Capital city facts for kids
A capital city is a special city or town. It is chosen by the government of a country, or a part of a country like a state or province. This choice is usually made official by law or a country's constitution. The capital city is often where the main government offices and meeting places are located. Most of a country's leaders and important officials work in the capital.
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What is a Capital City?
Why are Capital Cities Important?
Capital cities are very important because they are the center of a country's government. This means they are where big decisions are made. They are also often places where different cultures meet and mix.
Size of Capital Cities
Are Capitals Always the Biggest Cities?
Often, capital cities are among the largest cities in their region or even the biggest in the country. For example, Montevideo is not only Uruguay's capital but also its largest city. Sometimes, a capital city is also a major center for commerce (business and trade), like London in the UK or Bangkok in Thailand.
However, a capital city is not always the largest city in a country. For instance, New Delhi is the capital of India, but it is smaller than Mumbai. Similarly, Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, but it is smaller than Karachi.
In countries like the United States, which have many states, the capital cities of these states are often not the biggest cities. For example, New York City is the largest city in the United States and in the state of New York. But it is not the capital of either the country or the state. The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C., and the capital of New York state is Albany.
Interesting Capital City Cases
Canada has an interesting situation. Its federal capital, Ottawa, is not the largest city in its province, Ontario. That would be Toronto. However, Toronto is the capital of the province of Ontario. So, Toronto is both a capital (for its province) and not a capital (for the country), depending on how you look at it!
Number of Capital Cities
Can a Country Have More Than One Capital?
Yes, some countries have more than one capital city! They might use different capitals for different purposes. For example, Bolivia has two capitals: Sucre and La Paz. South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein. Each serves a different part of the government.
In a city-state like Singapore, Monaco, or the Vatican City, the entire country is basically one city. So, the city itself is the capital.
Countries Without an Official Capital
Not all countries officially have a capital city. Nauru is one such country. It does not have a capital chosen by law. However, the district of Yaren is where the government is located. Because of this, Yaren is often called the de facto capital, meaning it acts as the capital even if it's not official.
Also, many people think Bern is the capital of Switzerland. But by law, it is not. Instead, Bern has the status of a "federal city" because the government is based there.
Location of Capital Cities
Where are Capitals Built?
Capital cities can be existing cities that are chosen to be the capital, like London or Rome. Or, a completely new town can be built and then made the capital. Examples of new capitals include Canberra in Australia and Alexandria in ancient Egypt.
Countries can also change their capital cities over time. Several cities have been the capital of China throughout history. The United States once had its capital in Philadelphia, then in New York City. It later moved to the new city of Washington, D.C. in 1800. Rio de Janeiro used to be the capital of Brazil. But a new city called Brasília was built between 1956 and 1960 to become the new capital.
Seat of Government
Where the Government Works
Most countries have their main government offices, also known as the "seat of government," within their capital city. However, some countries do not. For example, Malaysia's capital is Kuala Lumpur, but its seat of government is in Putrajaya. In the Netherlands, the constitution states that Amsterdam is the de jure (by law) capital. But the actual government offices are in The Hague.
Images for kids
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Skyline of Tokyo, the capital and financial centre of Japan
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The Roman Forum was surrounded by many government buildings as the capital of ancient Rome
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The Australian Parliament opened in the small town of Canberra in 1927 as a compromise between the largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne.
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The Supreme Court, the seat of Switzerland's judiciary, is in Lausanne, although the executive and legislature are located in Bern.
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Parliament House, Singapore. As a city-state, Singapore requires no specific capital.
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The Blue Palace, the official residence of Montenegro's president, is in Cetinje, although the executive and legislature are located in Podgorica.
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Mariehamn, capital city of Åland, a demilitarized archipelago with self-governance
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Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, was the final part of the empire to fall to the Ottoman Turks due to its strong defences.
See also
In Spanish: Capital (política) para niños
