Capital Cities That Are Not the Largest in Their Country

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.

Examples from Around the World

• Australia: Canberra is the capital, but Sydney is the largest city.
• Brazil: Brasília was built as a planned capital, while São Paulo is the largest city.
• Canada: Ottawa is the capital; Toronto is the biggest city.
• New Zealand: Wellington is the capital, while Auckland is the largest city.
• Turkey: Ankara is the capital, but Istanbul is by far the largest and most well-known city.
• Switzerland: Bern is the de facto capital (called the “federal city”), while Zürich is the largest city.
• USA: Washington, D.C. is the capital; New York City is the largest city.

Why Are Some Capitals Smaller?

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.

Planned Capitals

Several countries have built new capitals from scratch to serve as political centers. Examples include:

• Brasília (Brazil)
• Islamabad (Pakistan)
• Naypyidaw (Myanmar)

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.