If You Know All the Capitals of Asia, We'll Be Really Impressed!
By: Kennita Leon
3 min
Image: Dong Wenjie / Moment / Getty Images
About This Quiz
Aisa is not only the largest continent on planet earth, but it's also the one with the most people. Sitting mostly on the northern and eastern hemispheres, this landmass is over 17 million square miles, just about one-third of Earth's land mass. With almost four and a half billion people, its population is as diverse as its cities, but do you know them as well as you think you do?
Each of the more than 40 countries in Asia has a capital city. Some of them have been there since the country was established, while some of them only just got the title in this century. Some have been changed so many times that you may think you know the answer but be mistaken. Some are vibrant cultural centers, while others are the seat of government or economy while the country's cultural hub is in another place. We're asking you to call on everything you know about the countries that make up Asia. Use that knowledge to see if you can remember every single capital.Â
If you answer even half of them, we'll be impressed. Can you really name all these capitals of Asia?
Japan is a country with 47 prefectures. Can you tell us what its capital is?
Kuala Lumpur
Beirut
Tokyo
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and one the country's 47 prefectures. The city is renowned for its blend of traditional and modern architecture, ranging from historic temples to neon-lit skyscrapers.
Covering more than ninety miles, do you know what Malaysia's capital is?
Ashgabat
Mumbai
Hong Kong
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and largest city in Malaysia, covering an area of 94 square miles. The city is best known for the Petronas Twin Towers, which rises to a staggering 1,483 feet, and also offers an observation deck and public sky bridge.
Established during the Zhou Dynasty, do you know what China's capital is?
Beijing
Beijing is the bustling capital of China which was established in 1045 BC during the Zhou Dynasty. Found in the city is a mix of modern and historical buildings, such as the famous Forbidden City - the former imperial palace which now houses the Palace Museum.
Home of the famous India Gate, do you know what India's capital is called?
Macau
Riyadh
New Delhi
New Delhi is an urban district within Delhi which serves as the capital of India. The city is home to a number of historical monuments including the India Gate - a war memorial dedicated to 70,000 soldiers of the British Indian Army who perished during WWI.
More than 12% of Thailand's population live in its capital. What is its name?
Kuwait City
Thimphu
Bangkok
Bangkok is the largest city in Thailand by far, with over 14 million people in the metro area. It is a major tourist destination because of the great variety of museums, shopping, and access to nearby outdoor activities.
More than nine million people call this capital of South Korea their home. Do you know where this is?
Kolkata
Ashgabat
Kuala Lumpur
Seoul
Seoul is South Korea's capital, a vibrant and bustling metropolis where high-tech subways, modern skyscrapers, temples and Buddhist statues are found. The city is ranked as the ninth-most populous national capital by population due to an estimated 9,989,795 inhabitants.
Sri Lanka has a commercial capital which happens to be a popular tourist destination. What is it known as?
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city and the commercial capital of Sri Lanka. The city is a popular tourist destination and features a number of attractions including the giant Buddha statue and Colombo National Museum that is dedicated to the country's history.
A major hub of East Asia, do you know what the capital of Taiwan is?
Guangzhou
Mumbai
Hong Kong
Taipei
Taipei, officially Taipei City, is the capital and a special municipality of Taiwan. It is considered to be one of the major hubs in East Asia due to the economic, educational, cultural, political and technological climate of the city.
This capital of Vietnam can be found along the banks of the Red River. Can you tell us its name?
Karachi
Hanoi
Hanoi, located on the banks of the Red River, is the capital of Vietnam. The country's rich history and culture can be seen in the centuries-old historical architecture such as well-preserved colonial buildings.
The island country of Singapore is located in the southeast Asian region. What is the name of its capital?
Hyderabad
Singapore
Singapore, formally the Republic of Singapore, is an independent city-state and island country situated in Southeast Asia. This sovereign nation is a global financial center that is renowned for transitioning from a developing to a developed country in a single generation.
There are almost 2 million people in the Philippines' capital. What is its name?
Kuala Lumpur
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines and is and extremely dense city. Officially the City of Manila, this capital is home to many historical sites, some of which were erected during the 16th century.
Located on the northwest coast of Java, can you tell us what the name of Indonesia's capital is?
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia located on the northwest coast Java. Due to its large population, the city faces many issues includes poverty, inequality, rapid urban growth, gridlocked traffic and congestion, ecological breakdown and flooding.
Famous landmarks in Iran's capital include the Milad Tower. Do you know its name?
Mumbai
Hong Kong
Beirut
Tehran
Tehran is the capital of Iran and among the largest metro areas in the Middle East. The region is known for its collection of royal complexes and famous buildings, including the Milad Tower, the Golestan Palace and the Sa'dabad Complex .
People often think that Dubai is the capital of the UAE, but it isn't. Which of these cities is?
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital of the United Arab Emirates, and also its second most populous city. This advanced metropolis is the center of the country's industrial and political activities, and is home to several modern towers, skyscrapers and shopping megacenters.
Damascus is the capital and largest city of the Syrian Arab Republic. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, which is reflected in its historical sites, such as the Citadel of Damascus, a large medieval fortified palace.
Known as the Pearl of Asia, what it the capital of Cambodia?
Riyadh
Shanghai
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and most populous city of Cambodia. Founded in 1434, the city was considered to be among the most beautiful cites in the region under colonial French rule.
Founded in the 15th century, can you tell us what the capital of Kuwait is?
Kathmandu
Kuwait City
Kuwait City is situated in the heart of the country and is considered to be a global city. This city is home to the economic, political, and cultural centers of the nation, including the National Assembly and the National Bank.
Lebanon's main seaport just happens to be its capital. What is its name?
Osaka
Thimphu
Karachi
Beirut
Beirut is Lebanon's capital, located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coast. It is one of the world's oldest cities, and has been around for about 5,000 years.
Oman's largest city is also its capital. Do you know its name?
Hong Kong
Ashgabat
Muscat
Muscat is Oman's port capital and the largest city of this Arabian country. The city's history dates back to the 1st century, where it was an integral trading port between the west and east. Notable landmarks found there includes the Zawawi Mosque, Old Muscat and the Old Palace.
Almost one and a half million live in Qatar's capital and most populous city. What is its name?
Macau
Doha
Doha is the capital of the State of Qatar, with a population of close to 1.5 million. The city was founded in the 1820s and was officially declared the capital when the country gained independence on 3 September 1971.
Home to the Arch of Triumph, can you tell us what North Korea's capital is?
Pyongyang
Pyongyang is North Korea's capital and largest city which, according to a 2008 population census, had a population of 3,255,288. Some of the city's important architectural landmarks include the Arch of Triumph, Arch of Reunification, and Juche Tower.
A major tourist destination, what is Jordan's capital?
Riyadh
Mumbai
Amman
Amman, the capital of Jordan, is the country's most populous city and its cultural, economic and political center. It is a major tourist destination and is regarded to be among the most modernized Arab cities.
The Royal Mausoleum can be found in the capital of Brunei. Do you know its name?
Ashgabat
Bander Seri Begawan
Bandar Seri Begawan, previously known as Brunei Town, is the capital city of the Sultanate of Brunei. Famous landmarks in the city include the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque, the Royal Mausoleum and the Lapau Diraja.
Formerly called Dacca, what's Bangladesh's capital?
Kyoto
Hong Kong
Beirut
Dhaka
Dhaka, formerly called Dacca, is the capital of Bangladesh. It is also one of the largest and most densely populated cities in the world. The city has been inhabited since the first century, but rose to prominence during the 17th century.
The second largest capital of the Arab countries, do you know what the capital of Iraq is?
Baghdad
Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, is the country's largest city and the second largest in the Arab world. The city was decimated by war with the US in the 2000s, causing damage to the much of the infrastructure including public transit, water, and sanitation.
Located to the northeast of the country, what is the name of Uzbekistan's capital?
Tashkent
Tashkent is Uzbekistan's capital and is located in the northeast quadrant of the country near the Kazakhstan border. As of 2018, the city had a population of 2,485,900, making it the largest city in the country and the most populous city in ex-Soviet Central Asia.
One of the oldest cities in the world, what is Israel's capital?
Jerusalem
Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world and has been under the rule of the State of Israel since 1967. Located in the Middle East, the city is regarded as holy to the three major Abrahamic religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
The capital of Myanmar (formerly Burma) was a planned city that was created not even 20 years ago. What is its name?
Ashgabat
Thimphu
Naypyidaw
Naypyidaw is the capital of Myanmar and a planned city with a short history, having been established in 2002 and settled in 2005. Myanmar has been a hotbed of political unrest, which is ongoing due to allegations of genocide in the Rohingya region.
This city is nearly two hundred years old, but has only been the capital for just over twenty. What is Kazakhstan's capital?
Hyderabad
Astana
Astana is the capital city of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Although established in 1830 under the name Akmoly, the city did not become the country's capital until 1997. Famous landmarks of Astana includes the Khazret Sultan Mosque and the Central Concert Hall.
Almost 5000 feet above sea level, do you know what Nepal's capital is?
Kathmandu
Kathmandu stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 meters (4,600 feet) above sea level. It is known for its multiethnic population and is considered to be the center of the country's history, culture, economy and art.
This capital of Pakistan replaced Karachi. What is its name?
Shanghai
Islamabad
Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan which was built as a planned city during the 1960s to replace Karachi as the country's capital. Within the city is a blend of modern and historical architectures, such as the 15th century Pharwala Fort and the Pakistan Monument.
The home of sites of Roman, Byzantine and Hittite origin, what is Turkey's capital?
Shenzhen
Hong Kong
Ankara
Ankara, historically known as Angora and Ancyra, is Turkey's capital and the second largest city in the country. It is a very old city which features a number of archaeological sites of Roman, Ottoman, Byzantine, Hittite, Hellenistic and Phrygian origin.
The Kingdom of Buthan's capital was replaced in 1961. By which city?
Guangzhou
Kolkata
Kuala Lumpur
Thimpu
Thimphu is the capital and largest city of the Kingdom of Bhutan which replaced the ancient city of Punakha in 1955 and was officially declared the capital in 1961. The city is considered to the economic and political center of the country and contributes 45% of its GNP.
What is both the capital and the largest city of and in Kyrgyzstan?
Bishkek
Bishkek, previously known and Frunze and Pishpek, is the capital of Kyrgyzstan and its largest city. The city features wide boulevards, but is also home to communist Soviet-style tower blocks.