Top 10 Cities that Deserve to Be the World's Capital

There are hundreds of megacities around the world. This list shows cities with the best wealth, GDP, public transport, crime rate, facilities, and some other factors.

The Top Ten

London, United Kingdom

London is the capital and most populous city of England and the United Kingdom. Standing on the River Thames in the southeastern part of Great Britain, London has been a major settlement for over two millennia.
It is one of the world's most important global cities, with significant influence in... read more

Best city in the world, bar none. There's something for everyone here.
Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo, officially Tokyo Metropolis, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and has served as the Japanese capital since 1869. Located at the head of Tokyo Bay, it is part of the Kantō region on the central Pacific coast of Honshu, Japan's main island.... read more

Tokyo has been the capital of Japan for more than 400 years and has been peaceful. It has more tradition and technology than any other city. It also has the energy to create new things.

Considering Imperialist Japan's ambitions to make it the world capital, it's ironic.

The largest city in the world can be the World Capital!
Paris, France

Paris is the capital and most populous city of France, covering an area of 105 square kilometers with an estimated population of 2,140,526 residents as of January 1, 2019. Since the 17th century, Paris has been a major center of finance, diplomacy, commerce, fashion, science, and the arts in Europe.... read more

Paris is economically one of the three strongest cities in the world, bustling with economic activities. It is also a "grand" and beautifully designed city, thanks to Napoléon III and Haussmann. Paris as a city has the second-largest revenue among its companies, around 1.4 trillion USD per year, making it the second strongest city in the world, just behind Tokyo.
The district of La Défense is the largest business district in all of Europe and first in terms of the number of skylines among the most famous. Splendid city architecture spans from ages past to modern buildings, with numerous cathedrals and churches. There is an abundance of restaurants offering top international cuisine, and of course, French cuisine.
There are also many theaters, exhibitions, festivals, and more across the country of France.
Zagreb, Croatia

Zagreb is the capital and largest city of Croatia, located in the northwestern part of the country. The city is renowned for its historic architecture, particularly in the medieval old town, as well as its modernist and socialist-era buildings. It serves as a cultural hub, home to numerous museums, galleries... read more
New York City, United States

The City of New York, commonly known as New York City or simply New York, is the most populous city in the United States. It is also the most densely populated major city in the country. Located in the state of New York, it is a global hub for finance, culture, and media.

It does deserve to be capital. You won't regret it. You'll love it there. It's not actually as crowded, dirty, or crime-filled as some naysayers claim.

They don't call it the "center of the world" for nothing. Plus, it's an economic powerhouse with the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.

When people think of big cities, New York City is what comes to mind.
Hong Kong, China

Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is an autonomous territory located on the eastern side of the Pearl River estuary in East Asia. It covers approximately 1,050 square kilometers, or 405 square miles, and is entirely urbanized. As of 2025... read more
Berlin, Germany

Berlin is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. It has about 3.8 million residents within its city limits, making it the most populous city in the European Union.
Berlin is a federal state of Germany and is surrounded by the State of Brandenburg. It lies adjacent... read more

Once on par with the largest cities in Europe, Berlin had the misfortune of becoming the battleground of empires.
Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is located in the southeastern part of the country. The city is best known for its historic and architectural landmarks, most notably Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. Its annual Fringe Festival is the world's largest arts festival, attracting artists and... read more
Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, is renowned for its industrial heritage and vibrant cultural scene. The city features impressive Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture along with modern landmarks like the Riverside Museum. Glasgow's thriving arts and music scenes are showcased in venues such as the... read more

Yes, Glasgow is certainly one of the most famous capitals in the world and in the top 3 in Europe. Also, Scotland is known for its famous castles, beaches, and food.
Dublin, Ireland

Dublin is the capital and most populous city in Ireland. It serves as Ireland's cultural, economic, and political centre. Dublin city and its suburbs had a population of 1,263,219 at the 2022 census.

The Newcomers

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Salisbury, United Kingdom
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Aarhus, Denmark

The Contenders

Sydney, Australia

Sydney, located on Australia's southeastern coast, is famous for its iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The city's scenic waterfront offers sailing, ferry rides, and harborside dining. Bondi Beach is renowned for its surf culture and laid-back atmosphere.... read more
Rome, Italy

Rome is the capital city and most populated comune of Italy, and it serves as the capital of the Lazio region. The city has been a major human settlement for over three millennia and is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Europe..... read more

Rome dominated parts of three continents before, so seven continents shouldn't be too hard.
Oslo, Norway

Oslo is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It functions as both a municipality and a county, serving as the administrative and economic center of the country. Located at the head of the Oslofjord, it is known for its green spaces, museums, and maritime history.
Olympia, Greece
Toronto, Canada

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, the provincial capital of Ontario, and the core of the Greater Toronto Area, the country's most populous metropolitan region. It is an international hub for business, finance, arts, and culture. Toronto is also recognized as one of the most multicultural and... read more

Toronto deserves to be the capital instead of Ottawa!

The most idyllic Western city ever!
Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of the Republic of Korea. It serves as the center of the Seoul Capital Area, which includes the nearby Incheon metropolis and Gyeonggi Province. The entire metropolitan region is one of the most populous in the world... read more
Shanghai, China

Shanghai is one of the four municipalities governed directly by China's central government. It is the most populous city in China and the second most populous city proper in the world. As of 2019, it had a population of 24.28 million, making it the most populous urban area in China and the largest city... read more

This would be the best choice. It is about halfway between America and Europe. It's the largest city in the world, bar none (within city limits). It's not the capital of anything else. It's on the edge of China, on the sea, so it could easily be detached from that country to form a Federal District. China has more than a billion people, so the detachment of Shanghai would not even make a dent in them.
Shanghai is a modern and prosperous city with an international ambiance. This would be the best capital for Earth.

The financial capital of Asia and soon the world!
Moscow, Russia

Moscow is the capital and most populous city of Russia. It is located in western Russia along the Moskva River. Moscow is a major political, economic, and cultural center and is home to the Kremlin, Red Square, and numerous historic landmarks.

It was the capital of more than 15 republics that are now independent and fully functioning countries. So why not the whole world? Also, the third Rome.
Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul, formerly known as Byzantium and Constantinople, is the most populous city in Turkey and serves as the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. The city straddles the Bosphorus Strait, placing it in both Europe and Asia.... read more

It was the capital of the Roman Empire for more than 1,000 years. Additionally, during those 1,000 years, Constantinople was the most developed and richest city in the world. Russians called it Tsargrad, which means "King of all the cities" or "Tsar of all cities." Nordics called it Miklagrad, which means "the Great City." Every world power at that time recognized its richness, power, and beauty.
Even if it won't be the capital of the world, I think it is the best candidate to be the capital of Eurasia, because half of it is in Europe and the other half is in Asia. After the Romans came the Turks, and the city became even more important and rich, serving as the capital of the most powerful Islamic empire in history. It was also a dream of the Russian Empire to gain Tsargrad.
Even today, it stands as Istanbul, one of the most visited cities in the world, rich in history and pride.
Bergen, Norway

Bergen is a city located on the southwestern coast of Norway and is known for its scenic surroundings, including mountains and fjords. One of the most notable fjords nearby is the Sognefjord, which is the longest and deepest fjord in the country. The city's Hanseatic history is visible in the Bryggen... read more
Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dubai is the largest and most populous city in the United Arab Emirates. Established in the 18th century as a small fishing village, the city grew rapidly in the early 21st century into a cosmopolitan metropolis focused on tourism and hospitality. Dubai is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations... read more
Athens, Greece

Athens is the capital and largest city of Greece. It is one of the world's oldest cities, with a recorded history dating back more than 3,000 years. Today, Athens is a modern metropolis and a key cultural, political, and economic hub in southeastern Europe.

The country that gave the world light just needs some good leaders instead of the corrupt ones of the recent past. Great people, great food, extremely beautiful, and full of history.
New Delhi, India

New Delhi is the capital and seat of government of the Republic of India. It is a municipality within the National Capital Territory of Delhi and is part of the New Delhi district. New Delhi serves as the seat of all three branches of the Government of India.

What would the world be like if India wasn't there?
Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland. It was founded in 1550 and has developed into the country's political, economic, and cultural center. The city is known for its design, vibrant public spaces, and coastal scenery.
Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is the capital of the Kingdom of Denmark. As of January 1, 2016, the urban area had a population of approximately 1,280,371 residents, making it the largest city in the country. It is located in the Hovedstaden region and is known for Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the... read more