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Lists of capitals

Lists of capitals are systematic enumerations of cities designated as the primary seats of for , subnational entities, historical polities, and other administrative divisions, reflecting the organizational centers of political authority. These compilations, often drawn from authoritative references like databases, serve essential roles in by fostering spatial awareness of structures and in by clarifying administrative loci amid territorial complexities. Key variations include single versus distributed capitals, where nations like allocate executive functions to , legislative to , and judicial to to balance regional influences post-apartheid. Planned capitals, such as Brazil's Brasília or Nigeria's Abuja, exemplify deliberate shifts from overcrowded historical centers to promote equitable development and national unity. Compilations from sources like the CIA World Factbook standardize entries with geographic coordinates and time zones, aiding empirical analysis of . Notable controversies arise from sovereignty disputes, where inclusion hinges on recognition criteria; Jerusalem's dual claims by and Palestinian authorities, Taiwan's excluded from some multilateral lists due to non-UN membership, and Kosovo's acknowledged variably among states underscore how lists embody causal tensions in rather than neutral consensus. Such variances highlight the empirical grounding of lists in control and bilateral accords over ideologically driven narratives.

Capitals of Sovereign Nations

Current National Capitals

Current national capitals designate the principal cities where the governments of exercise central authority, housing key institutions such as parliaments, presidential palaces, and supreme courts. As of October 2025, the comprises 193 member states, each with a designated capital, alongside two non-member observer states: the (Vatican City State), whose capital is itself, and the , which claims as its capital but operates primary administrative functions from due to ongoing disputes. The U.S. Department of State recognizes 197 independent states, incorporating entities like (Pristina) and (Taipei) based on bilateral diplomatic relations. Disputes over capital status persist in cases such as , where serves as the capital under and U.S. since December 6, 2017, though many nations maintain embassies in pending a final status agreement. Similarly, and contest certain border areas, but and remain undisputed capitals. Capital relocations are rare; for instance, Indonesia's planned shift from to has faced delays beyond initial 2024 targets due to infrastructure challenges. The table below enumerates the capitals of the 193 UN member states and two observer states, sorted alphabetically by English country name, drawing from official government designations and verified international references.
CountryCapital
AfghanistanKabul
AlbaniaTirana
AlgeriaAlgiers
AndorraAndorra la Vella
AngolaLuanda
Antigua and BarbudaSaint John's
ArgentinaBuenos Aires
ArmeniaYerevan
AustraliaCanberra
AustriaVienna
AzerbaijanBaku
BahamasNassau
BahrainManama
BangladeshDhaka
BarbadosBridgetown
BelarusMinsk
BelgiumBrussels
BelizeBelmopan
BeninPorto-Novo
BhutanThimphu
BoliviaSucre (constitutional); La Paz (administrative)
Bosnia and HerzegovinaSarajevo
BotswanaGaborone
BrazilBrasília
BruneiBandar Seri Begawan
BulgariaSofia
Burkina FasoOuagadougou
BurundiGitega
CambodiaPhnom Penh
CameroonYaoundé
CanadaOttawa
Cape VerdePraia
Central African RepublicBangui
ChadN'Djamena
ChileSantiago
ChinaBeijing
ColombiaBogotá
ComorosMoroni
Congo, Democratic Republic of theKinshasa
Congo, Republic of theBrazzaville
Costa RicaSan José
Côte d'IvoireYamoussoukro
CroatiaZagreb
CubaHavana
CyprusNicosia
CzechiaPrague
DenmarkCopenhagen
DjiboutiDjibouti
DominicaRoseau
Dominican RepublicSanto Domingo
EcuadorQuito
EgyptCairo
El SalvadorSan Salvador
Equatorial GuineaMalabo
EritreaAsmara
EstoniaTallinn
EswatiniMbabane
EthiopiaAddis Ababa
FijiSuva
FinlandHelsinki
FranceParis
GabonLibreville
GambiaBanjul
GeorgiaTbilisi
GermanyBerlin
GhanaAccra
GreeceAthens
GrenadaSt. George's
GuatemalaGuatemala City
GuineaConakry
Guinea-BissauBissau
GuyanaGeorgetown
HaitiPort-au-Prince
Holy SeeVatican City
HondurasTegucigalpa
HungaryBudapest
IcelandReykjavík
IndiaNew Delhi
IndonesiaJakarta
IranTehran
IraqBaghdad
IrelandDublin
IsraelJerusalem
ItalyRome
JamaicaKingston
JapanTokyo
JordanAmman
KazakhstanAstana
KenyaNairobi
KiribatiTarawa
Korea, NorthPyongyang
Korea, SouthSeoul
KosovoPristina
KuwaitKuwait City
KyrgyzstanBishkek
LaosVientiane
LatviaRiga
LebanonBeirut
LesothoMaseru
LiberiaMonrovia
LibyaTripoli
LiechtensteinVaduz
LithuaniaVilnius
LuxembourgLuxembourg
MadagascarAntananarivo
MalawiLilongwe
MalaysiaKuala Lumpur
MaldivesMalé
MaliBamako
MaltaValletta
Marshall IslandsMajuro
MauritaniaNouakchott
MauritiusPort Louis
MexicoMexico City
MicronesiaPalikir
MoldovaChișinău
MonacoMonaco
MongoliaUlaanbaatar
MontenegroPodgorica
MoroccoRabat
MozambiqueMaputo
MyanmarNaypyidaw
NamibiaWindhoek
NauruYaren
NepalKathmandu
NetherlandsAmsterdam
New ZealandWellington
NicaraguaManagua
NigerNiamey
NigeriaAbuja
North MacedoniaSkopje
NorwayOslo
OmanMuscat
PakistanIslamabad
PalauNgerulmud
PalestineRamallah (de facto); Jerusalem (claimed)
PanamaPanama City
Papua New GuineaPort Moresby
ParaguayAsunción
PeruLima
PhilippinesManila
PolandWarsaw
PortugalLisbon
QatarDoha
RomaniaBucharest
RussiaMoscow
RwandaKigali
Saint Kitts and NevisBasseterre
Saint LuciaCastries
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesKingstown
SamoaApia
San MarinoSan Marino
São Tomé and PríncipeSão Tomé
Saudi ArabiaRiyadh
SenegalDakar
SerbiaBelgrade
SeychellesVictoria
Sierra LeoneFreetown
SingaporeSingapore
SlovakiaBratislava
SloveniaLjubljana
Solomon IslandsHoniara
SomaliaMogadishu
South AfricaPretoria (administrative); Cape Town (legislative); Bloemfontein (judicial)
South SudanJuba
SpainMadrid
Sri LankaSri Jayawardenepura Kotte
SudanKhartoum
SurinameParamaribo
SwedenStockholm
SwitzerlandBern
SyriaDamascus
TaiwanTaipei
TajikistanDushanbe
TanzaniaDodoma
ThailandBangkok
Timor-LesteDili
TogoLomé
TongaNuku'alofa
Trinidad and TobagoPort of Spain
TunisiaTunis
TurkeyAnkara
TurkmenistanAshgabat
TuvaluFunafuti
UgandaKampala
UkraineKyiv
United Arab EmiratesAbu Dhabi
United KingdomLondon
United StatesWashington, D.C.
UruguayMontevideo
UzbekistanTashkent
VanuatuPort Vila
VenezuelaCaracas
VietnamHanoi
YemenSana'a
ZambiaLusaka
ZimbabweHarare
This compilation prioritizes administrative capitals where constitutional and practical designations differ, such as Bolivia's or South Africa's tiered structure. Variations in recognition, particularly for and , reflect geopolitical realities rather than universal consensus.

Former National Capitals

Former national capitals are cities that once functioned as the political centers of but lost that status due to relocation of institutions, often motivated by factors such as geographic centrality, security concerns, , or . These shifts have occurred throughout , with modern examples frequently involving planned new cities to address imbalances in population distribution or regional tensions. While some former capitals retain economic or cultural prominence, others have declined in influence following the move. The following table lists selected examples of former national capitals of sovereign states, focusing on verified relocations in the 19th to 21st centuries:
CountryFormer CapitalPeriod as CapitalSuccessor CapitalKey Reason for Relocation
AustraliaMelbourne1901–1927CanberraTo establish a neutral, purpose-built federal capital away from rival state hubs Sydney and Melbourne, as mandated by the Australian Constitution.
BrazilRio de Janeiro1763–1960BrasíliaTo stimulate development in the underdeveloped interior and reduce overcrowding in coastal Rio.
JapanKyoto794–1868TokyoTransfer during the Meiji Restoration to modernize administration from the eastern commercial center of Edo (renamed Tokyo).
KazakhstanAlmaty1929–1997AstanaTo position the capital more centrally in the vast steppe territory for better accessibility and security.
NigeriaLagos1960–1991AbujaTo promote national unity by moving from the ethnically dominant Yoruba south to a neutral central location.
PakistanKarachi1947–1959IslamabadShift inland from the vulnerable port city to a secure, purpose-built site amid post-partition instability.
West GermanyBonn1949–1990BerlinProvisional choice post-WWII due to Berlin's division; restored to Berlin after reunification to symbolize continuity.
These relocations often involved significant infrastructure investments in successor cities, though former capitals like and continue to thrive as economic hubs. In cases of partitioned or reunified states, such as , the change reflected broader geopolitical realignments rather than internal planning. Historical records indicate hundreds of such shifts globally, particularly in newly independent or reconfigured nations, but comprehensive enumeration requires distinguishing from capitals and excluding temporary wartime seats.

Subnational Capitals

Capitals of States, Provinces, and Regions

Subnational capitals serve as the primary administrative hubs for states, provinces, or analogous regions within larger countries, particularly in systems where power is divided between national and subnational governments. These cities function as seats for regional legislatures, governors or premiers, and courts, facilitating local over matters like , , and . In contrast to national capitals, subnational ones vary widely in size and prominence, often lacking the symbolic weight of capitals but playing crucial roles in regional policy-making and economic coordination. In Canada, the 10 provinces and 3 territories each designate a capital city for provincial or territorial administration. These capitals, established through historical settlement patterns and legislative decisions, include urban centers like Toronto and smaller ones like Charlottetown. The list is as follows:
Province/TerritoryCapital
AlbertaEdmonton
British ColumbiaVictoria
ManitobaWinnipeg
New BrunswickFredericton
Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's
Nova ScotiaHalifax
OntarioToronto
Prince Edward IslandCharlottetown
QuebecQuebec City
SaskatchewanRegina
Northwest TerritoriesYellowknife
NunavutIqaluit
YukonWhitehorse
India, a federal republic with 28 states and 8 union territories, assigns capitals to states for state-level governance, with some union territories sharing or lacking separate ones. Andhra Pradesh's capital, Amaravati, exemplifies recent designations amid administrative realignments post-2014 bifurcation. Key state capitals include:
StateCapital
Andhra PradeshAmaravati
Arunachal PradeshItanagar
AssamDispur
BiharPatna
ChhattisgarhRaipur
GoaPanaji
GujaratGandhinagar
HaryanaChandigarh
Himachal PradeshShimla
JharkhandRanchi
KarnatakaBengaluru
KeralaThiruvananthapuram
Madhya PradeshBhopal
MaharashtraMumbai
ManipurImphal
MeghalayaShillong
MizoramAizawl
NagalandKohima
OdishaBhubaneswar
PunjabChandigarh
RajasthanJaipur
SikkimGangtok
Tamil NaduChennai
TelanganaHyderabad
TripuraAgartala
Uttar PradeshLucknow
UttarakhandDehradun
West BengalKolkata
Australia's 6 states and 2 mainland territories feature capitals that are often major metropolitan areas, reflecting the country's federated structure established in 1901. Sydney, for instance, serves as ' capital and economic powerhouse. The designations are: In other federal nations like Brazil, subnational capitals mirror this pattern, with 26 states and the federal district each having a designated seat, such as Rio Branco for Acre and Salvador for Bahia, supporting regional autonomy under the 1988 constitution. Similar arrangements exist in the United States, where all 50 states maintain capitals like Albany (New York) and Austin (Texas) for state operations, and in countries like Germany and Mexico, where Länder or estados host administrative centers distinct from the national capital.

Capitals Organized by Country

Subnational capitals serve as the primary administrative, legislative, and often judicial centers for provinces, states, or equivalent divisions within a . In systems, these capitals facilitate regional while distinct from the , enabling localized policy implementation and representation. Countries like , , , and exemplify this organization, with lists below drawn from official governmental resources. Comprehensive enumeration for all nations exceeds practical scope here, but these illustrate structured ; for instance, Australia's states maintain parliaments in their capitals, independent of . Australia
Australia comprises six states and two mainland territories, each with a designated hosting state or assemblies. These were established post-federation in , with capitals selected for geographic centrality or historical precedence.
Canada
Canada's ten provinces and three territories each designate a capital for provincial or territorial legislatures, with selections rooted in colonial history or compromise; for example, New Brunswick's was chosen in 1785 to balance Acadian and Loyalist interests. serves nationally but not provincially.
Province/TerritoryCapital
AlbertaEdmonton
British ColumbiaVictoria
ManitobaWinnipeg
New BrunswickFredericton
Newfoundland and LabradorSt. John's
Nova ScotiaHalifax
OntarioToronto
Prince Edward IslandCharlottetown
QuebecQuebec City
SaskatchewanRegina
Northwest TerritoriesYellowknife
NunavutIqaluit
YukonWhitehorse
India
India's 28 states and 8 union territories feature state capitals as seats of legislative assemblies, with many designated post-independence in or during reorganizations like the 1956 States Reorganisation Act; union territories often lack full capitals, administered from unless specified. for remains under development as of 2025.
Germany
Germany's 16 Bundesländer (states) have capitals as Länder seats, formalized in the 1949 , with reunification in 1990 reinstating eastern ones like ; city-states like function dually as state and national capital. These centers host Landtage (parliaments) and manage devolved powers in and policing.

Capitals of Territories and Non-Sovereign Entities

Dependent Territories and Associated States

Dependent territories encompass overseas possessions and insular areas administered by sovereign states but lacking full sovereignty, typically featuring local governance structures with capitals serving as administrative centers. These entities vary in autonomy, from unincorporated territories of the United States like Puerto Rico, where San Juan functions as the capital handling executive and legislative functions, to British Overseas Territories such as Bermuda, with Hamilton as its capital overseeing financial and governmental operations. French overseas collectivities, including New Caledonia (capital: Nouméa), maintain capitals for regional administration under Paris's oversight. Associated states, or freely associated states, are independent nations that delegate specific powers like defense and foreign relations to a partner state while retaining self-governance and distinct capitals. Examples include the (capital: ), Republic of the Marshall Islands (capital: ), and Republic of (capital: ), all in free association with the via Compacts of Free Association renewed as of 2024. Similarly, New Zealand's associated states Cook Islands (capital: ) and (capital: ) manage internal affairs independently since 1965 and 1974, respectively. The following table lists select dependent territories and associated states, grouped by administering state, with their capitals:
Administering StateTerritory/Associated StateCapital
AustraliaNorfolk IslandKingston
DenmarkFaroe IslandsTórshavn
DenmarkGreenlandNuuk
FranceFrench GuianaCayenne
FranceFrench PolynesiaPapeete
FranceGuadeloupeBasse-Terre
FranceMartiniqueFort-de-France
FranceMayotteMamoudzou
FranceNew CaledoniaNouméa
FranceRéunionSaint-Denis
NetherlandsArubaOranjestad
NetherlandsBonaireKralendijk
NetherlandsCuraçaoWillemstad
NetherlandsSabaThe Bottom
NetherlandsSint EustatiusOranjestad
NetherlandsSint MaartenPhilipsburg
New ZealandCook IslandsAvarua
New ZealandNiueAlofi
United KingdomAnguillaThe Valley
United KingdomBermudaHamilton
United KingdomBritish Virgin IslandsRoad Town
United KingdomCayman IslandsGeorge Town
United KingdomFalkland IslandsStanley
United KingdomGibraltarGibraltar
United KingdomMontserratPlymouth (de facto: Brades)
United KingdomSaint HelenaJamestown
United KingdomTurks and Caicos IslandsCockburn Town
United StatesAmerican SamoaPago Pago
United StatesGuamHagåtña
United StatesNorthern Mariana IslandsSaipan
United StatesPuerto RicoSan Juan
United StatesU.S. Virgin IslandsCharlotte Amalie
United States (assoc.)Federated States of MicronesiaPalikir
United States (assoc.)Marshall IslandsMajuro
United States (assoc.)PalauNgerulmud
Uninhabited or minimally populated territories, such as Australia's or the UK's South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, lack designated capitals. Status and administrative details can evolve, as seen in the dissolution in , redistributing islands into constituent countries or special municipalities.

Supranational and International Capitals

Supranational organizations, which involve member states delegating certain sovereign powers to common institutions, often designate primary administrative centers that serve as functional capitals. The (EU), established by the in 1957 and expanded through subsequent treaties, has its key institutions concentrated in , , including the , , and . , , hosts the European Parliament's plenary sessions, while accommodates the , reflecting a distributed but Brussels-centric model formalized by the 1992 . International organizations, formed by treaties among sovereign states without supranational authority transfer, similarly locate headquarters in host cities that facilitate diplomacy and operations. The (UN), founded in 1945 via the UN Charter signed in , maintains its principal headquarters in , , spanning 18 acres along the and hosting the General Assembly, Security Council, and . , , serves as a major hub for UN specialized agencies, including the (WHO, established 1948) and (ILO, founded 1919), due to Switzerland's neutrality and the city's diplomatic infrastructure developed since the 19th-century . Other prominent international headquarters include the (IMF) and in Washington, D.C., , both established in at the to stabilize global finance post-World War II. Vienna, Austria, hosts the (OPEC, founded 1960) and the (IAEA, created 1957), leveraging the city's central European position and multilateral facilities. Regional bodies also designate capitals: the (AU), successor to the Organization of African Unity and established in 2002, is headquartered in , , on a 240-hectare campus to coordinate continental integration efforts. The (ASEAN), formed in 1967, rotates its secretariat among member states but maintains a permanent base in Jakarta, Indonesia, since 1976. These locations often result from host agreements providing legal immunities, tax exemptions, and infrastructure, as seen in the 1947 UN-US Headquarters Agreement. These designations can evolve; for instance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (), founded in 1949, relocated its headquarters to a new campus in 2017 to enhance security and capacity for 31 member states. Host cities derive economic benefits, such as employment and tourism, but face challenges like extraterritorial privileges and protest risks, as evidenced by demonstrations at the 2001 WTO Ministerial Conference in , though primarily UN and EU sites experience routine diplomatic tensions.

Multiple and De Facto Capitals

Countries with Multiple Designated Capitals

Several sovereign states designate more than one city as a capital, assigning specific governmental functions to each to distribute political power, honor historical precedents, or foster regional equity. These arrangements are typically enshrined in constitutions or foundational laws, distinguishing them from de facto administrative centers without formal designation. As of 2025, at least eight countries maintain such systems, often evolving from compromises during or post-colonial transitions.
CountryCapitals and Designations
Bolivia (constitutional and judicial capital, per 2009 ); (executive and legislative seat, established after 1898 resolving rivalry between mining and coastal interests).
Burundi (, designated 2019 to centralize administration and reduce ethnic tensions in the east); (economic capital, retaining commercial role on ).
Côte d'Ivoire (official since 1983 decree by , housing presidency and national assembly); (economic and diplomatic hub, with some legislative functions).
Eswatini (administrative capital, site of offices); (legislative and royal capital, location of and king's residence, per traditional structure).
Malaysia (federal and royal capital, hosting and parts of legislature); (administrative capital since 1999, designed as a planned city for federal agencies to alleviate 's congestion).
Netherlands (constitutional capital, where monarch is inaugurated and upheld, per 1814/1848 constitutions); (, , , and international tribunals).
South Africa (administrative capital, executive branch); (legislative capital, national assembly); (judicial capital, of appeal), formalized in 1910 Union to balance Boer and legacies post-1899-1902 war, reaffirmed 1996.
Sri Lanka (administrative and legislative capital since 1982 relocation for security amid ); (commercial and executive capital, retaining partial diplomatic functions).
These designations reflect pragmatic governance choices rather than unified centralization, with functions rarely overlapping significantly to avoid inefficiency. For instance, South Africa's model prevents dominance by any single region, while Bolivia's split perpetuates highland-lowland tensions resolved violently in the late . Changes are infrequent; Burundi's 2019 shift aimed to assert control over Hutu-Tutsi dynamics but faced logistical hurdles.

Disputed or Unrecognized Capitals

The status of certain capitals remains contested due to partial international recognition of the claiming entity, ongoing territorial disputes, or lack of consensus on . These cases typically involve breakaway regions, self-declared states, or partitions where the capital's legitimacy is challenged by parent states or the broader community of nations, often leading to limited diplomatic engagement and no widespread embassy relocations. As of October 2025, such capitals are associated with entities that do not meet full criteria for universal under frameworks like the , despite governance in some instances. Pristina serves as the capital of , which unilaterally declared independence from on February 17, 2008. Kosovo's independence is recognized by 119 member states, including the , , and most countries, but it is rejected by , , , and others, preventing UN membership. This partial recognition, totaling about 62% of UN members, stems from Serbia's claim that Kosovo remains an within its territory, a position upheld by advisory opinions emphasizing limits without explicit rights. Taipei functions as the seat of government for , officially the Republic of China, which operates as a independent entity governing 23.8 million people since retreating to the island in 1949 following the . Only 12 UN member states—primarily small nations in and the Pacific, such as , , and —plus the maintain formal diplomatic ties with as of 2025, pressured by the of China's "" policy that views as a renegade province. The and others provide unofficial support via arms sales and economic partnerships but adhere to strategic ambiguity on formal recognition to avoid escalation. Hargeisa is the capital of , a self-declared that separated from in after the collapse of the regime, controlling a territory of approximately 176,120 square kilometers with a population exceeding 5 million. Despite holding democratic elections, issuing its own currency, and maintaining relative stability compared to , lacks recognition from any foreign government, as international policy prioritizes 's under the charter. Efforts for recognition, including recent U.S. congressional advocacy, have not succeeded, leaving without formal diplomatic missions beyond informal trade offices. Sukhumi acts as the capital of , which broke away from amid in the early and formally declared in 1999, with control over about 8,660 square kilometers. receives from only five UN members— (since 2008), , , , and —primarily due to Russian military support following the 2008 , which deems an occupation. The and most Western states view as Georgian territory under illegal Russian influence, limiting Sukhumi's international engagement. Lefkoşa (the northern part of ) is the capital of the , established after 's 1974 invasion of in response to a Greek-backed coup. Proclaimed in 1983, is recognized solely by , with all other states and the UN regarding it as Cypriot territory under unlawful occupation, per UN Security Council resolutions. The division of itself symbolizes the island's partition, with the Republic of administering the southern portion as its capital. Jerusalem's status as capital is disputed between and territories. declared it its undivided capital in 1980, a move recognized by the since December 2017 via embassy relocation, and by a handful of others like ; however, the UN and most nations (over 140 UN members recognizing ) deem East Jerusalem occupied Palestinian territory pending bilateral negotiations, maintaining embassies in . The , a UN non-member observer state recognized by 145 UN members, claims East Jerusalem as its capital but administers from due to Israeli control. Other examples include , capital of (recognized by the same five states as , disputed by ), and , capital of (no recognition, claimed by ). These cases highlight how limited recognition perpetuates isolation, with de facto governance often reliant on patron states like .

Planned and Emerging Capitals

Purpose-Built Capitals Under Construction

The of purpose-built national capitals involves designing and developing entirely new cities from undeveloped land to serve as seats of government, often motivated by overcrowding in existing capitals, geographic centralization, or economic diversification. As of October 2025, two major projects exemplify this approach: Indonesia's and Egypt's , both aimed at relocating administrative functions while incorporating modern infrastructure like technologies and sustainable features. These initiatives face challenges including funding shortfalls, construction delays, and debates over economic viability, yet they represent ambitious efforts to engineer urban centers tailored for governance. Egypt's (NAC), located approximately 45 kilometers east of in the desert, broke ground in 2015 as part of to alleviate 's congestion and centralize government operations in a planned spanning 700 square kilometers. Designed to accommodate over 6 million residents eventually, the NAC features a with the 393-meter Iconic Tower, government buildings, and AI-monitored utilities for water and traffic management. By March 2025, revealed substantial progress, including completed foundational structures for ministries and residential districts, with phase two slated to commence that year to expand administrative and residential zones. Chinese firms, such as those contracted for key infrastructure, are integral to the project, which has drawn skepticism over its $58 billion estimated cost and potential to exacerbate by prioritizing elite developments amid Egypt's economic pressures. Indonesia's , situated in on , initiated construction in 2022 to succeed , which faces subsidence and overpopulation, with the goal of fostering equitable across the . The 256,000-hectare site targets completion in phases by 2045, encompassing presidential palaces, legislative buildings, and green spaces, at an estimated cost of $35 billion. As of early 2025, core infrastructure like the airport and initial government facilities reached partial operational status for an August 17 inauguration event, but full relocation has been deferred to 2028 amid budget reductions—from $2.66 billion in 2024 to $386 million in 2026—and slowed progress due to investor hesitancy and environmental concerns over . Critics warn of a potential "" if private investment fails to materialize, as government funding covers only a fraction of needs, though proponents highlight its role in decentralizing power from .
ProjectCountryLocationInitiation YearEstimated CostKey Status (2025)Planned Features
East of 2015$58 billionPhase two starting; significant foundational work completeSmart city AI, Iconic Tower, 6+ million capacity
East , 2022$35 billionPartial inauguration; relocation delayed to 2028Phased build to 2045, sustainable zones, focus
Smaller-scale or nascent projects, such as Equatorial Guinea's and South Sudan's , have been proposed as purpose-built capitals but exhibit limited verifiable construction activity as of 2025, hampered by political instability and funding constraints, rendering their status more aspirational than active.

Proposed or Recently Relocated Capitals

In recent decades, several nations have proposed or initiated capital relocations to mitigate urban congestion, environmental vulnerabilities, or geographic imbalances, often involving purpose-built cities in less populated regions. These efforts frequently face delays due to funding constraints, logistical challenges, and shifts, with full implementation spanning years or decades. Notable examples include Indonesia's project and Egypt's , both actively under development as of 2025. Indonesia announced plans in 2019 to relocate its capital from to (also known as Ibu Kota Nusantara or IKN), a new city in , citing 's , flooding risks, and affecting 10 million residents. Construction began in 2022, with initial phases focusing on infrastructure like the and ; by 2025, a Rp36.25 trillion (about $2.2 billion) budget supports ongoing work, including civil servant housing and connectivity. In October 2025, regulations redefined as the "political capital," with President confirming full government relocation by 2028, though earlier targets like August 2024 were postponed amid funding and environmental concerns. Egypt's New Administrative Capital (NAC), located 45 kilometers east of Cairo on 700 square kilometers of desert, was proposed in 2015 to decongest Cairo, which houses over 20 million people and strains resources. Development accelerated post-2018, with the parliament relocating there in 2021; by 2023, more than 30,000 government employees had moved, establishing it as the official administrative seat, though Cairo retains economic functions. As of 2025, construction continues on districts for 6 million residents, including a central business district, with Chinese firms contributing significantly to projects like the government headquarters. Burundi designated Gitega as its political capital in January 2019 via parliamentary vote, shifting from —100 kilometers east—to centralize governance in the country's geographic heart and promote national unity, while remains the economic hub. The transition, planned over three years, involved relocating legislative, executive, and judicial branches; initiated the process in 2007, with full implementation by early 2020s despite criticisms of resource diversion amid economic hardship. Tanzania accelerated its long-delayed shift to Dodoma, officially designated in 1974 for its central location to foster equitable development away from coastal . President relocated the executive in October 2019, moving over 1,500 officials by 2023 as part of a renewed push, including new parliamentary buildings; however, continues as the commercial center, with full decentralization challenged by infrastructure gaps. Equatorial Guinea proposed Ciudad de la Paz (formerly Oyala or Djibloho) in 2011 as a new inland capital to replace island-based , vulnerable to volcanic activity from and isolation from the mainland . Spanning jungle terrain, the project includes a and center, but as of 2025, it remains largely unoccupied and underutilized despite billions invested, with no firm relocation timeline amid criticisms of opacity in funding from oil revenues.

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