The best capital city quizzes (and the capitals people get wrong)
Quick answer: The best capital quizzes give clues as you go, such as hemisphere and first letter, and focus on common mix-ups like Canberra (not Sydney), Ottawa (not Toronto) and Ankara (not Istanbul).
Capitals people often get wrong
Watch for these:
- Australia: Canberra, not Sydney
- Canada: Ottawa, not Toronto
- Turkey: Ankara, not Istanbul
- Brazil: Brasília, not Rio de Janeiro
- Morocco: Rabat, not Casablanca
- Nigeria: Abuja, not Lagos
How to practise
Group capitals by continent and learn the mix-ups first: they are the questions quizzes love.
Capital quiz formats
Which format suits you:
| Format | How it works | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple choice | Pick from four cities | Beginner |
| Clue reveal | Hints appear after each miss | Intermediate |
| Type the capital | No options | Intermediate |
| Timed list | Name all capitals of a continent | Expert |
| Skyline quiz | Recognise the capital from its skyline | Expert |
Capitals by continent
Africa has 54 capitals, the most of any continent, and some of the hardest to remember, such as Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Ndjamena (Chad) and Yamoussoukro (Ivory Coast). In Asia, look out for Naypyidaw, which replaced Yangon as Myanmar’s capital in 2005, and Astana in Kazakhstan, which has changed its name several times.
Planned capitals
Several capitals were built from scratch:
| Capital | Country | Built |
|---|---|---|
| Brasília | Brazil | 1950s–1960 |
| Canberra | Australia | From 1913 |
| Abuja | Nigeria | 1980s |
| Islamabad | Pakistan | 1960s |
| Naypyidaw | Myanmar | 2000s |
Capitals that moved
Countries move capitals to develop new regions or for political reasons. Kazakhstan moved its capital from Almaty to Astana in 1997, and Egypt has been building a New Administrative Capital east of Cairo.
Countries with tricky capitals
Related reading
More articles and games on the same topic.
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Frequently asked questions
Which countries have more than one capital?
South Africa has three (Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein), and Bolivia has two (Sucre and La Paz).
What is the highest capital city?
La Paz in Bolivia, at about 3,600 metres, is the highest seat of government.
Which continent has the most capitals?
Africa, with 54.
What is the capital of Myanmar?
Naypyidaw.
Why was Brasília built?
To move the capital inland and develop the interior of Brazil.
What was Kazakhstan’s old capital?
Almaty.