Trivia by topic

Fun facts: 50 questions from around the world

Surprising facts, customs and records. Each question says which country it is about.

Ecuador
Which two countries share a land border with Ecuador?
1. A. Colombia and Peru
2. B. Colombia and Venezuela
3. C. Peru and Bolivia
4. D. Brazil and Peru
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Colombia and Peru. Colombia and Peru are Ecuador's only neighbours: Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south.
Myanmar
Visitors to pagodas in Myanmar may keep their socks on.
True or false?
Show the answer
False. False. You take off both shoes and socks at the entrance of the whole pagoda compound, so you walk barefoot even across the courtyards.
Ukraine
Igor Sikorsky, the helicopter pioneer, was born in Kyiv.
True or false?
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True. True. Sikorsky was born in Kyiv in 1889 and in 1939, in the United States, designed and flew the VS-300.
Germany
How many countries share a land border with Germany?
1. A. 6
2. B. 7
3. C. 9
4. D. 12
Show the answer
9. Germany has 9 neighbours: Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Austria
What does a car need to use Austria's motorways and expressways?
1. A. A vignette
2. B. A green insurance card only
3. C. A parking disc
4. D. A mountain pass permit
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A vignette. Cars need a vignette, a toll sticker or a digital vignette. From 2027 only the digital vignette will be sold.
United Kingdom
What is the capital of the United Kingdom?
1. A. London
2. B. Edinburgh
3. C. Manchester
4. D. Birmingham
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London. London, on the River Thames, is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.
Uzbekistan
Changing money with street money-changers is legal in Uzbekistan.
True or false?
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False. False. Change money only at banks and official exchange offices: street exchange is illegal.
Oman
Which traditional object appears on Oman's national flag?
1. A. A curved dagger (khanjar)
2. B. A falcon
3. C. A palm tree
4. D. A dhow
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A curved dagger (khanjar). A curved dagger (khanjar), the kind Omani men wear on formal occasions, appears on the flag and the national emblem.
Costa Rica
What is the official emergency number for ambulance, fire and police in Costa Rica?
1. A. 911
2. B. 999
3. C. 000
4. D. 111
Show the answer
911. The emergency number in Costa Rica is 911, for ambulance, fire and police. 999 is used in the UK, 000 in Australia and 111 in New Zealand.
Mexico
As of 2026, Spain has more Spanish speakers than Mexico.
True or false?
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False. False. Mexico, with about 134 million people, has the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world. Spain has about 50 million people.
Greece
What does the Greek question mark look like?
1. A. A semicolon (;)
2. B. An exclamation mark (!)
3. C. An upside-down question mark (¿)
4. D. A colon (:)
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A semicolon (;). In Greek the question mark looks just like a semicolon (;), as in 'Ti kánete;'.
Bangladesh
The national bird of Bangladesh is the peacock.
True or false?
Show the answer
False. False. The national bird is the doel, the oriental magpie-robin, a small black and white songbird. The peacock is India's national bird.
Nigeria
As of 2026, British visitors can simply get a Nigerian visa on arrival at the airport.
True or false?
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False. False. As of 2026 visas on arrival are no longer given; visitors must apply online before they travel.
Tunisia
On which day of the week do Tunisian supermarkets not sell alcohol?
1. A. Friday
2. B. Sunday
3. C. Monday
4. D. Wednesday
Show the answer
Friday. Supermarkets do not sell alcohol on Fridays, the Muslim day of prayer. Licensed hotels, bars and restaurants still serve it.
Uganda
Many lakes and slow rivers in Uganda can carry bilharzia, so it is wise not to swim unless you know the water is safe.
True or false?
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True. True. Bilharzia is a parasite found in many African lakes; ask locally before swimming.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is home to a large share of all the world's what?
1. A. Mud volcanoes
2. B. Geysers
3. C. Glaciers
4. D. Coral reefs
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Mud volcanoes. Mud volcanoes. By common estimates nearly half of all the mud volcanoes on Earth are in Azerbaijan, many of them around Gobustan.
Jamaica
What is Jamaica's national bird?
1. A. The doctor bird, a hummingbird
2. B. The flamingo
3. C. The pelican
4. D. The bald eagle
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The doctor bird, a hummingbird. The doctor bird, a hummingbird also called the red-billed streamertail, is found only in Jamaica.
Botswana
Where does the Okavango River end?
1. A. Inland, in the Okavango Delta
2. B. In the Atlantic Ocean
3. C. In the Indian Ocean
4. D. In Lake Victoria
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Inland, in the Okavango Delta. The Okavango never reaches the sea. It ends inland, in the Okavango Delta, where almost all its water evaporates or is used by plants.
Madagascar
What is the capital of Madagascar?
1. A. Antananarivo
2. B. Toamasina
3. C. Mahajanga
4. D. Antsirabe
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Antananarivo. Antananarivo, in the central highlands, is the capital and by far the largest city. Toamasina and Mahajanga are the main ports, and Antsirabe is a highland city to the south.
Fiji
In Fiji, a tip of 15 percent is expected in restaurants.
True or false?
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False. False. Tipping is not part of Fijian culture. Some resorts keep a staff 'Christmas box' for those who want to give something.
Bulgaria
Which currency did the euro replace in Bulgaria?
1. A. The Bulgarian lev
2. B. The Romanian leu
3. C. The Serbian dinar
4. D. The Croatian kuna
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The Bulgarian lev. The euro replaced the Bulgarian lev, which had been Bulgaria's currency since 1880. The Romanian leu has a similar name but is Romania's currency.
Netherlands
Which colour do the Dutch wear on King's Day?
1. A. Orange
2. B. Red
3. C. Blue
4. D. Green
Show the answer
Orange. Orange is the colour of the royal House of Orange, and on King's Day the whole country turns orange.
Zimbabwe
What is the capital of Zimbabwe?
1. A. Harare
2. B. Bulawayo
3. C. Mutare
4. D. Gweru
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Harare. Harare is the capital and largest city. Bulawayo is the second city, Mutare is the largest city in the east, and Gweru is the capital of the Midlands.
Kazakhstan
What is the safest way to take a taxi in Kazakhstan?
1. A. Order one through an app or your hotel
2. B. Wave down any passing car
3. C. Accept the first offer outside the airport
4. D. Share a car with strangers at night
Show the answer
Order one through an app or your hotel. Order one through an app or your hotel. This avoids overcharging and unlicensed drivers.
Estonia
What is Estonia's national bird?
1. A. The barn swallow
2. B. The white stork
3. C. The golden eagle
4. D. The capercaillie
Show the answer
The barn swallow. The barn swallow is Estonia's national bird, and the cornflower is the national flower.
Czechia
Czechia shares a land border with Hungary.
True or false?
Show the answer
False. False. Czechia borders Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Austria. Slovakia lies between Czechia and Hungary.
Finland
On which side of the road do people drive in Finland?
1. A. On the right
2. B. On the left
3. C. It depends on the region
Show the answer
On the right. In Finland people drive on the right, and headlights must be on whenever you drive.
France
In France it is polite to say 'Bonjour' when you walk into a small shop.
True or false?
Show the answer
True. True. Greet the shopkeeper with bonjour when you arrive and au revoir when you leave.
Malaysia
Malaysia's king is elected by the nine hereditary rulers of the Malay states, from among themselves, for a term of five years.
True or false?
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True. True. The nine state rulers elect one of themselves as king for five years, and in practice the office rotates among them.
United States
How many states make up the United States?
1. A. 50
2. B. 48
3. C. 52
4. D. 13
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50. There are 50 states, plus the federal capital district, Washington D.C. The 48 contiguous states lie between Canada and Mexico, and the original colonies numbered 13.
Portugal
Portugal's national day, 10 June, marks the death of which poet?
1. A. Fernando Pessoa
2. B. Luís de Camões
3. C. José Saramago
4. D. Eça de Queirós
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Luís de Camões. 10 June is the anniversary of the death of Luís de Camões in 1580, the author of the epic poem 'The Lusiads'.
Ireland
Northern Ireland uses the euro, like the Republic of Ireland.
True or false?
Show the answer
False. False. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and uses the pound sterling. The Republic uses the euro.
Saudi Arabia
Which of these countries does NOT share a land border with Saudi Arabia?
1. A. Egypt
2. B. Jordan
3. C. Yemen
4. D. Oman
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Egypt. Egypt lies across the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Jordan is to the north, Oman to the southeast and Yemen to the south of Saudi Arabia.
Ethiopia
What is 'yetsom' food on an Ethiopian menu?
1. A. Fasting food with no animal products
2. B. Raw meat dishes
3. C. Food for children
4. D. Food from Italy
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Fasting food with no animal products. Yetsom means 'of fasting': fasting food with no animal products, served on Wednesdays, Fridays and during the long fasts.
Chile
The Atacama is the driest non-polar desert in the world.
True or false?
Show the answer
True. True. The Atacama in northern Chile is the driest non-polar desert, and some of its weather stations have never recorded rain.
Vietnam
The saola, a forest animal with long straight horns, was first described by scientists in 2015.
True or false?
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False. False. The saola was discovered in 1992, in the mountains of Vietnam.
Dominican Republic
Which UN international day is held on 25 November, the anniversary of the Mirabal sisters' murder?
1. A. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
2. B. International Women's Day
3. C. World Human Rights Day
4. D. International Day of Peace
Show the answer
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In 1999 the UN chose 25 November as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, in memory of the Mirabal sisters.
Albania
Which two seas wash Albania's coast?
1. A. The Adriatic and the Ionian
2. B. The Adriatic and the Aegean
3. C. The Aegean and the Black Sea
4. D. The Tyrrhenian and the Ionian
Show the answer
The Adriatic and the Ionian. The Adriatic and the Ionian seas wash Albania's coast: the Adriatic in the north and centre, the Ionian along the Riviera in the south-west.
Israel
What is the official number for an ambulance (Magen David Adom) in Israel?
1. A. 101
2. B. 100
3. C. 102
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101. The ambulance number is 101. Police is 100 and fire and rescue is 102.
Poland
Wojtek, who served with Polish soldiers in the Second World War and was made a corporal, was what kind of animal?
1. A. A bear
2. B. A horse
3. C. A dog
4. D. A goat
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A bear. Wojtek was a bear, a Syrian brown bear adopted as a cub in Iran. He travelled with Polish soldiers to Italy and later lived at Edinburgh Zoo.
New Zealand
What is the official emergency number in New Zealand?
1. A. 111
2. B. 000
3. C. 999
4. D. 119
Show the answer
111. 111, for police, fire and ambulance. 000 is Australia's number and 999 is Britain's.
United Arab Emirates
During Ramadan, eating or drinking in public in the daytime may cause offence in the UAE.
True or false?
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True. True. Most Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, so visitors should avoid eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the day.
Morocco
The oldest diplomatic property owned by the United States anywhere in the world is in which Moroccan city?
1. A. Tangier
2. B. Rabat
3. C. Casablanca
4. D. Marrakesh
Show the answer
Tangier. The American Legation in Tangier was a gift from the sultan in 1821. Today it is a museum.
Ghana
Wearing camouflage or military clothing is illegal in Ghana.
True or false?
Show the answer
True. True. Wearing camouflage or other military clothing is against the law, so leave such clothes at home.
Slovenia
In Slovenian restaurants a tip of 20% is expected.
True or false?
Show the answer
False. False. Most Slovenians do not see tipping as obligatory. Rounding up to the next euro is common.
Mongolia
The Mongol Empire was the largest what in history?
1. A. Contiguous land empire
2. B. Sea empire
3. C. Overseas colonial empire
4. D. Empire by length of rule
Show the answer
Contiguous land empire. It was the largest contiguous land empire: at its height the Mongol Empire stretched without a break from the Sea of Japan to Eastern Europe.
Uruguay
In 2013 Uruguay became the first country in modern times to legalise what fully?
1. A. Cannabis
2. B. Divorce
3. C. Women's right to vote
4. D. Gambling
Show the answer
Cannabis. In December 2013 Uruguay passed a law to regulate the growing, sale and use of cannabis.
North Macedonia
Besides 112, which number reaches the police in North Macedonia?
1. A. 192
2. B. 194
3. C. 196
Show the answer
192. 192 reaches the police. 194 is the ambulance and 196 is roadside assistance. The European number 112 also works.
Kenya
Which two languages are the official languages of Kenya?
1. A. Swahili and English
2. B. Swahili and French
3. C. English and Arabic
4. D. Maasai and English
Show the answer
Swahili and English. Swahili and English are the official languages. Most Kenyans also speak the language of their own community, such as Kikuyu, Luo or Maa.
Latvia
Jacob Davis, born in Riga in 1831, is credited with inventing what?
1. A. Riveted blue jeans
2. B. The zip fastener
3. C. The safety pin
4. D. The sewing machine
Show the answer
Riveted blue jeans. Riveted blue jeans. Davis later went into business with Levi Strauss in San Francisco.