Countries That Share the Same Name as Their Capital Cities

Around the world, most countries have capital cities with distinct names. However, a small and interesting group of nations breaks this pattern their country name and capital city name are the same, either exactly or with a simple “City” suffix. These cases often reflect historical, political, or geographic centralization, where the capital became synonymous with the state itself.

Below is a clear, well-structured look at these countries.

Countries With Exactly the Same Name as Their Capital

These countries have capitals that are identical in name to the country itself:

1. Singapore

• Country: Singapore

• Capital: Singapore

• A global city-state where the entire country functions as one metropolitan capital.

2. Luxembourg

• Country: Luxembourg

• Capital: Luxembourg

• Often referred to as Luxembourg City informally, but officially shares the same name.

3. Monaco

• Country: Monaco

• Capital: Monaco

• A sovereign city-state on the French Riviera.

4. Vatican City

• Country: Vatican City

• Capital: Vatican City

• The smallest independent state in the world, serving as the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church.

5. San Marino

• Country: San Marino

• Capital: San Marino (City of San Marino)

• One of the world’s oldest republics, fully landlocked within Italy.

6. Djibouti

• Country: Djibouti

• Capital: Djibouti

• A strategic Horn of Africa nation where political and economic life is centered in the capital.

7. São Tomé and Príncipe

• Country: São Tomé and Príncipe

• Capital: São Tomé

• The capital shares the name of the country’s main island and national identity.

Countries Where the Capital Is the Country Name + “City”

In these cases, the capital includes the country name with the addition of “City”, and is commonly counted in global rankings:

8. Kuwait

• Country: Kuwait

• Capital: Kuwait City

• A political and economic hub of the Gulf region.

9. Guatemala

• Country: Guatemala

• Capital: Guatemala City

10. Mexico

• Country: Mexico

• Capital: Mexico City

11. Panama

• Country: Panama

• Capital: Panama City

While not exact matches, the naming clearly reflects the capital’s role as the national center.

Why Does This Happen?

Countries that share names with their capitals often have:

• Highly centralized governance

• City-state origins

• Small geographic size

• Historic capitals that predate modern state boundaries

In many cases, the capital became so dominant that its name evolved into the name of the entire country.

Final Thoughts

Although rare, countries that share names with their capitals offer a fascinating insight into state formation, urban dominance, and national identity. From global financial hubs like Singapore to historic microstates like San Marino, these nations demonstrate how closely a capital city can define a country’s global image.