The capital city of the United States, Washington D.C., was a relocated capital city that was allowed by the U.S. Constitution.
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Here are additional capital relocations that have occurred in approximately the last few centuries.
Asia
- Since 1982, Sri Lanka’s Parliament has met in Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, but some other government functions remain in Colombo.
- Malaysia moved some of its administrative functions to Putrajaya in 1999. The official capital remains Kuala Lumpur.
- Former capitals of Iran include Esfahan and Shiraz. It is now Tehran.
- A former capital of Thailand is Ayutthaya. It is now Bangkok.
- Hue was an ancient capital of Vietnam. It is now Hanoi.
- Pakistan from Karachi to Rawalpindi to Islamabad – changes occurred in 1950s and 1960s.
- Laos from Luang Prabang to Vientiane – 1975
- Turkey from Istanbul to Ankara - 1923
- The Philippines from Quezon City to Manila – 1976
- Japan from Kyoto to Tokyo – 1868
- Israel from Tel Aviv-Jaffo to Jerusalem – 1950
- Oman from Salalah to Muscat – 1970
- Saudi Arabia from Diriyah to Riyadh – 1818
- Indonesia from Yogyakarta to Jakarta – 1949
- Bhutan from Punakha (former winter capital) to Thimpu - 1907
- Uzbekistan from Samarkand to Tashkent - 1930
- Afghanistan from Kandahar to Kabul - 1776
Europe
- Former capitals of Italy include Turin, Florence, and Salerno. The current capital of Italy is Rome.
- Bonn was the capital of West Germany from 1949-1990. Reunified Germany’s capital began as Bonn but was moved to Berlin in 1999.
- Kragujevac has served as the capital of Serbia several times. It is now Belgrade.
- Durres was briefly capital of Albania during World War I. It is now Tirana.
- Lithuania from Kaunas to Vilnius - 1939
- Malta from Mdina to Valetta – 16th century
- Poland from Krakow to Warsaw - 1596
- Montenegro from Cetinje to Podgorica – 1946
- Greece from Nafplion to Athens – 1834
- Finland from Turku to Helsinki – 1812
Africa
- Ghana from Cape Coast to Accra – 1877
- Botswana from Mafeking to Gaborone - 1965
- Guinea Bissau from Madina do Boe to Bissau - 1974
- Cape Verde from Cidade Velha to Praia – 1858
- Togo from Aneho to Lome – 1897
- Malawi from Zomba to Lilongwe – 1974
The Americas
- Trinidad and Tobago from San Jose to Port of Spain – 1784
- Jamaica from Port Royal to Spanish Town to Kingston – 1872
- Barbados from Jamestown to Bridgetown – 1628
- Honduras from Comayagua to Tegucigalpa – 1888
Oceania
- New Zealand from Auckland to Wellington –1865
- The Federated States of Micronesia from Kolonia to Palikir – 1989
- Palau from Koror to Ngerulmud – 2006
