Which national capital city is the highest in the world, sitting at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet) above sea level? This South American capital is located in the Andes Mountains and is so high that visitors often experience altitude sickness (soroche). The city was built on the ruins of an ancient Incan capital. Its elevation is higher than many mountain passes in the European Alps. Airplanes landing here require special oxygen systems for passengers. The city is the administrative capital of its country, though the constitutional capital is a different city (Sucre). The city's name means "Our Lady of Peace" in Spanish. The airport, El Alto International Airport, is the highest international airport in the world at 4,058 meters (13,313 feet). The city is known for its cable car system (Mi Teleférico), the longest and highest urban cable car network in the world.

Which capital city has the longest name (full official name) in the world? This city's full ceremonial name is "Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit." It holds the Guinness World Record for the longest place name. In the Thai language, the name means "City of Angels, Great City of Immortals, Magnificent City of the Nine Gems, Seat of the King, City of Royal Palaces, Home of Gods Incarnate, Erected by Vishvakarman at Indra's Behest." However, everyone calls it by its short name, which is famous worldwide for tourism, street food, and temples. The city has over 10 million residents (about 15% of the country's population). It is sinking at an alarming rate of 1-2 cm per year due to groundwater extraction.

Which capital city has the most skyscrapers (buildings over 150 meters/492 feet) in the world? This Asian capital has over 150 skyscrapers, more than any other capital. The most famous is the Taipei 101 tower, which was the world's tallest building from 2004-2010 at 509 meters (1,671 feet). The city's skyline is dominated by modern architecture, and the city is known for its night markets, bubble tea, and beef noodle soup. The city is located in a seismically active zone and experiences frequent earthquakes, requiring all skyscrapers to have advanced earthquake engineering (including Taipei 101's 660-ton tuned mass damper that looks like a giant gold pendulum). The city has been the capital of its country since 1949. The population of the metropolitan area is about 7 million. The city has the highest density of 7-Eleven convenience stores in the world.

Which capital city is located on the Equator (0° latitude) at an elevation of 2,850 meters (9,350 feet)? This South American capital is the world's highest constitutional capital (though La Paz is higher in elevation, this city is the constitutional capital of its country). It is located in a valley of the Andes Mountains. The city's name comes from a native tribe that lived in the area before the Spanish conquest. The city is divided into north and south by the Equator line; the famous "Mitad del Mundo" (Middle of the World) monument marks the exact Equator. However, modern GPS shows the actual Equator is about 240 meters north of the monument. The city has a cool climate despite being on the Equator because of its high elevation. The city's historic center is one of the largest and best-preserved in the Americas, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Which capital city is located closest to the North Pole? This Nordic capital is located at 64°08'N latitude, about 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) south of the Arctic Circle. Despite its high latitude, the city has a relatively mild climate because of the Gulf Stream. In winter, the city has only about 4 hours of daylight (in December), while in summer, it has nearly 21 hours of daylight (the Midnight Sun). The city is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges. It is one of the cleanest and most environmentally friendly capitals in the world, with over 170 km of bike lanes. The city is the capital of the country that has been ranked the happiest country in the world multiple times. The city is famous for its colorful harborfront houses, the Little Mermaid statue (inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale), and its Tivoli Gardens amusement park (the second-oldest in the world).

Which capital city is considered the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world, with evidence of settlement dating back 11,000 years? Located in the Middle East, this ancient city has been continuously lived in for over 11 millennia. It appears in the Bible and was mentioned in Egyptian tablets from 1400 BCE. The city was a major trading hub for the Romans, Byzantines, and Umayyads. It has been conquered by Alexander the Great, the Romans, the Mongols (under Timur, who destroyed much of it but survivors returned), the Ottomans, and the French. Despite countless wars and earthquakes, residents have never abandoned their home. The city is the capital of a country that has been devastated by civil war since 2011, but the city remains inhabited. The city is known for its Umayyad Mosque (one of the largest and oldest mosques in the world) and its covered markets (souks).

Which capital city has the largest population of any capital in the world? This Asian capital has over 37 million people in its metropolitan area – more than the entire population of Canada. The city is the core of the largest metropolitan area on Earth. It is the capital of a country with the highest life expectancy in the world (84 years) and one of the lowest crime rates. The city is famous for its efficient public transportation – its subway system carries 8.7 million passengers daily. The city is also known for its neon-lit skyscrapers, Shibuya Crossing (the world's busiest pedestrian crossing), cherry blossoms in spring, and being the birthplace of sushi, ramen, and bullet trains. The city hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964 and 2020 (held in 2021 due to COVID). Despite its massive population, the city is extremely clean and safe – you can leave a wallet on a park bench and expect to find it.

Which capital city has the shortest name in terms of number of letters? Three capitals are tied with 4 letters each. One is in Europe, one in Asia, and one in Africa. The European capital is known for its medieval old town, castle, and as the birthplace of Franz Kafka and the writer Franz Kafka, Albert Einstein, and Sigmund Freud. The Asian capital is a small city-state that is a global financial hub, known for its futuristic architecture, street food, and strict laws (no chewing gum). The African capital is a port city known for its French colonial architecture, as the economic capital of its country (though the political capital is different), and as the home of the African Development Bank. All three are among the smallest capitals by population.

Which capital city is also an entire country – a city-state with no other cities or states? This Southeast Asian city-state gained independence in 1965 and transformed from a poor fishing village to one of the world's wealthiest nations in just 50 years. It has a population of 5.7 million people on just 728 square kilometers (281 square miles) – one of the highest population densities in the world. The country has no natural resources and imports almost everything, including water (from Malaysia). The capital is known for its futuristic architecture (Marina Bay Sands, Supertree Grove), strict laws (no chewing gum, no spitting, no littering), and Changi Airport (voted the world's best airport multiple times). The country has four official languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, Malay, and Tamil. It is also famous for its street food, with several hawker stalls receiving Michelin stars.

Which country has three official capitals – administrative, legislative, and judicial – none of which is the largest city? This Southern African country has a unique system: Pretoria is the administrative/executive capital (seat of the president and cabinet), Cape Town is the legislative capital (seat of Parliament), and Bloemfontein is the judicial capital (seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal). The country's largest city is Johannesburg (not a capital). This arrangement was created at the formation of the Union of South Africa in 1910 as a compromise between the four former colonies (Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, Orange Free State). The country has 11 official languages, more than any other country. It is also the only country in the world to have voluntarily dismantled its nuclear weapons program (in 1989).