List of national capitals
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:42:21 PM Wikipedia source
This is a list of national capitals, including capitals of territories and dependencies, non-sovereign states including associated states and entities whose sovereignty is disputed. The capitals included on this list are those associated with states or territories listed by the international standard ISO 3166-1, or that are included in the list of states with limited recognition. Sovereign states and observer states within the United Nations are shown in bold text.
Tables
· List
Abidjan (former capital; still hosts some government offices)
Abidjan (former capital; still hosts some government offices)
City/Town
Abidjan (former capital; still hosts some government offices)
Country/Territory
Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)
Continent
Africa
Notes
Abidjan is the largest city in Ivory Coast and is officially designated as the economic capital.
Yamoussoukro (de jure)
Yamoussoukro (de jure)
City/Town
Yamoussoukro (de jure)
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi
City/Town
Abu Dhabi
Country/Territory
United Arab Emirates
Continent
Asia
Abuja
Abuja
City/Town
Abuja
Country/Territory
Nigeria
Continent
Africa
Notes
Lagos was the capital from 1914 to 1991.
Accra
Accra
City/Town
Accra
Country/Territory
Ghana
Adamstown
Adamstown
City/Town
Adamstown
Country/Territory
Pitcairn Islands
Continent
Oceania
Notes
British Overseas Territory.
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
City/Town
Addis Ababa
Country/Territory
Ethiopia
Continent
Africa
Aden (de facto, temporary)
Aden (de facto, temporary)
City/Town
Aden (de facto, temporary)
Country/Territory
Yemen
Continent
Asia
Notes
Yemen is in a state of civil war, and Sanaa has been occupied by Houthi rebels since September 2014. Aden, the former capital of South Yemen, has since acted as provisional capital of the internationally-recognized government, though that government's leadership reportedly departed the city amid a December 2025 takeover by its separatist faction.
Sanaa (de jure)
Sanaa (de jure)
City/Town
Sanaa (de jure)
Episkopi Cantonment
Episkopi Cantonment
City/Town
Episkopi Cantonment
Country/Territory
Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Continent
British Overseas Territory.
Algiers
Algiers
City/Town
Algiers
Country/Territory
Algeria
Continent
Africa
Alofi
Alofi
City/Town
Alofi
Country/Territory
Niue
Continent
Oceania
Notes
Self-governing in free association with New Zealand. Government offices are spread across both Alofi North and Alofi South.
Amman
Amman
City/Town
Amman
Country/Territory
Jordan
Continent
Asia
Amsterdam (official)
Amsterdam (official)
City/Town
Amsterdam (official)
Country/Territory
Netherlands
Continent
Europe
Notes
The Hague hosts the monarch, government ministries, judiciary and diplomatic missions. See also Capital of the Netherlands.
The Hague (de facto)
The Hague (de facto)
City/Town
The Hague (de facto)
Andorra la Vella
Andorra la Vella
City/Town
Andorra la Vella
Country/Territory
Andorra
Ankara
Ankara
City/Town
Ankara
Country/Territory
Turkey
Continent
Asia
Notes
Ankara became capital of the newly-formed Republic of Turkey in 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence. The capital of Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, was Constantinople (now Istanbul).
Antananarivo
Antananarivo
City/Town
Antananarivo
Country/Territory
Madagascar
Continent
Africa
Apia
Apia
City/Town
Apia
Country/Territory
Samoa
Continent
Oceania
Ashgabat
Ashgabat
City/Town
Ashgabat
Country/Territory
Turkmenistan
Continent
Asia
Asmara
Asmara
City/Town
Asmara
Country/Territory
Eritrea
Continent
Africa
Astana
Astana
City/Town
Astana
Country/Territory
Kazakhstan
Continent
Asia
Notes
Astana was named Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022. Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 1997 and its predecessor the Kazakh SSR from 1929 to 1991.
Asunción
Asunción
City/Town
Asunción
Country/Territory
Paraguay
Continent
South America
Atafu (atoll administration)
Atafu (atoll administration)
City/Town
Atafu (atoll administration)
Country/Territory
Tokelau
Continent
Oceania
Notes
Most populous city and smallest atoll. New Zealand owns Tokelau.
Nukunonu (atoll administration)
Nukunonu (atoll administration)
City/Town
Nukunonu (atoll administration)
Country/Territory
Largest atoll. The population of people living there is 531.
Fakaofo (atoll administration)
Fakaofo (atoll administration)
City/Town
Fakaofo (atoll administration)
Country/Territory
Most populous city in this atoll is Fale, Tokelau
Athens
Athens
City/Town
Athens
Country/Territory
Greece
Continent
Europe
Avarua
Avarua
City/Town
Avarua
Country/Territory
Cook Islands
Continent
Oceania
Notes
Self-governing in free association with New Zealand. The capital is sometimes incorrectly stated as Rarotonga, the island on which Avarua is located.
Baghdad
Baghdad
City/Town
Baghdad
Country/Territory
Iraq
Continent
Asia
Baku
Baku
City/Town
Baku
Country/Territory
Azerbaijan
Continent
Asia/Europe
Bamako
Bamako
City/Town
Bamako
Country/Territory
Mali
Continent
Africa
Bandar Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan
City/Town
Bandar Seri Begawan
Country/Territory
Brunei
Continent
Asia
Bangkok
Bangkok
City/Town
Bangkok
Country/Territory
Thailand
Bangui
Bangui
City/Town
Bangui
Country/Territory
Central African Republic
Continent
Africa
Banjul
Banjul
City/Town
Banjul
Country/Territory
Gambia
Basseterre
Basseterre
City/Town
Basseterre
Country/Territory
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Continent
North America
Beijing
Beijing
City/Town
Beijing
Country/Territory
China
Continent
Asia
Notes
See also: Historical capitals of China.
Beirut
Beirut
City/Town
Beirut
Country/Territory
Lebanon
Belgrade
Belgrade
City/Town
Belgrade
Country/Territory
Serbia
Continent
Europe
Belmopan
Belmopan
City/Town
Belmopan
Country/Territory
Belize
Continent
North America
Notes
Belize City was the capital of Belize's predecessor, British Honduras.
Berlin
Berlin
City/Town
Berlin
Country/Territory
Germany
Continent
Europe
Notes
Bonn was the capital of West Germany and remained the seat of government for reunified Germany until 1999, and is still the primary seat of six ministries. See also Capital of Germany.
Bern (de facto)
Bern (de facto)
City/Town
Bern (de facto)
Country/Territory
Switzerland
Bishkek
Bishkek
City/Town
Bishkek
Country/Territory
Kyrgyzstan
Continent
Asia
Bissau
Bissau
City/Town
Bissau
Country/Territory
Guinea-Bissau
Continent
Africa
Bloemfontein (judicial)
Bloemfontein (judicial)
City/Town
Bloemfontein (judicial)
Country/Territory
South Africa
Cape Town (legislative)
Cape Town (legislative)
City/Town
Cape Town (legislative)
Pretoria (executive)
Pretoria (executive)
City/Town
Pretoria (executive)
Bogotá
Bogotá
City/Town
Bogotá
Country/Territory
Colombia
Continent
South America
Brades (de facto)
Brades (de facto)
City/Town
Brades (de facto)
Country/Territory
Montserrat
Continent
North America
Notes
British Overseas Territory. Plymouth was abandoned after the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in 1997. Since then, government offices have been moved to Brades, which is in northwestern Montserrat. A new capital, Little Bay, is currently under construction.
Plymouth (de jure)
Plymouth (de jure)
City/Town
Plymouth (de jure)
Brasília
Brasília
City/Town
Brasília
Country/Territory
Brazil
Continent
South America
Notes
Rio de Janeiro was the capital until 1960. See also: Capitals of Brazil.
Bratislava
Bratislava
City/Town
Bratislava
Country/Territory
Slovakia
Continent
Europe
Brazzaville
Brazzaville
City/Town
Brazzaville
Country/Territory
Congo
Continent
Africa
Bridgetown
Bridgetown
City/Town
Bridgetown
Country/Territory
Barbados
Continent
North America
Brussels
Brussels
City/Town
Brussels
Country/Territory
Belgium
Continent
Europe
European Union (de facto)
European Union (de facto)
City/Town
European Union (de facto)
Bucharest
Bucharest
City/Town
Bucharest
Country/Territory
Romania
Budapest
Budapest
City/Town
Budapest
Country/Territory
Hungary
Continent
See also: List of historical capitals of Hungary.
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
City/Town
Buenos Aires
Country/Territory
Argentina
Continent
South America
Cairo
Cairo
City/Town
Cairo
Country/Territory
Egypt
Continent
Africa
Notes
A new capital is being built at the New Capital. It might be named Egypt. See also: List of historical capitals of Egypt.
Canberra
Canberra
City/Town
Canberra
Country/Territory
Australia
Continent
Oceania
Notes
Planned city built to mitigate the rivalry between Melbourne (de facto capital at the time) and Sydney (economic capital and most populous city), both of which were put forward as potential capitals in the Australasia Federation Conventions of the 1890s. Section 125 of the Constitution gives basic details about the location of the capital, size of
Caracas
Caracas
City/Town
Caracas
Country/Territory
Venezuela
Continent
South America
Castries
Castries
City/Town
Castries
Country/Territory
Saint Lucia
Continent
North America
Charlotte Amalie
Charlotte Amalie
City/Town
Charlotte Amalie
Country/Territory
United States Virgin Islands
Continent
Territory of the United States.
Chișinău
Chișinău
City/Town
Chișinău
Country/Territory
Moldova
Continent
Europe
Ciudad de la Paz
Ciudad de la Paz
City/Town
Ciudad de la Paz
Country/Territory
Equatorial Guinea
Continent
Africa
Notes
Malabo was the capital until 2026.
Cockburn Town
Cockburn Town
City/Town
Cockburn Town
Country/Territory
Turks and Caicos Islands
Continent
North America
Notes
British Overseas Territory.
Colombo (executive, judicial)
Colombo (executive, judicial)
City/Town
Colombo (executive, judicial)
Country/Territory
Sri Lanka
Continent
Asia
Notes
Until 1982, the capital was Colombo, where many governmental institutions remain; it is still designated as the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. See also: Capital of Sri Lanka.
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official)
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official)
City/Town
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official)
Country/Territory
Also known as Kotte, the city is a suburb of Colombo.
Conakry
Conakry
City/Town
Conakry
Country/Territory
Guinea
Continent
Africa
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
City/Town
Copenhagen
Country/Territory
Denmark
Continent
Europe
Cotonou (de facto)
Cotonou (de facto)
City/Town
Cotonou (de facto)
Country/Territory
Benin
Continent
Africa
Porto-Novo (official)
Porto-Novo (official)
City/Town
Porto-Novo (official)
Dakar
Dakar
City/Town
Dakar
Country/Territory
Senegal
Damascus
Damascus
City/Town
Damascus
Country/Territory
Syria
Continent
Asia
Dhaka
Dhaka
City/Town
Dhaka
Country/Territory
Bangladesh
Dili
Dili
City/Town
Dili
Country/Territory
East Timor
Djibouti
Djibouti
City/Town
Djibouti
Country/Territory
Djibouti
Continent
Africa
Dodoma
Dodoma
City/Town
Dodoma
Country/Territory
Tanzania
Continent
Dar es Salaam, the former capital and largest city, still hosts some government ministries, the judiciary, and diplomatic missions.
| City/Town | Country/Territory | Continent | Notes |
| Abidjan (former capital; still hosts some government offices) | Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) | Africa | Abidjan is the largest city in Ivory Coast and is officially designated as the economic capital. |
| Yamoussoukro (de jure) | |||
| Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates | Asia | |
| Abuja | Nigeria | Africa | Lagos was the capital from 1914 to 1991. |
| Accra | Ghana | ||
| Adamstown | Pitcairn Islands | Oceania | British Overseas Territory. |
| Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | Africa | |
| Aden (de facto, temporary) | Yemen | Asia | Yemen is in a state of civil war, and Sanaa has been occupied by Houthi rebels since September 2014. Aden, the former capital of South Yemen, has since acted as provisional capital of the internationally-recognized government, though that government's leadership reportedly departed the city amid a December 2025 takeover by its separatist faction. |
| Sanaa (de jure) | |||
| Episkopi Cantonment | Akrotiri and Dhekelia | British Overseas Territory. | |
| Algiers | Algeria | Africa | |
| Alofi | Niue | Oceania | Self-governing in free association with New Zealand. Government offices are spread across both Alofi North and Alofi South. |
| Amman | Jordan | Asia | |
| Amsterdam (official) | Netherlands | Europe | The Hague hosts the monarch, government ministries, judiciary and diplomatic missions. See also Capital of the Netherlands. |
| The Hague (de facto) | |||
| Andorra la Vella | Andorra | ||
| Ankara | Turkey | Asia | Ankara became capital of the newly-formed Republic of Turkey in 1923, after the Turkish War of Independence. The capital of Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, was Constantinople (now Istanbul). |
| Antananarivo | Madagascar | Africa | |
| Apia | Samoa | Oceania | |
| Ashgabat | Turkmenistan | Asia | |
| Asmara | Eritrea | Africa | |
| Astana | Kazakhstan | Asia | Astana was named Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022. Almaty was the capital of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 1997 and its predecessor the Kazakh SSR from 1929 to 1991. |
| Asunción | Paraguay | South America | |
| Atafu (atoll administration) | Tokelau | Oceania | Most populous city and smallest atoll. New Zealand owns Tokelau. |
| Nukunonu (atoll administration) | Largest atoll. The population of people living there is 531. | ||
| Fakaofo (atoll administration) | Most populous city in this atoll is Fale, Tokelau | ||
| Athens | Greece | Europe | |
| Avarua | Cook Islands | Oceania | Self-governing in free association with New Zealand. The capital is sometimes incorrectly stated as Rarotonga, the island on which Avarua is located. |
| Baghdad | Iraq | Asia | |
| Baku | Azerbaijan | Asia/Europe | |
| Bamako | Mali | Africa | |
| Bandar Seri Begawan | Brunei | Asia | |
| Bangkok | Thailand | ||
| Bangui | Central African Republic | Africa | |
| Banjul | Gambia | ||
| Basseterre | Saint Kitts and Nevis | North America | |
| Beijing | China | Asia | See also: Historical capitals of China. |
| Beirut | Lebanon | ||
| Belgrade | Serbia | Europe | |
| Belmopan | Belize | North America | Belize City was the capital of Belize's predecessor, British Honduras. |
| Berlin | Germany | Europe | Bonn was the capital of West Germany and remained the seat of government for reunified Germany until 1999, and is still the primary seat of six ministries. See also Capital of Germany. |
| Bern (de facto) | Switzerland | ||
| Bishkek | Kyrgyzstan | Asia | |
| Bissau | Guinea-Bissau | Africa | |
| Bloemfontein (judicial) | South Africa | ||
| Cape Town (legislative) | |||
| Pretoria (executive) | |||
| Bogotá | Colombia | South America | |
| Brades (de facto) | Montserrat | North America | British Overseas Territory. Plymouth was abandoned after the Soufrière Hills volcano erupted in 1997. Since then, government offices have been moved to Brades, which is in northwestern Montserrat. A new capital, Little Bay, is currently under construction. |
References
- Sovereignty over the Spratly Islands is disputed by the PRC, the ROC, Vietnam, the Philippines (part), Malaysia (part),
- In 1949, the Republic of China government led by the Kuomintang (KMT) lost the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communis
- Reutershttps://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/separatists-claim-broad-control-southern-yemen-2025-12-08/
- Yemen Press Agencyhttps://en.ypagency.net/378552
- Capital Cities around the World: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culturehttps://books.google.com/books?id=qb6NAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA64
- Capitalhttps://worldcapitals.org/africa/somalia/
- "General Assembly Overwhelmingly Adopts Resolution Asking Nations Not to Locate Diplomatic Missions in Jerusalem | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases"https://press.un.org/en/2017/ga11995.doc.htm
- See the CIA Factbook and Map of Israelhttps://web.archive.org/web/20260118073834/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/israel/
- Governing Jerusalem: Again on the world's agendahttps://archive.org/details/governingjerusal0000shar/page/23
- New York Timeshttps://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/amazonia-or-bust/#ftn3
- "CIA - The World Factbook -- Western Sahara"https://web.archive.org/web/20070612210735/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wi.html
- wwwhttps://www.biot.gov.io/governance/
- Island Studieshttps://islandstudies.com/files/2016/11/British-Indian-Ocean-Territory-BIOT.pdf
- Gouvernement Princier Principauté de Monacohttps://en.gouv.mc/Government-Institutions/Institutions/Constitution-of-the-Principality
- Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/place/Monaco
- wwwhttps://www.britannica.com/place/Nay-Pyi-Taw
- Capitalhttps://worldcapitals.org/south-america/suriname/
- WorldAtlashttps://www.worldatlas.com/cities/countries-with-more-than-one-capital-city.html
- Antigua and Barbuda - CIA World Factbookhttps://web.archive.org/web/20260115003123/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/
- Antigua and Barbuda - Encyclopaedia Britannicahttps://www.britannica.com/place/Antigua-and-Barbuda