What is the capital of Belize?

The capital of Belize is Belmopan.

Belmopan is an unusual capital because it was purpose-built inland rather than growing from Belize's historic coastal port. Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City in 1961, destroying much of the low-lying settlement and highlighting its vulnerability to storm surges. The government consequently planned a new capital on higher ground in the country's interior.

Construction began in the late 1960s, and the first phase of Belmopan was completed in 1970. The new city lies in Cayo District, roughly 80 kilometers inland from Belize City. Its name combines “Belize,” the country's longest river, with “Mopan,” another river in the region. The National Assembly building was designed with architectural references to a pre-Columbian Maya temple.

Belize City remains the country's largest and most commercially prominent urban center, so it is often mistaken for the capital. Belmopan, however, is the seat of the national government and diplomatic missions. It is also among the world's newest national capitals and one of the smallest capital cities in the continental Americas by population.