Lecture Notes: Capitals of Every Independent Country

Overview

• Total of 195 independent countries worldwide, each with a capital city.
• Some countries have multiple capitals serving different roles.
• Over 80 territories, colonies, and dependencies with their own capitals.

Taiwan's Status

• Not recognized by the United Nations as a separate nation; considered part of China.
• As of January 2020, 15 countries recognize Taiwan as independent.
• Shift in diplomatic relations with several countries recognizing China over Taiwan.

Notable Points

• Israel: Capital is Jerusalem, though many countries maintain embassies in Tel Aviv.
• South Africa: Three capitals - Pretoria (administrative), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial).
• Sri Lanka: Dual capitals - Colombo and Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte.
• Myanmar: Naypyidaw (administrative) and Yangon (Rangoon).

Sample List of Countries and Capitals

1. Afghanistan: Kabul
2. Australia: Canberra
3. Brazil: Brasilia
4. Canada: Ottawa
5. China: Beijing
6. Germany: Berlin
7. India: New Delhi
8. Italy: Rome
9. Japan: Tokyo
10. United States: Washington, D.C.

Important Observations

• 195 Countries: Detailed list includes capitals of each recognized independent nation.
• Multiple Capitals: Situations where countries have designated more than one city as capital, usually for administrative, legislative, or judicial purposes.
• Territories and Dependencies: Over 80 regions not classified as independent have distinct capitals.

Sources and Credits

• Written by Matt Rosenberg, a geography expert with credentials from CSU Northridge and UC Davis.
• Originally published on ThoughtCo with latest update in May 2025.

References

• Various articles and reports from the U.S. Department of State and the United Nations, among others.