Geography · World · 09

Countries, Capitals & Currencies

Knowledge of countries, their capitals and currencies is a high-yield topic for SSC CGL and all competitive exams, appearing regularly in both Tier-I General Awareness and Tier-II sections. This chapter organises the world's nations into regional groups so you can memorise them systematically rather than as a random list. Pay special attention to India's immediate neighbours and the Gulf/Arab nations, which are the most frequently tested. Currency names vary widely — from Rupee variants across South Asia to the Euro used by most of Europe — and examiners love to test these distinctions.

🏳️ 7 topics🎯 183+ points📝 self-test

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Topic 01

India's Neighbours

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India's immediate neighbours and their capitals & currencies are among the most tested facts in SSC CGL

Nepal uses the Rupee, just like India — do not confuse it with the Maldivian Rufiyaa.
Sri Lanka's capital is Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative) but Colombo is the commercial capital; exams often expect Jayawardenepura Kotte.

Country	Capital	Currency
India	New Delhi	Rupee
Bangladesh	Dhaka	Bangladeshi Taka
Bhutan	Thimphu	Ngultrum
Maldives	Male	Rufiyaa
Nepal	Kathmandu	Rupee
Pakistan	Islamabad	Rupee
Sri Lanka	Jayawardenepura Kotte	Rupee
Myanmar	Naypyidaw	Burmese Kyat
Afghanistan	Kabul	Afghan Afghani

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

What is the currency of Bhutan?

Rupee
Ngultrum
Taka
Rufiyaa

✔ B. Ngultrum — Bhutan's capital is Thimphu and its currency is the Ngultrum.

Which of these neighbouring countries uses the Rufiyaa as its currency?

Nepal
Bangladesh
Maldives
Myanmar

✔ C. Maldives — The Maldives (capital Male) uses the Rufiyaa.

The capital of Sri Lanka expected in SSC exams is .

✔ Jayawardenepura Kotte

The currency of Myanmar (capital Naypyidaw) is the Burmese .

✔ Kyat

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Topic 02

Rest of Asia (South-East & East Asia, Central Asia, Pacific)

Cambodia's currency is Riel, a common SSC trick question — do not write Rupee

Japan uses the Yen (written as Japanese in the source); South Korea uses the Won and its capital is Seoul (South).
North Korea's capital is Pyongyang North and currency is Won.

Country	Capital	Currency
Indonesia	Jakarta	Rupiah
Cambodia	Phnom Penh	Riel
Oman	Muscat	Rial
Qatar	Doha	Riyal
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Saudi Riyal
Bahrain	Manama	Dinar
Iraq	Baghdad	Dinar
Jordan	Amman	Dinar
Kuwait	Kuwait City	Dinar
Libya	Tripoli	Dinar
North Korea	Pyongyang	Won
South Korea	Seoul	Won
Thailand	Bangkok	Thai Baht
Turkey	Ankara	Lira
Japan	Tokyo	Japanese Yen
China	Beijing	Yuan / Renminbi
Tajikistan	Dushanbe	Somani
Turkmenistan	Ashgabat	Manat
Uzbekistan	Tashkent	Som
Kazakhstan	Nursultan	Tenge
Kyrgyzstan	Bishkek	Som
Israel	Jerusalem	Israeli New Shekel
Iran	Tehran	Toman
Georgia	Tbilisi	Georgian Lari
Macedonia	Skopje	Dinar
Serbia	Belgrade	Dinar

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

What is the currency of Cambodia, a common SSC trick question?

Rupee
Riel
Baht
Dinar

✔ B. Riel — Cambodia (Phnom Penh) uses the Riel, not the Rupee.

The capital of China is Beijing and its currency is:

Yen
Won
Yuan / Renminbi
Baht

✔ C. Yuan / Renminbi — China uses the Yuan / Renminbi.

The capital of Thailand is Bangkok and its currency is the Thai .

✔ Baht

The currency of Turkey (capital Ankara) is the .

✔ Lira

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Topic 03

Europe

Most of Europe uses the Euro; exceptions like the UK (Pound Sterling), Denmark (Krone), Norway (Norwegian Krone), Poland (Polish Zloty) and Romania (Romanian Leu) are frequent exam targets

Vatican City is a unique case — it is the world's smallest country, and both its capital and country name are Vatican City, with the Euro as its currency.
Andorra la Vella is the capital of Andorra and the highest-altitude capital in Europe.

Country	Capital	Currency
Austria	Vienna	Euro
Belgium	Brussels	Euro
Cyprus	Nicosia	Euro
Finland	Tallinn	Euro
France	Paris	Euro
Germany	Berlin	Euro
Greece	Athens	Euro
Ireland	Reykjavik	Euro
Italy	Rome	Euro
Latvia	Riga	Euro
Lithuania	Vilnius	Euro
Luxembourg	Luxembourg	Euro
Malta	Valletta	Euro
Monaco	Monaco	Euro
Montenegro	Podgorica	Euro
Netherlands	Amsterdam	Euro
Portugal	Lisbon	Euro
San Marino	San Marino	Euro
Slovakia	Bratislava	Euro
Slovenia	Ljubljana	Euro
Spain	Madrid	Euro
Vatican City	Vatican City	Euro
Andorra	Andorra la Vella	Euro
United Kingdom	London	Pound Sterling
Denmark	Copenhagen	Krone
Norway	Oslo	Norwegian Krone
Poland	Warsaw	Polish Zloty
Romania	Bucharest	Romanian Leu
Russia	Moscow	Russian Ruble
Hungary	Budapest	Hungarian Forint
Iceland	Reykjavik	Krona
Czech Republic	Prague	Czech Koruna
Croatia	Zagreb	Croatian Kuna
Moldova	Chisinau	Moldovan Leu
Sweden	Stockholm	Krona

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

Which country uses the Pound Sterling instead of the Euro?

France
Germany
United Kingdom
Spain

✔ C. United Kingdom — The United Kingdom (London) uses the Pound Sterling.

Vatican City, the world's smallest country, uses which currency?

Lira
Pound
Euro
Franc

✔ C. Euro — Vatican City uses the Euro.

The currency of Poland (capital Warsaw) is the Polish .

✔ Zloty

Andorra la Vella is the capital of , the highest-altitude capital in Europe.

✔ Andorra

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Topic 04

Africa

South Africa has two capitals: Cape Town (legislative) and Pretoria/Bloemfontein (judicial/administrative); SSC typically lists Pretoria or Bloemfontein

South Africa's currency is the South African Rand — not to be confused with Rwanda's Rwandan Franc.
Many Central and West African nations use the CFA Franc, including Chad, Congo, Senegal, Gabon, and Cameroon.

Country	Capital	Currency
Algeria	Algiers	Dinar
Angola	Luanda	Angolan Kwanza
Benin	Porto-Novo	West African CFA Franc
Burundi	Bujumbura	Burundian Franc
Cape Verde	Praia	Cape Verdean Escudo
Chad	N'Djamena	CFA Franc
Congo	Brazzaville	CFA Franc
Democratic Republic of Congo	Kinshasa	Congolese Franc
Egypt	Cairo	Egyptian Pound
Eritrea	Asmara	Nakfa
Ethiopia	Addis Ababa	Birr
Gabon	Libreville	CFA Franc
Gambia	Banjul	Dalasi
Ghana	Accra	Cedi
Guinea	Conakry	Guinean Franc
Kenya	Nairobi	Shilling
Liberia	Monrovia	Liberian Dollar
Mozambique	Maputo	Metical
Namibia	Windhoek	Namibian Dollar
Nigeria	Abuja	Nigerian Naira
Rwanda	Kigali	Rwandan Franc
Senegal	Dakar	CFA Franc
Sierra Leone	Freetown	Sierra Leonean Leone
Somalia	Mogadishu	Shilling
South Africa	Cape Town (Legislative) / Bloemfontein (Judicial)	South African Rand
South Sudan	Juba	South Sudanese Pound
Sudan	Khartoum	Sudanese Pound
Tanzania	Dodoma	Shilling
Tunisia	Tunis	Dinar

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

What is the currency of South Africa?

Rwandan Franc
South African Rand
Kwanza
Naira

✔ B. South African Rand — South Africa uses the South African Rand.

Which country's capital is Nairobi and uses the Shilling?

Nigeria
Ghana
Kenya
Egypt

✔ C. Kenya — Kenya's capital is Nairobi and its currency is the Shilling.

The currency of Nigeria (capital Abuja) is the Nigerian .

✔ Naira

Many Central and West African nations such as Chad, Senegal and Gabon use the Franc.

✔ CFA

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Topic 05

The Americas

Argentina uses the Argentine Peso and Chile uses the Chilean Peso — both are distinct; Dominican Republic uses the Dominican Peso

Brazil's capital is Brasilia (not Rio de Janeiro); currency is the Brazilian Real.
Bolivia is one of the few landlocked countries in South America; capital is Sucre La Paz and currency is the Bolivian Boliviano.

Country	Capital	Currency
Argentina	Buenos Aires	Argentine Peso
Bolivia	Sucre La Paz	Bolivian Boliviano
Brazil	Brasilia	Brazilian Real
Chile	Santiago	Chilean Peso
Colombia	Bogota	Colombian Peso
Cuba	Havana	Cuban Convertible Peso
Dominican Republic	Santo Domingo	Dominican Peso
Guatemala	Guatemala City	Guatemalan Quetzal
Haiti	Port-au-Prince	Haitian Gourde
Mexico	Mexico City	Mexican Peso
Nicaragua	Managua	Nicaraguan Cordoba
Paraguay	Asuncion	Paraguayan Guarani
Peru	Lima	Sol
Philippines	Manila	Philippine Peso
Uruguay	Montevideo	Uruguayan Peso
Venezuela	Caracas	Bolivar

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

What is the capital of Brazil?

Rio de Janeiro
Brasilia
Sao Paulo
Santiago

✔ B. Brasilia — Brazil's capital is Brasilia, not Rio de Janeiro; its currency is the Brazilian Real.

Which country uses the Chilean Peso?

Argentina
Chile
Colombia
Peru

✔ B. Chile — Chile (Santiago) uses the Chilean Peso.

The currency of Mexico (capital Mexico City) is the Mexican .

✔ Peso

The currency of Peru (capital Lima) is the .

✔ Sol

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Topic 06

Oceania & Island Nations

Australia's capital is Canberra, NOT Sydney — a classic SSC trap

Nauru is one of the world's smallest nations; its capital is Yaren and it uses the Australian Dollar.

Country	Capital	Currency
Australia	Canberra	Australian Dollar
Bahamas	Nassau	Bahamian Dollar
Barbados	Bridgetown	Barbadian Dollar
Bermuda	Hamilton	Bermudian Dollar
Belize	Belmopan	Belize Dollar
Brunei	Bandar Seri Begawan	Brunei Dollar
Dominica	Roseau	East Caribbean Dollar
Fiji	Suva	Fijian Dollar
Grenada	Saint George	East Caribbean Dollar
Guyana	Georgetown	Guyanese Dollar
Jamaica	Kingston	Jamaican Dollar
Nauru	Yaren	Australian Dollar
New Zealand	Wellington	New Zealand Dollar
Palau	Ngerulmud	US Dollar
Panama	Panama City	US Dollar
Seychelles	Victoria	Rupee
Singapore	Singapore	Singapore Dollar
Solomon Islands	Honiara	Solomon Islands Dollar
Taiwan	Taipei	New Taiwan Dollar
Trinidad and Tobago	Port of Spain	Trinidad and Tobago Dollar
Mauritius	Port Louis	Mauritian Rupee

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

What is the capital of Australia, a classic SSC trap?

Sydney
Melbourne
Canberra
Perth

✔ C. Canberra — Australia's capital is Canberra, not Sydney.

Which currency does Nauru use?

New Zealand Dollar
Australian Dollar
Fijian Dollar
US Dollar

✔ B. Australian Dollar — Nauru (capital Yaren) uses the Australian Dollar.

The capital of New Zealand is .

✔ Wellington

The currency of Mauritius (capital Port Louis) is the Mauritian .

✔ Rupee

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Topic 07

Middle East & Arab World

The Dinar is the currency of multiple Arab nations — Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia; do not confuse them

Oman uses the Rial; Qatar uses the Riyal; Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Riyal — these three similar-sounding currencies often appear as trap options.
Lebanon uses the Lebanese Pound and its capital is Beirut.

Country	Capital	Currency
Lebanon	Beirut	Lebanese Pound
Syria	Damascus	Syrian Pound
Oman	Muscat	Rial
Qatar	Doha	Riyal
Saudi Arabia	Riyadh	Saudi Riyal
Bahrain	Manama	Dinar
Iraq	Baghdad	Dinar
Jordan	Amman	Dinar
Kuwait	Kuwait City	Dinar
Algeria	Algiers	Dinar
Tunisia	Tunis	Dinar
Libya	Tripoli	Dinar

📝 Quick self-test 2 MCQs · 2 fill-ups

Which currency is used by multiple Arab nations including Iraq, Jordan and Kuwait?

Riyal
Rial
Dinar
Pound

✔ C. Dinar — The Dinar is the currency of Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Libya, Algeria and Tunisia.

What is the currency of Oman?

Riyal
Rial
Dinar
Saudi Riyal

✔ B. Rial — Oman (Muscat) uses the Rial.

The capital of Lebanon is and its currency is the Lebanese Pound.

✔ Beirut

The currency of Saudi Arabia (capital Riyadh) is the Saudi .

✔ Riyal

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Recap

Quick Revision

India — New Delhi — Rupee; Pakistan — Islamabad — Rupee; Nepal — Kathmandu — Rupee
Bangladesh — Dhaka — Bangladeshi Taka; Bhutan — Thimphu — Ngultrum; Maldives — Male — Rufiyaa
Sri Lanka — Jayawardenepura Kotte — Rupee; Myanmar — Naypyidaw — Burmese Kyat
Australia — Canberra (NOT Sydney) — Australian Dollar; New Zealand — Wellington — New Zealand Dollar
Brazil — Brasilia (NOT Rio de Janeiro) — Brazilian Real
United Kingdom — London — Pound Sterling (NOT Euro)
South Africa — Cape Town/Bloemfontein — South African Rand; Rwanda — Kigali — Rwandan Franc
Most of Europe — Euro; exceptions: UK (Pound Sterling), Denmark/Norway (Krone), Poland (Zloty), Romania (Leu)
Kuwait — Kuwait City — Dinar (highest value currency); Japan — Tokyo — Japanese Yen
Cambodia — Phnom Penh — Riel (NOT Rupee); Thailand — Bangkok — Baht
Saudi Arabia — Riyadh — Saudi Riyal; Qatar — Doha — Riyal; Oman — Muscat — Rial
Seychelles and Mauritius (Indian Ocean islands) — both use Rupee
Vatican City — smallest country — Vatican City (capital) — Euro
Afghanistan — Kabul — Afghan Afghani; Iran — Tehran — Toman
North Korea — Pyongyang — Won; South Korea — Seoul — Won

Test Yourself

Take 5 questions at a time — tap an option to check. After each round, revise the notes above and take the retest for 5 fresh questions, until you've mastered the whole chapter.