Countries and Capitals Trivia Quiz

WORLD

AVG SCORE:  80% 1.4K PLAYS

By: Jonnathan Chadwick

6 Min Quiz

Image: Prasit photo/ Moment/ Getty Images

About This Quiz

There's literally an endless number of cities in the world because governments can create cities whenever they want. Once you try to differentiate between a city and a town, it becomes impossible to count all the cities in the world. There are thousands of cities with at least 100,000 residents and thousands upon thousands with at least 1,000 residents. Then there are too many towns to count with fewer residents than that. The town of Omena in Michigan, for example, only has 200 residents, and the mayor is a cat.

But the good thing for you is that you don't need to know every city in the world. You just have to know the capital cities. There are 195 recognized countries, but just to make things confusing, there are not 195 capital cities. Some countries have multiple capital cities, and some countries can't decide on a reasonable choice.

Australia is home to some of the most famous cities in the world, but leaders decided to hand-build a new city for the country's capital instead. New York City, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, Dubai, Toronto and Geneva are all gigantic, world-famous cities, but none of them are capitals. 

What do you know about countries and their capitals? See if you can match the capital to its proper country.

Greek democracy and Roman columns heavily influenced America's capital. What is it?

America's legislation is inspired by the empires of Ancient Greece and Rome, and the architecture of Washington, D.C., is also influenced by those ancient empires. You can see domes and columns all over the city, and democracy rules the land.

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London, along with New York, is among the most integrated cities in the world and the capital of what country?

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom, aka Great Britain, is made up of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. London is one of the largest cities in Europe, known as one of the most integrated cities in the world.

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Japan is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun," and its capital is the world's most populous metro. What's the capital?

Japan got its nickname from China about 1,400 years ago. From China's perspective, the sun rises in Japan first, but in reality, based on time zones, it rises in New Zealand first. Tokyo is the most populated metro area in the world, with about 37 million residents.

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All roads lead to the capital of Italy. Do you know it?

The Roman Empire was one of the world's most impressive. It birthed the popular proverbs "All roads lead to Rome" and "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." These days, "All roads lead to Rome" simply means there are multiple ways to come to the same conclusion.

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Moscow's Red Square sits in the world's largest country by area. Where is Moscow?

Moscow's Red Square is home to traditional Russian landmarks, including St. Basil's Cathedral and the Kremlin. It's one of the most popular squares in the world and became a world heritage site in 1990. Millions of tourists visit Moscow every year.

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Germany's capital has over 2,000 bridges, which is more than Amsterdam or Venice. What's the capital of Germany?

The original and official Oktoberfest celebration takes place in Munich, but celebrations happen all over Germany and the world. Berlin is the largest and most populous city in Germany. Remnants of its controversial history are present around the city.

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Nearly 20% of the world's population lives in China. Do you know its capital?

India's on pace to overtake China as the most populous country very soon, but right now China is home to about 1.4 billion citizens. Beijing boasts seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

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Paris is known as the "City of Lights" and the capital of what country?

There are only a couple of cities on Earth that attract more tourists per year than Paris. The city is home to world-renowned food and drink, plus some of the world's most famous landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the fire-damaged Notre-Dame Cathedral.

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Writers Oscar Wilde, Bram Stroker and Jonathan Swift all graduated college in Ireland's capital. What is it?

Ireland is full of history, and one of the country's most historic products was birthed in Dublin. Guinness Brewery was founded in 1759 and remains the world's largest brewer of stout to this day. The brewery is one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

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The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only Wonder of the Ancient World still standing. It can be seen from what capital city of Egypt?

Cairo's population is nearing 12 million, and the entire metro area counts about 20 million people as residents. It's one of the most populous cities in the area. The pyramids are less than 10 miles outside of the city.

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Mexico's capital is the most populous city in North America. What is it?

Mexico City and New York City are neck-and-neck for being the most populous North American city. The Big Apple counts 8.6 million residents, and Mexico City counts 8.9 million residents. Both numbers are estimates and will likely change after the 2020 census.

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Bangkok, the world's most visited city, is the capital of what country?

More than 22 million tourists visited Bangkok in 2019, making it the world's most visited city. The Thai capital has held the distinction for the past few years. Paris, London, Dubai and Singapore round out the top five most visited cities.

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Argentina is the perfect place to visit if you want quality steak or you want to see the southern lights. What's the capital?

Argentina is known for high quality beef and the several types of cows that graze the land. Argentina is also home to the southernmost city on the globe — Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego — making it an ideal place to visit if you're hunting the southern lights.

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India's on pace to become the world's most populous country within a few years. Do you know the capital?

China's population totals more than 1.4 billion people, and India counts about 1.35 billion people as citizens. India is growing at a faster pace and is set to outgrow China sometime in the 2020s. Although New Delhi is the capital, Mumbai is the country's most populous city.

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Australia's capital probably isn't what you think it is. Can you name it?

It makes sense to think that Sydney or Melbourne is the capital of Australia, but neither one is. Officials couldn't agree on a location for the capital, so they chose Canberra, since it's halfway between Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney is the continent's most populous city.

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Canada is North America's largest country by area. What's the capital of Canada?

Ottawa sits in the Canadian province of Ontario, and fewer than 1 million people call the city home. Ottawa is between Toronto and Montreal, and both of those cities have larger populations. Ottawa is one of the coldest capital cities in the world.

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Do you know this colorful capital of Cuba?

More than 2.1 million people live in Havana, making it Cuba's most populous city. It's only about 200 miles from Miami to Havana, Cuba, but it's about 500 miles from Miami to Havana, Florida. Havana is known for its colorful baroque buildings.

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Hungary's capital is split in half by the Danube River. Do you know it?

Nearly 2 million people call Budapest home, and the city has been called one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world. It's split into two regions: Buda and Pest. The Danube River runs through the middle of the city, and the Hungarian Parliament sits on the river in Pest.

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Spain is made up of 17 regions and countless beautiful cities, but what's the capital?

Spain is a foodie's haven because it's made up of so many distinct cultures. The country's 17 regions all have their own traditional foods and drinks, ranging from chorizo to paella. Madrid is the capital and most populous city in the country.

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New Zealand is home to more sheep than people. What's the capital of New Zealand?

New Zealand is famously known for being home to more sheep than people. Fewer than 5 million people live in the country, but about 30 million sheep roam the land. Auckland is the country's most populous city, but Wellington has been the capital since 1865.

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The capital of the Czech Republic is known as the "City of a Hundred Spires," but what's its real name?

Gothic and baroque architecture is on full display all over the city of Prague. The city is also home to one of the oldest astronomical clocks in the world and the Klementinum, which is considered one of the most beautiful libraries in the world.

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Malaysia's capital is one of the most visited in the world. Do you know it?

Kuala Lumpur is one of the most visited cities in the world, but it's also one of the most popular cities for "visa runs." Visitors to Thailand, for example, can only stay in the country for 30 days, so they spend a night in Kuala Lumpur and return to Thailand for a renewed 30-day stay.

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Sweden is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. What's the capital?

Sweden is home to thousands of islands, and the capital city of Stockholm is actually made up of more than a dozen islands, connected by more than 50 bridges. The Stockholm Palace and the city's Old Town are two of the most popular tourist sites in the country.

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You'll have to spend the majority of your winter in darkness if you're in the capital of Finland. What is it?

Helsinki only sees about six hours of sunlight during the winter months of December and January. When you go north to Lapland, there will be at least one day where the sun doesn't even rise. You can experience weeks of 24-hour sunlight during summer.

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Vienna is home to two of the world's most famous musicians. It is the capital of what country?

Austria is the birthplace of Mozart, and both Mozart and Beethoven died in the city. The capital has been at the center of culture and arts for centuries, and today it is home to one of the largest music festivals in the world.

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Denmark is made up of multiple islands and what capital city?

Copenhagen, Denmark's most populous city, sits on the country's east coast. The city is known for its cobblestone streets, castles and colorful houses. Denmark's kingdom also includes the largest island in the world, Greenland.

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Amsterdam is known for canals, cafes and being the capital of what country?

Amsterdam is one of the most bicycle-friendly cities in the world. There are about 850,000 people living in Amsterdam, and the city is home to about 850,000 bicycles. The city is also home to more than 160 canals, giving it the nickname "Venice of the North."

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Japan is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun," but Norway is known as the "Land of the Midnight Sun." What's the capital of Norway?

Norway, just like all countries with land in the Arctic Circle, experiences the midnight sun during the summer and the polar night during the winter. The sun never rises during polar nights and never sets during midnight suns. Only some parts of the country experience these extreme light changes.

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The Indonesian island of Java is the world's most populous and home to the country's capital. What is it?

Greenland is the largest island in the world, but it's only home to about 55,000 people. Indonesia's island of Java, where the capital sits, is home to more than 140 million people. Greenland is about 17 times the size of Java.

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South Africa is one of the largest English-speaking countries in the world. What's its capital?

South Africa is home to more than 56 million people, and it has three capital cities. Cape Town is the legislative capital; Pretoria is the administrative capital; Bloemfontein is the judicial capital of the country.

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Greece is known as the birthplace of democracy, but can you can name its capital?

Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world. It dates all the way back to antiquity but hasn't been continuously populated the entire time. Leaders in the city began creating the concept of democracy in the sixth century B.C.

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Brazil is home to Christ the Redeemer and beautiful beaches. Do you know the capital?

Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo are two of the most popular Brazilian cities, partly because they're located on the country's southern coast, but Brasilia is the country's capital. The city is home to about 2.5 million people, which is far less than Rio and Sao Paulo.

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Israel is one of the holiest countries on the planet. What's the capital of Israel?

Very few cities on Earth have been around longer than Jerusalem, and the city is considered to be one of the holiest. Jerusalem's Old City is home to some of the most important religious landmarks in the world.

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The United Arab Emirates is one of the richest countries in the world. What's its capital?

Abu Dhabi is the second most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and is quickly becoming one of the richest cities on the planet. The city's modern skyscrapers, like the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, feature some of the most advanced architecture in the world.

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Rome, Athens and Cairo are pretty old, but the capital of Syria is considered to be the oldest city in the world. What is it?

Damascus was first inhabited about 11,000 years ago, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. Today the city is home to about 1.7 million people and is one of the most important cultural cities in the Arab world.

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