Countries of Asia and their capitals
48 countries, counting the State of Palestine, a UN observer state, and Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which some maps place partly or wholly in Europe. The capitals of Israel and Palestine are disputed, so the study table shows a note and the quizzes never ask for them.
Asia is the largest continent, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Pacific. Its capitals include some of the oldest cities on Earth and some of the newest.
Chunk by region. A whole continent is too much to hold at once, so the list is learned a region at a time, in groups of about five. Use picture plus words: say each pair out loud while you point to the country on a map (the Geography Ladder has maps). The map works like a memory palace, so walk it in the same direction each time. Where a capital has a story or a meaning, picture it; the hooks give some to start with. Then close the book and recall, and come back on day 1, 3, 7 and 21.
Encode make it vivid → Space bring it back on day 1, 3, 7, 21 → Retrieve pull it from your head. From the infographic Remember It on Purpose.
Countries of Asia and their capitals
| Country | Capital | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Armenia | Yerevan | Western Asia |
| Azerbaijan | Baku | Western Asia |
| Bahrain | Manama | Western Asia |
| Cyprus | Nicosia | Western Asia |
| Note: Cyprus lies in Asia by geography but is a member of the European Union. | ||
| Georgia | Tbilisi | Western Asia |
| Iraq | Baghdad | Western Asia |
| Israel | Jerusalem, as designated by Israel (status disputed; see the note) | Western Asia |
| Note: Israel designates Jerusalem as its capital. Its status is disputed: some countries recognize it, and many keep their embassies in Tel Aviv. | ||
| Jordan | Amman | Western Asia |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | Western Asia |
| Lebanon | Beirut | Western Asia |
| Oman | Muscat | Western Asia |
| Palestine | East Jerusalem, as named by Palestine (status disputed; see the note) | Western Asia |
| Note: The State of Palestine is a UN observer state. It names East Jerusalem as its capital; the Palestinian Authority's offices are in Ramallah. Its status is disputed. | ||
| Qatar | Doha | Western Asia |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | Western Asia |
| Syria | Damascus | Western Asia |
| Türkiye | Ankara | Western Asia |
| Note: Türkiye (Turkey) spans Europe and Asia; Istanbul, its largest city, sits on both sides of the Bosporus. | ||
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | Western Asia |
| Yemen | Sanaa | Western Asia |
| Note: Sanaa is the capital named in the constitution; the government has also worked from Aden, a port city in the south. Both answers are accepted. | ||
| Kazakhstan | Astana | Central Asia |
| Note: Kazakhstan's land reaches west of the Ural River, into Europe. | ||
| Kyrgyzstan | Bishkek | Central Asia |
| Tajikistan | Dushanbe | Central Asia |
| Turkmenistan | Ashgabat | Central Asia |
| Uzbekistan | Tashkent | Central Asia |
| Note: Uzbekistan is doubly landlocked: its neighbors are landlocked too. | ||
| Afghanistan | Kabul | Southern Asia |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | Southern Asia |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | Southern Asia |
| India | New Delhi | Southern Asia |
| Iran | Tehran | Southern Asia |
| Maldives | Malé | Southern Asia |
| Nepal | Kathmandu | Southern Asia |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | Southern Asia |
| Note: Karachi, the largest city, was the capital until the 1960s. | ||
| Sri Lanka | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte | Southern Asia |
| Note: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the official capital, where parliament sits; Colombo, next to it, is the largest city and holds many offices. | ||
| China | Beijing | Eastern Asia |
| Japan | Tokyo | Eastern Asia |
| Mongolia | Ulaanbaatar | Eastern Asia |
| North Korea | Pyongyang | Eastern Asia |
| South Korea | Seoul | Eastern Asia |
| Brunei | Bandar Seri Begawan | South-eastern Asia |
| Cambodia | Phnom Penh | South-eastern Asia |
| Indonesia | Jakarta | South-eastern Asia |
| Note: Indonesia is building Nusantara, a planned city on Borneo, as its future capital; Jakarta is still the working capital. New Guinea's western half, part of Indonesia, is often counted with Oceania. | ||
| Laos | Vientiane | South-eastern Asia |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | South-eastern Asia |
| Note: Kuala Lumpur is the capital; most federal government offices are in Putrajaya, a planned city nearby. | ||
| Myanmar | Naypyidaw | South-eastern Asia |
| Note: Yangon (Rangoon) was the capital until 2005. | ||
| Philippines | Manila | South-eastern Asia |
| Singapore | Singapore | South-eastern Asia |
| Note: Singapore is a city-state. | ||
| Thailand | Bangkok | South-eastern Asia |
| Timor-Leste | Dili | South-eastern Asia |
| Vietnam | Hanoi | South-eastern Asia |
Chunk by region. A whole continent is too much to hold at once, so the list is learned a region at a time, in groups of about five. Use picture plus words: say each pair out loud while you point to the country on a map (the Geography Ladder has maps). The map works like a memory palace, so walk it in the same direction each time. Where a capital has a story or a meaning, picture it; the hooks give some to start with. Then close the book and recall, and come back on day 1, 3, 7 and 21. · teddyrookbook.com/memory/challenges/countries-asia/
Sources
- United Nations: Member States (193)
- Grokipedia: Lists of capitals (current national capitals)
- United Nations Statistics Division: M49 regions (the region names)
- Teddy Rook Book Geography Ladder: the countries model (maps and notes)
Checked October 31, 2026. Progress is kept on this device only (per learner). More lists: all memory challenges · memory games.