North America spans over 9.54 million square miles (24.71 million square kilometers), about 16.5% of Earth's land area and 4.8% of its total surface area. It is the third-largest continent by area behind Asia and Africa. The continent is home to about 580 million people.
There are 23 countries in North America and 23 capitals. Below is each country's capital and some information about each one.
Antigua's capital and largest city is St. John's has over 24,000 inhabitants, over a quarter of the country's population. The city became the administrative capital when the islands were first colonized in 1632 and then became the seat of government after independence in 1981. The capital is also Antigua and Barbuda's commercial center and chief port. Investment banking, tourism, and shopping are popular in St. John's.
The capital of the Bahamas is Nassau. Located on the island of New Providence, Nassau has about 275,000 inhabitants, about 70% of the Bahamas' total population. Nassau is an educational, commercial, and administrative center for the Bahamas. It is also part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and is considered a city of Crafts and Folk Art.
Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados. With a population of over 100,000, it is also the country's most populous city. Bridgetown has a cruise ship port and an airport with daily flights to and from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and other islands. This allows Bridgetown to be an important tourist destination for Barbados. In 2011, the capital was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Belize was the capital of Belize until 1961 when it was destroyed in a hurricane. In 1970, Belmopan was founded as a planned city and became the capital of Belize. This makes Belmopan one of the youngest capital cities. With 20,621 inhabitants, Belmopan is the smallest capital in the Americas and the third-largest city in Belize.
Canada's capital city is Ottawa. Ottawa is home to over 1 million people, and its metropolitan area has over 1.3 million people. Ottawa is the fourth-largest city in Canada and the fifth-largest census metropolitan area. Ottawa has the most educated population among Canadian cities and is rated as the second-cleanest city in Canada and the third-cleanest city globally.
Costa Rica's capital and largest city is San José. San José is the seat of government and a significant political, economic, and transportation hub. The capital has about 343,000 inhabitants in the city and about 2.16 million in its metropolitan area. San José is one of the safest cities in Latin America and is notable for its high quality of life, public service, and institutions.
Cuba's capital, major port city, and commercial center is Havana. Havana is the largest city in the Caribbean, with 2.13 million inhabitants in 281.18 square miles (728.26 square kilometers). Havana's economy is diverse, with tourism, transportation, biotech, and manufacturing as its main sectors.
Roseau is Dominica's capital. As of 2011, the population of Roseau is 14,725, making it the country's largest city. The capital is the country's primary port for foreign trade, including exports of bananas, grapefruit, coca, and more. The official language of the city is English, while French-based Antillean Creole is also spoken. French influence can also be seen in the city's architecture.
Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic. With a population of 970,000 people and a metropolitan population of almost 3 million, Santo Domingo is the largest metropolitan area in the Caribbean. In addition to being the country's financial, political, and commercial center, the capital is also a cultural center, and its Colonial Zone was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The capital of El Salvador is San Salvador, which means "Holy Savior." San Salvador is the country's most populous city, with about 570,000 people in the capital city and over 2.4 million in its metropolitan area. San Salvador is the financial center of El Salvador and Central America. About 70% of the country's public and private investment is made in the capital, and the economy is a mix of services, banking, business headquartering, private education, and manufacturing.
Grenada's capital is St. George's. St. George's is located on the hillside of a volcano crater and has a population of 34,000. The city has a significant tourism sector and has many exports, including nutmeg, cocoa, mace, vanilla, cinnamon, and more.
Guatemala's capital and largest city is Guatemala City. The capital city has about 1 million inhabitants, and its metropolitan area has about 3.7 million. Guatemala City is home to the country's central bank, several communications and telecom companies, and many large department store chains, supported by the city's large consumer base.
Haiti's capital is Port-au-Prince. Port-au-Prince is also Haiti's largest city, with about 1 million people in the capital city and over 2.6 million in its metropolitan area. Although Port-au-Prince has a tourism industry and one of Haiti's largest economic and financial centers, unemployment and underemployment are significant issues throughout the city. Some of the capital's largest exports are coffee and sugar.
The Constitution of Honduras named Tegucigalpa and Comayagüela as the capitals of Honduras in 1982. Despite this, all government branches are located in Tegucigalpa. Tegucigalpa is the largest city in Honduras and its political and administrative center. The capital has about 1.26 million inhabitants. The city's infrastructure struggles to keep up with and support its population growth, with poverty, over urbanization, and insufficient bra planning being ongoing problems.
Jamaica's largest city and capital is Kingston. Kingston's population is over 1.24 million people and spans over 190 square miles. Kingston is also the largest predominantly English-speaking city south of the U.S. The majority of Jamaica's economic activity occurs in the capital, and the city has the highest number of schools, hospitals, and universities in the country. The capital's major industries include shipping, apparel manufacturing, and tourism.
Mexico City, or Ciudad de México in Spanish, is Mexico's capital city. With 9 million people in the city and 21 million in its urban area, Mexico City is the most populous city in Mexico and North America. Mexico City is one of the most important economic hubs in Latin America. The capital produces 15.8% of Mexico's GDP at $390 billion. If Mexico City were a country, it would have the 30th largest economy in the world.
Managua is the capital of Nicaragua. Managua was founded in 1819 and became the capital and seat of government in 1852. The capital has a population of over 1 million people, and its metropolitan area has a population of 1.4 million. The capital is the national education center with several 48 universities and 113 colleges and other higher education institutions. It is also the economic center of Nicaragua, home to all of its major banks and large national and international businesses.
Panama City is Panama's capital and largest city. Panama City's population is around 900,000, and its urban population exceeds 1.5 million. Panama City is the economic and financial center of Panama and has a service-based economy. Its economy is heavily dependent on tourism, shipping, trade, and banking. The capital accounts for about 55% of the country's total GDP.
Basseterre is the capital of Saint Kitts and Nevis. With an estimated 14,000 inhabitants, it is also the country's largest city. Basseterre was founded in 1627 by French trader Pierre Belain d'Esnambuc, making it one of the oldest settlements in the Eastern Caribbean. The capital is established as a financial center in the Eastern Caribbean, home to the St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, the largest in the Eastern Caribbean.
Saint's Lucia's capital and largest city is Castries. Castries has over 20,000 inhabitants. It is home to the seat of government and head offices of many businesses, as well as duty-free shopping facilities and the country's main post office. Castries is the birthplace of the 1979 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics winner, Arthur Lewis, and 1992 Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Derek Walcott.
Kingstown is the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Kingstown is also the most populous city in the country, with 16,500 inhabitants as of 2010. The capital was founded by French settlers in 1722. It serves as the island's agricultural industry center and as an entry point for tourists.
The capital of Trinidad and Tobago is Port of Spain, officially the City of Port of Spain. The city is the second-most populous in the country, with about 40,000 inhabitants. Port of Spain is home to the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, the largest and most successful stock exchange in the Caribbean.
Washington D.C., known as D.C. or Washington, is the capital of the United States. Its population is over 700,000, and its combined statistical area has about 9.7 million. The capital hosts 177 foreign embassies and many international organizations, trade unions, professional associations, and non-profit headquarters. It is also home to the White House, the United States Capitol, the Washington Monument, and many other important landmarks, monuments, and museums. Because Washington D.C. is not a state, it does not have representation in Congress; however, it does have three votes in the Electoral College for electing the president and vice president.