World Capitals: Countries and Their Capitals

The biggest and smallest capitals

Tokyo (Japan) is the most populous capital urban area, with about 37.2 million people, followed by New Delhi (32.9 million), Dhaka (23.2 million), Mexico City (22.3 million) and Cairo (22.2 million).

Capitals that are not the largest city

In 25 countries the capital is not the biggest city — for example Canberra in Australia (largest: Melbourne), Brasília in Brazil (largest: São Paulo), Ottawa in Canada (largest: Toronto), Beijing in China (largest: Shanghai), Quito in Ecuador (largest: Guayaquil) and Accra in Ghana (largest: Kumasi). Many were chosen as neutral or planned seats of government.

Countries with several capitals

9 countries split capital functions between cities: Benin (Porto-Novo, Cotonou), Bolivia (La Paz, Sucre), British Indian Ocean Territory (administered from London, often regarded as being on Diego Garcia), Equatorial Guinea (Malabo, some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region.), Eswatini (Mbabane, Lobamba), Myanmar (Rangoon, Nay Pyi Taw is the administrative capital), Nauru (no official capital, government offices in the Yaren District), South Africa (Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein) and Sri Lanka (Colombo, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte).

From the northernmost to the southernmost capital

The northernmost capital is Nuuk (Greenland, 64.2°N); the southernmost is Stanley (Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), 51.7°S).

Related rankings

• Neighbouring countries
• Country calling codes
• Population by country