Young Americans don’t know their geography, new survey shows
Although they’re citizens of the world, many young Americans have a hard time finding their place in it, according to the National Geographic Society, which recently conducted a global survey of geographic literacy, including more than 300 people in the United States. “Someone once said that war is God’s way of teaching geography, but apparently today neither war nor the threat of war can adequately teach geography,” John Fahey, president of the society, said Wednesday.
Quiz results for Americans
ages 18-24:
11% could not locate the United States on a blank map of the world.
13% could find Iraq.
17% could find Afghanistan on a world map, though American-led forces have waged war there.
25% selected the correct population figures for the United States from a multiple choice list.
34% knew that the location of last season’s “Survivor” show
(Marquesas Islands) was in the South Pacific.
30% could locate New Jersey on a map. Maybe they’re “Sopranos” fans?
How we compare with others
The average number of correct answers (out of 56 questions) in each country:
40 Sweden
38 Germany
38 Italy
34 France
31 Japan
28 Great Britain
27 Canada
23 United States
21 Mexico
