QuizzesCuriositiesSEP 17, 2025

25 Former Capitals You Forget, Unless You’re A Geography Pro: Take The Challenge

Welcome to the Ultimate Capitals Quiz🗺️

You may know capitals today, but these former capitals are a journey through time - these are places that were once at the center of life. Only the keenest geography minds can truly recognize them: are you one of them? 🧐

This quiz will showcase your knowledge of 25 former country capitals. Some may seem familiar at first glance, while others might be unexpected. Whether you're a geography ace or a casual guesser, keep your mind open to learn something new today!

Let’s get started🤓✅

🚀 💡 Want more or looking for something else? Head over to the Bored Panda Quizzes and explore our full collection of quizzes and trivia designed to test your knowledge, reveal hidden insights, and spark your curiosity.💡 🚀

Image credits: Messaoud BELLALA

Newest Trivia & Quizzes for You

Discover trivia, brain teasers, and quirky quizzes — fresh every week!

Trivia•Guess The Former Capital

Aerial view of Brasília cityscape with modern buildings, roads, and fountains, highlighting the former capital of Brazil.

Arturdiasr

1.Before Brasília, which city in Brazil served as the capital?

United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. with a clear sky and surrounding trees in autumn season.

Suyash Mahar

2.Right before Washington, D.C., which city served as the capital of this country?

Colorful domes of a historic building framed by bare tree branches, related to former capital city Almaty Kazakhstan.

Memduh Göktürk

3.Which country's former capital was Almaty before moving to Astana (Nur-Sultan)?

Ben Cheung

4.The capital city of Japan, Tokyo, had another name before. What was it?

Monument and government building in Lagos, the former capital city of Nigeria before Abuja was established.

Kabusa16

5.The city that served as the capital of Nigeria before Abuja was...

Ancient stone bridge over clear water with Turkish flag hanging, reflecting Turkey former capital city history and nature.

Muharrem Aydın

6.Today, Ankara is the capital of Turkey, but before that, which city served as the capital?

Night skyline of Saigon with illuminated city streets and buildings along the river, featuring former capital landmarks.

Marcus Nguyen

7.Saigon was the capital of which country?

Ancient Buddha statue and brick ruins in Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand in Southeast Asia.

Alberto Capparelli

8.Ayutthaya was the former capital of which Southeast Asian country?

Flag of the former capital of Zimbabwe with sun rays, two yellow leaves, and a yellow bird on blue, red background.

Fvasconcellos

9.Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, was previously called...

Hot air balloons floating over a former capital city in Australia with hills and houses at sunrise.

G Y

10.Before Canberra, which city was the capital of Australia?

Aerial view of Mexico City former capital with historic buildings and streets in the heart of the capital of Mexico.

Ricky Esquivel

11.What was the previous name of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico?

Statue of a historical figure in the former capital of Norway, located in the Scandinavian region with a Norwegian flag above.

Andreea Ch

12.Norway, located in the Scandinavian region, has Oslo as its capital, which was formerly named:

Night view of Kinshasa cityscape with illuminated roads and buildings in the former capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo

MONUSCO Photos

13.Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was previously called...

Danish flag waving on a flagpole against a blue sky representing former capital and current capital of Denmark.

Markus Winkler

14.What is the name of the former and current capital of Denmark?

Snowy Finnish village with traditional wooden houses and reindeer sleds, exploring the former capital of Finland history.

Mitchell Henderson

15.Which of these was a former capital of Finland?

Downtown view at sunset of the former capital of the Philippines with high-rise buildings and ocean background.

Pixabay

16.Before the hustle and bustle of Manila, the Philippines had a charming and slow-paced capital. Which one was it?

Ancient pagodas in Bagan at sunset representing Myanmar former capital before the 2006 change to Naypyidaw.

Munzir

17.Fill in the gaps: "Myanmar changed its capital in 2006 from _ to _."

Scenic waterfront pier with boats and mountainous backdrop in the former capital of New Zealand.

Kyle Roxas

18.What was the first capital of New Zealand?

Former capital city waterfront with historic building, sailing ship, and people walking along the promenade at sunset.

Vicente Viana Martínez

19.Before Stockholm was chosen as the capital, which city was the center of power?

Historic view of the former capital city in Portugal featuring old buildings and landmarks before Lisboa.

Veranisio Filho

20.Right before Lisboa was picked as the capital city, which other Portuguese city served that role?

Portrait of King Charles I dressed in royal robes representing England’s former capitals during his reign.

Sothebys 2012

21.During King Charles I’s reign, England briefly had two capitals. Which cities were they?

Map of Europe showing country borders used for guessing former capital and countries that never changed capital

Ssolbergj

22.Which of these countries never changed its capital?

Ornate red and white historical building facade with intricate carved doors and windows in Pakistan's former capital.

Aa Dil

23.Is it true or false that Pakistan's former capital was Islamabad?

Night view of Rome with illuminated architecture and the river reflecting city lights before Rome became Italy's capital.

Julius Silver

24.Before Rome became the capital of Italy in 1871, which city was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy?

Grand entrance of an ornate mosque in Dushanbe featuring white tiles and blue geometric patterns under a clear sky.

Michael Kabus

25.Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, was formerly known as...

Not Quite Done Yet!

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Newest Trivia & Quizzes for You

1.Before Brasília, which city in Brazil served as the capital?

2.Right before Washington, D.C., which city served as the capital of this country?

3.Which country's former capital was Almaty before moving to Astana (Nur-Sultan)?

4.The capital city of Japan, Tokyo, had another name before. What was it?

5.The city that served as the capital of Nigeria before Abuja was...

6.Today, Ankara is the capital of Turkey, but before that, which city served as the capital?

7.Saigon was the capital of which country?

8.Ayutthaya was the former capital of which Southeast Asian country?

9.Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, was previously called...

10.Before Canberra, which city was the capital of Australia?

11.What was the previous name of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico?

12.Norway, located in the Scandinavian region, has Oslo as its capital, which was formerly named:

13.Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was previously called...

14.What is the name of the former and current capital of Denmark?

15.Which of these was a former capital of Finland?

16.Before the hustle and bustle of Manila, the Philippines had a charming and slow-paced capital. Which one was it?

17.Fill in the gaps: "Myanmar changed its capital in 2006 from _____ to _____."

18.What was the first capital of New Zealand?

19.Before Stockholm was chosen as the capital, which city was the center of power?

20.Right before Lisboa was picked as the capital city, which other Portuguese city served that role?

21.During King Charles I’s reign, England briefly had two capitals. Which cities were they?

22.Which of these countries never changed its capital?

23.Is it true or false that Pakistan's former capital was Islamabad?

24.Before Rome became the capital of Italy in 1871, which city was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy?

25.Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, was formerly known as...

Newest Trivia & Quizzes for You

1.Before Brasília, which city in Brazil served as the capital?

2.Right before Washington, D.C., which city served as the capital of this country?

3.Which country's former capital was Almaty before moving to Astana (Nur-Sultan)?

4.The capital city of Japan, Tokyo, had another name before. What was it?

5.The city that served as the capital of Nigeria before Abuja was...

6.Today, Ankara is the capital of Turkey, but before that, which city served as the capital?

7.Saigon was the capital of which country?

8.Ayutthaya was the former capital of which Southeast Asian country?

9.Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, was previously called...

10.Before Canberra, which city was the capital of Australia?

11.What was the previous name of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico?

12.Norway, located in the Scandinavian region, has Oslo as its capital, which was formerly named:

13.Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was previously called...

14.What is the name of the former and current capital of Denmark?

15.Which of these was a former capital of Finland?

16.Before the hustle and bustle of Manila, the Philippines had a charming and slow-paced capital. Which one was it?

17.Fill in the gaps: "Myanmar changed its capital in 2006 from _____ to _____."

18.What was the first capital of New Zealand?

19.Before Stockholm was chosen as the capital, which city was the center of power?

20.Right before Lisboa was picked as the capital city, which other Portuguese city served that role?

21.During King Charles I’s reign, England briefly had two capitals. Which cities were they?

22.Which of these countries never changed its capital?

23.Is it true or false that Pakistan's former capital was Islamabad?

24.Before Rome became the capital of Italy in 1871, which city was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy?

25.Dushanbe, the capital city of Tajikistan, was formerly known as...

17.Fill in the gaps: "Myanmar changed its capital in 2006 from _ to _."

17.Fill in the gaps: "Myanmar changed its capital in 2006 from _ to _."