World Facts

World Facts and Trivia

The total land area of the earth's surface is estimated at
148,647,000 sq km. This is about 29.1% of the total surface area of
Earth.
The largest and most populated continent is Asia, with an area of
44,579,000 sq km. The idea of its size can be had from the fact that the
total land expanse of the world can't contain even four continents of this
size.
According to latest data for 2011, the world population stands at
more than 7 billion. Amazingly, the world population has doubled during
the last 40 years. It is expected to touch about 10.5 billion by the year
2050.
On average, there are 47 people for every sq km of the world.
Macau, an administrative region in China, has the highest population
density - 18,534 per sq km; on the other hand, places like Mongolia have
less than 2 people every sq km!
By area, the largest country is Russia - 17,075,400 sq km. The
smallest one is Vatican City, a mere 0.44 sq km. Believe it or not, Russia
can hold close to 39 million countries the size of Vatican City!
The estimated literacy rate for the world is 82%. Overall, the male
literacy rate (87%) happens to be higher than the female literacy rate
(77%). Greenland is the largest island, with an area of 2,175,600 sq km.
However, still larger is Australia, even though it is not considered an
island officially. If it were, it would beat Greenland by 3.5 times its size!
Caspian Sea is regarded the largest lake in the world. Because of its
large spread (371,000 sq km) and saline water, the ancient people
considered it an ocean!
There are 24 time zones around the world.
The earthquake that devastated central China in 1557 and killed
830,000 people was the most lethal of its kind.
The maximum depth of ocean in world is 6.9 miles.
 There are 10 families into which countries around the world can be
categorized.
There are 540 volcanoes on earth's surface.
There are certain countries or regions that have descriptive names
not really indicative of them, such as Greenland and Dead Sea.
The seasons around the world change owing to earth's orbital
positioning.
There are 10 countries in the world that are known by separate
English names.
The average rate of lightings on a global scale is 100 per second.
There are 14 countries and cities whose names have been changed
in the last few years.
The estimated amount of snow crystals that drop from skies every
year all over the world is 1 septillion.
China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos are the only countries
where Communism is still active.
At any time 10% of earth's surface is under ice.
France has the maximum overseas dependencies - 16 and Denmark
and the Netherlands have the least - 2.
From space earth looks the brightest among all planets, thanks to its
water bodies that reflect sunlight.
There are 10 places in the world that are known for their distance
from habitable locations such as Badlands in USA and Highlands in UK.
Bay of Fundy experiences the highest difference in changes in tide.
The quantity of water used on a daily basis around the world is 400
billion gallons.
Monaco has the highest population concentration in the world.
The world has only 3% fresh water.
Peregrine Falcon has the maximum speeds among birds of the
world.
The aggregate surface are of world is 197 million square miles.
Iceland has ranked as the most livable country in 2007 and in the
same year, Sierra Leone ranked as the least livable country.
 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has 26 member nations.
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is made up of 12
countries.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has 12
member nations.
G-8 or Group of 8 has 8 member nations: France, Canada, Italy,
Germany, Russia, Japan, U.S., and UK.
Burj Khalifa (previously Burj Dubai in Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates, is the tallest building in the world.
In 2010, Shanghai in China ranked as the most populated city in the
world.
Vatican city is the smallest nation in the world.
The tallest waterfall in the world is the Angel Falls in Venezuela.
The Earth moves through space at a speed of 66,700 miles/hour.
The Persian Gulf is the hottest sea in the world.
Mount Everest in the Himalayas is the tallest peak in the world
(elevation 29,035 feet).
Machu Picchu in Peru is also known as "The City in the Clouds" and
is one of the Seven Wonders of the world.
South Africa has three capital cities - Pretoria (administrative), Cape
Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).
Mariana Trench, the deepest place in the world, is situated in the
Pacific Ocean.
Antarctica is the driest, tallest, and coldest continent in the world.
Situated in Hawaii, the Mauna Loa volcano is the biggest volcano in
the world.v
With a length of 4,132 miles, the Nile River in Africa is the longest
river in the world.
======= Greenland is the largest island, with an area of 2,175,600 sq
km. However, still larger is Australia, even though it is not considered an
island officially. If it were, it would beat Greenland by 3.5 times its size!
 Caspian Sea is regarded the largest lake in the world. Because of its
large spread (371,000 sq km) and saline water, the ancient people
considered it an ocean!
There are 24 time zones around the world.
The earthquake that devastated central China in 1557 and killed
830,000 people was the most lethal of its kind.
The maximum depth of ocean in world is 6.9 miles.
There are 10 families into which countries around the world can be
categorized.
There are 540 volcanoes on earth's surface.
There are certain countries or regions that have descriptive names
not really indicative of them, such as Greenland and Dead Sea.
The seasons around the world change owing to earth's orbital
positioning.
There are 10 countries in the world that are known by separate
English names.
The average rate of lightings on a global scale is 100 per second.
There are 14 countries and cities whose names have been changed
in the last few years.
The estimated amount of snow crystals that drop from skies every
year all over the world is 1 septillion.
China, North Korea, Cuba, Vietnam and Laos are the only countries
where Communism is still active.
At any time 10% of earth's surface is under ice.
France has the maximum overseas dependencies - 16 and Denmark
and the Netherlands have the least - 2.
From space earth looks the brightest among all planets, thanks to its
water bodies that reflect sunlight.
There are 10 places in the world that are known for their distance
from habitable locations such as Badlands in USA and Highlands in UK.
Bay of Fundy experiences the highest difference in changes in tide.
The quantity of water used on a daily basis around the world is 400
billion gallons.
 Monaco has the highest population concentration in the world.
The world has only 3% fresh water.
Peregrine Falcon has the maximum speeds among birds of the
world.
The aggregate surface are of world is 197 million square miles.
Iceland has ranked as the most livable country in 2007 and in the
same year, Sierra Leone ranked as the least livable country.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has 26 member nations.
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is made up of 12
countries.
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has 12
member nations.
G-8 or Group of 8 has 8 member nations: France, Canada, Italy,
Germany, Russia, Japan, U.S., and UK.
Burj Khalifa (previously Burj Dubai in Dubai, the United Arab
Emirates, is the tallest building in the world.
In 2010, Shanghai in China ranked as the most populated city in the
world.
Vatican city is the smallest nation in the world.
The tallest waterfall in the world is the Angel Falls in Venezuela.
The Earth moves through space at a speed of 66,700 miles/hour.
The Persian Gulf is the hottest sea in the world.
Mount Everest in the Himalayas is the tallest peak in the world
(elevation 29,035 feet).
Machu Picchu in Peru is also known as "The City in the Clouds" and
is one of the Seven Wonders of the world.
South Africa has three capital cities - Pretoria (administrative), Cape
Town (legislative), and Bloemfontein (judicial).
Mariana Trench, the deepest place in the world, is situated in the
Pacific Ocean.
Antarctica is the driest, tallest, and coldest continent in the world.
Situated in Hawaii, the Mauna Loa volcano is the biggest volcano in
the world.
 With a length of 4,132 miles, the Nile River in Africa is the longest
river in the world.