Countries That Have More Than One Capital City: Here's The List

The country that has more than one capital city (Image of Yong Chuan Tan-Unsplash)

YOGYAKARTA - In the modern world, the majority of countries have one capital that plays a role as the center of government, politics, economy, and culture. However, there are several countries that choose to have more than one capital city, either for historical reasons, politics, geography, or to ensure equitable development. This phenomenon is interesting to explore, because it displays the diversity of political systems and governance strategies in various countries. The following are some countries that have more than one capital city and the reasons behind their decisions.

One of the most popular examples of countries with more than one capital, South Africa. The country has 3 different capitals, each serving certain functions:

The division of the capital city was the result of a political compromise that took place in the late 19th century. At that time, South Africa was a collection of British colonies and independent republics that joined forces to form the South African Union in 1910. To avoid competition between major cities, each government function was placed in a different city.

The Netherlands, one of the countries popular with its parliamentary system, also has 2 capitals. Amsterdam is officially recognized as the Dutch constitutional capital, but government and key institutions, including parliament and the royal palace, are located in The Hague. The Hague is where the government carries out its administrative and political functions, although the status of the nominal capital remains in Amsterdam.

This combination stems from a long history of the Netherlands, where Amsterdam became the center of economy and trade, while The Hague has been the center of government since the beginning of the 17th century. This division helped facilitate economic growth without risking political stability.

Bolivia is also a country that has 2 capitals. Sucre is a constitutional and historical Bolivian capital, where the Supreme Court is domiciled. However, in the current political and administrative reality, La Paz is the capital city of de facto. In La Paz, president, parliament, and the officeed executive government.

The division of the capital city is rooted in civil war in the 19th century, which ended in a compromise that Sucre will always be the capital of judiciary, while La Paz is the center of executive and legislative rule. The difference between these 2 cities reflects the political dynamics that have grown in Bolivia in its history.

In Malaysia, there are 2 important cities that carry out different government functions: Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. Kuala Lumpur is the legal capital of the country and is the center of commercial, cultural, and seat of Parliament. However, in 1999, Malaysia moved the government administration center to Putrajaya, which was specially designed as the center of federal government.

This step was taken to reduce congestion in Kuala Lumpur and to design a new city development that is more orderly. Thus, Putrajaya is currently the center of administration, where the offices of ministries, Prime Ministers, and other important institutions operate, while Kuala Lumpur has always been the center of the legislature.

Tanzania has 2 capitals, namely Dodoma and Dar esmen. Dar esmen are the largest cities and play a role as the capital city of the country's economy and main ports. However, in 1974, the Tanzanian government decided to move the administrative capital to Dodoma, which is located more in the middle of the country. This transfer process took years and is still ongoing today.

The decision to move the capital city to Dodoma was taken as part of a more balanced development plan. The government wants to create a government center closer to the interior of Tanzania, reduce coastal dominance, and encourage the development of areas that were previously underdeveloped.

The Reasons Behind The Capital Distribution

The decision to have more than one capital city is generally rooted in historical, political, and geographical considerations. Several common reasons that encourage countries to choose the division of the capital are:

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