A capital city is usually the most important city in a country, where the government and the head of state are located. However, some countries have more than one capital city for various reasons, such as historical, political, cultural, or geographical factors. In this article, we will explore some of the reasons and examples of countries with more than one capital city.
Reasons for Having More Than One Capital City
One of the main reasons for having more than one capital city is to reflect the diversity and unity of the country, as well as to balance the power between different regions or groups. For example, South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (administrative and executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial). This is to represent the different ethnic groups and former colonies that make up the country.
Another reason for having more than one capital city is to accommodate the different altitudes and climates of the country, as well as to ease the congestion and overcrowding of the main city. For example, Bolivia has two capitals: La Paz (legislative and executive) and Sucre (constitutional and judicial). This is because La Paz is the highest capital city in the world, at an altitude of 3,650 meters, while Sucre is at a lower and more moderate altitude of 2,800 meters. Moreover, La Paz is a crowded and chaotic city, while Sucre is a quieter and more peaceful city.
A third reason for having more than one capital city is to create a new planned city for the government, as well as to boost the development and growth of the country. For example, Malaysia has two capitals: Kuala Lumpur (legislative and constitutional) and Putrajaya (judicial and administrative). This is because Kuala Lumpur is a busy city, while Putrajaya is a new and modern city that was built to house the government and its agencies.
Read: These Countries Have More Than One Capital City
Countries with More Than One Capital City
There are many countries in the world that have more than one capital city, either officially or unofficially. Here are some of them and their capitals:
- South Africa: Pretoria (administrative and executive), Cape Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial)
- Bolivia: La Paz (legislative and executive) and Sucre (constitutional and judicial)
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur (legislative and constitutional) and Putrajaya (judicial and administrative)
- Netherlands: Amsterdam (official and constitutional) and The Hague (legislative and administrative)
- Szechia (also known as the Czech Republic): Prague (official and constitutional) and Brno (legislative and administrative)
- Sri Lanka: Colombo (executive and judicial) and Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative)
- Tanzania: Dodoma (official and political) and Dar es Salaam (former and economic)
- Côte d’Ivoire (also known as Ivory Coast): Yamoussoukro (official and constitutional) and Abidjan (former and economic)
Having more than one capital city is a way for some countries to deal with their complex and diverse histories, cultures, geographies, and politics. It is also a way for some countries to improve their efficiency, creativity, and understanding. However, having more than one capital city also comes with some challenges, such as confusion, cost, and conflict. Therefore, each country has to weigh the pros and cons of having more than one capital city and decide what is best for them.
