Master10
Countries, Capitals & Currencies Module

Asian Nations, Capitals & Currencies

Asia encompasses 49 United Nations member states across diverse geographic subregions, each operating distinct administrative capitals and monetary systems. West Asia features major economic hubs such as Riyadh (Saudi Riyal, SAR) and Abu Dhabi (UAE Dirham, AED), while East Asia houses global financial centers including Tokyo (Japanese Yen, JPY), Seoul (South Korean Won, KRW), and Beijing (Renminbi Yuan, CNY). In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is transitioning its federal capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan under Law No. 3 of 2022. South Asian monetary systems are anchored by the Indian Rupee (INR), Pakistani Rupee (PKR), Bangladeshi Taka (BDT), and Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR). Central Asian republics feature post-Soviet national currencies like Kazakhstan's Tenge (Astana) and Uzbekistan's Som (Tashkent).

Key Concepts & Examination Highlights

  • Indonesia enacted Law No. 3 of 2022 to relocate its national capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan.
  • Kazakhstan renamed its capital from Astana to Nur-Sultan in 2019 before officially reverting to Astana in September 2022.
  • The Japanese Yen (JPY) and Chinese Renminbi (CNY) are both constituent currencies of the IMF Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket.
  • Naypyidaw succeeded Yangon (Rangoon) as the official national capital of Myanmar in November 2005, with the Kyat (MMK) as its official currency.
  • Sri Lanka operates dual administrative centers: Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital, while Colombo is the executive, judicial, and commercial capital (Sri Lankan Rupee, LKR).
  • Bhutan's national capital is Thimphu, and its official currency is the Ngultrum (BTN), which is pegged at par with the Indian Rupee.
  • Bangladesh operates its government from Dhaka, using the Taka (BDT) as legal tender issued by Bangladesh Bank.
  • The official currency of Saudi Arabia is the Saudi Riyal (SAR) based in Riyadh, while the United Arab Emirates operates the UAE Dirham (AED) from Abu Dhabi.
  • Iran's national capital is Tehran, where the Iranian Rial (IRR) is legal tender, with legislation passed to transition towards the Toman.
  • South Korea (Republic of Korea) operates its capital in Seoul with the South Korean Won (KRW), while North Korea (DPRK) operates from Pyongyang with the North Korean Won (KPW).
  • Turkey (Türkiye) operates its capital from Ankara with the Turkish Lira (TRY), while Istanbul remains its largest commercial metropolis.
  • Mongolia's national capital is Ulaanbaatar, and its official monetary unit is the Tögrög (Tugrik, MNT).
  • Japan's capital is Tokyo, and its official currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), governed by the Bank of Japan.
  • China's capital is Beijing, and its official currency is the Renminbi (primary unit being the Yuan, CNY), issued by the People's Bank of China.
  • South Korea's capital is Seoul, and its official currency is the South Korean Won (KRW), while North Korea's capital is Pyongyang, using the North Korean Won.
  • Indonesia moved to establish Nusantara in East Kalimantan as its future capital, replacing Jakarta, and its currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
  • Thailand's capital is Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon), and its official currency is the Thai Baht (THB).
  • Vietnam's capital is Hanoi, and its official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND).
  • The Philippines has its capital at Manila, and its official national currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP).
  • Saudi Arabia's capital is Riyadh, and its official currency is the Saudi Riyal (SAR), pegged to the US Dollar.
  • Iran's capital is Tehran, and its currency is the Iranian Rial (IRR), with the Toman used as an everyday accounting unit.
  • Israel's capital is Jerusalem, and its legal tender is the Israeli New Shekel (ILS).
  • Turkey's capital is Ankara (not Istanbul), and its official currency is the Turkish Lira (TRY).
  • Kazakhstan's capital is Astana (briefly named Nur-Sultan), and its official currency is the Kazakhstani Tenge (KZT).
  • Sri Lanka's administrative capital is Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, its commercial capital is Colombo, and its currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR).
  • Tokyo is the capital of Japan, and its official national currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY, symbol: ¥).
  • Beijing is the capital of the People's Republic of China, and its official currency is the Renminbi (RMB), whose principal unit is the Yuan (symbol: ¥).
  • Seoul is the capital of South Korea (Republic of Korea), and its official currency is the South Korean Won (KRW, symbol: ₩).
  • Pyongyang is the capital of North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea), and its currency is the North Korean Won (KPW).
  • Taipei is the capital of Taiwan (Republic of China), and its official currency is the New Taiwan Dollar (TWD, symbol: NT$).
  • Ulaanbaatar is the capital of Mongolia, and its official currency is the Mongolian Togrog or Tugrik (MNT, symbol: ₮).
  • Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam, and its official currency is the Vietnamese Dong (VND, symbol: ₫).
  • Bangkok (Krung Thep Maha Nakhon) is the capital of Thailand, and its official currency is the Thai Baht (THB, symbol: ฿).
  • Naypyidaw (Nay Pyi Taw) is the capital of Myanmar (Burma), and its official currency is the Myanmar Kyat (MMK, symbol: K).
  • Vientiane is the capital of Laos (Lao PDR), and its official currency is the Lao Kip (LAK, symbol: ₭).
  • Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia, and its official currency is the Cambodian Riel (KHR, symbol: ៛).
  • Kuala Lumpur is the national capital and federal legislative center of Malaysia, and its official currency is the Malaysian Ringgit (MYR, symbol: RM).
  • Putrajaya is the administrative center and the seat of the federal government of Malaysia.
  • Singapore is a sovereign island city-state whose capital is Singapore, and its official currency is the Singapore Dollar (SGD, symbol: S$).
  • Jakarta is the current capital of Indonesia, while Nusantara in East Kalimantan is being developed as the new planned capital; the currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR, symbol: Rp).
  • Manila is the capital of the Philippines, and its official currency is the Philippine Peso (PHP, symbol: ₱).
  • Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei, and its official currency is the Brunei Dollar (BND, symbol: B$).
  • Dili is the capital of Timor-Leste (East Timor), and its official legal tender is the United States Dollar (USD).
  • Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh, and its official national currency is the Bangladeshi Taka (BDT, symbol: ৳).
  • Thimphu is the capital of the Kingdom of Bhutan, and its official currency is the Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN, symbol: Nu.), pegged at par with the Indian Rupee.
  • Kathmandu is the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, and its currency is the Nepalese Rupee (NPR, symbol: NRs/रु).
  • Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan, and its official national currency is the Pakistani Rupee (PKR, symbol: ₨).
  • Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital and Colombo is the commercial executive capital of Sri Lanka; the currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR, symbol: Rs).
  • Male is the capital of the Republic of Maldives, and its official currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR, symbol: Rf/ރ).
  • Kabul is the capital of Afghanistan, and its official national currency is the Afghan Afghani (AFN, symbol: ؋).
Curriculum & Reference Sources: United Nations Statistics Division, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Central Banks of Asian Nations

Sample Solved Questions & Concept Explanations

8 Verified Concept Questions
Q1.EASY

What is the capital city of Japan?

Q2.EASY

What is the capital city of South Korea?

Q3.EASY

What is the capital city of Thailand?

Q4.MEDIUM

What is the capital city of Turkey?

Q5.MEDIUM

What is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)?

Q6.MEDIUM

What is the capital city of Vietnam?

Q7.MEDIUM

What is the capital city of Kazakhstan, known formerly as Nur-Sultan and Astana?

Q8.MEDIUM

What is the capital city of Indonesia, currently in transition from Jakarta to East Kalimantan?