Map Of The Most Common Questions Americans Ask About Other Countries

The maps here all look at the most common questions Americans ask about other countries.

They come from CashNetUSA with a good mix of serious and not so serious questions.

From the article:

“One of the best ways of understanding a country’s culture and history is to visit and immerse yourself in your new surroundings.

But going abroad is not always an option, and according to the Pew Research Center, nearly a quarter (27%) of Americans have never been out of the U.S.

Luckily, search engines now hold the answers to almost any question you might have about how the world works. T

o find out exactly what Americans want to know about the world, we’ve analyzed Google Search queries and mapped the most common question the U.S. asks about every country.”

Here are the most common questions by continent:

Most Common Questions Americans Ask About Europe

The questions:

• Iceland: “Why does Iceland have so many volcanoes?”
• Norway: “Why does Norway dominate winter Olympics?”
• Sweden: “Why does Sweden celebrate Christmas?”
• Finland: “Why does Finland want to join NATO?”
• Estonia: “Why does Estonia have such high drug-related deaths?”
• Latvia: “Why does Latvia produce refined petroleum?”
• Lithuania: “Why does Lithuania have the highest suicide rate?”
• Russia: “Why does Russia want Chernobyl?”
• Belarus: “Why does Belarus support Russia?”
• Ukraine: “Why does Ukraine want to join NATO?”
• Moldova: “Why doesn’t Moldova have any coastline?”
• Georgia: “Why does Georgia’s flag look like England’s?”
• Armenia: “Why does Armenia support Russia?”
• Scotland: “Why does Scotland want independence?”
• Northern Ireland: “Why does Northern Ireland have no flag?”
• Ireland: “Why does Ireland have no snakes?”
• United Kingdom: “Why does the United Kingdom drive on the left?”
• Wales: “Why does Wales have its own soccer team?”
• France: “Why does France have a rooster on their jersey?”
• Monaco: “Why does Monaco not have a king?”
• Andorra: “Why does Andorra exist?”
• Portugal: “Why does Portugal not speak Spanish?”
• Spain: “Why does Spain have a lisp?”
• Luxembourg: “Why does Luxembourg have so much debt?”
• Belgium: “Why does Belgium speak French?”
• Netherlands: “Why does the Netherlands wear orange?”
• Germany: “Why does Germany have so many roads?”
• Poland: “Why does Poland have MIGs (Soviet jets)?”
• Czech Republic: “Why does the Czech Republic stay separate from Slovakia?”
• Slovakia: “Why does Slovakia grow sugar beets?”
• Hungary: “Why is Hungary not in the euro?”
• Austria: “Why does Austria speak German?”
• Slovenia: “Why does Slovenia keep calling me?”
• Serbia: “Why does Serbia support Russia?”
• Romania: “Why does Romania have such fast internet?”
• Bulgaria: “Why does Bulgaria hate Turkey?”
• Greece: “Why does Greece lead the Olympic parade?”
• Cyprus: “Why does Cyprus have so many cats?”
• Croatia: “Why does Croatia have all the coastline?”
• Bosnia & Herzegovina: “Why does Bosnia & Herzegovina have two names?”
• Montenegro: “Why does Montenegro have a Spanish name?”
• Kosovo: “Why doesn’t Kosovo want independence?”
• Albania: “Why does Albania hate Serbia?”
• Malta: “Why does Malta speak English?”
• Italy: “Why does Italy wear blue (jerseys)?”
• Lichtenstein: “Why does Lichtenstein exist?”
• North Macedonia: “Why does North Macedonia exist?”
• San Marino: “Why does San Marino have a football team?”
• Vatican: “Why does Vatican City have walls?”

Most Common Questions Americans Ask About North America

The questions:

• Canada: “Why does Canada speak French?”
• United States of America: “Why does the United States of America import oil?”
• Mexico: “Why does Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo?”
• Bahamas: “Why does the Bahamas have clear water?”
• Cuba: “Why does Cuba have old cars?”
• Dominican Republic: “Why does the Dominican Republic hate Haiti?”
• Haiti: “Why does Haiti have so many earthquakes?”
• Jamaica: “Why does Jamaica dominate sprinting?”
• Trinidad & Tobago: “Why does Trinidad & Tobago speak English?”
• Barbados: “Why does Barbados have a trident on its flag?”
• Grenada: “Why does Grenada celebrate Thanksgiving?”
• Dominica: “Why does Dominica have Caribs (Indigenous people)?”
• Belize: “Why does Belize speak English?”
• Guatemala: “Why does Guatemala claim Belize?”
• Honduras: “Why does Honduras rain fish?”
• Nicaragua: “Why does Nicaragua support Russia?”
• Costa Rica: “Why does Costa Rica not have an army?”
• Panama: “Why does Panama use U.S. dollars?”
• El Salvador: “Why does El Salvador use U.S. dollars?”

Most Common Questions Americans Ask About South America

The questions:

• Venezuela: “Why does Venezuela remain in crisis?”
• Guyana: “Why does Guyana speak English?”
• Suriname: “Why does Suriname have so many Muslims?”
• Brazil: “Why does Brazil speak Portuguese?”
• Paraguay: “Why does Paraguay export so many soybeans?”
• Uruguay: “Why does Uruguay have four stars on their jersey?”
• Argentina: “Why does Argentina hate the U.K.?”
• Chile: “Why does Chile hate Maroon 5?”
• Bolivia: “Why does Bolivia have two capitals?”
• Peru: “Why does Peru have two flags?”
• Ecuador: “Why does Ecuador use U.S. dollars?”
• Colombia: “Why does Colombia celebrate Valentine’s Day in September?”

Most Common Questions Americans Ask About The Middle East

The questions:

• Kazakhstan: “Why does Kazakhstan produce so much uranium?”
• Kyrgyzstan: “Why does the Kyrgyzstan flag look like the Xerox logo?”
• Uzbekistan: “Why does Uzbekistan not use a cotton harvester machine?”
• Turkmenistan: “Why does Turkmenistan rely on cotton?”
• Afghanistan: “Why does Afghanistan matter?”
• Iran: “Why does Iran hate Israel?”
• Iraq: “Why does Iraq want to arrest Trump?”
• Syria: “Why does Syria use chemical weapons?”
• Turkey: “Why does Turkey fight the Kurds?”
• Azerbaijan: “Why does Azerbaijan hate Armenia?”
• Lebanon: “Why does Lebanon not have electricity?”
• Palestine: “Why does Palestine want the Gaza Strip?”
• Israel: “Why does Israel want the Gaza Strip?”
• Jordan: “Why does Jordan have the same flag as Palestine?”
• Saudi Arabia: “Why does Saudi Arabia have so much oil?”
• Yemen: “Why does Yemen hate Saudi Arabia?”
• Oman: “Why does Oman need to know my marital status for a visa?”
• United Arab Emirates: “Why does the United Arab Emirates have so many males?”
• Qatar: “Why does Qatar play in the Gold Cup?”
• Bahrain: “Why does Bahrain have more men than women?”
• Kuwait: “Why does Kuwait have the highest currency?”

Most Common Questions Americans Ask About Asia

The Questions:

• China: “Why does China want Taiwan?”
• Mongolia: “Why does Mongolia have a navy?”
• North Korea: “Why does North Korea want nuclear weapons?”
• South Korea: “Why does South Korea hate Japan?”
• Japan: “Why does Japan drive on the left?”
• Taiwan: “Why does Taiwan produce semiconductors?”
• Philippines: “Why does the Philippines speak Spanish?”
• Vietnam: “Why does Vietnam like the U.S.?”
• Malaysia: “Why does Malaysia have an American flag?”
• Brunei: “Why does Brunei have so much wealth?”
• Indonesia: “Why does Indonesia have a submarine?”
• Timor-Leste: “Why does Timor-Leste exist?”
• Papua New Guinea: “Why does Papua New Guinea have so many languages?”
• Australia: “Why does Australia wear green and gold?”
• New Zealand: “Why does New Zealand experience frequent earthquakes?”
• Fiji: “Why does Fiji have a British flag?”
• Tonga: “Why does Tonga’s post take so long?”
• Samoa: “Why does Samoa observe New Year’s first?”
• Tuvalu: “Why does Tuvalu get $4 million a year?”
• Kiribati: “Why does Kiribati use the Australian dollar?”
• Nauru: “Why does Nauru recognize South Ossetia?”
• Marshall Islands: “Why are the Marshall Islands always voting with the U.S.?”
• Micronesia: “Why does Micronesia have connections with the U.S.?”
• Palau: “Why does Palau have such high carbon dioxide emissions?”
• Solomon Islands: “Why do people from the Solomon Islands have blonde hair?”
• Vanuatu: “Why does Vanuatu have so many earthquakes?”
• Myanmar: “Why does Myanmar use the imperial system?”
• Bhutan: “Why does Bhutan not recognize China?”
• Nepal: “Why does Nepal have TPS (Temporary Protected Status)?”
• Bangladesh: “Why does Bangladesh experience so many floods?”
• India: “Why does India have so many people?”
• Pakistan: “Why does Pakistan hate India?”
• Sri Lanka: “Why does Sri Lanka grow tea?”
• Maldives: “Why does the Maldives have a high divorce rate?”
• Thailand: “Why does Thailand have so many tourists?”
• Laos: “Why does Laos have red pandas?”
• Cambodia: “Why does Cambodia use U.S. dollars?”
• Singapore: “Why does Singapore have a high life expectancy?”

Most Common Questions Americans Ask About Africa

The Questions:

• Morocco: “Why does Morocco want Western Sahara?”
• Cape Verde: “Why does Cape Verde speak Portuguese?”
• Senegal: “Why does Senegal speak French?”
• The Gambia: “Why does The Gambia need aid?”
• Sierra Leone: “Why does Sierra Leone have a maternal health issue?”
• Liberia: “Why does Liberia have an American flag?”
• Sao Tome & Principe: “Why does Sao Tome & Principe have two names?”
• Algeria: “Why does Algeria speak French?”
• Tunisia: “Why does Tunisia speak French?”
• Libya: “Why does Libya have such high GDP?”
• Egypt: “Why does Egypt blockade Gaza?”
• Eritrea: “Why does Eritrea support Russia?”
• Djibouti: “Why does Djibouti speak French?”
• Somalia: “Why does Somalia have a high birth rate?”
• Sudan: “Why does Sudan have more pyramids than Egypt?”
• South Sudan: “Why does South Sudan have so many refugees?”
• Chad: “Why does Chad have low life expectancy?”
• Niger: “Why does Niger have the lowest cancer rate?” (note Niger and Nigeria are in the wrong place on this map)
• Nigeria: “Why does Nigeria have low life expectancy?”
• Mali: “Why does Mali have a high birth rate?”
• Burkina Faso: “Why does Burkina Faso have a high birth rate?”
• Ivory Coast: “Why does Ivory Coast have two capitals?”
• Benin: “Why does Benin speak French?”
• Togo: “Why does Togo speak French?”
• Ghana: “Why does Ghana have the lowest cancer rate?”
• Cameroon: “Why does Cameroon speak French?”
• Central African Republic: “Why does the Central African Republic have low life expectancy?”
• Democratic Republic of the Congo: “Why does the Democratic Republic of the Congo have so much cobalt?”
• Angola: “Why does Angola have a communist flag?”
• Zambia: “Why does Zambia need food from other countries?”
• Namibia: “Why does Namibia have a panhandle?”
• Botswana: “Why does Botswana receive little FDI (Foreign Direct Investment)?”
• Zimbabwe: “Why does Zimbabwe have inflation?”
• Mozambique: “Why does Mozambique have an AK-47 on their flag?”
• South Africa: “Why does South Africa have three capitals?”
• Eswatini (Swaziland): “Why does Swaziland exist?”
• Lesotho: “Why does Lesotho have a high tuberculosis rate?”
• Malawi: “Why does Malawi import fertilizer?”
• Madagascar: “Why does Madagascar speak French?”
• Mauritius: “Why does Mauritius speak French?”
• Seychelles: “Why does Seychelles speak French?”
• Comoros: “Why does Comoros lack education?”
• Tanzania: “Why does Tanzania have two capitals?”
• Kenya: “Why does Kenya burn ivory?”
• Ethiopia: “Why does Ethiopia have a different year?”
• Uganda: “Why does Uganda get so much money from the U.S.?”
• Rwanda: “Why does Rwanda use francs as currency?”
• Burundi: “Why does Burundi have export problems?”
• Gabon: “Why does Gabon rely so heavily on imports?”

Methodology: 

For each country we input the search phrase “why does [country]” into the Keywords Explorer function on Ahrefs. We then isolated the question that had the highest search volume in the U.S., i.e., the most common question Americans ask about that country/state. Our data was collected in August 2022.

Also see: Map Of The Most Common Questions About Each State

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