The World's Northernmost Country Capitals

There are many capital cities and state territories located in the northernmost parts of the world, to the south of the Arctic Circle. These cities have almost similar climatic conditions apart from few whose climates experience influences from adjacent natural features. Most of these capitals also serve as their respective countries’ cultural, economic, and political capitals and therefore have a relatively larger population and tourists compared to the other parts of these countries.

The World's Northernmost Country Capitals

Reykjavik, Iceland

Reykjavik is the world’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state, lying at 64°08 ′N. It is the capital city of Iceland and located in Southwestern, Iceland. The city has a sparse population density and has many uninhabited areas. This city has an urban population of approximately 123,000 people and more than 216,940 other people live in the larger region. Reykjavik is popular with tourists because it is Iceland’s cultural, economic, and governmental hub. The city’s coastline has peninsulas, islands, straits, and coves. Glaciers covered most part Reykjavik during the ice age and landforms like hills are now islands. River Elliðaá runs through the city and although it is not navigable, it is good for fishing. Using data from 1960 to 1990, the city’s climate was subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc) or subarctic climate (Dfc), however, data between 2000 and 2014 show that the climate is subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen Cfc). This change is probably due to a warming climate in the area. Temperatures rarely fall below 5°F in winter despite the city’s location because of the North Atlantic Current that moderates the climate at the time.

Moscow, Russia

Moscow is the Russian Federal city, the largest and the capital city of the country lying 55°45′ N and has a population of over 13.2 million people within the city and a further 17.1 million within the surrounding urban area. Apart from being the largest city in Europe, Moscow is also the cultural, political, economic, and scientific hub of Russia. Moscow is among the world’s largest and most populated cities as well as the ninth most expensive city. Other attributes include being the northernmost and coldest megacity and metropolis globally. Moscow is in the West of Russia, situated along Moskva River and neighbors Mytishchi, Khimki, Balashikha, Lyubertsy, Podolsk, and Krasnogorsk towns. This city has a rich architecture especially on historic buildings like the Saint Basil's Cathedral. Over 40% of Moscow has greenery and it has the largest forest in an urban area globally.

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden is made up of fourteen islands and it lies on latitude 59° 32' N. Approximately 942,370 people live within the city’s municipality, another 1.5 million within the urban area and 2.3 million live in the metropolitan area. Along the city’s coast is the Stockholm archipelago. Being a corporate headquarters of the Nordic region, Stockholm is a cultural, economic and political center of Sweden and the region in addition to hosting the Nobel Prize ceremonies and several world-class universities. The city hosts the official and private residences of the Swedish monarchy and most of the government facilities.

Other Northernmost Capitals of the World

Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is among the northernmost capitals located at latitude 60°15’ N. Other capitals are Oslo (Norway), Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia), and Copenhagen (Denmark), all of which are above latitude 55° N. Below the 55° N latitude are Vilnius (Lithuania), Dublin (Ireland), Berlin (Germany), Amsterdam (Netherlands), and Warsaw (Poland).