How Well Do You Know the World's Countries?

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
How Well Do You Know the World's Countries?
Image: Thinkstock

About This Quiz

The average person's geography skills are notoriously poor, especially when looking beyond one's own region. Test your knowledge of countries on four major continents with our quiz!
What is the largest country in the world in terms of land area?
United States
China
Russia
Canada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At 6.6 million square miles and straddling 9 time zones, Russia is the world's largest country.

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In what country can you visit Machu Picchu?
Peru
Brazil
Chile
Ecuador
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Built in the 15th century, the magnificent Machu Picchu sits high in the Andes Mountains in Peru.

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What European country is home to Transylvania?
Poland
Bulgaria
Romania
Slovakia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Transylvania sits in Romania's Carpathian Mountains. While Dracula is just a myth, he may have been inspired by Vlad the Impaler, an ancient warrior who lived in the area.

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What body of water separates Africa and Europe?
Strait of Gibraltar
African Sea
Strait of Good Hope
The Nile
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Strait of Gibraltar sits between Spain and Morocco, separating Africa from Europe.

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What Asian country has Kuala Lumpur as its capital?
Thailand
Cambodia
Malaysia
Indonesia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Malaysia's capital of Kuala Lumpur is home to the Petronas Towers, once recognized as the tallest buildings in the world.

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What Asian nation has the second highest population of any country in the world?
Japan
India
Pakistan
China
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 1.31 billion people, India is the second most-populated country in the world. It is expected to overtake China around 2022.

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What country is not part of the Scandinavian Peninsula?
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Norway and Sweden — and sometimes Finland — are included in the Scandinavian Peninsula. Denmark is part of mainland Europe.

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Other than Liberia, which African nation was not a product of colonialism?
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Egypt
Namibia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Egypt and Liberia are the only African nations which were not created out of colonialism.

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Where is Pyeongchang, the selected host of the 2018 Winter Olympics, located?
China
South Korea
North Korea
Japan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pyeongchang, South Korea will play host to the 2018 Olympics. The country is also home to one of history's greatest figure skaters, Olympian Yuna Kim.

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What country has the capital city of Islamabad?
Afghanistan
Kazakhstan
Pakistan
Iran
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Islamabad sits in the northwest corner of Pakistan, and has served as the nation's capital since the 1960s.

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If you exclude Russia, what nation has Europe's largest population?
Belgium
Germany
France
Italy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 80 million people, Germany makes up 15.9 percent of Europe's population.

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What country is not part of the United Kingdom?
Northern Ireland
Ireland
Wales
Scotland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The UK consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Republic of Ireland itself is not part of the UK.

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What two nations are the only landlocked countries in South America?
Brazil and Peru
Venezuela and Suriname
Paraguay and Bolivia
Columbia and Ecuador
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Paraguay and Bolivia are the only landlocked countries on the continent, putting them at an economic disadvantage to their neighbors.

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What nation regulates climbing on Mt. Everest?
Nepal
Japan
Pakistan
China
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nepal, which sits between China and India, regulates much of the climbing on Everest.

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Timbuktu is in Asia.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Timbuktu is a city in Mali, Africa, and is home to one of the world's oldest universities.

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What country borders Monaco?
Italy
Spain
France
Switzerland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Monaco, which is bordered by France and the Mediterranean Sea, is the second smallest nation on Earth.

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Andorra is located between these two European nations:
Spain and France
Italy and Switzerland
France and Switzerland
Germany and Poland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ruled jointly by France and Spain from 1278 to 1993, the tiny nation of Andorra is now considered an independent state.

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What is the capital of Turkey?
Ankara
Bodrum
Istanbul
Izmir
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ankara serves as the capital city of Turkey, a nation that straddles the dividing line between Europe and Asia.

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What African country served as a setting for Tatooine in "Star Wars?"
Tunisia
Mali
South Africa
Ethiopia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You can actually visit the area that served as the setting for Tatooine during a trip to the Tunisia, which is located in northern Africa.

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What is the smallest nation in South America by population?
Uruguay
Suriname
Ecuador
Guyana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With more than 500,000, the nation of Suriname is the smallest country in South America.

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Which Asian country sports a red flag with a golden star at the center?
China
Malaysia
Vietnam
Japan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Vietnamese flag, with its gold star on a red background, has flown over the unified country since 1976.

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Lake Titicaca sits on the border between these two nations.
Paraguay and Bolivia
Brazil and Chile
Bolivia and Peru
Chile and Uruguay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The world's highest lake, Lake Titicaca —which sits 12,500 feet above sea level — straddles the border of Bolivia and Peru.

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What country is home to the world's highest waterfall?
Paraguay
Venezuela
Bolivia
Brazil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At 3,212 feet, Angel Falls in Venezuela is the world's tallest waterfall.

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What is the most populated country in Africa?
Nigeria
South Africa
Egypt
Morocco
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 167 million people, Nigeria is Africa's most populated country.

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What country is the most densely populated on Earth?
Monaco
France
India
Venezia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At 0.76 square miles and home to 36,000 people, Monaco is the world's most densely populated country.

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The U.S. recognizes Taiwan as an independent nation.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U.S. Department of State does not recognize Taiwan as an independent nation, nor does it support Taiwan's efforts towards independence from China.

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Which of the following African nations is not intersected by the Equator?
Gabon
Kenya
Chad
Uganda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Equator passes through Congo, Gabon, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia. Chad sits a bit further north.

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How many countries are in Africa?
14
34
54
23
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fifty-four countries make up Africa. In total, the continent is home to around a billion people.

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Which African nation has the most pyramids?
Egypt
Chad
Sudan
Nigeria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sudan is home to more than 200 pyramids, more than twice that of Egypt.

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What is the most populated nation in South America?
Peru
Chile
Brazil
Argentina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 206 million people, Brazil is South America's most populated country, and the 6th most populated nation on Earth.

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You Got:
/30
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