A few countries maintain multiple capitals, each sharing different branches of government—for example, South Africa with Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), and Cape Town (legislative).

  • Some capitals like Bern (Switzerland) are referred to as federal cities, while others like Naypyidaw (Myanmar) were specially built for this purpose.

However, not all capital cities are the largest or most populous urban centers. For instance, Canberra is Australia’s capital—not Sydney or Melbourne. Similarly, countries like South Africa have more than one capital, designated for different branches of government.

Fascinating Capital City Trivia

Dive into some of the most intriguing capital-related facts around the globe:

  • Highest Capital: La Paz, Bolivia—sets government affairs at around 3,650 meters above sea level.

  • Lowest Capital: Baku, Azerbaijan—resides 28 meters below sea level on the Caspian shore.

  • Oldest Continuously Inhabited Capital: Damascus, Syria—has served as a central settlement since at least the second millennium BCE.

  • Newest Capital: Nusantara, Indonesia—officially named capital in 2024 to ease overcrowding in Jakarta.

  • Dual Capitals: South Africa has Pretoria (executive), Bloemfontein (judicial), and Cape Town (legislative).

  • Cities like Bern, Ottawa, and Brasília were purpose-designed to distribute national influence or centralize governance.

Most Populous Capitals in the World

Not all capital cities are the largest in population, but some double as the country’s most populous urban centers. These capitals often serve as economic and cultural powerhouses in addition to being government hubs.

Top 5 Most Populous Capitals:

  1. Tokyo, Japan – Over 37 million in metro area

  2. Delhi, India – Around 32 million in metro area

  3. Beijing, China – Over 20 million

  4. Cairo, Egypt – Approx. 20 million

  5. Jakarta, Indonesia – Nearly 11 million

These cities showcase the blend of governance with massive urban life, often dealing with the unique challenges and innovations that come with size.

Historical Capitals and Their Legacy

Many modern countries have changed their capitals throughout history due to political shifts, colonization, or logistical reasons. These historical capitals provide insight into how nations evolved.

Notable Examples:

  • Constantinople (now Istanbul) – Capital of the Byzantine Empire

  • Kyoto – Capital of Japan before Tokyo

  • Rio de Janeiro – Former capital of Brazil until 1960

  • Almaty – Former capital of Kazakhstan before Astana (now Nur-Sultan)

These cities still retain political and cultural importance, even if they no longer serve as administrative centers.

 

List of world population by countries

SL Name Flag Capital City Largest City Continent View
1 Afghanistan Kabul Kabul Asia View
2 Albania Tirana Tirana Europe View
3 Algeria Algiers Algiers Africa View
4 Andorra Andorra la Vella Andorra la Vella Europe View
5 Angola Luanda Luanda Africa View
6 Antigua and Barbuda St. John's St. John's North America View
7 Argentina Buenos Aires Buenos Aires South America View
8 Armenia Yerevan Yerevan Europe View
9 Australia Canberra Sydney Oceania /Australia View
10 Austria Vienna Vienna Europe View
11 Azerbaijan Baku Baku Europe View
12 Bahamas Nassau Nassau North America View
13 Bahrain Manama Manama Asia View
14 Bangladesh Dhaka Dhaka Asia View
15 Barbados Bridgetown Bridgetown North America View
16 Belarus Minsk Minsk Europe View
17 Belgium Brussels Brussels Europe View
18 Belize Belmopan Belize City North America View
19 Benin Porto-Novo Cotonou Africa View
20 Bhutan Thimphu Thimphu Asia View
21 Bolivia Sucre Santa Cruz de la Sierra South America View
22 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo Sarajevo Europe View
23 Botswana Gaborone Gaborone Africa View
24 Brazil Brasilia São Paulo South America View
25 Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan Bandar Seri Begawan Asia View
26 Bulgaria Sofia Sofia Europe View
27 Burkina Faso Ouagadougou Ouagadougou Africa View
28 Burundi Bujumbura Gitega Africa View
29 Cambodia Phnom Penh Phnom Penh Asia View
30 Cameroon Yaounde Douala Africa View
31 Canada Ottawa Toronto North America View
32 Cape Verde Praia Praia Africa View
33 Central African Republic Bangui Bangui Africa View
34 Chad N'Djamena N'Djamena Africa View
35 Chile Santiago Santiago South America View
36 China Beijing Shanghai Asia View
37 Colombia Bogota Bogotá South America View
38 Comoros Moroni Moroni Africa View
39 Congo, Democratic Republic of Kinshasa Kinshasa Africa View
40 Costa Rica San Jose San José North America View
41 Croatia Zagreb Zagreb Europe View
42 Cuba Havana Havana North America View
43 Cyprus Nicosia Nicosia Europe View
44 Czech Republic Prague Prague Europe View
45 Denmark Copenhagen Copenhagen Europe View
46 Djibouti Djibouti Djibouti City Africa View
47 Dominica Roseau Roseau North America View
48 Dominican Republic Santo Domingo Santo Domingo North America View
49 East Timor Dili Dili Asia View
50 Ecuador Quito Guayaquil South America View
51 Egypt Cairo Cairo Africa View
52 El Salvador San Salvador San Salvador North America View
53 Equatorial Guinea Malabo Malabo Africa View
54 Eritrea Asmara Asmara Africa View
55 Estonia Tallinn Tallinn Europe View
56 Eswatini (fmr. "Swaziland") Mbabane Mbabane Africa View
57 Ethiopia Addis Ababa Addis Ababa Africa View
58 Fiji Suva Suva Oceania /Australia View
59 Finland Helsinki Helsinki Europe View
60 France Paris Paris Europe View
61 Gabon Libreville Libreville Africa View
62 Gambia Banjul Serekunda Africa View
63 Georgia Tbilisi Tbilisi Europe View
64 Germany Berlin Berlin Europe View
65 Ghana Accra Accra Africa View
66 Greece Athens Athens Europe View
67 Grenada St. George's St. George's North America View
68 Guatemala Guatemala City Guatemala City North America View
69 Guinea Conakry Conakry Africa View
70 Guinea-Bissau Bissau Bissau Africa View
71 Guyana Georgetown Georgetown South America View
72 Haiti Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince North America View
73 Honduras Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa North America View
74 Hungary Budapest Budapest Europe View
75 Iceland Reykjavik Reykjavík Europe View
76 India New Delhi Delhi Asia View
77 Indonesia Jakarta Jakarta Asia View
78 Iran Tehran Tehran Asia View
79 Iraq Baghdad Baghdad Asia View
80 Ireland Dublin Dublin Europe View
81 Israel Jerusalem Jerusalem Asia View
82 Italy Rome Rome Europe View
83 Ivory Coast Yamoussoukro Abidjan Africa View
84 Jamaica Kingston Kingston North America View
85 Japan Tokyo Tokyo Asia View
86 Jordan Amman Amman Asia View
87 Kazakhstan Astana Almaty Asia View
88 Kenya Nairobi Nairobi Africa View
89 Kiribati Tarawa South Tarawa Oceania /Australia View
90 Kuwait Kuwait City Kuwait City Asia View
91 Kyrgyzstan Bishkek Bishkek Asia View
92 Laos Vientiane Vientiane Asia View
93 Latvia Riga Riga Europe View
94 Lebanon Beirut Beirut Asia View
95 Lesotho Maseru Maseru Africa View
96 Liberia Monrovia Monrovia Africa View
97 Libya Tripolis Tripoli Africa View
98 Liechtenstein Vaduz Vaduz Europe View
99 Lithuania Vilnius Vilnius Europe View
100 Luxembourg Luxembourg Luxembourg City Europe View
101 Macedonia Skopje Skopje Europe View
102 Madagascar Antananarivo Antananarivo Africa View
103 Malawi Lilongwe Lilongwe Africa View
104 Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Asia View
105 Maldives Male Malé Asia View
106 Mali Bamako Bamako Africa View
107 Malta Valletta Birkirkara Europe View
108 Marshall Islands Majuro Majuro Oceania /Australia View
109 Mauritania Nouakchott Nouakchott Africa View
110 Mauritius Port Louis Port Louis Africa View
111 Mexico Mexico City Mexico City North America View
112 Micronesia Palikir Palikir Oceania /Australia View
113 Moldova Chisinau Chișinău Europe View
114 Monaco Monaco Monaco Europe View
115 Mongolia Ulan Bator Ulaanbaatar Asia View
116 Montenegro Podgorica Podgorica Europe View
117 Morocco Rabat Casablanca Africa View
118 Mozambique Maputo Maputo Africa View
119 Myanmar Nay Pyi Taw Yangon Asia View
120 Namibia Windhoek Windhoek Africa View
121 Nauru Yaren Yaren District Oceania /Australia View
122 Nepal Kathmandu Kathmandu Asia View
123 Netherlands Amsterdam Amsterdam Europe View
124 New Zealand Wellington Auckland Oceania /Australia View
125 Nicaragua Managua Managua North America View
126 Niger Niamey Niamey Africa View
127 Nigeria Abuja Lagos Africa View
128 North Korea Pyongyang Pyongyang Asia View
129 Norway Oslo Oslo Europe View
130 Oman Muscat Muscat Asia View
131 Pakistan Islamabad Karachi Asia View
132 Palau Melekeok Ngerulmud Oceania /Australia View
133 Panama Panama City Panama City North America View
134 Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Port Moresby Oceania /Australia View
135 Paraguay Asuncion Asunción South America View
136 Peru Lima Lima South America View
137 Philippines Manila Quezon City Asia View
138 Poland Warsaw Warsaw Europe View
139 Portugal Lisbon Lisbon Europe View
140 Qatar Doha Doha Asia View
141 Republic of the Congo Brazzaville Brazzaville Africa View
142 Romania Bucharest Bucharest Europe View
143 Russia Moscow Moscow Asia View
144 Rwanda Kigali Kigali Africa View
145 Saint Kitts and Nevis Basseterre Basseterre North America View
146 Saint Lucia Castries Castries North America View
147 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Kingstown Kingstown North America View
148 Samoa Apia Apia Oceania /Australia View
149 San Marino San Marino Serravalle Europe View
150 Sao Tome and Principe Sao Tome São Tomé Africa View
151 Saudi Arabia Riyadh Riyadh Asia View
152 Senegal Dakar Dakar Africa View
153 Serbia Belgrade Belgrade Europe View
154 Seychelles Victoria Victoria Africa View
155 Sierra Leone Freetown Freetown Africa View
156 Singapore Singapore Singapore Asia View
157 Slovakia Bratislava Bratislava Europe View
158 Slovenia Ljubljana Ljubljana Europe View
159 Solomon Islands Honiara Honiara Oceania /Australia View
160 Somalia Mogadishu Mogadishu Africa View
161 South Africa Pretoria Johannesburg Africa View
162 South Korea Seoul Seoul Asia View
163 South Sudan Juba Juba Africa View
164 Spain Madrid Madrid Europe View
165 Sri Lanka Colombo Colombo Asia View
166 Sudan Khartoum Omdurman Africa View
167 Suriname Paramaribo Paramaribo South America View
168 Sweden Stockholm Stockholm Europe View
169 Switzerland Berne Zürich Europe View
170 Syria Damascus Aleppo Asia View
171 Tajikistan Dushanbe Dushanbe Asia View
172 Tanzania Dodoma Dar es Salaam Africa View
173 Thailand Bangkok Bangkok Asia View
174 Togo Lome Lomé Africa View
175 Tonga Nuku'alofa Nukuʻalofa Oceania /Australia View
176 Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain Chaguanas North America View
177 Tunisia Tunis Tunis Africa View
178 Turkey Ankara Istanbul Asia View
179 Turkmenistan Ashgabat Ashgabat Asia View
180 Tuvalu Funafuti Funafuti Oceania /Australia View
181 Uganda Kampala Kampala Africa View
182 Ukraine Kiev Kyiv Europe View
183 United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Dubai Asia View
184 United Kingdom London London Europe View
185 United States Washington New York City North America View
186 Uruguay Montevideo Montevideo South America View
187 Uzbekistan Tashkent Tashkent Asia View
188 Vanuatu Port Vila Port Vila Oceania /Australia View
189 Vatican City Vatican City Vatican City Europe View
190 Venezuela Caracas Caracas South America View
191 Vietnam Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City Asia View
192 Yemen Sanaa Sana'a Asia View
193 Zambia Lusaka Lusaka Africa View
194 Zimbabwe Harare Harare Africa View

Capital cities often act as mirrors of national identity. They shape how a country is perceived globally, serve as hubs for diplomacy, and often carry cultural, economic, or military importance. Whether ancient capitals with centuries of history or planned cities developed for political balance, they are integral to how a country operates and presents itself on the world stage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Capital Cities

Why do some countries have multiple capitals?

A few nations designate more than one capital for historical, administrative, or political reasons.

  • South Africa has three capitals:

    • Pretoria (executive)

    • Cape Town (legislative)

    • Bloemfontein (judicial)

  • Bolivia recognizes both Sucre (constitutional capital) and La Paz (seat of government).

This arrangement often ensures a balance of power or addresses regional diversity.

What makes a city the capital?

A city is designated the capital usually by law or constitution. It becomes the seat of the national government and hosts official buildings like the parliament, presidential palace, or supreme court.

Criteria often include:

  • Central geographic location

  • Political neutrality

  • Infrastructure and accessibility

  • Historical or symbolic importance

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