⏱ 3 min read
“What is the capital of Bhutan?” or “What is the currency of Malaysia?” These quick questions appear often in Lok Sewa GK. This note lists the capitals and currencies of SAARC countries, Nepal’s neighbours, the main destination countries for Nepali workers and other major countries.
1. SAARC countries
| Country | Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | Kathmandu | Nepali Rupee |
| India | New Delhi | Indian Rupee |
| Bangladesh | Dhaka | Taka |
| Bhutan | Thimphu | Ngultrum |
| Pakistan | Islamabad | Pakistani Rupee |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official); Colombo (commercial) | Sri Lankan Rupee |
| Maldives | Malé | Rufiyaa |
| Afghanistan | Kabul | Afghani |
SAARC was founded on 8 December 1985 in Dhaka; its secretariat is in Kathmandu.
2. Main destinations for Nepali workers
| Country | Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar | Doha | Qatari Riyal |
| Saudi Arabia | Riyadh | Saudi Riyal |
| United Arab Emirates | Abu Dhabi | UAE Dirham |
| Kuwait | Kuwait City | Kuwaiti Dinar |
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Ringgit |
| South Korea | Seoul | Won |
| Japan | Tokyo | Yen |
3. Other major countries
| Country | Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| China | Beijing | Yuan (Renminbi) |
| United States of America | Washington, D.C. | US Dollar |
| United Kingdom | London | Pound Sterling |
| France | Paris | Euro |
| Germany | Berlin | Euro |
| Russia | Moscow | Ruble |
| Australia | Canberra | Australian Dollar |
| Canada | Ottawa | Canadian Dollar |
| Brazil | Brasília | Real |
| Thailand | Bangkok | Baht |
| Myanmar | Naypyidaw | Kyat |
| Turkey | Ankara | Lira |
| Egypt | Cairo | Egyptian Pound |
| Switzerland | Bern | Swiss Franc |
4. Tricky ones to remember
- Capitals that are not the largest city: Canberra (not Sydney), Ottawa (not Toronto), Brasília (not Rio), Ankara (not Istanbul), Islamabad (not Karachi), Naypyidaw (not Yangon), Bern (not Zurich).
- The Euro is used by many EU countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
- Countries using a Rupee: Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka (also Mauritius and Seychelles).
- Countries using a Riyal: Saudi Arabia and Qatar (Oman uses the Rial).
- Capitals and currencies can change, so check recent news for any changes before the exam.
5. More countries often asked
| Country | Capital | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Oman | Muscat | Omani Rial |
| Bahrain | Manama | Bahraini Dinar |
| Iran | Tehran | Iranian Rial |
| Iraq | Baghdad | Iraqi Dinar |
| Singapore | Singapore | Singapore Dollar |
| Vietnam | Hanoi | Dong |
| Philippines | Manila | Philippine Peso |
| Italy | Rome | Euro |
| Spain | Madrid | Euro |
| New Zealand | Wellington | New Zealand Dollar |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Mexican Peso |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Argentine Peso |
| Nigeria | Abuja | Naira |
| Kenya | Nairobi | Kenyan Shilling |
6. Learn currencies by family
Many currencies share a name. Learning them in groups is faster than learning each country alone.
| Currency name | Used in (examples) |
|---|---|
| Rupee | Nepal, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Dollar | USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore |
| Dinar | Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan |
| Riyal / Rial | Saudi Arabia and Qatar (Riyal); Oman and Iran (Rial) |
| Peso | Mexico, Argentina, Philippines |
| Euro | France, Germany, Italy, Spain and many other EU countries |
| Pound | United Kingdom (Pound Sterling), Egypt |
7. Special cases worth knowing
- Sri Lanka has two capitals: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (official, legislative) and Colombo (commercial).
- South Africa has three capitals: Pretoria (executive), Cape Town (legislative) and Bloemfontein (judicial). Its currency is the Rand.
- Netherlands: Amsterdam is the capital, but the government and parliament sit in The Hague.
- Bhutan’s Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian Rupee, just as the Nepali Rupee is (1 INR = 1.60 NPR).
- China’s currency is officially the Renminbi; Yuan is its unit.
8. How this topic is asked in the exam
- Direct: “What is the capital of Bhutan?” (Thimphu) or “What is the currency of Malaysia?” (Ringgit).
- Matching: match countries with capitals or currencies. Use the tables in sections 1–3 and 5.
- Tricky: capitals that are not the largest city (section 4) and countries with more than one capital (section 7).
- Tip: revise SAARC and the main labour destination countries first; they are asked most often.
📌 Key points to remember
- SAARC capitals: Kathmandu, New Delhi, Dhaka, Thimphu, Islamabad, Kotte/Colombo, Malé, Kabul.
- Bhutan: Ngultrum; Bangladesh: Taka; Maldives: Rufiyaa; Afghanistan: Afghani.
- SAARC founded 8 Dec 1985 in Dhaka; secretariat in Kathmandu.
- Qatar: Doha, Riyal; Saudi Arabia: Riyadh, Riyal; UAE: Abu Dhabi, Dirham; Kuwait: Dinar.
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur, Ringgit; South Korea: Seoul, Won; Japan: Tokyo, Yen.
- China: Beijing, Yuan; Russia: Moscow, Ruble; UK: London, Pound.
- Australia: Canberra; Canada: Ottawa; Brazil: Brasília; Turkey: Ankara.
📝 Quiz
Test yourself: Countries, Capitals and Currencies
50 questions on SAARC countries, Other major countries and Tricky ones to remember. Each attempt picks 25 at random.
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Reference sources: SAARC Secretariat; CIA World Factbook. Facts checked: 20 October 2026.