Central Asia Map Quiz at a Glance
Central Asia is the five Stans: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, all landlocked and all independent since the end of the Soviet Union in 1991. Here they are on a labelled map, then a free quiz for the countries and their capitals.
- Countries
- 5
- Largest
- Kazakhstan, 2,724,900 km²
- Smallest
- Tajikistan, 143,100 km²
- Most people
- Uzbekistan, 37.1 million
- Rounds
- Countries, capitals, look-alikes
How to Play the quiz
- The labelled map at the top shows every country. Print it, or the blank version to test yourself on paper.
- In Countries, a country is named and you click it on the map. In Capitals, a capital is named and you click its country.
- The Look-alikes round asks only the ones players mix up: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
- Small countries have a ring so you can tap them on a phone. There is no time limit, and the right country turns green after every answer.
Central Asia stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to China in the east, and from the Russian steppe in the north to Iran and Afghanistan in the south. Its five countries were Soviet republics until 1991. "-stan" is Persian for "land of".
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and the Other Stans
Kyrgyzstan (capital Bishkek) and Tajikistan (capital Dushanbe) are the small, high ones in the east: Kyrgyzstan in the Tian Shan, Tajikistan in the Pamirs, over 90% mountains. Uzbekistan (capital Tashkent) is the most populous, and with Liechtenstein one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world: every neighbour is landlocked too. Turkmenistan (capital Ashgabat) is mostly the Karakum Desert.
Kazakhstan, the Caspian and the Aral Sea
Kazakhstan (capital Astana) is the largest landlocked country in the world and the ninth-largest country of any kind. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan border the Caspian Sea, the largest lake on Earth. Between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lies what remains of the Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest lake in the world, which has mostly dried up since the 1960s.
The Countries of Central Asia
In alphabetical order.
| # | Country | Capital | Population | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kazakhstan | Astana | 20.8 million | 2,724,900 km² |
| 2 | Kyrgyzstan | Bishkek | 7.3 million | 199,951 km² |
| 3 | Tajikistan | Dushanbe | 10.8 million | 143,100 km² |
| 4 | Turkmenistan | Ashgabat | 7.6 million | 488,100 km² |
| 5 | Uzbekistan | Tashkent | 37.1 million | 447,400 km² |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the five Stans of Central Asia?
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Is Afghanistan in Central Asia?
Sometimes. It is often included, but the UN counts it in Southern Asia and it is a member of SAARC, so this site puts it on the South Asia map.
What is the capital of Kazakhstan?
Astana. It replaced Almaty as the capital in 1997, and was called Nur-Sultan from 2019 to 2022.
Are all the Central Asian countries landlocked?
Yes, all five. Uzbekistan is doubly landlocked: none of its neighbours has a sea coast either. The Caspian is a lake.
Is the quiz free?
Yes. It runs in your browser, on a phone or a computer, with no download and no account. The printable maps are free too.
Made by Kashif Sulehria in Lahore, Pakistan. Updated November 2, 2026.