Fw: Some Very Interesting Global Facts
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Newt LeBlanc
Apr 22, 2013, 4:39:28 PM4/22/13
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Subject: Fw: Some Very Interesting Global Facts-
are approximately 196 countries in the world as of this writing. So while you
may consider yourself to be a knowledgeable global citizen, and we're sure
you are, given the dynamic and complex nature of our planet there are certain
to be at least a couple facts on this list that you will find surprising.
Here are 25 things that you wouldn't believe about these countries.
25: Covers the most time zones. France
If you count everything, including overseas territories, then France claims the title by covering
12 time zones. The United States would be the runner-up with 11 and then Russia with 9.
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24: Most likely to disappear beneath the waves, Maldives
With all the talks of global warming and rising sea levels, it is the residents of the Maldives
that have the greatest reason to fear. With an average height of around
1.8 meters above sea level their nation is the lowest on Earth.
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23: Most overweight population, Nauru
With over 95% of its population being overweight, the small island nation of Nauru is by
far the fattest country on Earth.
Its obesity epidemic is primarily attributed to the importation of western fast food that
coincided with an increased standard of living in the 20th century due to the global
popularity of its phosphate exports. It's almost non sequitur, almost.
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22: Roads made of coral, Guam
Because Guam doesn't have any natural sand, but rather coral,
the island nation makes its asphalt using a mix of ground coral
and oil rather than importing sand from abroad.
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21: Has 350 sheep for every person, Falkland Islands ( UK )
With only about 3,000 people the Falkland Islands are home to approximately
half-a million-sheep. Not surprisingly wool is a major export.
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20: Oldest sovereign state, Egypt
This largely depends upon your definition of a sovereign state but if you are going
by first acquisition of sovereignty then Egypt would be the first country in the world
to achieve sovereignty based upon the formation of the first dynasty in 3100 BC.
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19: Most lakes in the world, Canada
WITH OVER THREE MILLION LAKES,
9% of CANADIAN TERRITORY is actually FRESH water and
OVER 60% of ALL THE LAKES IN THE WORLD are found
WITHIN ITS BORDERS.
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18: Least likely place to meet your neighbor, Mongolia
At 4 people per square mile Mongolia is the least densely populated country on
Earth.
Compare this to the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong that has the highest population density
in the world with 340,000 people per square mile.
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17: Largest number of tanks, Russia
It is a strange title to hold, but Russia has by far the most tanks
of any army in the world (21,000).
Unfortunately for the motherland most of these outdated machines
are tributes to its past, and although outnumbered (16,000),
the United States has a much more advanced tank inventory.
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16: The land of no rivers, Saudi Arabia
Sounds a bit strange doesn't it?
For a country as big as Saudi Arabia there has to be at least
some sort of flowing water. Well, there isn't.
Most of their fresh water comes from desalinization plants
or underground reservoirs.
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15: Youngest population of any country, Niger
Generally the world's youngest country is determined by calculating the
portion of the population that is younger than 15.
Presently it is Niger that holds this distinction with roughly half of its population
having barely reached puberty (49%).
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14: Most diverse country in the world, India
In almost every category:
culturally, economically, climatically, racially, linguistically, ethnically, and religiously
India is either the most diverse countries in the world, or the runner-up.
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13: Fastest disappearing nation, Ukraine
With a natural decrease in population of. 8% annually, between now and 2050 Ukraine
is expected to lose around 30% of its people.
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12: Most of its citizens live abroad, Malta
After some rough economic times coupled with an increased birth rate,
Malta experienced significant immigration.
It was so significant that there are now more Maltese living abroad
than within the country itself.
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11: Smaller than Central Park in New York City , Monaco
Although Vatican City is smaller (.17 sq. mi) than Monaco (. 8 sq. mi),
unlike Monaco it doesn't have any permanent residents which leaves
Monaco as the smallest permanently inhabited nation in the world,
smaller than Central Park in New York.
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10: Almost entirely covered in jungle, Suriname
With 91% of its land covered in jungle Suriname 's half-a-million
residents live primarily along the coast near the capital.
Only 5% of the population (mainly indigenous people) live inland.
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9: Almost entirely treeless, Haiti
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Haiti ,
a country that has been so badly deforested that you can tell where
it borders the Dominican Republic by looking at a satellite image
( Haiti is on the left in the photo above).
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8: Largest country with NO farms, Singapore
Although there are a number of small nations in the world that
show no hint of having an agriculture based economy,
(take Vatican City for example) Singapore is the largest of these urban city-states.
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7: Most languages spoken, Papua New Guinea
Although English is its official language, only 1-2% of the population actually
speak it.
As the most linguistically diverse country in the world,
over 820 languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea ,
or 12% of the world's total.
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6: Most educated people, Canada
With 50% of its population having been educated at the POST SECONDARY level,
Canada easily has the most educated populace in the world.
It is followed by Israel at 45% and Japan at 44%.
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5: The country desert, Libya
With 99% of the country covered in desert,
Libya is one of the most arid places in the world and in some regions
DECADES may go by without a single drop of rain.
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4: Least peaceful nation in the world, Somalia
Although for the last three years IRAQ has been ranked as the least peaceful country in the world,
according to the 'Global Peace Index,' Somalia overtook it this year for the top spot.
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3: Produces most of the world's oxygen, Russia
Siberia is home to approximately 25% of the world's forests that span an
area larger than the continental United States ,
making Russia the largest converter of CO2 into breathable compounds.
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2: World's largest opium producer, Afghanistan
Producing a whopping 95 PERCENT of the world's opium,
not even 10 years of occupation by American forces have slowed down the industry.
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1: Most people behind bars, United States - (Really makes you proud, doesn't it?)
When it comes to incarcerating its population,
the United States is the WORLD'S UNCONTESTED LEADER.
With 2.2 million people BEHIND BARS, it has 5% of the WORLD'S population,
but 25% of the WORLD'S INCARCERATED POPULATION.
China comes in second place at 1.5 million and Russia comes third at 870,000.
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