Capitals of Africa: Interactive Map of All 54 African Capital Cities
Explore the capital cities of all 54 African countries on this interactive map. From the historic Cairo to the modern Kigali, African capitals represent the political, economic, and cultural hearts of their nations. Click on any marker on the map to learn more about each capital city, or browse the complete list below.
Use this resource to learn about African capitals for school projects, quiz preparation, or travel planning. All information is regularly updated for accuracy.
Interactive Map of African Capitals
| Flag | Country | Capital City | Region |
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🌟 Interesting Facts About African Capitals
- Largest Capital: Cairo, Egypt (population ~21 million in metro area)
- Smallest Capital: Victoria, Seychelles (population ~27,000)
- Highest Capital: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2,355 meters / 7,726 feet above sea level)
- Newest Capital: Juba, South Sudan (became capital in 2011)
- Most Recently Renamed: Lilongwe, Malawi (replaced Zomba in 1975)
- Island Capitals: Victoria (Seychelles), Moroni (Comoros), Port Louis (Mauritius), Antananarivo (Madagascar)
- Coastal Capitals: 22 African capitals are located on the coast
- Planned Capitals: Abuja (Nigeria), Dodoma (Tanzania), Yamoussoukro (Côte d'Ivoire)
About African Capital Cities
Types of Capital Cities
African capitals can be categorized into several types:
- Colonial Legacy Capitals: Many capitals were established or expanded during colonial rule (Lagos, Nairobi, Dakar)
- Ancient Capitals: Some have histories spanning millennia (Cairo, Tunis, Addis Ababa)
- Planned Capitals: Purpose-built to serve as administrative centers (Abuja, Dodoma)
- Port Cities: Coastal capitals that served as trading hubs (Accra, Maputo, Dar es Salaam)
Regional Distribution
North Africa (6): Generally larger, more densely populated capitals with Mediterranean and Islamic architectural influences.
West Africa (16): Mix of coastal port cities and inland administrative centers, many growing rapidly.
East Africa (18): Diverse range from island capitals to highland cities, several at high elevations.
Central Africa (9): Often located near major rivers or in strategic locations for resource access.
Southern Africa (5): Well-developed urban centers, some with multiple administrative capitals.
Special Cases
South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).
Benin has its official capital in Porto-Novo, but the seat of government is in Cotonou.
Tanzania is in the process of moving its capital from Dar es Salaam to Dodoma.
Test Your Knowledge
Think you know all the African capitals? Try our African Capitals Quiz to test your geography knowledge!
You can also explore our Flags of Africa page to learn about the national flags of each country.