The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. (officially the District of Columbia).
It’s not a state — it’s a federal district created specifically to serve as the national capital.
Population: ≈ 700,000 (2025 estimate)
Often just called “Washington” or “D.C.” in everyday speech.
Home to major landmarks like the White House, U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and many Smithsonian museums.
People sometimes mistakenly say “New York” (former capital, now the largest city) or confuse it with Washington state (whose capital is actually Olympia), but the correct answer is Washington, D.C.