23 Countries in North America and Their Capitals

North America is more than just Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Stretching across about 9.54 million sq mi (24.71 million km²), it also includes the lively nations of Central America and the island states of the Caribbean. This guide lists all 23 sovereign countries in North America and their capital cities, with clear notes on subregions and common confusions.

1. What Counts as “North America” (and Why the Number Is 23)

North America, the continent, is commonly defined as the landmass north of the Colombia–Panama border plus the Caribbean islands. Within UN statistics, “North America” (code 003) is an umbrella that contains three subregions: Northern America (021), Central America (013), and the Caribbean (029). That framework is why the full continental count reaches 23 sovereign states.

In everyday usage, people often say “North America” and only think of Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Culturally, you’ll also hear Anglo-America (United States and Canada) versus Latin America (which in this geography includes Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean). Physically and historically, however, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean are tied to the rest of the continent—so they are part of North America as a whole.

Continent vs. “Northern America” vs. Latin America & the Caribbean

In the UN’s geocode system, “Northern America” is a subregion inside the continent (not the whole continent). Meanwhile, Latin America and the Caribbean is a cultural-historical macroregion that spans multiple subregions, including Central America and the Caribbean (and South America). This is why classifications sometimes place Mexico with Central America in statistics, even though most school atlases show Mexico with North America’s “big three.”

2. Complete List — 23 Countries in North America and Their Capitals

Using the country table

The table below lists every sovereign UN member state on the North American continent (Northern America + Central America + the Caribbean) and its capital city. Capital names follow UNdata country profiles, and the subregions use UN M49; note that UN coding places Mexico in Central America for statistical purposes.

3. How the Subregions Compare (Northern America, Central America, Caribbean)

Northern America contains two sovereign states (Canada and the United States). Central America includes the isthmus nations between Mexico and Colombia; in UN coding, Mexico is grouped with Central America, producing eight Central American countries for statistical work. The Caribbean encompasses the island states from The Bahamas down to Trinidad and Tobago.

In schools and travel guides, you will often see Central America presented as seven countries (Belize through Panama), with Mexico counted alongside Canada and the U.S. as the “big three” of North America. Both conventions are used in the wild; this article lists all 23 sovereign states on the continent and shows the UN subregion in the table to make the differences transparent.

Where does Mexico belong?

Geographically and culturally, Mexico is unambiguously part of the North American continent. Statistically, UN M49 places it in the Central America subregion. Both statements are true; which one you use depends on context (school geography, trade blocs, statistics, etc.).

4. Capitals Fast Facts & Patterns

Capital-name distinctions: Ottawa is Canada’s capital, not Toronto. Belmopan is Belize’s capital, not Belize City. Saint John’s is the capital of Antigua and Barbuda; it should not be confused with similarly named cities elsewhere.

Languages and names: You’ll see English, Spanish, and French across many capitals (e.g., Kingston, San José, and Port-au-Prince). Several capitals carry compound or diacritic names—Port-au-Prince, San José, St. John’s—reflecting colonial and indigenous histories.

5. Countries vs. Territories: What’s Not Included (but Often Confused)

Some well-known places are not countries but territories or constituent parts of other countries. Examples include Greenland (autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark), Bermuda (UK Overseas Territory), Puerto Rico (an unincorporated territory of the United States), Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, and others. These are part of North America geographically but are not sovereign states, so they are excluded from the list of 23 countries.

If you see lists longer than 23, they often mix in these dependencies. Conversely, lists shorter than 23 usually stop at the “big three” and omit Central America and the Caribbean entirely.

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