Countries With Multiple Capitals: Every Nation With More Than One Capital City
Countries With Multiple Capitals: Every Nation With More Than One Capital City
Quick â what's the capital of South Africa? If you answered Pretoria, you're right. If you answered Cape Town, you're also right. And if you said Bloemfontein? Right again.
South Africa has three capitals, and it's not the only country with more than one. Around the world, over a dozen nations split their governmental functions across multiple cities, creating fascinating situations where the answer to "what's the capital?" depends on which branch of government you're asking about.
Why would a country need more than one capital? The reasons range from colonial legacies and ethnic power-sharing to practical considerations like overcrowding and climate. Some countries moved their capitals but never quite finished the job. Others deliberately split power between cities to prevent any single region from dominating.
Let's explore every country with multiple capitals â and the stories behind each unusual arrangement.
Why Do Countries Have Multiple Capitals?
Before diving into specific countries, it helps to understand the main reasons nations end up with more than one capital:
- 1Administrative/Legislative/Judicial Split: Some countries deliberately separate branches of government across different cities, as South Africa does
- 1Planned Capital Relocation: A country designates a new capital but government functions remain in the old city during a sometimes-permanent transition â common in Africa and Asia
- 1Historical Compromise: When a country unifies from previously separate regions, giving each region a capital function prevents dominance by any single area
- 1Constitutional vs. De Facto: The constitution names one city as capital, but another city houses most government activity in practice
- 1Colonial Legacy: European colonial powers sometimes established administrative centers in different cities than those later designated as official capitals
- 1Symbolic vs. Practical: A smaller city may be named capital for historical or symbolic reasons, while a larger city handles day-to-day governance
đŋđĻ South Africa â The Only Country With Three Capitals
South Africa is the world champion of multiple capitals, splitting its government across three cities in three different provinces. No other country in the world has this arrangement.
Pretoria â The Administrative Capital
Population: ~2.5 million (metro area)
Province: Gauteng
Role: Seat of the executive branch (President and Cabinet)
Pretoria is where the President of South Africa works, where foreign embassies are located, and where executive decisions are made. The iconic Union Buildings, perched on a hilltop overlooking the city, serve as the official seat of the South African government.
Founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius (named after his father, the Voortrekker leader Andries Pretorius), the city was the capital of the Boer republic of Transvaal before becoming part of unified South Africa.
Fun fact: Pretoria is known as the "Jacaranda City" because of the roughly 70,000 jacaranda trees that turn the city purple every October.
Cape Town â The Legislative Capital
Population: ~4.6 million (metro area)
Province: Western Cape
Role: Seat of Parliament (National Assembly and National Council of Provinces)
Cape Town, South Africa's oldest city and second-largest metro area, houses the country's Parliament. Every year, the government effectively "migrates" â cabinet ministers, staff, and journalists relocate from Pretoria to Cape Town for the parliamentary session, a practice that costs millions annually and generates regular debate about consolidation.
The city's role as legislative capital dates back to its status as the capital of the British Cape Colony, the most established of the four territories that formed the Union of South Africa in 1910.
Bloemfontein â The Judicial Capital
Population: ~750,000 (metro area)
Province: Free State
Role: Seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal
Bloemfontein houses South Africa's highest court for non-constitutional matters. It was historically the capital of the Orange Free State, the other Boer republic alongside Transvaal.
Why three capitals? When the four British colonies (Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange River Colony) merged to form the Union of South Africa in 1910, each wanted to host the capital. The compromise: spread the government around. Pretoria got the executive, Cape Town got the legislature, and Bloemfontein got the judiciary. Natal's capital, Pietermaritzburg, was left out â though it did get financial compensation.
Fun fact: This three-capital arrangement has survived over 110 years of dramatic political change, including the entire apartheid era and the transition to democracy. The 1996 constitution technically names no official capital, but the arrangement persists by convention.
đ˛đž Malaysia â Old Capital Meets New
Kuala Lumpur â The Official Capital
Population: ~8 million (metro area)
Role: Constitutional capital, seat of Parliament, home of the King (Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Kuala Lumpur (or "KL") is one of Southeast Asia's most vibrant cities, famous for the Petronas Twin Towers â the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004. It remains Malaysia's official capital and largest city.
Putrajaya â The Administrative Capital
Population: ~110,000
Role: Seat of the federal government and Prime Minister's office
In 1995, Malaysia began building Putrajaya from scratch, 25 km south of KL, as a purpose-built administrative capital. The move was driven by Kuala Lumpur's legendary traffic congestion and the vision of then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Putrajaya is a showcase of Islamic architecture, with wide boulevards, artificial lakes, and striking government buildings. The Prime Minister's Office (Perdana Putra) is an impressive domed complex that serves as Malaysia's administrative nerve center.
Fun fact: Malaysia also has a third "capital" of sorts â Cyberjaya, built alongside Putrajaya as a technology hub, inspired by Silicon Valley.
đ§đ´ Bolivia â The Constitutional vs. the Real Capital
Sucre â The Constitutional Capital
Population: ~300,000
Role: Official capital, seat of the judiciary (Supreme Court)
Sucre is named the capital in Bolivia's constitution and houses the Supreme Court. It's a beautiful colonial city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, sometimes called the "White City of the Americas" for its whitewashed buildings.
La Paz â The Seat of Government
Population: ~2.3 million (metro area)
Role: Seat of the executive and legislative branches
La Paz is where the actual governing happens. The Presidential Palace (Palacio Quemado, or "Burnt Palace" â named after being set on fire during a revolution), the National Congress, and most government ministries are all here.
At approximately 3,640 meters (11,942 feet) above sea level, La Paz is the highest de facto capital city in the world. Visitors frequently experience altitude sickness upon arrival.
Why two capitals? After the Federal Revolution of 1899, the victorious Liberal Party moved the executive and legislative branches from Sucre to La Paz, which had stronger economic and political power due to its proximity to tin mining regions. Sucre retained the judiciary as a compromise, and this split has endured ever since.
Fun fact: The rivalry between Sucre and La Paz is very real. In 2007, a proposal to debate moving all three branches of government back to Sucre sparked massive protests in both cities.
đ¨đŽ Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) â The Capital Nobody Uses
Yamoussoukro â The Official Capital
Population: ~300,000
Role: Official political capital since 1983
In 1983, President Felix Houphouet-Boigny moved the capital from Abidjan to his hometown of Yamoussoukro. He then built the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, which is the largest church in the world â larger than St. Peter's Basilica in Rome â in a city that was essentially a large village.
Despite being the official capital for over 40 years, Yamoussoukro has never fully assumed capital functions. Most government offices, all major embassies, and nearly all economic activity remain in Abidjan.
Abidjan â The De Facto Capital
Population: ~5.6 million
Role: Economic capital, seat of most government functions, location of foreign embassies
Abidjan is where Ivory Coast actually runs. It's the largest city in the francophone West African region and one of the most cosmopolitan cities on the continent.
Fun fact: Yamoussoukro's Basilica can seat 18,000 people and has standing room for 180,000, yet the city's population is only around 300,000. Most services are attended by a few hundred worshippers.
đšđŋ Tanzania â A Capital in Transition
Dodoma â The Official Capital
Population: ~700,000
Role: Official capital since 1974, seat of the legislature (National Assembly)
Tanzania declared Dodoma its capital in 1974, chosen for its central location (Dar es Salaam sits on the far eastern coast). The National Assembly moved there in 1996, but decades later, the transition remains incomplete.
Dar es Salaam â The Former Capital
Population: ~7.4 million (metro area)
Role: Largest city, major port, seat of most government functions and foreign embassies
Dar es Salaam (Arabic for "Abode of Peace") remains Tanzania's dominant city and de facto center of governance. Most ministries, all foreign embassies, and the country's economic engine are based here.
The trend: Tanzania is one of several African countries that designated new inland capitals but found the move logistically and financially challenging. A similar pattern existed in Nigeria before it successfully completed its move to Abuja.
đ˛đ˛ Myanmar â The Secret Capital They Built Overnight
In November 2005, Myanmar's military junta abruptly moved the capital from Yangon (Rangoon) to a brand-new city called Naypyidaw ("Abode of Kings"). Government workers reportedly received orders to move with just two days' notice, and astrologers reportedly chose the moving date.
Naypyidaw â The Official Capital
Population: ~1.2 million
Role: Seat of all government functions since 2006
Naypyidaw is one of the world's most bizarre capital cities. Built from scratch in the jungle, it features 20-lane highways that are virtually empty, massive government buildings separated by kilometers of open space, and eerily deserted neighborhoods.
Yangon â The Former Capital
Population: ~5.3 million
Role: Largest city, economic center, cultural hub
Yangon remains Myanmar's most important city by every measure except political designation. The famous Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most sacred Buddhist sites in the world, dominates the skyline.
Why did they move? Theories include: fear of a foreign naval invasion (Yangon is coastal, Naypyidaw is inland), astrological advice, the desire for a more centrally located capital, and the generals wanting to isolate the government from the population.
đŗđą The Netherlands â A Royal Complication
Amsterdam â The Constitutional Capital
Population: ~1.2 million (city), ~2.5 million (metro)
Role: Constitutional capital, cultural and financial center
Amsterdam is designated as the capital in the Dutch constitution. It's where the monarch is inaugurated (at the Nieuwe Kerk) and what the world thinks of when it thinks of the Netherlands.
The Hague (Den Haag) â The Seat of Government
Population: ~550,000
Role: Seat of the government, Parliament, Supreme Court, and the King's residence
Here's the twist: the Dutch monarch, the Prime Minister, all government ministries, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court are all in The Hague â not Amsterdam. The Hague is also home to major international institutions, including the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court.
Why the split? It dates back to the 1580s, when the Dutch Republic was governed from The Hague while Amsterdam grew into a global trading powerhouse. When Napoleon's brother Louis Bonaparte was made King of the Netherlands in 1806, he chose Amsterdam as the capital â and it stuck constitutionally, even though the government never really left The Hague.
Fun fact: The Hague is one of the few major cities in the world that serves as a seat of government without being the official capital.
đ¸đŋ Eswatini (Swaziland) â Two Capitals for Africa's Last Monarchy
Mbabane â The Administrative Capital
Population: ~95,000
Role: Seat of the executive branch and government ministries
Lobamba â The Legislative and Royal Capital
Population: ~11,000
Role: Seat of Parliament and the royal residence of the Queen Mother
Eswatini (renamed from Swaziland in 2018) splits its capital functions between two small cities. Mbabane handles administration while Lobamba, a traditional royal village, houses Parliament and serves as the spiritual heart of the Swazi monarchy.
Fun fact: Eswatini is Africa's last absolute monarchy. King Mswati III rules with broad powers, and the royal capital of Lobamba is the site of the annual Umhlanga (Reed Dance) ceremony, one of Africa's most famous cultural events.
đąđ° Sri Lanka â The Capital You Can't Pronounce
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte â The Official Capital
Population: ~115,000
Role: Legislative capital, seat of Parliament
Try saying "Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte" three times fast. This suburb of Colombo was designated as Sri Lanka's capital in 1982, and it holds the country's striking Parliament building, which sits on an island in a lake.
Colombo â The Commercial Capital
Population: ~5.6 million (metro)
Role: Largest city, seat of the President, most government ministries, economic center
Colombo is the de facto capital in every practical sense. The President's official residence and office, the Supreme Court, and most government functions are based here.
Fun fact: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte was actually the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Kotte (15th-16th centuries) before Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial powers shifted the center of gravity to Colombo. Naming it capital again was partly a nod to pre-colonial Sri Lankan identity.
đ§đ¯ Benin â The Official Capital vs. The Real One
Porto-Novo â The Official Capital
Population: ~290,000
Role: Constitutional capital, seat of the National Assembly
Cotonou â The Seat of Government
Population: ~2 million (metro)
Role: Largest city, seat of the President and government, economic center
Porto-Novo is Benin's capital on paper, but Cotonou is where the government actually operates. The President's office, most ministries, and the country's main port and airport are all in Cotonou.
Fun fact: Porto-Novo's name is Portuguese ("New Port"), reflecting the colonial trading post origins of the city. It also goes by its indigenous Yoruba name, Hogbonou, and its Gun-language name, Adjache.
đ¨đą Chile â The Disputed Case
Santiago â The De Facto Capital
Population: ~7.1 million (metro)
Role: Seat of the President, Supreme Court, most government functions
Valparaiso â The Legislative Capital
Population: ~300,000
Role: Seat of the National Congress since 1990
Chile's constitution does not officially designate a capital city, but Santiago functions as the capital in virtually every respect. The National Congress was moved to the coastal city of Valparaiso in 1990, during the transition from Pinochet's dictatorship to democracy â partly as a symbolic gesture to decentralize power away from Santiago.
Whether Chile truly has "two capitals" is debatable. Most Chileans and international observers consider Santiago the sole capital, with Valparaiso hosting Congress as a special arrangement.
Fun fact: Valparaiso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its colorful hillside houses, funicular elevators, and vibrant street art. Pablo Neruda's house there is now a museum.
đŽđą Israel â The Most Controversial Capital Question
Jerusalem â The Declared Capital
Population: ~950,000
Role: Seat of the Knesset (Parliament), Supreme Court, President, Prime Minister
Israel declares Jerusalem as its "eternal and undivided capital." The Knesset, Supreme Court, Presidential residence, and Prime Minister's office are all located there.
Tel Aviv â The International Diplomatic Capital
Population: ~4.1 million (metro)
Role: Location of nearly all foreign embassies, economic and cultural center
Despite Israel's declaration, most countries do not recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the disputed status of the city. Nearly all foreign embassies are located in Tel Aviv (though the United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem in 2018, followed by a handful of other countries).
This makes Israel unique: it's the only country where the vast majority of foreign governments effectively recognize a different city as the capital than the one the country itself claims.
đ More Countries With Capital Complications
Several other nations have notable capital situations worth mentioning:
- âĸSouth Korea: The National Assembly and most government functions are in Seoul, but a new administrative capital called Sejong City has been under development since 2007, with many government ministries relocated there
- âĸGeorgia: In 2012, Parliament was briefly moved from Tbilisi to Kutaisi, though Tbilisi remains the undisputed capital. The move was later reversed in 2018
- âĸNigeria: Successfully moved its capital from Lagos to purpose-built Abuja in 1991. While some government functions lingered in Lagos, Nigeria is generally considered to have completed its capital transition
- âĸBrazil: Moved from Rio de Janeiro to purpose-built Brasilia in 1960. Unlike many countries on this list, Brazil actually completed the transition
- âĸKazakhstan: Moved from Almaty to Astana (briefly renamed Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022, now Astana again) in 1997 for strategic and geographic reasons
- âĸPalau: Has both Ngerulmud (official capital and seat of government since 2006) and Koror (former capital and largest city)
The Complete List: Every Country With Multiple Capitals
| Country | Capital 1 | Capital 2 | Capital 3 | Type of Split |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Pretoria (Executive) | Cape Town (Legislative) | Bloemfontein (Judicial) | Three-way government split |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur (Official) | Putrajaya (Administrative) | â | Planned relocation |
| Bolivia | Sucre (Constitutional) | La Paz (Government seat) | â | Post-revolution compromise |
| Ivory Coast | Yamoussoukro (Official) | Abidjan (De facto) | â | Presidential decree |
| Tanzania | Dodoma (Official) | Dar es Salaam (De facto) | â | Incomplete relocation |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam (Constitutional) | The Hague (Government seat) | â | Historical evolution |
| Eswatini | Mbabane (Administrative) | Lobamba (Legislative/Royal) | â | Monarchical tradition |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Legislative) | Colombo (De facto) | â | Historical restoration |
| Benin | Porto-Novo (Constitutional) | Cotonou (De facto) | â | Colonial legacy |
| Chile | Santiago (De facto) | Valparaiso (Legislative) | â | Post-dictatorship reform |
| Israel | Jerusalem (Declared) | Tel Aviv (Diplomatic) | â | International dispute |
| South Korea | Seoul (Official) | Sejong City (Administrative) | â | Planned decentralization |
đ§ Quiz Time: Test Your Multiple Capitals Knowledge!
Think you've mastered the world's multiple capitals? Try these questions:
- 1Which is the only country with three official capitals?
- 1Which country's de facto capital sits at over 3,600 meters elevation?
- 1Which European capital is NOT the seat of its country's government?
- 1Which African country moved its capital to a city with the world's largest church?
- 1Which country built a new capital with 20-lane highways that sit mostly empty?
- 1In which country did the government reportedly move the capital with just two days' notice?
- 1Which country's official capital has a name that's famously difficult to pronounce?
Answers:
- 1South Africa (Pretoria, Cape Town, Bloemfontein)
- 2Bolivia (La Paz, at approximately 3,640m)
- 3Amsterdam (the Dutch government sits in The Hague)
- 4Ivory Coast (Yamoussoukro, home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace)
- 5Myanmar (Naypyidaw)
- 6Myanmar
- 7Sri Lanka (Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte)
Why This Matters for Geography Enthusiasts
Understanding multiple capitals isn't just trivia â it reveals deeper truths about how nations form, govern, and evolve. Every dual capital tells a story of compromise, conflict, colonial legacy, or ambitious modernization.
These quirks also make countries harder to pin down in geography games. When someone asks "what's the capital of the Netherlands?", both Amsterdam and The Hague are defensible answers. That ambiguity is what makes geography endlessly fascinating.
Ready to test your capital city knowledge? Our geography game challenges you to name every country in the world â and knowing about these capital complexities gives you the edge.
[Start playing now â](/)
đ Key Takeaways
- âĸSouth Africa is the only country with three capitals, splitting executive, legislative, and judicial functions across Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein
- âĸMultiple capitals usually result from historical compromise, incomplete relocations, or deliberate power-sharing between regions
- âĸSeveral countries (Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Benin) have official capitals that barely function as capitals in practice
- âĸThe Netherlands has a constitutional capital (Amsterdam) that doesn't actually house the government (which sits in The Hague)
- âĸBolivia's La Paz is the world's highest de facto capital at over 3,600 meters
- âĸMyanmar's Naypyidaw may be the strangest modern capital â a massive, eerily empty city built in secret
- âĸIsrael's capital situation is the most politically contested, with most countries not recognizing its declared capital of Jerusalem
The world of capitals is far more complicated than your school textbook suggested. And that's what makes geography so endlessly surprising.
Want to explore more geographic oddities? Check out our guide to [Transcontinental Countries](/blog/transcontinental-countries-spanning-multiple-continents) or discover the world's most [Fascinating Exclaves and Enclaves](/blog/exclaves-and-enclaves-of-the-world).