195 countries, billions of people and more surprising facts than you would expect. How many catch you off guard?
Population records, time zones, coastlines, the smallest states on Earth... This quiz picks the facts about world countries that tend to surprise even the well-travelled.
Pick your level
There are 195 recognised countries in the world (193 UN members plus Vatican City and Palestine), and the numbers behind them are genuinely wild. Smallest country: Vatican City at 0.44 km². Largest: Russia at 17.1 million km². Most populous: India since 2023. Least populous: Vatican City again, at around 800 residents. The records go on.
Here is one that trips people up every time: France holds the record for the most time zones of any country in the world (12), not because of its size but because of its overseas territories, from French Polynesia to Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Réunion and French Guiana.
All ten easy level questions, with the answer and the reasoning behind it.
Correct answer: Rome
Rome, which surrounds another country entirely.
Correct answer: The United Kingdom
The United Kingdom, in London. Big Ben is really the name of the bell.
Correct answer: China
China, and it stretches for thousands of kilometres.
Correct answer: The United States
The United States, with 50 stars for the 50 states.
Correct answer: The pound
The pound sterling.
Correct answer: The Netherlands
The Netherlands, with Amsterdam as capital.
Correct answer: Brazil
Brazil, covering nearly half of the continent.
Correct answer: Africa
Africa, on the eastern coast.
Correct answer: India
India, in the city of Agra.
Correct answer: Tokyo
Tokyo, one of the largest urban areas in the world.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: India
India overtook China in 2023 to become the world's most populous country, with over 1.4 billion inhabitants. China's population has been ageing due to the former one-child policy.
Correct answer: France
France has 12 official time zones, more than any other country. This is due to its many overseas territories spread across the globe, including French Polynesia, the Caribbean, Réunion and French Guiana.
Correct answer: Vatican City
Vatican City is the world's smallest sovereign state, covering just 0.44 km² within Rome. It has around 800 permanent residents and serves as the headquarters of the Catholic Church.
Correct answer: Brazil
Brazil is the only country in the world crossed by both the equator (in the north) and the Tropic of Capricorn (in the south). At 8.5 million km², it is the fifth largest country on Earth.
Correct answer: Canada
Canada has the world's longest coastline, stretching around 202,000 km. This extraordinary length comes from its countless islands, fjords and bays, particularly in the Arctic.
Correct answer: Russia
Russia is the world's largest country at 17.1 million km², covering roughly 11% of Earth's land surface. It spans 11 time zones.
Correct answer: Monaco
Monaco is surrounded entirely by France on land and the Mediterranean Sea on one side. Its only land border is with France. Andorra, by contrast, borders both France and Spain.
Correct answer: Bolivia and Peru
Lake Titicaca sits at 3,812 metres above sea level on the border between Bolivia and Peru, in the Andes. It covers approximately 8,300 km².
Correct answer: 27
The European Union has had 27 member states since Brexit, on 31 January 2020. The UK was the 28th member. Croatia was the last country to join, in 2013.
Correct answer: Algeria
Algeria is Africa's largest country, covering 2.38 million km². It took the top spot after South Sudan gained independence in 2011, splitting from Sudan. Algeria is also the 10th largest country in the world.
Stuck on one, or just curious how nasty it gets? Every hard mode question is here with its answer and the reasoning behind it.
Correct answer: Wellington
Wellington, at the southern tip of the North Island.
Correct answer: Bern
Bern, technically the 'federal city'.
Correct answer: Brasília
Brasília, built from scratch and inaugurated in 1960.
Correct answer: Rabat
Rabat, although Casablanca is much bigger.
Correct answer: Abuja
Abuja, which replaced Lagos in 1991.
Correct answer: Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein, between Switzerland and Austria, neither of which has a coast.
Correct answer: Canada
Canada, with more than the rest of the world combined, by some counts.
Correct answer: Denmark
Denmark, some 3,000 kilometres away.
Correct answer: Mozambique
Mozambique, alongside a hoe and a book.
Correct answer: Kiribati
Kiribati, spread across the Pacific on either side of the equator and the 180th meridian.