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100+ World Geography Quiz Questions (for Adults + Kids!)

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If you love our big wonderful world, test your knowledge with our Ultimate World Geography Quiz: 100 Geography Trivia Q&As PLUS 2 picture quizzes!

Whether you are a globetrotter who has seen the world, or a homebody who wants to see the world but can’t, for whatever reason, we’re sure our world geography questions will get your brain ticking!

It’s a fun geography quiz, with 50 general knowledge geography quiz questions, a 15-question easy geography quiz; a 15-question hard geography quiz, 20 question kids geography quiz PLUS a world landmarks picture quiz and world flags picture quiz.

There’s something for everyone – so grab your friends and find out who has the best world geography knowledge out of all of you!

World Geography Quiz Questions and Answers cover photo of a plastic globe on a table

 

World Geography Trivia Questions

1. What did the United States purchase from the Russian Empire on 30 March 1867 for  $7.2 million dollars?

2. Which famous explorer claimed to have greeted with the now-famous line: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”

3. Chang Jiang is the longest river in Asia. In Chinese ‘chang’ means ‘long’ and ‘jiang’ means ‘river’. What is its Western Name?

4. Which one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was rediscovered underwater in 1968?

5. The name of which natural phenomenon comes from the Chinese word for ‘Great Wind’?

6. Which is the biggest volcano in the world?
A. Mauna Loa.
B. Mount Etna.
C. Krakatoa.
D. Mount Vesuvius.

Niagara Falls

7. Its native name is ‘Mosi-oa-tunya’ which literally means, ‘the smoke that thunders‘. How is this natural wonder better known as?

8. Which peninsula in Europe got its name from the Turkish word for “Mountain”?

9. In what country would you find the Taj Mahal?

10. What were sometimes called ‘Dissected Maps’ and used to teach Geography in 18th century England?

11. Which Island was named after the Latin Word for dogs that Roman invaders found there?

12.  Which wildlife sanctuary takes its name from the native word for “Endless Plains”?

3 rhino crossing the road in the African bush

13. It takes its name from the Mongolian word for “gravel-covered plain”, name the largest desert region in Asia.

14. The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by which river in Arizona, United States?
A. Rio Grande.
B. Missouri.
C. Mississippi.
D. Colorado.

15. The Spanish word for “the little boy”, what is the quasiperiodic climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every five years called?

RELATED: Looking for some more world geography and travel trivia:
World Currency Quiz | US Geography Quiz | Famous Landmarks Quiz

16. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, name the deepest part of the world’s oceans.

17. Which country has the largest coastline in the world?

18. Which is the largest country in the world?

Great Wall of China

19. Which European country is called the ‘Land of Lakes’ because several lakes are formed due to the melting of ice-sheets?

20. Which sea in the region of the Atlantic Ocean is named after a holopelagic, golden drift algae that can aggregate to form extensive floating mats on the surface of the ocean?

21. Which world-famous explorer first used the term ‘Dark Continent‘?

22. Which river passes through the maximum number of countries?

23. According to the Bible and the Quran, Moses received the Ten Commandments at which location?

24. Name the deepest river in the United States.

River running through French village at night

25. Which African country shares a land border with the most countries?
A. Nigeria.
B. The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
C. Egypt.
D. Ethiopia.

26. What is the name of the highest mountain in the world?

27. Where is the biggest capital city in the world by population?

28. What is the name of the largest lake in the world?

29. The historic city of Timbuktu is located in which West African country?

30. Which country has the most time zones in the world?
A. France.
B. Russia.
C. USA.
D.  Australia.

Newfoundland Canada

31. Name the largest country in South America.

32. Which river flows through Rome, Italy?

33. What is the world’s largest shipping port?

34. Which is the longest continental mountain range in the world?
A. The Himalyas.
B. The Andes.
C. The Pyranees.
D. Rocky Mountains.

35. The body of the Egyptian Sphinx was based on which animal?

36. How many federal states does Germany have?

37. What is the largest non-continental island in the world?

38. What is the capital of Chile?

Middle Earth (New Zealand) landscape

39. Which African country has Portuguese as its official language?

40. Which European City is known as the ‘city of 100 spires’?

41. What is the line of latitude that runs around the centre of the world called?

42. Which country has four letters, the last one q?

43. In which ocean are The Maldives located?

44. What letter do cars from Germany have on them when travelling abroad to show what country they come from?

The Grand Canyon

45. In which country is the Eyjafjallajökull volcano located?

46. In which national park are Windermere, Coniston Water, and Ullswater found?

47. Which state in Australia is an Island?

48. Which river flows through the Grand Canyon?

49. Mount Killimajo is located on which continent?

50. Which is the largest of the Channel Islands?

RELATED: If you love our world and these geography quiz questions piqued your interest, you’ll love our ULTIMATE Travel Quiz!

 

Easy Geography Questions

1. Who was the first person to circumnavigate the world?

2. Who was the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane?

3. Which ocean was named by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan after the Spanish word for ‘Peaceful’?

4. What is known as ‘Chomolungma’ (The Goddess of snow’) in the Tibetan language and ‘Sagarmatha’ (‘Earth’s head’) in Nepalese?

5. By what name is the Parallel of latitude 231/2 degree north of the equator commonly known?

6. Which group of people takes their name from the native word for ‘People’ refers to the people of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa?

Pyramids of Giza with Sphinx

7. The name of which river comes from the Slavic word for “wetness, humidity”?

8. Which Italian city is known as the ‘City of Canals’?

RELATED: Click for 50 more Easy Geography Quiz Questions

9. The UN has only six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and which other?

10. True or False: The River Seine flows through Paris.

11. Name the largest island in the world.

12. Which river in China has earned the name “China’s sorrow” for its tendency to flood, with devastating consequences, over the centuries?

13. How many countries does the United Kingdom have?

14. What is the capital of Denmark?

15. Which two countries share the longest border in the world?

Itsukushima Shrine

 

Hard Geography Questions

1. Gardiner Hubbard, an American lawyer, financier, and community leader was the founder and first president of which world-famous organisation?

2. John Denver’s song ‘’Calypso’ is a tribute to which legendary oceanographer?

3. Alfred Sauvy, a demographer, anthropologist and historian of the French economy coined which term in reference to countries that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War?

4. The Bishop of Panama, Tomas de Berlanga discovered this Island in 1535 and named it after the Old Spanish word for “Giant Land Tortoise” Name the island.

5. For what purpose did John Batman, an explorer pay a price of 40 blankets, 30 axes, 100 knives, 50 scissors, 200 handkerchiefs, 100 pounds of flour and six shirts?

6. Jimmy Angel discovered the Angel Falls accidentally. Actually, he was in an aeroplane searching for something else. What?

Island with a church on it at the centre of Lake Bled in Slovenia

7. Which European country got its nickname from a reported conversation between Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Sir George Seymour at St. Petersburg on 21st February 1853?

8. A chain or cluster of islands, what literally means “chief sea” from the Greek word for (“leader”) and (“sea”)?

9. What was first discovered by the Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe who spotted it when hiking through the foothills in 1927?

RELATED: Click for 50 more Hard Geography Quiz Questions

10. What is the name of the minor armed force and honour guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects the pope and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the Vatican City?

11. Which continent is often described as the ‘peninsula of peninsulas’?

12. What is the capital of Kosovo?

13. What does ‘USSR’ stand for?

14. What is the city of Siagon known as today?

15. What is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea?

Light blue ocean water next to a sand beach packed with beachgoers

 

Geography Quiz for Kids

1. How many continents are there?

2. Which desert covers much of Northern Africa?

3. Which Italian city is famous for it’s canals?

4. What is the longest river in the world?

5. Which American City is home to The Golden Gate Bridge?

6. What is the capital of Thailand?

London, United Kingdom

7. In what country would you find the Great Pyramids of Giza?

8. The US is made up of how many states?

9. What is the name of the famous park in New York City?

10. What is the capital of Morocco?

11. Which two continents does Russia belong to?

12. Which country calls itself Nippon?

Bangkok, Thailand

13. Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are metropolitan cities in which country?

14. Which river flows through London?

15. Kabul is the capital city of which country?

16. Which Scottish loch is said to be home to a monster?

17. Where is the Tonle Sap lake located?

18. What is the largest steel arch bridge in the world?

19. In which country are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina located?

20. Dublin is the largest country in which country?

World Landmarks Picture Quiz

Can you name the landmark in each image? For extra points, also identify the country where the landmark can be found.

Famous Landmark Picture Quiz

Psst. all our picture quiz sheets are printable – perfect for a home quiz, pub quiz or geography questions for classes!

 

Identify the World Flags Picture Quiz

Identify the World Flags Picture Quiz

 

 

World Geography Quiz Questions and Answers

1. What did the United States purchase from the Russian Empire on March 30, 1867, for just $7.2 million dollars?
Alaska.

2. Which famous explorer claimed to have greeted with the now-famous line: “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
Henry Morton Stanley.

3. Chang Jiang is the longest river in Asia. In Chinese ‘chang’ means ‘long’ and ‘jiang’ means ‘river’. What is its Western Name?
Yangtze River.

4. Which one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was rediscovered underwater in 1968?
Lighthouse of Alexandria (aka the Pharos of Alexandria.)

5. The name of which natural phenomenon comes from the Chinese word for ‘Great Wind’?
Typhoon (Taifu: Great Wind).

6. Which is the biggest volcano in the world?
A. Mauna Loa.
B. Mount Etna.
C. Krakatoa.
D. Mount Vesuvius.

Silver Lightning above a city skyline under a deep purple sky

7. Its native name is ‘Mosi-oa-tunya’ which literally means, ‘the smoke that thunders’. How is this natural wonder better known as?
Victoria Falls.

8. Which peninsula in Europe got its name from the Turkish word for “Mountain”?
Balkan.

9. In what country would you find the Taj Mahal?
India

10. What were sometimes called ‘Dissected Maps’ and used to teach Geography in 18th century England?
Jigsaw Puzzles.

11. Which Island was named after the Latin Word for dogs that Roman invaders found there?
The Canary Islands (after the Latin word ‘Canes’).

12.  Which wildlife sanctuary takes its name from the native word for “Endless Plains”?
Serengeti.

The Red Iron Bridge known as the Golden Gate Bridge above blue water

13. It takes its name from the Mongolian word for “gravel-covered plain”, name the largest desert region in Asia.
The Gobi.

14. The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by which river in Arizona, United States?
A. Rio Grande.
B. Missouri.
C.  Mississippi.
D. Colorado.

15. The Spanish word for “the little boy”, what is the quasiperiodic climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every five years called?
El Niño.

16. Located in the western Pacific Ocean, name the deepest part of the world’s oceans.
The Marianas Trench.

17. Which country has the largest coastline in the world?
Canada.

18. Which is the largest country in the world?
Russia.

Sydney Opera House, Australia

19. Which European country is called the ‘Land of Lakes’ because several lakes are formed due to the melting of ice-sheets?
Finland.

20. Which sea in the region of the Atlantic Ocean is named after a holopelagic, golden drift algae that can aggregate to form extensive floating mats on the surface of the ocean?
The Sargasso Sea.

21. Which world-famous explorer first used the term ‘Dark Continent‘?
The British explorer Henry M. Stanley.

22. Which river passes through the maximum number of countries?
The Danube.

23. According to the Bible and the Quran, Moses received the Ten Commandments at which location?
Mount Sinai.

24. Name the deepest river in the United States.
The Hudson River

Singapore Gardens by the Bay

25. Which African country shares a land border with the most countries?
A. Nigeria.
B. The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
C. Egypt.
D. Ethiopia.

26. What is the name of the tallest mountain in the world?
Mount Everest

27. Where is the biggest capital city in the world by population?
Beijing, China 

28. What is the name of the largest lake in the world?
Lake Michigan-Huron

29. The historical city of Timbuktu is located in which West African country?
Mali

30. Which country has the most time zones in the world?
A. France.
B. Russia.
C. USA.
D.  Australia.

Pink beach and Ocean top down shot

31. Name the largest country in South America.
Brazil

32. Which river flows through Rome, Italy?
The Tiber

33. What is the world’s largest shipping port?
Port of Shanghai

34. Which is the longest continental mountain range in the world?
A. The Himalyas.
B. The Andes.
C. The Pyranees.
D. Rocky Mountains.

35. The body of the Egyptian Sphinx was based on which animal?
Lion

36. How many federal states does Germany have?
16

Switzerland - rolling green hills with mountains in the background

37. What is the largest non-continental island in the world?
Greenland

38. What is the capital of Chile?
Santiago

39. Which African country has Portuguese as its official language?
Mozambique

40. Which European City is known as the ‘city of 100 spires’?
Prague

41. What is the line of latitude that runs around the center of the world called?
The Equator

42. Which country has four letters, the last one q?
Iraq

Decorative Dome in Iran

43. In which ocean are The Maldives located?
Indian Ocean

44. What letter do cars from Germany have on them when traveling abroad to show what country they come from?
D

45. In which country is the Eyjafjallajökull volcano located?
Iceland

46. In which national park are Windermere, Coniston Water, and Ullswater found?
The Lake District (UK)

47. Which state in Australia is an Island?
Tasmania

48. Which river flows through the Grand Canyon?
Colorado River

49. Mount Killimajo is located on which continent?
Africa

50. Which is the largest of the Channel Islands?
Jersey

Iguazu Falls Argentina

 

Easy Geography Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Who was the first person to circumnavigate the world?
Ferdinand Magellan.

2. Who was the first woman to cross the Atlantic Ocean by plane?
Amelia Earhart.

3. Which ocean was named by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan after the Spanish word for ‘Peaceful’?
Pacific Ocean (Pacifico).

4. What is known as ‘Chomolungma’ (The Goddess of snow’) in the Tibetan language and ‘Sagarmatha’ (‘Earth’s head’) in Nepalese?
Mount Everest. 

5. By what name is the Parallel of latitude 231/2 degree north of the equator commonly known?
Tropic of Cancer.

Mountains with river winding through the base, taken from the air

6. Which group of people takes their name from the native word for ‘People’ refers to the people of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa?
Bantu.

7. The name of which river comes from the Slavic word for “wetness, humidity”?
Volga River.

8. Which Italian city is known as the ‘City of Canals’?
Venice.

9. The UN has only six official languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Spanish and which other?
Russian.

10. True or False: The River Seine flows through Paris.
Answer: True.

Outstretched hand holding a globe in front of a lake

11. Name the largest island in the world.
Greenland.

12. Which river in China has earned the name “China’s sorrow” for its tendency to flood, with devastating consequences, over the centuries?
Yellow River.

13. How many countries does the United Kingdom have?
4

14. What is the capital of Denmark?
Copenhagen

15. Which two countries share the longest border in the world?
The USA and Canada

Manhattan Island from above at sunset

 

Hard Geography Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Gardiner Hubbard, an American lawyer, financier, and community leader was the founder and first president of which world-famous organisation?
The National Geographic Society.

2. John Denver’s song ‘’Calypso’ is a tribute to which legendary oceanographer?
Jacques Cousteau (His ship was named Calypso).

3. Alfred Sauvy, a demographer, anthropologist and historian of the French economy coined which term in reference to countries that were unaligned with either the Communist Soviet bloc or the Capitalist NATO bloc during the Cold War?
Third World.

4. The Bishop of Panama, Tomas de Berlanga discovered this Island in 1535 and named it after the Old Spanish word for “Giant Land Tortoise” Name the island.
Galapagos Island.

5. For what purpose did John Batman, an explorer pay a price of 40 blankets, 30 axes, 100 knives, 50 scissors, 200 handkerchiefs, 100 pounds of flour and six shirts?
To buy 2,000 km of land around Melbourne, Australia.

Fluffy clouds in a pink and purple sunset sky

6. Jimmy Angel discovered the Angel Falls accidentally. Actually, he was in an aeroplane searching for something else. What?
The prospects of Gold. 

7. Which European country got its nickname from a reported conversation between Tsar Nicholas I of Russia and Sir George Seymour at St. Petersburg on 21st February 1853?
‘Sickman of Europe’ (Turkey).

8. A chain or cluster of islands, what literally means “chief sea” from the Greek word for (“leader”) and (“sea”)?
Archipelago.

9. What was first discovered by the Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe who spotted it when hiking through the foothills in 1927?
The Nazca Lines.
(The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.)

10. What is the name of the minor armed force and honour guard unit maintained by the Holy See that protects the pope and the Apostolic Palace within the territory of the Vatican City?
The Swiss Guard.

Paris, France

11. Which continent is often described as the ‘peninsula of peninsulas’?
Europe

12. What is the capital of Kosovo?
Pristina

13. What does ‘USSR’ stand for?
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

14. What is the city of Siagon known as today?
Ho Chi Minh City

15. What is the largest island in the Caribbean Sea?
Cuba

North Cascades Scenic Highway

 

Answers for Kids Geography Quiz

1. How many continents are there?
7

2. Which desert covers much of Northern Africa?
The Sahara

3. Which Italian city is famous for its canals?
Venice

4. What is the longest river in the world?
The Nile

5. Which American City is home to The Golden Gate Bridge?
San Francisco

Mount Tiede surrounded by clouds under a light purple sky

6. What it the capital of Thailand?
Bangkok

7. In what country would you find the Great Pyramids of Giza?
Egypt

8. The US is made up of how many states?
50

9. What is the name of the famous park in New York City?
Central Park

10. What is the capital of Morocco?
Rabat

Marbella Rocky Coastline and Blue Water

11. Which two continents does Russia belong to?
Europe and Asia

12. Which country calls itself Nippon?
Japan 

13. Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata are metropolitan cities in which country?
India

14. Which river flows through London?
The Thames

15. Kabul is the capital city of which country?
Afghanistan

Aquamarine Emerald Lake in Canda with fir trees along the shore, a red canoe paddling on the lake and rocky mountains in the background

16. Which Scottish loch is said to be home to a monster?
Loch Ness

17. Where is the Tonle Sap lake located?
Cambodia

18. What is the largest steel arch bridge in the world?
Sydney Harbour Bridge

19. In which country are the holy cities of Mecca and Medina located?
Saudi Arabia

20. Dublin is the largest city in which country?
Ireland

 

World Landmarks Picture Quiz Answers

Statue of Liberty

1. Eiffel Tower (Paris, France)

2. St Basil’s Cathedral (Moscow, Russia)

3. Christ The Redeemer (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil)

4. Leaning Tower of Pisa (Pisa, Italy)

5. Empire State Building (New York, United States of America)

6. Taj Mahal (Agra, India)

7. Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia)

8. Arc De Triomphe (Paris, France)

9. Big Ben (London, England)

Big Ben & House of Parliament

10. London Eye (London, England)

11. Colosseum (Rome, Italy)

12. Pyramids of Giza (Giza, Egypt)

13. Stonehenge (Wiltshire, England)

14. Pantheon (Rome, Italy)

15. Forbidden City / Palace Museum (Beijing, China)

16. Tian Tan Buddha / Big Buddha (Lantau, Honk Kong)

17. Tower Bridge (London, England)

18. Statue of Liberty (New York, USA)

 

Identify the World Flags Picture Quiz with Answers

Identify the World Flags Picture Quiz with Answers

Remember that all our picture quizzes are printable – just be sure to chop the answers off the bottom if handing out the above sheet!

For those playing online, the answers are:
1. Sweden.
2. New Zealand.
3. Iran.
4. Norway.
5. China.
6. Ireland.
7. Cuba.
8. Paraguay

 

We hope you enjoyed our world geography quiz questions and answers and landmarks picture quiz and there was a good mix of easy, difficult and multiple choice questions for your home or pub quiz – or simply to test your own world geography knowledge.
And as with all our quizzes, if you liked it, we would love it if you shared it with your friends or on social media!

Black compass with 4 star points against white background

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