Strange Laws Around the World
In Switzerland, it’s illegal to own just one of what animal?
Guinea pig (they get lonely)
Which Roman emperor once made his horse a government official?
a) Claudius
b) Caligula
c) Augustus
Caligula
Which country has the most active volcanoes in the world?
Indonesia
Which country has no official capital city?
a)Greenland
b)Nauru
c)Botswana
Nauru is the only country in the world with no official capital city. The small Pacific island nation does not have any cities and instead operates with its government offices and parliament located in the district of Yaren, which serves as the de facto capital.
Which Scandinavian country has a town called “No”?
Norway. It is often recognized as having the shortest place name in the world.
In which country is it illegal to chew gum?
A) Japan
B) Singapore
C) South Korea
B) Singapore
Which country once had a king who ruled for less than one hour?
A) France
B) Portugal
C) Nepal
On August 2, 1830, during the July Revolution, King Charles X of France abdicated the throne. The crown automatically passed to his son, Louis-Antoine, who technically became King Louis XIX. However, within 20 minutes, Louis-Antoine reluctantly signed his own abdication in favor of his nephew, the Duke of Bordeaux.
Where does it rain fish during certain storms?
A) Honduras
B)Vietnam
C) Peru
The most well-known, consistent location for "rains of fish" is Yoro, Honduras. This phenomenon, known locally as Lluvia de Peces, has been reported annually for over a century, usually occurring between May and July following intense thunderstorms.
Q: Which country has more sheep than people?
A) Ireland
B) New Zealand
C) Scotland
B) New Zealand
Where do people celebrate a festival by throwing tomatoes?
A) Italy
B) Spain
C) Mexico
B) Spain
In France, it was once illegal to name a pig what famous leader?
Napoleon
Which country leader banned Christmas celebrations in the 1600s?
a) France
b) England
c) Germany
Oliver Cromwell, along with the Puritan-led Parliament, banned Christmas celebrations in England from 1644 to 1660. Viewing the festivities as immoral, sinful, and having no biblical basis, they ordered shops to remain open on December 25th and used soldiers to enforce the ban. The tradition was restored in 1660 with King Charles II.
Which country experiences “midnight sun” where the sun doesn’t set in summer?
a)Finland
b)Norway
c)Canada
Norway is widely known as the "Land of the Midnight Sun," where, in areas above the Arctic Circle such as Svalbard, Tromsø, and the Lofoten Islands, the sun does not set for several weeks or months during the summer.
Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
a)Russia
b)Chile
c)Canada
Canada. Its coastline measures over 202,080 kilometers and spans the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic Oceans. This vast length is due to Canada’s highly indented shoreline, which includes thousands of islands, inlets, and bays, particularly in the Arctic
Which country once trained dolphins for the military?
The U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program, established in the 1960s, primarily trains bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions for tasks like mine detection and clearance, object recovery, and force protection against enemy divers.
In which country is it illegal to die inside the parliament building?
A) UK
B) Norway
C) Spain
A) UK
Which ruler declared himself “Emperor of the United States”?
A)Donald Trump
B) Joshua Norton
C) Andrew Jackson
Joshua Abraham Norton, known as Emperor Norton I, declared himself "Emperor of the United States" in 1859. A beloved San Francisco eccentric and former businessman, he later added "Protector of Mexico" to his title. Though his reign was unofficial, he was widely accepted as a local icon.
Q: Which country has earthquakes almost every day?
A) Japan
B) Chile
C) Iceland
A) Japan
Q: Which country is inside another country completely?
A) Monaco (France)
B) San Marino (Italy)
C) Andorra (Spain)
San Marino: Completely surrounded by Italy.
Q: Which country accidentally played the wrong national anthem at the Olympics?
A) Kazakhstan
B) China
C) Austria
A) Kazakhstan
In Samoa, what is illegal to forget on Sunday?
Your parents’ birthday (yes, really)
Which modern country once had a dictator who made people clap at random times?
a) North Korea
b) Turkmenistan
c) Uganda
North Korea
What natural disaster caused a tsunami from a volcanic eruption in 1883?
a)Indonesia
b)Russia
c)Italy
The 1883, colossal eruption of the Krakatoa (Krakatau) volcano in Indonesia. The disaster generated waves up to 135 feet (41 meters) high, resulting in over 36,000 deaths and destroying hundreds of coastal villages on Java and Sumatra.
Which country uses happiness as a measure instead of money?
a) Finland
b) Bhutan
c) Oman
Bhutan is the country that uses Gross National Happiness (GNH) as its main measure of development, rather than relying solely on Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Which country once lost a war against birds?
Australia famously lost the "Emu War" in 1932. Military personnel armed with Lewis machine guns attempted to curb a population of 20,000 emus destroying crops in Western Australia. Due to the birds' ability to scatter and survive, the army failed to significantly reduce the population, and withdrew after weeks of failed efforts.