What is the smallest African capital by population?

The smallest African capital by population is Victoria, Seychelles. This compact city sits on the northeastern coast of Mahé, the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago, and functions as the country’s administrative, commercial, and cultural center.

Victoria began as a French colonial settlement called L’Établissement in 1778. After Britain took control of the Seychelles, the town was renamed Victoria in 1841 in honor of Queen Victoria. Its small size reflects the country’s geography: Seychelles is an island nation of 115 islands with a total population of only about 100,000 people.

The city is more than a tiny administrative outpost. Victoria contains Port Victoria, the nation’s main harbor, government offices, markets, schools, and the University of Seychelles campus. The famous Victoria clock tower, installed in 1903, is a small replica of London’s Vauxhall Bridge clock tower. Mbabane is also a small African capital, but Victoria is generally recognized as the continent’s least populous national capital.