100+ Countries Trivia Questions with Answers About Nations Around the World

Have you ever been at a gathering where the conversation starts to lag? I’ve been there too many times! That’s when I pull out my favorite country trivia questions to spark interesting discussions.

Whether you’re planning a trivia night, looking to challenge your geography knowledge, or just want to learn something new about our fascinating world, these 100+ country trivia questions are exactly what you need.

I remember hosting a family game night last summer where we divided into teams for a global trivia challenge. Even my teenage nephew, who normally stays glued to his phone, got completely invested in trying to name capital cities and identify flags. That’s the beauty of good trivia: it brings people together while teaching us something new!

Easy Country Trivia Questions

Let’s start with some beginner-friendly questions that most people should be able to answer. These are perfect for warming up the group or including younger participants in your trivia session.

  • Which country is known as the Land of the Rising Sun? Answer: Japan
  • What is the largest country in the world by land area? Answer: Russia
  • Which country is home to the Great Barrier Reef? Answer: Australia
  • What country is known for the Eiffel Tower? Answer: France
  • Which country is shaped like a boot? Answer: Italy
  • What is the smallest country in the world? Answer: Vatican City
  • Which country is famous for its tulips and windmills? Answer: Netherlands
  • What country has the largest population in the world? Answer: China
  • Which country is known as the Land of Fire and Ice? Answer: Iceland
  • What language is primarily spoken in Brazil? Answer: Portuguese
  • Which continent has the most countries? Answer: Africa
  • What country is located at the southern tip of Africa? Answer: South Africa
  • Which country is the top producer of coffee in the world? Answer: Brazil
  • What is the official language of Argentina? Answer: Spanish
  • Which country is the birthplace of pizza? Answer: Italy
  • What country is home to the ancient pyramids of Giza? Answer: Egypt
  • Which European country is known for its chocolate and watches? Answer: Switzerland
  • What is the most populous city in Canada? Answer: Toronto
  • Which country uses the yen as currency? Answer: Japan
  • What country is known as the Emerald Isle? Answer: Ireland

Looking for more stimulating conversation starters? Check out our collection of interesting topics to talk about for your next gathering.

Intermediate Country Trivia Questions

Ready to step it up a notch? These intermediate questions will challenge those who have a decent grasp of world geography but still want to learn something new.

  • Which country has the most islands in the world? Answer: Sweden (with over 267,000 islands)
  • What is the only country that borders both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans? Answer: South Africa
  • Which country is home to Machu Picchu? Answer: Peru
  • What is the driest inhabited continent on Earth? Answer: Australia
  • Which country has the longest coastline in the world? Answer: Canada
  • What country is home to Angkor Wat? Answer: Cambodia
  • Which African country was never colonized, except for a brief period under Italian occupation? Answer: Ethiopia
  • What country has the highest life expectancy in the world? Answer: Japan
  • Which country is divided into cantons instead of states or provinces? Answer: Switzerland
  • What is the newest country in the world (recognized by the UN)? Answer: South Sudan (formed in 2011)
  • Which country is home to the ancient city of Petra? Answer: Jordan
  • What country has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites? Answer: Italy
  • Which is the only country to border both the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf? Answer: Iran
  • What country was formerly known as Siam? Answer: Thailand
  • Which European country is divided into regions called “autonomous communities”? Answer: Spain
  • What country connects North America to South America? Answer: Panama
  • Which country has the world’s highest waterfall? Answer: Venezuela (Angel Falls)
  • What is the largest Muslim-majority country by population? Answer: Indonesia
  • Which country is known as the Land of a Thousand Lakes? Answer: Finland
  • What country has the midnight sun phenomenon where the sun remains visible at midnight? Answer: Norway (also occurs in Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and parts of Russia, Canada, and the US)
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Are you looking for more challenging mental exercises? Our collection of brain games for seniors provides excellent activities that are perfect for anyone wanting to keep their mind sharp.

Challenging Country Trivia Questions

Now it’s time to really test your knowledge! These challenging questions will stump even the most seasoned geography buffs.

  • Which country has a flag that is not rectangular? Answer: Nepal (it’s the only non-quadrilateral national flag)
  • What landlocked country is completely surrounded by South Africa? Answer: Lesotho
  • Which country is made up of over 17,000 islands? Answer: Indonesia
  • What is the only country that lies entirely within the Southern Hemisphere? Answer: New Zealand
  • Which European country is home to the world’s northernmost capital city? Answer: Iceland (Reykjavik)
  • What is the only African country where Spanish is an official language? Answer: Equatorial Guinea
  • Which two South American countries do not border Brazil? Answer: Chile and Ecuador
  • What country contains the geographic center of North America? Answer: United States (near Rugby, North Dakota)
  • Which country has the most time zones? Answer: France (12 time zones, including its overseas territories)
  • What is the only country that borders both Denmark and Poland? Answer: Germany
  • Which country is the world’s largest producer of vanilla? Answer: Madagascar
  • What country has Portuguese as an official language but is located in Asia? Answer: East Timor
  • Which country in Africa was founded by freed American slaves? Answer: Liberia
  • What is the only major city located on two continents? Answer: Istanbul, Turkey (Europe and Asia)
  • Which four countries share a land border with both France and Germany? Answer: Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and the Netherlands
  • What is the largest country entirely in Europe? Answer: Ukraine
  • Which country has the most neighbors (countries that share a land border)? Answer: China and Russia (tie with 14 each)
  • What country was the first to grant women the right to vote? Answer: New Zealand (in 1893)
  • Which European country is known as “Magyarország” in its native language? Answer: Hungary
  • What country contains a region called Transylvania? Answer: Romania

If you’re looking for even more challenging topics, check out our world history trivia collection for questions that span civilizations and eras.

Capital Cities Trivia

Capital cities often contain the cultural, historical, and political heart of a nation. Test your knowledge of these important urban centers with these trivia questions.

  • What is the capital of Australia? Answer: Canberra (not Sydney)
  • Which European capital city sits on the Danube River? Answer: Four capitals: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia)
  • What is the capital of Canada? Answer: Ottawa (not Toronto)
  • Which capital city was once called Christiania? Answer: Oslo, Norway
  • What is the capital of South Korea? Answer: Seoul
  • Which capital city is built on 14 islands? Answer: Stockholm, Sweden
  • What is the capital of New Zealand? Answer: Wellington (not Auckland)
  • Which South American capital is the highest elevation capital city in the world? Answer: La Paz, Bolivia
  • What is the capital of Morocco? Answer: Rabat (not Casablanca)
  • Which capital city’s name means “peaceful southern bay”? Answer: Tokyo, Japan
  • What is the capital of Thailand? Answer: Bangkok
  • Which capital city was formerly called Batavia? Answer: Jakarta, Indonesia
  • What is the capital of Saudi Arabia? Answer: Riyadh
  • Which capital city is located at the foot of Mount Vesuvius? Answer: Naples, Italy (while not the capital of Italy, it’s the capital of the Campania region)
  • What is the capital of Finland? Answer: Helsinki
  • Which capital city was once known as Edo? Answer: Tokyo, Japan
  • What is the capital of Argentina? Answer: Buenos Aires
  • Which capital city is divided by the Bosphorus Strait? Answer: Istanbul, Turkey (while not the official capital, it’s Turkey’s largest city and historical capital)
  • What is the capital of Peru? Answer: Lima
  • Which capital city is located on the Nile River? Answer: Cairo, Egypt (among others like Khartoum, Sudan)
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If you enjoy testing your knowledge on a variety of subjects, our general knowledge trivia collection offers an excellent mix of questions across multiple disciplines.

Country Flags Trivia

National flags are powerful symbols filled with meaning and history. These questions will test your vexillological knowledge (that’s the study of flags!).

  • Which country’s flag features a maple leaf? Answer: Canada
  • What country has a flag with a white cross on a red background? Answer: Switzerland
  • Which country’s flag is called the “Union Jack”? Answer: United Kingdom
  • What country has the only national flag that is not rectangular or square? Answer: Nepal
  • Which country has a flag with a cedar tree in the center? Answer: Lebanon
  • What country has a flag with a blue Star of David on a white background? Answer: Israel
  • Which country’s flag features a yellow sun with 16 rays? Answer: Macedonia (now North Macedonia)
  • What country has a plain green flag? Answer: Libya (from 1977-2011; it’s since been changed)
  • Which country has a flag with a red circle on a white background? Answer: Japan
  • What are the only two square-shaped national flags in the world? Answer: Switzerland and Vatican City

For those interested in expanding beyond geography, our Bible trivia collection offers fascinating questions about one of the world’s most influential texts.

Geography Records Trivia

These questions focus on geographical extremes and records from around the world.

  • What is the largest desert in the world? Answer: Antarctic Desert (followed by the Sahara Desert)
  • Which country has the highest average elevation? Answer: Bhutan
  • What is the largest island in the world? Answer: Greenland
  • Which continent is the least populated? Answer: Antarctica
  • What is the longest river in the world? Answer: The Nile (though some measurements suggest the Amazon)
  • Which country has the lowest point on Earth’s land surface? Answer: Israel (the Dead Sea)
  • What is the largest lake by volume in the world? Answer: Lake Baikal, Russia
  • Which mountain range is the longest in the world? Answer: The Andes
  • What is the world’s largest archipelago? Answer: Indonesia
  • Which country has the world’s largest lake island? Answer: Canada (Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron)
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Cultural Trivia About Countries

Let’s explore some fascinating cultural aspects of countries around the world.

  • In which country did tea originate? Answer: China
  • What country is known as the birthplace of democracy? Answer: Greece
  • Which country produces the most chocolate? Answer: Germany
  • In what country was the game of chess invented? Answer: India
  • Which country consumes the most coffee per capita? Answer: Finland
  • What country is credited with inventing ice cream? Answer: China
  • Which country is the birthplace of reggae music? Answer: Jamaica
  • In what country would you find the Terracotta Army? Answer: China
  • Which country is known for inventing the sauna? Answer: Finland
  • What country is the origin of tango dancing? Answer: Argentina

If you’re looking for more diverse trivia topics, our earth trivia collection offers fascinating questions about our planet’s geography, geology, and natural wonders.

Why Country Trivia Is Perfect for Any Gathering

Country trivia does more than just test your geography knowledge—it opens windows to different cultures, histories, and landmarks across our amazing planet. I’ve found that good country trivia questions can transform a boring evening into an educational adventure without feeling like a geography lesson.

When my family gets together for holidays, we always end up playing some form of trivia, and the country-themed questions consistently generate the most excitement and friendly competition. There’s something universal about learning interesting facts about places we may never visit but can still appreciate from afar.

If you’re looking for even more thought-provoking questions beyond geography, you might enjoy exploring our collection of philosophical questions that can really deepen your discussions.

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve enjoyed this journey around the world through trivia! Whether you’re preparing for a pub quiz, planning an educational activity for students, or just wanting to brush up on your geography knowledge, these country trivia questions provide a fun way to learn about our diverse world.

My family keeps a running tally of trivia champions on our refrigerator whiteboard, and country trivia nights are always the most competitive. There’s something deeply satisfying about correctly naming an obscure capital city or identifying a country’s flag that brings out everyone’s competitive spirit!

Did you know all the answers to these questions? Which ones surprised you the most? I’d love to know which categories you found most challenging or interesting.

For more engaging activities that can bring people together, check out our collection of bonding activities for couples that can strengthen relationships through shared experiences and meaningful conversations.

Happy trivia time!