In many countries, the capital is also the largest city—like London in the UK or Paris in France. But this is not always the case. In some nations, the political or administrative capital is different from the country’s biggest urban center. This can be due to historical, political, or geographic reasons.
There are various reasons why a capital might not be the largest city. Some were chosen for their central location, neutrality, or symbolic significance. Others were created specifically to serve as administrative centers, often to reduce political influence from dominant regions or cities.
Several countries have built new capitals from scratch to serve as political centers. Examples include:
These cities were often designed for administrative efficiency and national unity rather than size or economic power.
So while the capital may be where government decisions are made, the largest city is often where the economic and cultural activity is concentrated.