African Capitals: Complete List, Countries and Economic Capitals

What is the capital of Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire or South Africa? The answer is often surprising. Among the 54 states on the continent, several separate their political capital from their economic capital — Lagos, Abidjan and Dar es Salaam are the most famous examples. This reference guide lists all African capitals, country by country, with their geopolitical and economic specificities.

This distinction explains a large part of the searches: Lagos has not been the capital of Nigeria since 1991, but it remains a major economic metropolis. Abidjan is not the political capital of Côte d’Ivoire, but it remains the country’s main economic centre. In South Africa, capital functions are shared between Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.

African Capitals to Know

Capitals and the Demographic Weight of Countries

The size of a country changes the political stakes of its capital. In 2024, the World Bank estimates Nigeria’s population at approximately 232.7 million, Ethiopia’s at 132.1 million, Egypt’s at 116.5 million and the DRC’s at 109.3 million. In these countries, the choice of capital touches on territorial balance, administrative access and regional representation.

Why Some Capitals Were Relocated

Several states chose a more central or more symbolic capital to reduce the dominance of a single city. Abuja was chosen to replace Lagos, deemed too congested and located on the coast. Yamoussoukro was designated as the Ivorian capital, but Abidjan retained the most visible economic, port and financial functions.

See Also

• Capital of Nigeria: Abuja
• Abidjan, economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire
• Chad: history, political situation and geopolitics

Complete List of 54 African Capitals by Region

Here is the exhaustive list of official capitals of all sovereign African states, organised by major geographical region.

North Africa

• Algeria → Alger
• Egypt → Cairo
• Libya → Tripoli
• Morocco → Rabat
• Mauritania → Nouakchott
• Sudan → Khartoum
• Tunisia → Tunis

West Africa

• Benin → Porto-Novo (official) / Cotonou (seat of government)
• Burkina Faso → Ouagadougou
• Cape Verde → Praia
• Côte d’Ivoire → Yamoussoukro (official) / Abidjan (economic)
• Gambia → Banjul
• Ghana → Accra
• Guinea → Conakry
• Guinea-Bissau → Bissau
• Liberia → Monrovia
• Mali → Bamako
• Niger → Niamey
• Nigeria → Abuja (official) / Lagos (economic)
• Sénégal → Dakar
• Sierra Leone → Freetown
• Togo → Lomé

Central Africa

• Cameroon → Yaoundé
• Central African Republic → Bangui
• Congo → Brazzaville
• Gabon → Libreville
• Equatorial Guinea → Malabo
• DRC → Kinshasa
• São Tomé-et-Príncipe → São Tomé
• Chad → N’Djamena

East Africa

• Burundi → Gitega (official) / Bujumbura (economic)
• Comoros → Moroni
• Djibouti → Djibouti
• Eritrea → Asmara
• Ethiopia → Addis-Abeba
• Kenya → Nairobi
• Madagascar → Antananarivo
• Malawi → Lilongwe
• Mauritius → Port-Louis
• Mozambique → Maputo
• Uganda → Kampala
• Rwanda → Kigali
• Seychelles → Victoria
• Somalia → Mogadiscio
• South Sudan → Djouba
• Tanzania → Dodoma (official) / Dar es Salaam (economic)
• Zimbabwe → Harare

Southern Africa

• South Africa → Pretoria (executive) / Cape Town (legislative) / Bloemfontein (judicial)
• Angola → Luanda
• Botswana → Gaborone
• Eswatini → Mbabane
• Lesotho → Maseru
• Namibia → Windhoek
• Zambia → Lusaka

African Capitals Built From Scratch: The New Cities of Power

Several African countries have made the radical choice to build a new capital, often for reasons of territorial balance, ethnic neutrality or to relieve an overpopulated metropolis. This phenomenon illustrates a deeper trend on the continent: rethinking the geography of power.

Abuja (Nigeria): Inaugurated as the federal capital in 1991, Abuja was built ex nihilo at the geographical centre of the country. The objective was to move power away from Lagos, a Yoruba city deemed too dominant, and to offer neutral territory among the three major ethnic groups — Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo. Lagos nonetheless remains the economic megalopolis with more than 15 million inhabitants.

Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire): The birthplace of President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Yamoussoukro became the official capital in 1983. It is home to the Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, one of the largest in the world. Despite this status, Abidjan still concentrates financial institutions, embassies and the headquarters of major companies.

Dodoma (Tanzania): Chosen in the 1970s to replace Dar es Salaam, Dodoma has been the official political capital since 1996. Its central location aimed to better develop the country’s interior. Dar es Salaam nevertheless remains Tanzania’s main port and economic hub.

Gitega (Burundi): In 2019, Burundi transferred its political capital from Bujumbura to Gitega, a city in the centre of the country, for symbolic reasons and to rebalance territorial power. Bujumbura retains its economic and port functions on Lake Tanganyika.

Egypt’s New Administrative Capital: Under construction since 2015 about fifty kilometres from Cairo, this new city is intended to house ministries, parliament and the presidency. It aims to relieve Cairo, one of the densest metropolises in the world, while projecting an image of modernity for Egypt.

Complete List of 54 African Capitals by Region

Here is the exhaustive list of capitals of the 54 recognised states of the African continent, organised by geographical region to facilitate memorisation and reference.

North Africa (6 countries)

West Africa (15 countries)

Central Africa (9 countries)

East Africa (13 countries)

Southern Africa (5 countries)

Recently Relocated African Capitals or Those in the Process of Transfer

The relocation of a capital is a more frequent phenomenon than one might think on the African continent. Several states have undertaken — or are considering — transferring their institutional seat for strategic, demographic or symbolic reasons.

Egypt: The New Administrative Capital

Egypt has been building a new administrative capital east of Cairo since 2015, often referred to as the “Administrative Capital” (NAC). Some ministries and administrations have already moved there, even though Cairo remains the political, economic and cultural heart of the country. The full transfer is still ongoing.

Burundi: From Bujumbura to Gitega

In 2019, Burundi officially made Gitega its political capital, transferring the presidency and several institutions from Bujumbura. Bujumbura nevertheless remains the economic capital and the largest city in the country.

Tanzania: From Dar es Salaam to Dodoma

The transfer of the capital to Dodoma was initiated in the 1970s, but Dar es Salaam retains the role of the dominant economic, port and commercial centre. Most foreign embassies are still established there.

Nigeria: From Lagos to Abuja

In 1991, Nigeria officially transferred its federal capital from Lagos — too congested and ethnically associated with the Yoruba group — to Abuja, a planned city at the geographical centre of the country, chosen for its ethnic neutrality and strategic position. Lagos nonetheless remains the economic megalopolis of the country and all of West Africa, with a population estimated at more than 15 million inhabitants.

Côte d’Ivoire: Yamoussoukro, a Symbolic Capital

Yamoussoukro has been the official capital of Côte d’Ivoire since 1983, a decision by President Félix Houphouët-Boigny who was born there. Abidjan still houses the government, embassies, the stock exchange and the headquarters of major companies. This political/economic dualism is one of the most pronounced on the continent.

Complete List of 54 African Capitals by Region

To cover all African capitals, here is the exhaustive inventory of the 54 countries of the continent, organised by geographical region.

North Africa

• Algeria — Alger
• Egypt — Cairo (administrative capital under construction: the New Administrative Capital)
• Libya — Tripoli
• Morocco — Rabat (political capital) / Casablanca (economic capital)
• Mauritania — Nouakchott
• Sudan — Khartoum
• South Sudan — Djouba (Juba)
• Tunisia — Tunis

West Africa

• Benin — Porto-Novo (official) / Cotonou (seat of government)
• Burkina Faso — Ouagadougou
• Cape Verde — Praia
• Côte d’Ivoire — Yamoussoukro (official) / Abidjan (economic capital)
• Gambia — Banjul
• Ghana — Accra
• Guinea — Conakry
• Guinea-Bissau — Bissau
• Liberia — Monrovia
• Mali — Bamako
• Niger — Niamey
• Nigeria — Abuja (official) / Lagos (economic capital)
• Sénégal — Dakar
• Sierra Leone — Freetown
• Togo — Lomé

Central Africa

• Angola — Luanda
• Cameroon — Yaoundé (official) / Douala (economic capital)
• Congo (Brazzaville) — Brazzaville
• Gabon — Libreville
• Equatorial Guinea — Malabo (official) / Oyala (future capital)
• CAR — Bangui
• DRC — Kinshasa
• São Tomé-et-Príncipe — São Tomé
• Chad — N’Djamena

East Africa

• Burundi — Gitega (official) / Bujumbura (economic capital)
• Comoros — Moroni
• Djibouti — Djibouti
• Eritrea — Asmara
• Ethiopia — Addis-Abeba
• Kenya — Nairobi
• Madagascar — Antananarivo
• Malawi — Lilongwe
• Mauritius — Port-Louis
• Mozambique — Maputo
• Uganda — Kampala
• Rwanda — Kigali
• Seychelles — Victoria
• Somalia — Mogadiscio
• Tanzania — Dodoma (official) / Dar es Salaam (economic capital)
• Zimbabwe — Harare

Southern Africa

• South Africa — Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial)
• Botswana — Gaborone
• Eswatini — Mbabane (administrative) / Lobamba (royal and legislative)
• Lesotho — Maseru
• Namibia — Windhoek
• Zambia — Lusaka

Relocated African Capitals or Those in the Process of Transfer: Key Cases

The phenomenon of capital relocation is particularly active on the African continent. Several countries have chosen to transfer — fully or partially — their capital functions for geopolitical, demographic or symbolic reasons.

Egypt: Towards the New Administrative Capital

Cairo remains officially the capital of Egypt, but since 2015, the country has been building a new administrative capital approximately 45 km to the east. Ministries and administrations have progressively migrated there. This city, which still has no definitive official name, is designed to house 6.5 million inhabitants in the long term and to relieve Cairo, one of the most populous metropolises in the world with more than 22 million inhabitants.

Côte d’Ivoire: Yamoussoukro vs Abidjan

Yamoussoukro has officially been the capital of Côte d’Ivoire since 1983, a decision by Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who was from the city. Yet Abidjan still concentrates the government, embassies and economic fabric. The duality remains total in practice.

Burundi: Gitega Replaces Bujumbura

In 2019, Burundi officially transferred its political capital from Bujumbura to Gitega, a city in the centre of the country. Bujumbura nevertheless retains its role as the main economic and commercial city.

Nigeria: From Lagos to Abuja

In 1991, Nigeria officially transferred its capital from Lagos — too congested and ethnically associated with the Yoruba group — to Abuja, a planned city at the geographical centre of the country, chosen for its ethnic neutrality and strategic position.

Equatorial Guinea: Towards Oyala (Ciudad de la Paz)

Since the 2000s, Equatorial Guinea has been developing Oyala (renamed Ciudad de la Paz) as its future capital, intending to abandon the island of Bioko where Malabo is located. The project is progressing slowly, hampered by budgetary constraints.

These transfers illustrate a deeper trend: in Africa, the choice of capital is rarely trivial. It reflects ethnic balances, economic ambitions and national construction projects.

Complete List of 54 African Capitals by Region

To master African capitals, grouping them by geographical region is the most effective method. Here is the exhaustive list of the 54 countries of the continent and their official political capitals.

North Africa (6 countries)

West Africa (16 countries)

Central Africa (9 countries)

East Africa (13 countries)

Southern Africa (10 countries)

African Capitals That Have Changed or Could Change

The history of African capitals is far from fixed. Several countries relocated their capital after independence, and other projects are currently underway. Understanding these transfers is essential to grasp the geopolitical, demographic and symbolic logics at work on the continent.

• Nigeria (1991): Lagos, overpopulated and associated with the Yoruba ethnic group, ceded its capital function to Abuja, a new city built on neutral territory at the centre of the country, to better balance inter-ethnic tensions.
• Tanzania (1974–1996): Dodoma officially replaced Dar es Salaam as the political capital, with the aim of rebalancing territorial development towards the interior. But Dar es Salaam remains the real economic and diplomatic centre.
• Côte d’Ivoire (1983): Yamoussoukro, the birthplace of President Houphouët-Boigny, became the official capital. Abidjan nevertheless retained almost all embassies and economic institutions.
• Burundi (2019): Gitega replaced Bujumbura as the political capital, a decision by President Nkurunziza aimed at recentring power away from the country’s most populous and restless city.
• Egypt (ongoing): The new administrative capital, built east of Cairo, has been progressively occupied by ministries and Parliament since 2024. Its official name has not yet been definitively established.
• Equatorial Guinea: Malabo, located on the island of Bioko, could eventually cede some of its functions to Oyala (Ciudad de la Paz), a mainland capital under construction since the 2000s.

These transfers illustrate an African reality: the capital is not always the real centre of economic or demographic power. It is often the result of a deliberate political choice to pacify internal tensions or mark a symbolic break with the colonial past.

The Most Common Misconceptions

Searches about African capitals often conflate three different questions: what is the official capital, what is the largest city, and which city concentrates the economy. Lagos, Abidjan and Dar es Salaam remain very present in the economic imagination, even when they are not or are no longer political capitals.

Key Examples to Remember

• Nigeria: Abuja is the federal capital, Lagos remains the major economic metropolis.
• Côte d’Ivoire: Yamoussoukro is the political capital, Abidjan remains the main economic centre.
• South Africa: Pretoria, Cape Town and Bloemfontein share national functions.
• Tanzania: Dodoma is the capital, Dar es Salaam remains a major port and economic centre.
• Egypt: Cairo remains the recognised capital, but the country is developing a new administrative capital.

FAQ: African Capitals

What is the capital of the most populous country in Africa?

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa according to the World Bank, and its capital is Abuja. Lagos is no longer the capital, even though it remains central to the Nigerian economy.

Why can a capital be relocated?

A state may relocate its capital to reduce congestion, move closer to the geographical centre, symbolise national unity or create a new administrative hub.

Sources and Methodology

• World Bank – Total population
• African Union – Member States
• Encyclopaedia Britannica – Capital cities

Official Capitals and Economic Capitals

The confusion between official capital and economic capital is a strong SEO angle. Abuja is not Lagos, Yamoussoukro is not Abidjan, Porto-Novo is not Cotonou. This nuance helps readers and strengthens long-tail searches.

The regional page capitals of West Africa details these cases.

What is the capital of Africa?

Africa is not a country but a continent made up of 54 sovereign states, each with its own capital. There is therefore no ‘capital of Africa’ as such. Addis-Abeba, in Ethiopia, nevertheless plays a strong symbolic role: it hosts the headquarters of the African Union (AU), the organisation bringing together all member states of the continent.

What is the difference between a political capital and an economic capital in Africa?

In several African countries, the city that concentrates political power (parliament, presidency, ministries) is not the one that generates the majority of national wealth. For example, in Nigeria, Abuja is the political capital but Lagos is the economic capital. In Côte d’Ivoire, Yamoussoukro is the official capital but Abidjan remains the nerve centre of business. In Tanzania, Dodoma is the political capital while Dar es Salaam remains the main economic and port hub.

What is the capital of Africa?

Africa is not a country and therefore does not have a single capital. Each of the 54 states on the continent has its own national capital. If one were to designate a symbolically central city for the continent, it would be Addis-Abeba in Ethiopia, the seat of the African Union (AU) and many pan-African institutions.

Which African capitals are different from the largest city in the country?

Several African countries have a political capital that is not their largest city: in Nigeria, the capital is Abuja but Lagos is the most populous metropolis; in Côte d’Ivoire, Yamoussoukro is the official capital but Abidjan concentrates population and economy; in Tanzania, Dodoma is the political capital but Dar es Salaam remains the largest city; in Burundi, Gitega is the capital but Bujumbura is more populous. This phenomenon is often the result of a deliberate political choice to balance territorial development.

How many countries and capitals are there in Africa?

Africa has 54 internationally recognised states, and therefore 54 official capitals. However, several countries have two cities fulfilling capital functions: an official political capital and a de facto economic capital. This is notably the case for Nigeria (Abuja / Lagos), Côte d’Ivoire (Yamoussoukro / Abidjan), Tanzania (Dodoma / Dar es Salaam), Cameroon (Yaoundé / Douala) and Morocco (Rabat / Casablanca).

What is the largest African capital by population?

Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, is the largest African capital with an estimated population of between 15 and 17 million inhabitants in its urban area. It is followed by Cairo (Egypt), Lagos (although Abuja is the official capital of Nigeria, Lagos remains the largest metropolis), then Luanda (Angola) and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania, economic capital). Kinshasa is also the largest French-speaking city in the world, ahead of Paris.

Which African country has three capitals?

South Africa is the only African country — and one of the few in the world — to have three capitals with distinct functions: Pretoria is the executive capital (seat of the government and presidency), Cape Town is the legislative capital (seat of Parliament), and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital (seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal). This tripartite organisation is a legacy of the political compromises of the South African Union founded in 1910.

What is the difference between a political capital and an economic capital in Africa?

The political capital is the city where the government, parliament and state institutions officially sit. The economic capital is the city that concentrates financial, commercial and industrial activities and the headquarters of major companies. In Africa, these two functions are often separated: Abuja is the political capital of Nigeria, but Lagos is its economic capital; Yamoussoukro is the official capital of Côte d’Ivoire, but Abidjan concentrates the bulk of the Ivorian economy; Dodoma is the political capital of Tanzania, while Dar es Salaam remains the country’s economic engine.