Major Countries and Capitals of the World

Introduction: Understanding the Global Map

Every country in the world has a capital city — the administrative, political, and cultural center of the nation.

For exams like Delhi Police, SSC, and other government tests, knowing important countries and their capitals is a must for the GK section.

Memory Trick: "Capitals are the heartbeat of countries. Learn them continent by continent!"

Asia – Largest & Most Populous Continent

Country	Capital	Famous For / Note
India	New Delhi	Largest democracy
China	Beijing	Largest population, Great Wall
Japan	Tokyo	Technology, Mt. Fuji
South Korea	Seoul	K-pop & Samsung
North Korea	Pyongyang	Dictatorial regime
Pakistan	Islamabad	Near Margalla Hills
Afghanistan	Kabul	Mountainous terrain
Nepal	Kathmandu	Mount Everest
Bhutan	Thimphu	Gross National Happiness
Bangladesh	Dhaka	Textile industries
Sri Lanka	Colombo / Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte	Island nation
Myanmar (Burma)	Naypyidaw	Buddhist temples
Thailand	Bangkok	Tourism, Buddhist culture
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	Petronas Towers
Indonesia	Jakarta	Largest archipelago
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Oil-rich, Mecca
Iran	Tehran	Persian heritage
Iraq	Baghdad	Tigris River city
Israel	Jerusalem	Religious significance
UAE	Abu Dhabi	Burj Khalifa
Qatar	Doha	FIFA 2022 host
Turkey	Ankara	Bridge Europe-Asia

"Big China–Japan–India triangle leads Asia!"

Europe – Continent of Culture & Civilization

Country	Capital	Note / Feature
United Kingdom (UK)	London	Big Ben, Thames River
France	Paris	Eiffel Tower
Germany	Berlin	Industrial hub
Italy	Rome	Colosseum, Vatican City
Spain	Madrid	Football, Flamenco
Portugal	Lisbon	Vasco da Gama’s country
Switzerland	Bern	Banking, Alps
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Windmills & canals
Belgium	Brussels	EU headquarters
Greece	Athens	Birthplace of democracy
Russia	Moscow	Largest country, Kremlin
Ukraine	Kyiv	Dnipro River, conflict
Norway	Oslo	Northern lights
Sweden	Stockholm	Nobel prizes
Finland	Helsinki	Education model
Poland	Warsaw	Central Europe
Ireland	Dublin	Emerald Isle
Denmark	Copenhagen	Greenland dependency

"L-P-B-R-M → London–Paris–Berlin–Rome–Madrid = Core of Western Europe!"

North America – The Developed Continent

Country	Capital	Special Notes
United States (USA)	Washington, D.C.	White House, Statue of Liberty
Canada	Ottawa	Niagara Falls
Mexico	Mexico City	Aztec heritage
Cuba	Havana	Caribbean island
Jamaica	Kingston	Reggae, Bob Marley
Panama	Panama City	Panama Canal
Costa Rica	San José	Eco-tourism hub

"WOM = Washington–Ottawa–Mexico (North American triangle)."

South America – Land of Amazon and Andes

Country	Capital	Famous For / Note
Brazil	Brasília	Amazon forest, Rio Carnival
Argentina	Buenos Aires	Tango, Pampas grasslands
Chile	Santiago	Long narrow country
Peru	Lima	Machu Picchu
Colombia	Bogotá	Coffee & emeralds
Venezuela	Caracas	Oil producer
Ecuador	Quito	On the Equator
Bolivia	La Paz / Sucre	High altitude capital
Paraguay	Asunción	Landlocked
Uruguay	Montevideo	Smallest in South America

"BBA LSC – Brazil, Buenos Aires, Lima, Santiago, Caracas"

Africa – Land of Deserts and Diamonds

Country	Capital	Famous For / Feature
Egypt	Cairo	Pyramids & Nile
South Africa	Pretoria (Admin) / Cape Town (Legis.) / Bloemfontein (Jud.)	Three capitals
Nigeria	Abuja	Most populous African nation
Kenya	Nairobi	Safari & equator
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa	African Union HQ
Ghana	Accra	Gold Coast
Tanzania	Dodoma	Mt. Kilimanjaro
Sudan	Khartoum	White & Blue Nile
Morocco	Rabat	Near Sahara
Algeria	Algiers	Largest area
Libya	Tripoli	North Africa
Congo (DRC)	Kinshasa	Congo River
Somalia	Mogadishu	Horn of Africa
Zimbabwe	Harare	Victoria Falls

"CAK → Cairo–Abuja–Kenya = Africa’s core."

Australia & Oceania – The Island Continent

Country	Capital	Famous For
Australia	Canberra	Kangaroos, Great Barrier Reef
New Zealand	Wellington	Maori culture
Fiji	Suva	Islands & tourism
Papua New Guinea	Port Moresby	Forested terrain
Samoa	Apia	Pacific islands
Tonga	Nukuʻalofa	Polynesian culture

"Australia Can Win Pacific Nations."

Antarctica – The Icy Continent

No permanent capital or country.
Research stations:
- India: Maitri, Bharati
- USA: McMurdo Station
- Russia: Vostok Station

"Antarctica = No capital, just science!"

Practice Questions (Delhi Police PYQ-style)

1

The capital of Japan is —

Options: A) Seoul B) Beijing C) Tokyo D) Kyoto

Category: Asia

Show Answer

C) Tokyo

2

Which is the capital of Australia?

Options: A) Sydney B) Canberra C) Melbourne D) Perth

Category: Australia

Show Answer

B) Canberra

Quick Summary Table (Most Asked in Exams)

Country	Capital	Trick Word
India	New Delhi	Democracy
USA	Washington, D.C.	White House
UK	London	Big Ben
Japan	Tokyo	Tech
France	Paris	Eiffel
China	Beijing	Wall
Russia	Moscow	Kremlin
Australia	Canberra	Kangaroo
Brazil	Brasília	Carnival
Egypt	Cairo	Pyramids
Canada	Ottawa	Maple
South Africa	Pretoria	3 Capitals
Germany	Berlin	Industry
Italy	Rome	Vatican
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Oil
UAE	Abu Dhabi	Burj Khalifa

"Indians Visit London To Party Before Returning Across Desert Gulf."

Exam Tricks & Mnemonics

Asia Trick:

Big China, Japan, India Always Rule! (Beijing, Tokyo, Delhi, Riyadh)

Europe Trick:

Lovely People Bring Roses More. (London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid)

Africa Trick:

Cool Abuja Kids Nail Gold. (Cairo, Abuja, Nairobi, Accra)

North America Trick:

Washington Over Mexico. (USA, Canada, Mexico)

South America Trick:

Boys Love Soccer Championship. (Brasília, Lima, Santiago, Caracas)

Revision & Exam Points

Most Repeated Topics: Capitals of USA, Japan, China, Australia, France; South Africa's three capitals; India’s neighbors; Brazil & Brasília; Euro capitals

1 Mark Guaranteed: Tokyo, Canberra, Brasília, Cairo, Paris

Final Exam Tips

“Capitals are more than cities — they are the symbols of power, progress, and pride of every nation.”