capital
seat of government
Quick Summary
How do countries choose their capital cities?
Learn more about how countries decide where to locate their capital cities.
A capital city serves as the seat of government for a country. The choice of a capital can be influenced by several factors.12
- Location: Many countries opt for a geographically central location to ensure fairness and avoid regional bias, such as Madrid in Spain or Abuja in Nigeria.1
- Population: Often, the most populous city is chosen as the capital, as seen with Seoul, South Korea, and Lima, Peru.1
- Political Compromise: Sometimes, capitals are established through political negotiation, like Washington, D.C. in the United States.13
- Symbolism: A capital can also be chosen for symbolic reasons, as with Myanmar's capital, Nay Pyi Taw.1
Some nations have multiple capitals, such as Bolivia and South Africa, each serving different governmental functions.1
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