






























© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Indonesia - Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, recently announced that the country will change its capital. The current capital is Jakarta, with a population of about 10 million.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Indonesia - Jakarta is on Java, an island that is getting a bit too crowded. The new capital has yet to be announced.
© Reuters
2 / 31 Fotos
The Federated States of Micronesia - The independent republic is spread out across the Pacific Ocean. Kolonia was the original capital, known originally as Santiago de la Ascensión.
© Public Domain
3 / 31 Fotos
The Federated States of Micronesia
- Palikir has a population of around 4,600, and now serves as the capital, even though it's really a town. The country is politically connected with the United States.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Pakistan - In 1959, the rulers of Pakistan chose to change the capital from Karachi, a cosmopolitan city located in the south.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Pakistan - Islamabad is the country's current capital. The northern city was built in the '60s, and has a population of just over one million.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Myanmar - In 2005, the military rulers of Myanmar moved the country's capital from Rangoon (now Yangon).
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Myanmar - The capital was moved to an unbuilt site, which was then named Naypyidaw. The city has a population of under a million people.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Russia - Saint Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. It served as Russia's capital from 1712 to 1918.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Russia - Then, the move was made to Moscow. The city has a population of over 13 million, and has hosted major events like the Summer Olympics and the World Cup.
© Reuters
10 / 31 Fotos
Kazakhstan - Almaty is Kazakhstan's commercial center and most populous city. It was also the capital city until 1997.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Kazakhstan - Nur-Sultan is the new capital. It's another planned city that's populated by just over a million people. It was previously known as Astana.
© Reuters
12 / 31 Fotos
Nigeria - Nigeria is one of many African nations that have changed their capital. Lagos was the old capital, with the change occurring in 1991.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Nigeria - Nigeria's current capital is Abuja, located in the center of the country. It was mainly built in the '80s, and the current population is just over a million.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Tanzania - Yet another African nation that changed its capital, Tanzania made the move from Dar es Salaam in 1974.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Tanzania
- Dodoma became the new capital. The small city has a population of about 410,000 people, yet has several universities. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 1.0)
© Wikimedia/Creative Commons
16 / 31 Fotos
Brazil - Rio de Janeiro is often mistaken for the Brazilian capital. Actually, the sprawling city used to be Brazil's capital, but a move was made in 1960.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Brazil - Brasília, a purpose-built city designed by forward-thinking architects (led by Oscar Niemeyer), was founded in 1960. It is located in the highlands of Brazil's center-west region.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Bolivia - In 1839, Sucre became the capital of Bolivia. The subtropical city was originally a waypoint into the nation's silver mines, and it's now the constitutional capital.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Bolivia - In 1898, the capital shifted to La Paz, closer to the country's tin reserves. La Paz is the country's official administrative capital.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Benin - Benin is a complex country with a complicated capital city situation. The first capital was Porto-Novo, which dates back to the 16th century.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Benin - That said, Cotonou is the largest city, and serves as the de facto capital. The government offices are located here.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Ivory Coast - Abidjan is the biggest city in the Ivory Coast, as well as its economic center. It was also the capital in 1983.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Ivory Coast - Yamoussoukro was made the capital the same year. This administrative capital is the birthplace of post-independence leader Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
© Reuters
24 / 31 Fotos
South Africa - The powerful African country actually has three capital cities. Pretoria is the country's administrative capital.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
South Africa
- Cape Town is famously the country's legislative capital. The three cities reflect how South Africa was separated in the colonial era. Bloemfontein is the country's judicial capital.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Georgia, USA - It's not just countries that have changed their capital. There are many states that have shifted their capital as well. Georgia has changed its state capital five times. Savannah is one of those five.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Georgia, USA - Atlanta is the current capital of Georgia. It's the eighth most populated city in the United States, and is a diverse cultural hub in the south.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Jammu and Kashmir, India - Jammu and Kashmir is another curious case. The Indian state has two different capitals, depending on the season. Srinagar is the state's capital during the summer.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Jammu and Kashmir, India
- When winter comes around, the city of Jammu becomes the capital. This serves the state's political and geographical climate. Now that you're here, why not also check out the best solo travel destinations?
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Indonesia - Indonesia's president, Joko Widodo, recently announced that the country will change its capital. The current capital is Jakarta, with a population of about 10 million.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Indonesia - Jakarta is on Java, an island that is getting a bit too crowded. The new capital has yet to be announced.
© Reuters
2 / 31 Fotos
The Federated States of Micronesia - The independent republic is spread out across the Pacific Ocean. Kolonia was the original capital, known originally as Santiago de la Ascensión.
© Public Domain
3 / 31 Fotos
The Federated States of Micronesia
- Palikir has a population of around 4,600, and now serves as the capital, even though it's really a town. The country is politically connected with the United States.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
Pakistan - In 1959, the rulers of Pakistan chose to change the capital from Karachi, a cosmopolitan city located in the south.
© Getty Images
5 / 31 Fotos
Pakistan - Islamabad is the country's current capital. The northern city was built in the '60s, and has a population of just over one million.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Myanmar - In 2005, the military rulers of Myanmar moved the country's capital from Rangoon (now Yangon).
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
Myanmar - The capital was moved to an unbuilt site, which was then named Naypyidaw. The city has a population of under a million people.
© Getty Images
8 / 31 Fotos
Russia - Saint Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703. It served as Russia's capital from 1712 to 1918.
© Getty Images
9 / 31 Fotos
Russia - Then, the move was made to Moscow. The city has a population of over 13 million, and has hosted major events like the Summer Olympics and the World Cup.
© Reuters
10 / 31 Fotos
Kazakhstan - Almaty is Kazakhstan's commercial center and most populous city. It was also the capital city until 1997.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Kazakhstan - Nur-Sultan is the new capital. It's another planned city that's populated by just over a million people. It was previously known as Astana.
© Reuters
12 / 31 Fotos
Nigeria - Nigeria is one of many African nations that have changed their capital. Lagos was the old capital, with the change occurring in 1991.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Nigeria - Nigeria's current capital is Abuja, located in the center of the country. It was mainly built in the '80s, and the current population is just over a million.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Tanzania - Yet another African nation that changed its capital, Tanzania made the move from Dar es Salaam in 1974.
© Getty Images
15 / 31 Fotos
Tanzania
- Dodoma became the new capital. The small city has a population of about 410,000 people, yet has several universities. (Photo: Wikimedia/CC BY-SA 1.0)
© Wikimedia/Creative Commons
16 / 31 Fotos
Brazil - Rio de Janeiro is often mistaken for the Brazilian capital. Actually, the sprawling city used to be Brazil's capital, but a move was made in 1960.
© Getty Images
17 / 31 Fotos
Brazil - Brasília, a purpose-built city designed by forward-thinking architects (led by Oscar Niemeyer), was founded in 1960. It is located in the highlands of Brazil's center-west region.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Bolivia - In 1839, Sucre became the capital of Bolivia. The subtropical city was originally a waypoint into the nation's silver mines, and it's now the constitutional capital.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Bolivia - In 1898, the capital shifted to La Paz, closer to the country's tin reserves. La Paz is the country's official administrative capital.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Benin - Benin is a complex country with a complicated capital city situation. The first capital was Porto-Novo, which dates back to the 16th century.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Benin - That said, Cotonou is the largest city, and serves as the de facto capital. The government offices are located here.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Ivory Coast - Abidjan is the biggest city in the Ivory Coast, as well as its economic center. It was also the capital in 1983.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Ivory Coast - Yamoussoukro was made the capital the same year. This administrative capital is the birthplace of post-independence leader Felix Houphouet-Boigny.
© Reuters
24 / 31 Fotos
South Africa - The powerful African country actually has three capital cities. Pretoria is the country's administrative capital.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
South Africa
- Cape Town is famously the country's legislative capital. The three cities reflect how South Africa was separated in the colonial era. Bloemfontein is the country's judicial capital.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Georgia, USA - It's not just countries that have changed their capital. There are many states that have shifted their capital as well. Georgia has changed its state capital five times. Savannah is one of those five.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Georgia, USA - Atlanta is the current capital of Georgia. It's the eighth most populated city in the United States, and is a diverse cultural hub in the south.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Jammu and Kashmir, India - Jammu and Kashmir is another curious case. The Indian state has two different capitals, depending on the season. Srinagar is the state's capital during the summer.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Jammu and Kashmir, India
- When winter comes around, the city of Jammu becomes the capital. This serves the state's political and geographical climate. Now that you're here, why not also check out the best solo travel destinations?
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Curious countries that changed their capital cities
Indonesia may move its capital from Jakarta
© Shutterstock
Rome, London, Tokyo: some capital cities are so iconic that they capture the entire spirit of a country. However, sometimes a country changes its capital city completely, moving the nation's history in an exciting new direction. For a brief lesson on the matter (and even travel inspiration), click on to find out which countries changed their capital.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU


























MOST READ
- Last Hour
- Last Day
- Last Week