Most countries have a single, clearly defined capital, but a notable handful of countries with more than one capital split government functions across two or even three different cities.
Countries with Multiple Capitals
- South Africa — has three capital cities: Pretoria (executive/administrative), Cape Town (legislative, home to Parliament), and Bloemfontein (judicial, home to the Supreme Court of Appeal)
- Bolivia — Sucre is the constitutional capital and seat of the judiciary, while La Paz is the seat of government and the executive and legislative branches
- Sri Lanka — Colombo is the commercial capital and largest city, while Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official legislative capital
- Malaysia — Kuala Lumpur is the official capital, while Putrajaya serves as the administrative capital and seat of the federal government
- Eswatini (Swaziland) — Mbabane is the administrative capital and Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital
- Netherlands — Amsterdam is the constitutional capital, while The Hague is the seat of government, parliament, and the royal residence
- Chile, Benin, and Ivory Coast also split capital functions between two cities
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Why Countries Split Capital Functions
Multiple capitals usually reflect either historical compromise (South Africa’s three-way split dates to the 1910 union of formerly separate British colonies), practical geography, or a deliberate decision to separate the ceremonial or judicial seat of government from the political and administrative center, as with the Netherlands’ arrangement between Amsterdam and The Hague.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has three capital cities?
South Africa is the most commonly cited example of a country with three capital cities: Pretoria, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein.
Is Amsterdam or The Hague the capital of the Netherlands?
Amsterdam is the official constitutional capital of the Netherlands, but The Hague is the seat of government, parliament, and the royal family.
Why does Bolivia have two capitals?
Sucre remained the constitutional and judicial capital after a 1899 civil conflict shifted executive and legislative power to La Paz, and the split has persisted ever since.
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