North America Capitals Quiz
Try a short quiz about capitals across North America and the Caribbean.
The highest capital city in the world is La Paz, Bolivia, usually listed at about 3,630-3,640 meters above sea level. The ranking needs one clear note: La Paz is Bolivia’s administrative and de facto capital, while Sucre is the constitutional capital. If only conventional single-seat national capitals are counted, Quito, Ecuador, is the highest widely recognized capital city.
Boundary: commonly cited city elevation
Highest region: Andes
Data type: approximate elevations
Highest Capital Cities Ranked by Elevation
This ranking uses the commonly cited elevation of each capital city, not the highest hill, airport, mountain suburb or wider metropolitan region. Some cities vary sharply by district, so the numbers should be read as representative city elevations, not exact measurements for every street.
La Paz
Bolivia
About 3,631-3,640 m
Administrative and de facto capital
Quito
Ecuador
About 2,850 m
Highest conventional national capital
| Rank | Capital City | Country | Approx. Elevation | Geographic Setting | Capital Status Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Paz | Bolivia | 3,631-3,640 m | Andes / Altiplano basin | Administrative and de facto capital; Sucre is the constitutional capital |
| 2 | Quito | Ecuador | 2,850 m | Andean valley near Pichincha volcano | National capital |
| 3 | Bogota | Colombia | 2,625-2,640 m | Bogota savanna, Eastern Andes | National capital and capital district |
| 4 | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | 2,355 m | Ethiopian Highlands | National capital and federal city |
| 5 | Thimphu | Bhutan | about 2,320-2,334 m | Himalayan valley | National capital |
| 6 | Asmara | Eritrea | about 2,325 m | Eritrean Highlands | National capital |
| 7 | Sanaa | Yemen | about 2,250 m | Yemeni highlands | National capital |
| 8 | Mexico City | Mexico | about 2,240 m | Valley of Mexico high basin | National capital and federal entity |
| 9 | Nairobi | Kenya | about 1,795 m | East African highlands | National capital |
| 10 | Kabul | Afghanistan | about 1,790 m | Hindu Kush valley | National capital |
| 11 | Windhoek | Namibia | about 1,655 m | Central Namibian plateau | National capital |
| 12 | Maseru | Lesotho | about 1,600 m | Foothills of the Maloti Mountains | National capital |
| 13 | Kigali | Rwanda | about 1,567 m | Central African hills | National capital |
| 14 | Kathmandu | Nepal | about 1,400 m | Kathmandu Valley | National capital |
| 15 | Antananarivo | Madagascar | about 1,280 m | Central Madagascar highlands | National capital |
Elevation figures are rounded because capital-city altitude can be measured at the city center, old town, airport, municipal average or another reference point. This is why different sources may vary by a few meters, especially for cities built across steep terrain.
Why La Paz Needs a Status Note
La Paz is commonly described as the highest capital city because Bolivia’s executive branch and main seat of government operate there. The special case is that Sucre is Bolivia’s constitutional capital and remains the legal capital in many formal references. This makes Bolivia one of the most discussed examples in capital-city geography.
Common Point of Confusion
If the question is “What is the highest seat of national government?”, the answer is La Paz. If the question is “What is the highest conventional national capital without a dual-capital note?”, the answer is Quito. Sucre is also very high, at roughly 2,800 meters, but it sits slightly below Quito.
Data Story: What the Ranking Shows
Most of the highest capitals sit in the Andes, Himalayas, Ethiopian Highlands, East African highlands or other upland systems.
La Paz, Quito, Bogota and Mexico City show how many major American capitals developed on high plateaus and valleys.
Cities like La Paz, Thimphu, Kigali and Tehran vary by neighborhood, so using a highest suburb would distort the ranking.
Why So Many High Capitals Are Inland
High-elevation capitals are usually inland because they developed on plateaus, valleys or upland basins rather than low coastal plains. These settings often offered cooler temperatures, defensible terrain, central location within a country or historic settlement advantages.
Andean Capitals
La Paz, Quito and Bogota sit in or near the Andes. Their altitude gives them cooler climates than nearby lowland areas, even though Quito and Bogota are close to the equator.
Highland and Plateau Capitals
Addis Ababa, Asmara, Nairobi, Kigali and Windhoek reflect the role of African highlands and plateaus in shaping capital locations.
Himalayan and Mountain-Valley Capitals
Thimphu and Kathmandu are valley capitals near much higher mountain systems. Their city elevations are high, but the surrounding peaks are far higher.
High Basin Capitals
Mexico City is built in the Valley of Mexico, a high basin that helps explain its altitude, climate and long-running urban environmental challenges.
Highest Capital by Continent
| Continent | Highest Capital | Country | Approx. Elevation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South America | La Paz | Bolivia | 3,631-3,640 m | Administrative and de facto capital |
| Africa | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia | 2,355 m | Asmara and Maseru are also among Africa’s highest capitals |
| Asia | Thimphu | Bhutan | about 2,320-2,334 m | Highest capital in Asia among sovereign states |
| North America | Mexico City | Mexico | about 2,240 m | Highest capital in North America |
| Europe | Andorra la Vella | Andorra | about 1,023 m | Often cited as Europe’s highest capital |
| Oceania | Canberra | Australia | about 570-580 m | High by regional standards, but far below the global top group |
How Elevation Affects Capital Cities
Altitude changes the way a capital feels and functions. At high elevations the air is thinner, nights can be cool, boiling water behaves differently and visitors may need time to adjust. This is most noticeable in La Paz, Quito and Bogota, where travelers arriving from sea level may feel shortness of breath, headache or fatigue during the first day.
Altitude can make tropical capitals feel mild. Quito and Bogota are near the equator, but their high elevations keep temperatures cooler than coastal cities at similar latitudes.
High capitals often grow across difficult terrain, which affects roads, public transport, drainage, housing and airport location.
The highest capitals may require a slower first day, especially for visitors flying in from low elevation.
Capital Elevation vs City Elevation
A capital’s ranking can change if the measurement is taken from a different boundary. A city center elevation, airport elevation and municipal high point can all produce different numbers. La Paz is a good example: the city is already extremely high, while nearby El Alto and the airport area sit even higher. Those higher points should not be treated as the general elevation of La Paz itself.
| Measurement Type | What It Means | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| City center elevation | Height near the main urban core or historic center | Useful for visitor and everyday-city comparisons |
| Municipal average | Average or representative value across the city boundary | Useful for cities spread across hills and valleys |
| Airport elevation | Height of the airport serving the capital | Can be much higher or lower than the city itself |
| Highest district point | Highest place inside the administrative boundary | Not suitable for ranking the lived elevation of the capital |
FAQ
What is the highest capital city in the world?
La Paz, Bolivia, is commonly listed as the highest capital city in the world at about 3,631-3,640 meters above sea level. The status note is that La Paz is Bolivia’s administrative and de facto capital, while Sucre is the constitutional capital.
What is the highest official capital city?
Quito, Ecuador, is often treated as the highest conventional national capital, at about 2,850 meters above sea level, when La Paz is separated because of Bolivia’s dual-capital arrangement.
Is Sucre higher than Quito?
No. Sucre is very high, usually cited near 2,800 meters, but Quito is slightly higher at about 2,850 meters.
Why is Bogota one of the highest capitals?
Bogota sits on the Bogota savanna, a high plateau in the Eastern Andes. Its commonly cited elevation is around 2,625-2,640 meters above sea level.
Which continent has the highest capital cities?
South America has the highest group at the top of the ranking, led by La Paz, Quito and Bogota. Africa and Asia also have several high capitals, including Addis Ababa, Thimphu and Asmara.
Does higher elevation always mean colder weather?
Higher elevation usually lowers temperatures, but latitude, wind, cloud cover, ocean distance and local terrain also matter. Quito and Bogota stay mild partly because they are high but also near the equator.
