Are you a globe-trotter at heart or a geography geek eager for a challenge? Whether you're a novice or a seasoned explorer, dive into our free quiz about capitals and prove you know every world capital! This world capitals quiz is designed to test your world capitals knowledge and sharpen your geography prowess. From famous metropolises to hidden gems, you'll guess the capital cities of 195 nations - and uncover fun facts along the way. If you love capital city trivia, this is your chance to shine. Ready for more? Try our world capitals trivia or explore the quiz for capital cities of the world to hone your skills. Start now and see if you can name them all!
What is the capital city of France?
Lyon
Paris
Nice
Marseille
Paris is the capital of France and its largest city. It has been a major center of culture, politics, and economics for centuries. The city is home to the Élysée Palace, which serves as the official residence of the President of France. Learn more at .
What is the capital city of the United States?
Chicago
Los Angeles
Washington, D.C.
New York City
Washington, D.C. is the capital of the United States and is a federal district, not part of any state. The city houses the White House and the United States Capitol, which are the seats of the executive and legislative branches. It was established by the Residence Act of 1790. More details at .
What is the capital city of Japan?
Tokyo
Osaka
Nagoya
Kyoto
Tokyo has been the capital of Japan since 1869, when the emperor moved from Kyoto. It is the political and economic center of Japan and one of the world's most populous urban areas. The city hosts the National Diet, the Prime Minister's residence, and the Imperial Palace. Read more at .
What is the capital city of Australia?
Sydney
Canberra
Brisbane
Melbourne
Canberra was selected as the capital of Australia in 1908 as a compromise between Sydney and Melbourne. It was designed by architect Walter Burley Griffin and became the seat of government in 1927. The city houses the Parliament House, the High Court, and other federal institutions. See .
What is the capital city of Canada?
Montreal
Vancouver
Ottawa
Toronto
Ottawa was chosen as Canada's capital by Queen Victoria in 1857 for its strategic location. It became the seat of the Canadian government and houses Parliament Hill, the official residence of the Prime Minister, and the Governor General's residence. The city is bilingual, with English and French widely spoken. More at .
What is the capital city of Italy?
Venice
Milan
Rome
Naples
Rome has been Italy's capital since 1871, following the unification of Italy. The city is rich in historical landmarks, including the Colosseum, the Vatican, and the Roman Forum. It hosts the Italian government, the President's Quirinal Palace, and the Parliament. Read more at .
What is the capital city of Germany?
Munich
Hamburg
Berlin
Frankfurt
Berlin has been the capital of Germany since reunification in 1990, after serving as the capital of East Germany. It is Germany's largest city and political center, hosting the Bundestag, the Chancellor's office, and the President's Bellevue Palace. The city has a rich history and vibrant cultural scene. More details at .
What is the capital of Indonesia?
Jakarta
Bandung
Surabaya
Bali
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia, located on the northwest coast of Java. It became the capital after Indonesia's independence and serves as the economic, cultural, and political center. The city is home to the presidential palace and national legislature. Learn more at .
What is the capital of Nigeria?
Lagos
Kano
Ibadan
Abuja
Abuja became the capital of Nigeria in 1991, replacing Lagos, to provide a more central location and reduce congestion. The city is planned and purpose-built, hosting the presidential villa, the National Assembly, and the Supreme Court. It is one of Africa's fastest-growing cities. More at .
What is the capital of Kazakhstan?
Astana
Almaty
Shymkent
Karagandy
Astana became the capital of Kazakhstan in 1997, moving from Almaty to promote development in the north. In 2019 it was renamed Nur-Sultan but later reverted to Astana. The city is known for its modern architecture and government district. Read more at .
What is the capital of Guatemala?
Guatemala City
Escuintla
Antigua Guatemala
Quetzaltenango
Guatemala City, officially Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción, has been the capital since 1776, after an earthquake destroyed nearby Antigua. It is the country's political, cultural, and economic center. The city hosts the National Palace and the presidential residence. More information at .
What is the capital of Ethiopia?
Mekele
Gondar
Dire Dawa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa, founded in 1886, is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. The city serves as the political hub and houses the African Union headquarters. It is located at an elevation of 2,355 meters, making it one of the highest capitals in the world. More details at .
What is the official administrative capital of Sri Lanka?
Kandy
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte
Galle
Colombo
Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte became the administrative capital of Sri Lanka in 1982, serving as the official seat of the parliament. Colombo remains the commercial capital and largest city. Kotte is part of the Colombo metropolitan area and hosts government offices. Learn more at .
What is the capital of Cuba?
Havana
Camagüey
Santiago de Cuba
Holguín
Havana is the capital and largest city of Cuba, founded by the Spanish in 1515. It serves as the cultural, political, and economic center of the country. The city is famous for its colonial architecture and historic old town. More at .
What is the capital of Chile?
Antofagasta
Santiago
Valparaíso
Concepción
Santiago is the capital and largest city of Chile, founded in 1541 by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia. It is the political and economic hub of the country and sits in a valley surrounded by the Andes Mountains. The city hosts the presidential palace and legislature. Read more at .
What is the capital of Moldova?
Cahul
Tiraspol
Chi?in?u
B?l?i
Chi?in?u is the capital and largest city of Moldova, located on the Bâc River. It serves as the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. The city was first mentioned in historical records in 1436. More details at .
What is the capital of Uzbekistan?
Tashkent
Khiva
Samarkand
Bukhara
Tashkent is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, with a history dating back over 2,000 years. It became the capital of the Uzbek SSR in 1930 and remained capital after independence in 1991. The city is a major cultural and economic center in Central Asia. Learn more at .
Which city serves as the seat of government of Bolivia?
Sucre
La Paz
Cochabamba
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
La Paz is the seat of government and executive capital of Bolivia, hosting the presidential palace and government ministries. Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital. La Paz is located in a deep valley at an elevation of about 3,650 meters, making it one of the highest administrative capitals. More at .
What is the de facto capital of Nauru?
Buada
Denigomodu
Aiwo
Yaren District
Nauru does not have an official capital city; the Yaren District functions as the de facto capital by hosting government offices. Yaren is home to the parliament and administrative buildings. This arrangement is unique among UN member states. See .
What is the capital of Kosovo?
Mitrovica
Peja
Prizren
Pristina
Pristina is the capital and largest city of Kosovo. It became the administrative center following the breakup of Yugoslavia and Kosovo's declaration of independence in 2008. The city hosts the government, presidency, and foreign embassies. More details at .
What is the capital of Myanmar?
Bagan
Yangon
Mandalay
Nay Pyi Taw
Nay Pyi Taw became the capital of Myanmar in 2005, replacing Yangon. The city was built as a purpose-built administrative center and is known for its wide avenues. It houses the presidential palace, parliament, and ministries. Learn more at .
What is the capital of Papua New Guinea?
Lae
Kokopo
Port Moresby
Madang
Port Moresby is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea. It became the colonial administrative center under British rule and remained the capital upon independence in 1975. The city is situated on the southeastern coast of New Guinea. More at .
Which city is the executive capital of South Africa?
Pretoria
Durban
Bloemfontein
Cape Town
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). Pretoria is the seat of the executive branch, hosting the President's official residence and cabinet offices. The city is often referred to as the administrative capital. Learn more at .
Which city is the constitutional capital of Bolivia?
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Sucre
Cochabamba
La Paz
Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital of Bolivia, housing the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. La Paz serves as the seat of government and executive capital. Sucre was the original capital of Bolivia after independence in 1825. More details at .
What is the administrative centre of Malaysia?
Johor Bahru
Kuala Lumpur
Putrajaya
George Town
Putrajaya is the federal administrative centre of Malaysia and houses government ministries and civil service offices. It was established in 1995 to reduce congestion in Kuala Lumpur and officially became the administrative capital in 2001. Kuala Lumpur remains the national capital and economic hub. Learn more at .
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AI Study Notes
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Study Outcomes
Identify World Capitals -
Match a wide range of world capital cities to their countries, reinforcing your global geography awareness.
Recall Country-Capital Pairings -
Exercise your memory by accurately naming capital cities when given their respective countries.
Differentiate Regional Capitals -
Distinguish key capital cities across various continents and regions, sharpening your geographical categorization skills.
Apply Quiz Strategies -
Utilize interactive quiz techniques to test your recall and reinforce memory of capital city trivia.
Evaluate Your Geography Knowledge -
Assess your current level of world capitals knowledge and identify areas for further study and improvement.
Cheat Sheet
Continental Breakdown -
Grouping countries by continent helps you tackle a quiz about capitals systematically; start with one region at a time to reduce overwhelm. For example, learn all European capitals using a map from National Geographic and then move on to Africa or Asia. This method aligns with university geography curricula to build a solid foundation.
Mnemonic Devices for Rapid Recall -
Create catchy phrases like "My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles" to remember capitals such as Madrid, Vienna, and Moscow in a world capitals quiz. Studies from memory research at Dartmouth College show that linking new information to familiar patterns boosts retention. Try grouping tricky sets - like African capitals - into fun acronyms to ace capital city trivia.
Geographic & Demographic Clues -
Many capitals sit on rivers or coastlines - think Cairo on the Nile or Ottawa by the Ottawa River - so visualizing maps can help you guess the capital cities logically. Cross-reference population data from the UN's World Urbanization Prospects to understand which cities serve as administrative hubs. Leveraging these clues sharpens your ability to test your world capitals knowledge in context.
Historical & Political Context -
Understanding why Brasília replaced Rio de Janeiro or why Islamabad was chosen over Karachi gives cultural insight and makes capitals more memorable. Academic journals from the Journal of Historical Geography highlight how political shifts often drive capital relocations. This background knowledge enriches any quiz about capitals by giving you stories, not just names.
Active Recall & Spaced Repetition Practice -
Use flashcard apps like Anki or Quizlet to regularly test yourself on capital - country pairs and track your progress over time. Research from Harvard's learning lab shows that spaced repetition dramatically improves long-term retention. Scheduling short, frequent review sessions ensures you're always ready to test your world capitals knowledge under any format.
