Australian Fun Facts

1. THE AVERAGE AUSSIE DRINKS 96 LITERS OF BEER PER YEAR

In addition to Goon (the iconic cask wine), the Aussies also enjoy having a beer or two. On average they drink 96 liters of
beer per year!

2. HIGHWAY 1 IS THE LONGEST NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN THE WORLD

It’s about 14 500 kilometers and circumnavigates the country. Now that’s one epic road trip!

3. THERE ARE MORE KANGAROOS THAN PEOPLE

Some data reports that the total population of Kangaroos is almost 50 million now. Back in 2016, there were almost 45
million Kangaroos, which means that there are more Kangaroos in Australia than people!

kangaroo - facts about australia

Photo: Shutterstock

4. . THE DROP BEAR WAS CREATED TO SCARE TOURISTS

The Drop Bear is an imaginary animal that’s supposed to be a predatory version of the Koala. It was created by the
Aussies to scare away tourists! But you can rest assure, the drop bear will not jump down from the trees and attack you.

5. AUSTRALIA HAS THE SECOND-HIGHEST HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX

One thing the Aussies can pride themselves is the fact that they’re ranking high in the human development index. This
index measures various things such as equality, lifespan, welfare etc. Australia comes in at second place, just after
Norway.

6. AND THEY LOVE VEGEMITE

What is vegemite you might ask? It’s one of those Australian foods that you have to try at least once in your life.
Vegemite is a thick spread made from leftover brewers’ yeast extract with various vegetable and spice additives.

The Aussies usually put the spread on sandwiches, toast, crumpets and cracker biscuits as well as a filling for pastries.

Vegemite

Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com

7. MELBOURNE HAS THE LARGEST GREEK POPULATION OUTSIDE OF GREECE

This is quite an interesting fact about Australia, especially for greeks. In Melbourne, there are an estimated 162 000
people that claim Greek ancestry.

8. THERE’S A MOUNTAIN NAMED “MT. DISAPPOINTMENT”

An 800-meter high mountain that was named by the explorers Hamilton Hume and William Hovell in 1824. The
mountain got its name because of the disappointing view from the top. The explorers expected to see Port Philipp Bay
from the top, but a large number of trees prevented this.

9. AUSTRALIA’S DINGO FENCE IS LONGER THAN THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

The Great Wall of China is famous around the world, and it’s truly spectacular, but did you know that Australia’s dingo
fence is actually longer? The national dingo fence measures 5600 kilometers.

10. SOME OF THE WORLD’S DEADLIEST ANIMALS LIVE HERE

Yes, Australia is home to the deadliest spider, the deadliest snake, the deadliest octopus, the deadliest fish and so on.
But despite this, very few people are actually killed by these highly venomous animals. From the year 2000 and 2013,
more people were even killed by horses than Australia’s deadliest animals combined.

inland taipan

The Deadliest Snake – Photo: Shutterstock

11. AUSTRALIA WAS INHABITED FOR AT LEAST 50 000 YEARS BEFORE THE BRITISH CAME

The Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for at least 50 000 years. They’re generally considered to have the oldest
living culture on Earth.

12. AUSTRALIA HAS OVER 10 000 BEACHES

If you visited one beach a day, it would take about 27 years to explore 10 000 beaches. No wonder that surfing and
other water and beach activities are so popular!
bondi beach

Here’s the famous Bondi Beach. Photo: Shutterstock

13. IT’S THE 6TH LARGEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD

Some people don’t think of the land down under as one of the largest countries in the world, but the total area is a
massive 2.9 million square miles or 7 692 000 km². That’s just slightly smaller than the continental U.S.

However, Australia is one of the least densely populated countries with only 3 people per square kilometer.

14. THE AUSTRALIAN ALPS RECEIVE MORE SNOW THAN SWITZERLAND

Probably one of the more surprising facts about Australia. Because it’s one of the aridest countries in the world and is
generally known for the sun and heat. But the Australian Alps are bigger than Switzerland, so it’s not that surprising after
all.

The Australian Alps are part of the Great Dividing Range, the series of mountains, hills, and highlands that runs about
3,000 kilometers (1,900 mi) from northern Queensland, through New South Wales, and into the northern part of
Victoria.

15. HOME TO THE LARGEST LIVING STRUCTURE ON EARTH – THE GREAT BARRIER REEF

While some scientists declared the Great Barrier Reef dead back in 2016, the world’s largest coral reef is still alive, even
though it needs to be protected from pollution and other problems that the world’s oceans are facing.

Another cool fact is that the Great Barrier Reef is so large that it’s visible from space!

United Kingdom

Great Britain, therefore, is a geographic term referring to the island also known simply as Britain. It’s also a political term
for the part of the United Kingdom made up of England, Scotland, and Wales (including the outlying islands that they
administer, such as the Isle of Wight). United Kingdom, on the other hand, is purely a political term: it’s the independent
country that encompasses all of Great Britain and the region now called Northern Ireland.

MAP

Great B

United Kingdom Facts

The United Kingdom runs under a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy, while the head of state being Queen
Elizabeth II.

They have a total nominal GDP of $2.434 trillion, with a per capita GDP of $38,591. Their total nominal GDP is the 6th
highest in the world, and the 3rd largest economy in Europe.

The United Kingdom is also the 8th largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and they contribute greatly to
the world's economy.

Automobiles comprise a large part of the nation's GDP, generating around 26.6 billion pounds of revenue each year.

Agriculture is also a large part of the nation's economy. They grow over 60% of their own foods, and therefore keep
their food imports low. The United Kingdom also has a large amount of natural resources. Their lands are rich in iron,
limestone, clay, gypsum, lead and coal.

The last Ice Age shaped the geography of the United Kingdom. Today, most of the nation is covered in steep mountains
and low valleys.

Scotland is home to many small lochs, or narrow streams of water. Legend has it that a giant monster named Nessie can
be found in Loch Ness in Scotland.
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The sports soccer, rugby, golf, boxing, and cricket were all invented in the United Kingdom.

The author of the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling is from the United Kingdom.

10

England is the largest country in the United Kingdom.

11

The Summer Olympics were held in England three times

12

The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated each year in the United Kingdom during a weekend in June. On the day of
celebration there is a parade and many parties. Most businesses are closed, and families get together to have family
time.

13

St. Patrick’s Day is a public holiday celebrated in Northern Ireland. Irish people drink beer and spirits while eating pink
bacon and celebrating with grand parties.

14

Whenever a royal is married, there is often a holiday. In 2011 when Prince William and Catherine Middleton were
married the day was considered a national holiday and everyone was given the day off from work and school.

15

In Scotland, Boxing Day is celebrated each year on the day after Christmas. It commemorates the day in which servants
used to receive their gifts from their employers. Today, it is simply known as a bank holiday, and often isn’t celebrated
very extravagantly.

16

Big Ben in London actually doesn’t refer to the clock. Big Ben is the bell that is located in the clock tower.

17

For over 300 years, French was the official language of the nation.

18

There is not a point in Britain that is more than 75 miles away from a coastline. Due to this, many British people find
themselves vacationing on the beach.

19

Buckingham Palace in England has its very own police station.

20

There are more chickens in England than there are humans.

21

The first King of England, William the Conqueror made a law that everyone had to be in bed by 8pm.

22
The earliest rail lines in the world were found in the United Kingdom.

23

Each year it is estimated that over 80,000 umbrellas are lost in London.

24

The United Kingdom includes the following countries: Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and England.

25

When Scotland was added in 1707, the area became known as Great Britain. The addition of Ireland in 1801 brought
about the name change to the United Kingdom.

26

England is the most populous country in the United Kingdom.

27

The official name for the United Kingdom is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

28

The United Kingdom's 7,700 miles of shoreline is the perfect habitat for a variety of seabirds and seals.

29

In 2016, citizens voted for the United Kingdom to leave the European Union.

30

Almost 60% of people in the United Kingdom are Christian.

31

English is the official language of the United Kingdom. However, there are several regional languages that are
recognized, including Welsh, Irish, Cornish, and and Scottish Gaelic.

32

The United Kingdom is home to 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Cities, including Bath, Canterbury, and Chester.

33

It is legal for children over 5 to consume alcohol at home or in other private areas in the United Kingdom.

34

In terms of area, the United Kingdom is smaller than the state of Oregon.

35

London, England was the first city in the world to have an undergound subway system.

36

Queen Elizabeth became the longest-reigning monarch in the United Kingdom in 2015.

37

The oldest home in the U.K. is about 6,000 years old. It is furnished with furniture made of stone, which still remains
today.

38

The United Kingdom has a limit of 12 minutes of commercials per hour of television.

39

Prince Charles has been heir to the throne for over 60 years.
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Over 30% of women in the United Kingdom have had an abortion in their lifetime.

41

165 million cups of tea per day are consumed in the United Kingdom.

42

Over 300 languages are spoken in London -- more than any other country in the world.

43

Stonehenge was built approximately 3,000 years ago and is even older than the Great Pyramids of Egypt.

44

There are over half a million vegans living in the United Kingdom.

45

The British Pound reached a 31-year low following the United Kingdom's exit from the European Union.

46

Turning back the clock hands of Big Ben takes a total of four hours.

47

The largest Italian restaurant in the world is located in Britain. The Aakash seats up to 750 people.

48

After hosting the 2012 Olympics, London became the first city to host the games three times.

49

Windsor Palace is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

50

Britain is the only country in the world that does not have a written constitution.

The United Kingdom encompasses four countries, each of which have their own traditions and cultures. They come
together with a common love for their nation, and are very hospitable and kind countries. If you would like to travel to
the United Kingdom, then you could easily see all four countries due to their close proximity, and easy travel lines
between them. The nation was the first industrialized nation in the world, and today, still is a dominant force in the
world’s economy.

Geography

7107 islands at high tide

About 1000 inhabited islands

About 300,000 square kilometres land mass

About 335,000 kilometres coast line

Biggest island is Luzon in the North, Mindanao in the South being the second biggest. The Visayas in the middle consist
of many medium-sized and smaller islands

The highest point is Mt. Apo in Mindanao with 2,954 meters

The deepest point is the Galathea Depth at -10,540 meters

History
First Negritos reached the Philippines about 30,000 years ago

Malays and Chinese came around the 9th century

Ferdinand Magellan claimed the Philippines for Spain in 1521. During the next 300 years, Spanish Jesuit priests and
conquistadors spread Catholicism and Spanish culture across the archipelago

The USA took rule over the Philippines from Spain in 1898

The Philippines gained independence in 1946. It was the first Southeast Asian country to gain independence after World
War II

Currency

The Philippine Peso (PHP) – Convert Currencies here

Time Zone

GMT +8

Shop opening times

Different from area to area, but usually shops are open on weekends and public holidays as well. Most malls in big cities
will stay open till 9pm

Electricity

240V AC, usually the Japanese-style sockets

Japanese Plug

Language

The Philippines claim to be the third largest English speaking country in the world. However, for most it is not their first
language and the skill level varies between fluent to almost none

The national languages are Pilipino and English

Many different languages and dialects are spoken in the Philippines. Some are very different to each other, some very
similar. Numbers vary between 90 and 180 different languages. Commonly used languages include: Tagalog (22 million
speakers), Cebuano (20 million), Ilocano (7.7 million), Hiligaynon or Ilonggo (7 million), Bicolano (5 million), Waray (3
million), Pampango and Pangasinan

Head of State

President Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III (term: 2010- 2016)

Religion

The Philippines is the only Christian nation in Asia

About 80% are Roman Catholic

About 15% are Muslim; the vast majority lives in and around Mindanao

Population

The population of the Philippines is more than 100 million, with an annual growth rate of around 2%, making it one of
the most populous and fastest growing countries on Earth

Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is one of the world’s most densely populated cities, with 43,079 people per square
kilometer

There is a huge amount of different ethnical groups in the Philippines

The original inhabitants, the Negritos, now number only about 30,000

The majority of Filipinos are from various Malayo-Polynesian groups, including the Tagalog (28%), Cebuano (13%),
Ilocano (9%), Hiligaynon Ilonggo (7.5%) and others

Filipinos are known worldwide for their warmth and natural hospitality

The country is known as the “texting capital of the world,” with about 350 to 400 million text messages (SMS) sent daily.
That’s more than in the United States and Europe combined

Climate
The climate in the Philippines is tropical and monsoonal

Economy

Agriculture: rice, coconuts (one of world’s largest producers), tropical fruits (sweetest mangoes worldwide are found in
the Philippines)

Wood products

Electronics assembly

Garment and footwear manufacturing

Mining (the country is rich in natural resources, exploitation is difficult due to geographical and political reasons)

Fishing

Tourism

Overseas Filipino workers (more than 10 million)