What Is a Capital City?

A capital city is the **primary seat of government** of a sovereign state or subnational entity (state, province, region). It houses the core institutions of governance:

• Legislature (Parliament, Congress, Assembly)
• Executive (President's/Prime Minister's/Governor's official residence & offices)
• Judiciary (Supreme/Constitutional Court)
• Central administrative ministries/departments

Common Characteristics

• Often the largest or most prominent city (but not always: e.g., Canberra, Ottawa, Washington D.C., Brasília, Abuja).
• Chosen for strategic location (centrality, defense, resources) or historical/symbolic significance.
• Center of political power, national identity, diplomacy, and often economy/culture.

Examples

• London (UK), Paris (France), Washington D.C. (USA), Beijing (China), Tokyo (Japan), Canberra (Australia), Ottawa (Canada), New Delhi (India), Brasília (Brazil).