The bizarre things each country in the world is No.1 at - from the highest number of exploding lakes to highest women-to-men ratio and possession of the world's oldest carpet

  • China is largest watermelon producer, with output of 70,000,000 tons per year 
  • Highest consumption of beer is actually in the Czech Republic, not Germany
  • World's oldest operating bookshop, Chiado's Bertrand booksellers, is in Portugal

Almost anyone could name the largest lake in the world by volume as Lake Superior, or the tallest building in the world as the Burj Khalifa.  

But if you were asked which country has the highest number of exploding lakes, or has the world's oldest carpet, it wouldn't be surprising if you drew a blank. 

It stands to reason that where there is a competition, there will be a country that is best at it, or the largest exporter of something - but some of the bizarre things being tracked will surprise you.

Here are some of the weirdest things countries across the globe excel at, from consuming the largest amount of wine to the most tourists visits per year.

Read on to bolster up your trivia and impress your friends. . .

 
Argentina is the largest exporter of football players at 2,204. It has produced two of the best players of all time in Lionel Messi, pictured, and Diego Maradona

Argentina is the largest exporter of football players at 2,204. It has produced two of the best players of all time in Lionel Messi, pictured, and Diego Maradona

Argentina

The South American country is the largest exporter of football players at 2,204. It has produced two of the best players of all time in Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.

It also has the southernmost city in the world in Ushuaia. The city is located in a wide bay on the southern coast of Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, bounded on the north by the Martial mountain range, and on the south by the Beagle Channel.

Azerbaijan  

Largest percentage of area covered with mud volcanoes. A mud volcano or mud dome is a landform created by the eruption of mud or slurries, water and gases. Mud volcanoes are not true igneous volcanoes as they do not produce lava.

Brazil 

Best performance at FIFA World Cups, five times winner (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002) and two times runner-up (1950, 1998).

Brazil is also the world's largest coffee producer, with an output of 2,249,010 metric tons per year. The country is responsible for about a third of all coffee produced in the world - a position it has held for 150 years. 

Britain

Oldest current head of state - the Queen, at age 92.  

Busiest airport system by passenger traffic. London sees a total 146,685,710 passengers annually, through Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, City and Southend airports. 

Busiest train station, Clapham Junction railway station, in London, by daily rail traffic (one train every 13 seconds at peak times; one train every 30 seconds at off-peak times).

Most elements of the periodic table discovered, 23 of the 118 known elements were discovered by British scientists. 

Britain has the world's oldest monarch, at 91. Pictured: the Queen at church in Norfolk last month

Britain has the world's oldest monarch, at 91. Pictured: the Queen at church in Norfolk last month

Cameroon has the most exploding lakes with two out of three in the world - Lake Nyos, pictured, and Lake Monoun

Cameroon has the most exploding lakes with two out of three in the world - Lake Nyos, pictured, and Lake Monoun

Cambodia 

Longest alphabet in the world. The Khmer alphabet consists of 33 consonants, 23 vowels (that make 47 sounds) and 12 independent vowels. 

Cameroon 

The most exploding lakes. The African country has two of the three known exploding lakes in the world - Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun.

When a lake explodes it's known as a limnic eruption. It's a rare type of natural disaster in which dissolved carbon dioxide suddenly erupts from deep lake waters, forming a gas cloud capable of suffocating wildlife, livestock, and humans. 

In 1986 Lake Nyos exploded and killed 1,746 people.

Canada 

Largest number of lakes, estimated to be at least 2 million. All in all, a whopping nine  per cent of Canada's surface is covered in fresh water.

Most ice hockey players with 721,504. The US comes in at second with 562,145 and Czech Republic in third with 120,920.

Although most of us associate beer with Germany thanks to Oktoberfest, the highest consumption of beer per capita is actually in the Czech Republic. Pictured: Czech brewery for Pilsner Urquell

Although most of us associate beer with Germany thanks to Oktoberfest, the highest consumption of beer per capita is actually in the Czech Republic. Pictured: Czech brewery for Pilsner Urquell

China 

As the most successful exporter in the world, it comes as no surprise that China has the world's highest current account balance at $213,800,000,000.

What may be less obvious, however, is that the nation is the largest watermelon producer with an output of 70,000,000 tons per year.  

Czech Republic

Highest consumption of beer per capita, 148.6 litres per year, and the highest consumption of pure alcohol - measured in equivalent litres of ethanol - at 14.1 litres per year.

Democratic Republic of Congo 

Most impoverished country on earth, with 95.15 per cent of its population living under £1.50 per day.

Djibouti 

Highest prevalence of females in population with 0.84 males per female.

Estonia

Lowest number of maternal deaths. In the last five years only one mother has died to pregnancy related issues.

Finland 

Highest consumption of coffee per capita, with 11.4 kg / year. The Finnish clearly don't like their morning cuppa black, because they are also the highest consumption of milk per capita, 361.19kg per year.

France has the most tourist visits every year, and it's little wonder with sights like the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais building (pictured) and the Louvre

France has the most tourist visits every year, and it's little wonder with sights like the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais building (pictured) and the Louvre

France 

Most tourist visits each year. France welcomed 86.9 million visitors last year, with Spain, America, China and Italy making up the top five.

It's also the world's largest exporter of perfume. Exports reached £3.2billion last year.

Iceland

Highest level of gender equality in the economy according to Global Gender Gap Report.

With 96.6 per cent of Iceland's 338,349 population online, it also holds the record for highest percentage of internet users. 

India 

Highest number of Facebook users at 294million in 2017 - up from 194million in the 12 months before that.

Largest River Island - no, not the London-based high street fashion shop. The country is home to the Majuli, a river island in the Brahmaputra River, Assam, at 136 square miles. 

In 2016 it became the first island to be made a district in India.

Ireland 

Most Eurovision wins (7 between 1956 and 2012).

Japan  

Japan has the longest average life expectancy, 84.6 years, based on statistics from 2012.

Most three-starred Michelin restaurants at a whopping 32.

North Korea

Youngest world leader currently in power, in ruthless dictator Kim Jong-un, at age 32.

Lowest public debt as percentage of GDP, 0.4 per cent - and most active troops per population, 47.8 per 1,000 people.

North Korea has the youngest world leader currently in power, in ruthless dictator Kim Jong-un, pictured with Donald Trump last year, at age 32.

North Korea has the youngest world leader currently in power, in ruthless dictator Kim Jong-un, pictured with Donald Trump last year, at age 32.

South Korea

If you're sick of slow internet, you might want to head over to South Korea, which has the fastest average internet connection speed at 25.3 Mbps. 

Plenty of their citizens take advantage of the high speeds on the go, with 84.1 per cent of user accessing it through their mobiles - the highest percentage in the world.

If you want to find a true movie fan, South Korea is your best best, with the highest average number of movies watched in cinemas at 4.12 per person. 

Laos 

Most heavily bombed country in the world per capita. Between 1964 and 1973, two million tons of bombs were dropped on Laos by the U.S.

For context, 2.1 million tons of bombs were dropped on Europe and Asia throughout the entirety of World War Two.

Nearly 50 Laotians are killed or maimed by some of the 80 million unexploded bombs littered across the country.   

Lesotho 

Smallest volume of carbon dioxide emissions, at 18,000 metric tons per year. 

Luxembourg 

Highest consumption of wine per capita, 8.16 liters / year. Luxembourg, a small country bordered by France, Germany and Belgium, mainly produces wine along the Moselle river.

The country also produces a sparkling wine, Crémant de Luxembourg. 

Malaysia 

Tallest twin buildings, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 1483ft. Building finished on the Petronas Towers in 1996, and between 1998 and 2004 they were the world's tallest buildings, until Taipei 101 in Taiwan was built. 

Oldest world leader currently in power, Mahathir Mohamad, at age 93. He originally served as the country's Prime Minister between 1981 and 2003. 

He was re-elected, for a different party, in May last year. 

Malaysia has the tallest twin buildings, the Petronas Towers. Between 1998 and 2004 they were the world's tallest buildings, until Taipei 101 in Taiwan was built

Malaysia has the tallest twin buildings, the Petronas Towers. Between 1998 and 2004 they were the world's tallest buildings, until Taipei 101 in Taiwan was built

Mauritania 

The country in Northwest Africa has largest percentage of people in slavery at 4 per cent.

In 1981, it became the last country in the world to abolish slavery, but it still goes on.

Mexico

Largest avocado producer, output of 1,264,141 tons. The huge demand for avocados is adding to deforestation, with 20,000 hectares cleared in the Michoacan forest every year for agriculture.

Mexico produces around 40 per cent of the world's avocados. 

Although almost all of the parts come from Asia, Mexico is the largest exporter of flat screen TVs. 

The TVs are assembled in Mexico so they can be exported to the U.S. without tariff under the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

Monaco

Most densely populated, 47,850 per km² and the highest median age of population, 51 years old.

Mongolia

Least densely populated, 1.92 per km². Most of Mongolia's land is unsuitable for growing crops, and 45 per cent of their population live in the capital city, Ulaanbaatar.

Myanmar has the world's largest book (pictured), which is written on 730 stone tablets, with the text covering both sides

Myanmar has the world's largest book (pictured), which is written on 730 stone tablets, with the text covering both sides

Myanmar

World's largest book, stands upright, set in stone, in the ground deck of Kuthodaw pagoda in Mandalay. It is written on 730 stone tablets, with the text covering both sides.

The text on the tablets is the entirety of Theravāda Buddhism’s religious canon, and was built in 1857.  

Netherlands 

Tallest people, both men (1.837 m) and women (1.693 m).

Northern Cyprus

Oldest female paragliding fly, at the age of 104, from a 730 m (2,400 ft) peak.

Pakistan

Highest perinatal mortality rate; 433,800 newborn baby deaths per year.

Papua New Guinea

Although many of us would associate cannabis with the Netherlands, it's actually Papua New Guinea that sees the highest annual prevalence of cannabis use.

As much as 30 per cent of the population use the substance every year - despite it still being illegal.

PNG also has the most languages spoken in a country, at 832 languages. It has four official languages - English, Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, and PNG Sign Language.

Tok Pisin, an English-based creole, is the most widely spoken, with just one to two per cent of residents speaking English. 

Portugal 

Earliest abolition of life imprisonment, 1884. The maximum sentence for criminals in Portugal is just 25 years with the possibility for parole.  

Oldest operating bookshop, Chiado's Bertrand booksellers, open in 1732.  

This is the world's most expensive building, the Abraj Al Bait, which is a group of skyscrapers owned by the Saudi government

This is the world's most expensive building, the Abraj Al Bait, which is a group of skyscrapers owned by the Saudi government

Qatar 

Lowest death rate, 1.53 deaths per 1,000 persons.

Russia 

Most time zones (contiguous territory), 9.

Largest tank army, 20,550 tanks.

San Marino 

Most motor vehicles per capita, 1,263 per 1,000 population.

Saudi Arabia 

Most expensive building, the Abraj Al Bait, which cost £11.5billion to build. The Abraj Al Bait is a group of skyscrapers owned by the Saudi government.

The name translates to Towers of the House of God, and is built close to the Grand Mosque of Mecca.

It was built on the grounds of the Ajyad Fortress, an Ottoman citadel built in 1780, which was demolished in 2002, sparking an international outcry.

Sri Lanka 

Highest suicide rate with 15 per 100,000 people taking their own lives each year.

Swaziland

Lowest overall life expectancy, 32 years.

Switzerland has the world's longest railway tunnel at 187,349 ft long. The Gotthard Base tunnel runs through the Alps and opened in 2016

Switzerland has the world's longest railway tunnel at 187,349 ft long. The Gotthard Base tunnel runs through the Alps and opened in 2016

Switzerland

Longest railway tunnel - the Gotthard Base Tunnel which is 187,349 ft long. The railway tunnel runs through the Alps and opened in 2016.

It connects Erstfeld and Bodio, and was built so more freight trains could carry goods instead of trucks to reduce road crashes.

The tunnel is part of the New Railway Link through the Alps (NRLA) project, which Swiss people voted for in a referendum in 1992.  

Syria

Least peaceful nation, according to Global Peace Index.

Turkey

Largest apricot, cherry, fig and hazelnut producer.

United States

Largest incarceration rate, at 760 prisoners per 100,000 people.

Largest cheese producers in the world, creating 5,878,000 tons in 2018.

Venezuela 

Best performance at Big Four Beauty Pageants (Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International, Miss Earth) - 21 times winner, as of 2014.



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