The 17 quiz questions
Question 1 : Which country has three official capitals?
Possible answers:
- Bolivia
- Malaysia
- Eswatini
- South Africa
Explanation: South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).
Question 2 : What is the northernmost capital in the world?
Possible answers:
- Stockholm
- Helsinki
- Oslo
- Reykjavik
Explanation: Reykjavik (Iceland) is the world's northernmost capital, at 64° north latitude.
Question 3 : What is the southernmost capital in the world?
Possible answers:
- Montevideo
- Wellington
- Canberra
- Buenos Aires
Explanation: Wellington (New Zealand) is the world's southernmost capital, at 41° south latitude.
Question 4 : Which world capital spans two continents?
Possible answers:
- No current capital
- Cairo
- Istanbul
- Moscow
Explanation: No current capital spans two continents: Turkey moved its capital from Istanbul (straddling Europe and Asia) to Ankara (entirely in Asia) in 1923. Istanbul remains Turkey's largest city but is no longer the capital.
Question 5 : What is the smallest capital in the world by area?
Possible answers:
- Malé
- Vatican City
- Monaco
- San Marino
Explanation: Vatican City is the smallest state and capital in the world at 0.44 km². Among UN member states, Malé (Maldives) is one of the smallest.
Question 6 : How many countries have a capital that is NOT their largest city?
Possible answers:
- Less than 10
- About 20
- Over 50
- Over 100
Explanation: Over 50 countries have a capital different from their largest city. Examples: Brazil (Brasília/São Paulo), Turkey (Ankara/Istanbul), Australia (Canberra/Sydney).
Question 7 : Which capital shares the same name as its country?
Possible answers:
- Djibouti only
- Singapore only
- All of the above
- Luxembourg only
Explanation: Several capitals share their country's name: Luxembourg, Singapore, Djibouti, Monaco, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico, Kuwait, among others.
Question 8 : Which country moved its capital most recently (after 2000)?
Possible answers:
- Burundi
- Myanmar
- Kazakhstan
- Tanzania
Explanation: Burundi moved its capital from Bujumbura to Gitega in 2019. Myanmar had moved its capital in 2006.
Question 9 : Which world capital is the farthest from any other capital?
Possible answers:
- Wellington
- Canberra
- Reykjavik
- Brasília
Explanation: Wellington (New Zealand) is the most isolated capital, over 2,200 km from Canberra, the nearest capital.
Question 10 : What is the capital of South Africa where the government sits?
Possible answers:
- Pretoria
- Johannesburg
- Cape Town
- Durban
Explanation: South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial). Pretoria houses the seat of government.
Question 11 : Which two world capitals are closest to each other?
Possible answers:
- Rome and Vatican
- Vienna and Bratislava
- Seoul and Pyongyang
- Brazzaville and Kinshasa
Explanation: Vatican City is an enclave within Rome, making the distance between these two capitals effectively 0. Brazzaville and Kinshasa, separated by the Congo River (~1.6 km), are the closest non-enclave capitals.
Question 12 : What is the most recently purpose-built capital in the world?
Possible answers:
- Abuja
- Naypyidaw
- Astana
- Brasília
Explanation: Naypyidaw (Myanmar, 2006) is one of the most recently built capitals. Indonesia plans Nusantara, but it's not yet complete.
Question 13 : Which African capital, located at the junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Tadjoura, is regularly ranked among the world's hottest capitals, with annual averages above 30°C?
Possible answers:
- Djibouti
- Khartoum
- Niamey
- Asmara
Explanation: Djibouti, capital of the country of the same name, has an average annual temperature around 30°C and summer peaks exceeding 45°C. Its position at the strategic junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Tadjoura makes it one of the hottest and most humid cities on Earth.
Question 14 : Which capital has changed its name the most often in history?
Possible answers:
- Beijing (China)
- Astana (Kazakhstan)
- Oslo (Norway)
- Bangkok (Thailand)
Explanation: Astana (Kazakhstan) has changed its name 4 times: Akmola, Tselinograd, Aqmola, Astana, Nur-Sultan (2019), then Astana again (2022).
Question 15 : Which European capital is the oldest continuously inhabited?
Possible answers:
- Rome
- Paris
- Lisbon
- Athens
Explanation: Athens is Europe's oldest capital, inhabited for over 3,400 years. It's the birthplace of democracy and Western philosophy.
Question 16 : Which capital belongs to a country spanning 11 time zones, the most of any nation in the world?
Possible answers:
- Moscow
- Beijing
- Brasília
- Ottawa
Explanation: Moscow is the capital of Russia, the only country in the world covering 11 time zones, from Kaliningrad (UTC+2) to Chukotka (UTC+12). This record span results from its territory of over 17 million km², the largest on Earth.
Question 17 : How many sovereign countries recognized by the UN exist in the world?
Possible answers:
- 175
- 183
- 193
- 210
Explanation: The UN has 193 member states. Adding the Vatican and Palestine (observer states) gives 195 recognized countries. Each has at least one capital.
