Which sovereign-state capital is the world's southernmost?

The world’s southernmost capital of a sovereign state is Wellington, the capital of New Zealand. It lies at about 41°17′ south on the southwestern tip of New Zealand’s North Island.

Wellington sits beside Cook Strait, the waterway separating the North and South Islands, and is enclosed by hills and harbour. Its position near the Roaring Forties—strong westerly winds that circle the Southern Hemisphere—has helped give it a reputation as one of the world’s windiest cities.

The city became New Zealand’s capital in 1865, replacing Auckland. Its location was considered more central for governing the country and offered a strategically useful harbour. Wellington remains the seat of Parliament, the executive government and the country’s national cultural institutions.

A common mix-up is Canberra, which is also a southern-hemisphere capital but lies considerably farther north, at roughly 35° south. Port Moresby and Suva are closer to the equator. The wording “sovereign state” matters: some dependent territories have capitals farther south, but they are not independent countries.