What is the capital city of Canada?
Quick answer: Ottawa. In our practice tests 97% of 100 answers were correct, and the most common mistake is choosing “Toronto”.
Why is this the correct answer?
Ottawa, located in Ontario on the border with Quebec, is Canada's capital city. It was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1857 and is home to Parliament Hill and many national institutions.
Study Tip
Consider the location of the city in relation to the country's geography and the fact that it's home to the federal government.
What should you know about this topic?
Ottawa, Ontario, is Canada's capital city. Queen Victoria chose Ottawa as the capital of the Province of Canada in 1857, and it remained the capital when Canada was created by Confederation in 1867. Ottawa sits on the Ottawa River, on the boundary between Ontario and Quebec.
Ottawa's location was a compromise. It lay between the English-speaking and French-speaking parts of the country and between the larger cities of Toronto, Kingston, Montreal and Quebec City, which had competed to be the capital. It was also farther from the American border, which was seen as safer at the time. Today Ottawa is home to Parliament Hill, where the House of Commons and Senate meet, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada and Rideau Hall, the official residence of the Governor General.
The National Capital Region includes Ottawa and the city of Gatineau across the river in Quebec. Discover Canada asks newcomers to learn the capitals of all provinces and territories, such as Toronto for Ontario, Quebec City for Quebec and Victoria for British Columbia. This topic connects to questions about Confederation, Parliament, and the regions of Canada, especially Central Canada. Parliament Hill's Peace Tower and Centre Block are among the best-known buildings in Canada. Ottawa also hosts many national museums and the national Canada Day celebrations each July 1. It is a common test question, so memorize it early.
Why are the other answers wrong?
- Hull: Hull was a city across the river from Ottawa; it is now part of Gatineau, Quebec, and was never the capital.
- Toronto: Toronto is the capital of Ontario and Canada's largest city, but not the national capital.
- Montreal: Montreal is Quebec's largest city. It is not a capital at all; Quebec's capital is Quebec City.
What is the most common mistake?
Newcomers often pick Toronto or Montreal because they are the largest cities. Ottawa is the capital, even though it is smaller.
How can you remember the answer?
Queen Victoria picked Ottawa in 1857 because it sat "in between" English and French Canada.
Original data
How many people get this question right?
97% of 100 practice answers from about 75 people were correct. The most common wrong answer is "Toronto", chosen 2% of the time. The data covers practice tests on BecomeACitizen.ca from March 31, 2026 to September 30, 2026.
How hard is this question compared with others?
It is the 9th easiest of the 167 questions we have enough data to rank. The average for the Canada's Regions chapter is 78% correct, and the average across all questions is 75%. You need 75% to pass the real test.
These are practice questions written from the official Discover Canada guide. IRCC does not publish the real test questions. See the full ranking in the 20 most-missed citizenship test questions or browse more Canada's Regions questions.
Practice This Chapter
Test yourself with questions from Canada's Regions. Timed mock tests, instant scoring, and detailed explanations.
Which part of Discover Canada is this question from?
This question is from the Canada's Regions section of the Canadian citizenship test. The test consists of 20 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official Discover Canada study guide. You need to score at least 75% (15 out of 20 correct) to pass.
This chapter has 35 questions in our database. Studying chapter by chapter is one of the most effective ways to prepare, as it helps you build deep understanding of each topic before moving to the next.
How should you study for the citizenship test?
Start by reading the complete how-to-pass guide, then work through each chapter in the study mode. When you feel ready, take a full exam simulation with the real 45-minute time limit.