Which country is much larger than the average person thinks it is?

 

• Brazil, of which many people seem unaware that the contiguous territory of the United States is actually larger and could extend from the northern parts of Canada to Mexico if it were located in North America. In Eurasia, it could extend from Northern Russia to Saudi Arabia (north-south) and from Hungary to Kyrgyzstan.

• India, which looks large, but is not large on the usual maps we see due to its location at lower latitudes just below enormous and higher-latitude (therefore wrongly favored by the Mercator projection) countries like China and Russia.

• Saudi Arabia, which could encompass most of Central Europe, a large part of Eastern Europe, and most of the Italian peninsula.

• Indonesia, which looks like a bunch of relatively small islands in a large but not very impressive archipelago when viewed on the most commonly used Mercator projection, actually has very large islands (by average island standards, of course) and stretches over an enormous length that would roughly go from Ireland to Uzbekistan.

What is normal in your country but bizarre to the rest of the world?

 In Denmark, they tie you to a post and throw cinnamon at you if you're not married by age 25.

In Norway, leaving your baby alone outdoors in the snow or rain is normal.

Saunas are a part of the house in Finland

People in Slovakia keep fish in their bathtubs before Christmas.

In Ireland, if your friend's mother offers you food, you should say No several times before accepting.

People love their flip-flops in Australia, and they also call them "thongs".

Women should be careful during Easter in Slovakia

This is how people greet each other in the UAE

When was India the richest country?

 

Around 1 CE, India produced roughly 32–33% of the world's GDP. By 1000 CE (close to 900 CE), India's share was about 28–29% of global GDP.

Before BC, hard to find any stats but all things pointing towards even more wealth in Indian subcontinent, India's share was about 35–40% of global GDP approximately more than 2000 years ago!

From 1200 CE, Indian civilization’s collapse started. Thankfully it’s rising again!

Which country has the most interesting/surprising facts?

 Netherlands

• We were once a global superpower. Now we're taking a break to give the US a chance, but some people are losing their composure and have already dusted off their bikes. Just kidding.
• Approximately one-third of our country is below sea level.
• We are, on average, the tallest people in the world. I think that has something to do with being underwater. At least our heads would stick out.
• There are more bicycles than people. Those who say artificial intelligence is dangerous have never been to the Netherlands.

Warning: See the graphic image below.

• Emergency alerts will sound in all cities on the first Monday of every month. Please do not attack us during this time, as we do not expect it.
• Approximately 20-30% of babies are born at home. In fact, that was the case for me too.
• There are highways specifically for cyclists.

• Due to a shortage of prisoners, it is necessary to close or repurpose prisons.
• There are dozens of ecoducts built on highways that serve as crossroads for wildlife.

• Our national anthem is one of the oldest known national anthems. That said, many people dislike the frequent references to Spain and Germany.
• We have the world's best and most stealthy special forces.

• We are at least twice as smart and funny as those Belgians.
• After Scandinavia, we are the world's largest coffee consumer. *View credentials*
• If you want to attract the attention of the Dutch, put up a sign that says "Free..." It doesn't matter what it is, we'll come and check it out.

What makes Japan so noticeably different from every other country in the world?

 You know, it's these little things that make Japan different.

Here are 11 examples of these differences;

1. Drinks for the blind

Blind people can now know what's inside a can by reading the braille written on the top.

2. Conserve natural resources

A common type of toilet in Japan is one where you can wash your hands with water from the toilet tank, and reuse it for the next flush.

3. Street Arts

The manhole covers in Japan are beautiful.

4. Consideration for others

If you lose a bag in the street, chances are someone will put it somewhere easy to find and untouched. And nobody will take it.

5. Fish location

Fish (Koi) sometimes live in pipes in Japan.

6. Toilet courtesy

With modern toilets, you can mask the sounds of peeing and pooping with the sounds of running water.

7. Umbrellas

Umbrella lockers, so you can leave your umbrella at the entrance of the building, without anyone accidentally taking it (no one would steal it anyway).

8. Emergency Procedures

Elevator seats that can be used as toilets in case of emergency.

9. Restaurant Menus

Fake plastic items in front of restaurants that look like real food.

10. Bathroom label

Separate slippers for going to the toilet.

11. Retail sale of eggs

Eggs sold in vending machines are common in the countryside.

Here is a list of things that make Japan a little different.

Which country has the happiest people?

 BHUTAN

• The only country that measures its growth by happiness.
• There are no beggars or homeless people.
• The only country in the world that is able to implement negative carbon (all activities to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere) .
• Plastic bags are banned from circulation for ecological reasons.
• They don't care about the existence of TV, radio, or the internet - life is simple.
• 50% of the country's territory is protected as national parks.
• The difference between commoners and nobles was not that great.
• Less pollution to keep at least 60% of land under forest cover, this protection is also in its constitution.
• Bhutan is the first organic country in the world.
• There are no traffic lights there.
• The people of Bhutan celebrated the birth of the king and queen's first son by planting 108,000 trees across the country.
• One thing I would like to add is that Bhutanese people do not kill animals, whatsoever (not even mosquitoes).

, the King of Bhutan was so humble that he sat down to cut onions while serving food to the less fortunate.

This is a Ted Talk from the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay. Worth watching.

What is the most unusual country map?

 At first glance, everything seems quite normal. Apart from Corsica, there's nothing unusual about the shape of the map of France (no offense to Corsica!):

It resembles a hexagon, doesn't it? In fact, the hexagon is considered a French symbol to such an extent that it's represented on coins. Here's a French euro coin:

If France were as simple as that, I wouldn't even mention your map in this response. But it's not. See below a real map of France:

France's longest border is not with Spain or Belgium, but with Brazil. The overseas department of French Guiana shares a 730 km border with Brazil, while mainland France's longest border is with Spain, measuring only 657 kilometers, and is even bisected by the Franco-Andorran border.

France also shares a border with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but it lies on the Caribbean island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten. France has a maritime border with Canada due to St. Pierre and Miquelon, islands located off the coast of Newfoundland.

As can be seen on the second map, there are parts of France also in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Great Britain has many overseas territories, but they are not an integral part of the United Kingdom. All the areas shaded in blue on the second map are an integral part of the French Republic, and their inhabitants are French citizens, equal in all respects to the inhabitants of Paris or Marseille. Or even Corsica.

France is definitely the country with the strangest map shape on the planet. Besides, it's actually the land where the sun never sets. Somewhere in the world, the sun is always shining in France.

What is normal in your country but weird in the rest of the world?

 Iceland here.

• If it’s 10degrees or hotter outside [50 degrees Fahrenheit, for Americans] we will go out in bikinis and sunbathe
• Almost every family owns at least one summer cabin that is frequently visited
• We say ‘good morning’ or ‘good evening’ to everyone we pass on the street, depending on the time of day
• We will often have long discussions (*hem* arguments) of what type of snow is snowing at the moment
• The first real day of summer was three days ago and almost everyone took a break from work to go and enjoy it (it was around 14 degrees or something)
• It snows from August to June
• All the houses are built like fortresses so they can withstand the frequent earthquakes
• We await the next volcanic eruption with excitement

(Eyjafjallajökull, 2010)

• Most of us watch football religiously
• Dried fish is a delicacy

• We loudly announce when we go to the toilet and ask if we have permission to do so
• Going on dates is a formal and a rare experience, not standard at all
• Blind dates is something that doesn’t happen
• In swimming pools we wash without clothes with everyone else of the same gender, no stalls
• We drink a lot of milk —it goes with everything
• We leave our babies outside in their prams -of cafes, our homes, in the garden, in our unlocked cars
• We love sauces; we probably have hundreds of different types, also ice cream shops normally have about six different sauces
• We will have barbecues in any weather
• We drink lots of alcohol: beer, wine, you name it
• It’s never cold inside our houses, ever
• We party until way after midnight —if you are camping and want to sleep, don’t camp next to Icelanders
• Believing in elves and trolls is normal and we have tons of stories that we’ve been told about them since we were young
• We have 13 Santa Clauses

edit : some more for y’all + pics on the original answer

• We have a Christmas Cat that, if you don’t get new clothes for christmas, will come and eat you (particularly children)

• The christmas cat is owned by a pair of trolls called Grýla and Leppalúði. they are the Santa Clauses’ parents, who are also trolls.
• Grýla kidnaps, cooks and eats misbehaving children.

• We have a day dedicates to eating these delicious balls of air

• The water quality is 500% and so when we visit other countries we are dying because the water tastes so bad there
• We are taught from a young age that we should never ever ever step on the moss and if you do then u deserve to burn in hell (ok maybe not but that’s the idea)
• Everyone hates Justin Bieber for that music video he did. (+We had to close down the park a part of it was shot in because the tourists were tearing up the moss.)
• In winter we all wear the thickest coats you’ll see while still trying to stay fashionable and we all look giant
• Conjugation is a thing so a noun has 16 different variations of itself.
• Tourism is the top industry of Iceland
• Ice cream is enjoyed whenever; in a snow storm or on a rare hot day; doesn’t matter

What is the most useless country in the world in terms of resources, economy, etc?

 Welcome to Tuvalu

This small island nation stretches across the Pacific Ocean, right between Hawaii and Australia.

It has an area of ​​26 km2 and has the lowest GDP in the world.

Population - Approximately 11000

Industry - Fisheries Only

Agriculture - Farmers here only harvest coconuts and grow a native plant called pulaka. This crop contributes little to the economy.

Tourism - Due to its remote location only 2000 people visited Tuvalu in 2016 of which 65% were business travelers and 15% were international agency workers and technical consultants.

Telecommunications - The country only has an AM station, also provided by Japan. Only 900 people use the internet. Speeds are very slow: 512 kbps upload and 1.5 Mbps download.

Clean water Tuvalu has only one source of clean water rain. However, due to global warming in recent years, rainfall in Tuvalu has been reduced. Therefore, the need for clean water is currently met by the presence of a water purification facility provided by the United Nations.

Tuvalu has one college and one hospital. It's interesting to note that India annually provides $125,000 in aid to Tuvalu's only hospital for essential medicines and equipment.

Due to lack of land, there's no large playground for the children to play in. So they play on the airstrip! However, when a plane arrives, they'll be warned by a loud siren. When the plane lands, they'll come back. It's dangerous, but they have no other choice.

Tuvalu is not blessed with natural resources. The largest contributor to Tuvalu's GDP is the internet domain .tv.

Yes, you read that correctly. In 1998, an American startup paid the Tuvaluan government $50 million for the .tv domain rights for 12 years. With this money, Tuvalu was able to join the United Nations with a then-current $100,000 entry fee. The .tv domain also increased GDP by 50%. The government was able to provide electricity to all islands.

And most importantly, I want to tell you that this island nation will cease to exist within the next 50 years because it will sink due to global warming. The risk of sinking is twice the international average. Within the next 50 years, all residents must be evacuated to safety.

So, in closing, I'm not saying Tuvalu is a worthless country. I have no right to hurt the feelings of Tuvaluans. The people who live there are just like us, and just like us, they're proud of their country.

I'd rather say that they're all unfortunate people who don't have the resources we normally have. What adds to their disappointment is that their country will no longer be in the future, and that pains me deeply.