Top 20 Geography Trivia Questions

World geography is one of the most popular trivia topics — and for good reason. From capital cities to mountain ranges, geography questions reward curiosity about the planet we share. Use this list to quiz friends, warm up before a round, or sharpen your skills before a full Geography quiz on PlayTrivia.

Countries & Capitals

1. What is the capital of Australia?

Answer: Canberra. Many people guess Sydney or Melbourne, but Canberra has been the capital since 1927.

2. Which country has the largest population in Africa?

Answer: Nigeria. Its population exceeds 220 million and continues to grow rapidly.

3. What is the smallest country in the world by area?

Answer: Vatican City. At roughly 0.17 square miles, it is entirely surrounded by Rome, Italy.

4. Which European capital city is divided by the Danube River?

Answer: Budapest, Hungary. The river splits the city into Buda and Pest.

5. What country is home to Machu Picchu?

Answer: Peru. The Incan citadel sits high in the Andes Mountains above the Sacred Valley.

Rivers, Lakes & Oceans

6. What is the longest river in the world?

Answer: The Nile. It flows roughly 4,100 miles through northeastern Africa.

7. Which ocean lies between Africa and Australia?

Answer: The Indian Ocean. It is the third-largest ocean on Earth.

8. Name one of the five Great Lakes of North America.

Answer: Any of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, or Lake Ontario.

9. Through which country does the Amazon River primarily flow?

Answer: Brazil. The Amazon basin covers a huge portion of northern South America.

10. What sea separates Europe and Africa?

Answer: The Mediterranean Sea. It has connected civilizations for thousands of years.

Mountains & Landforms

11. What is the highest mountain above sea level?

Answer: Mount Everest. Its summit reaches about 29,032 feet on the Nepal–China border.

12. Which mountain range runs along the western edge of South America?

Answer: The Andes. It is the longest continental mountain range in the world.

13. What desert covers much of northern Africa?

Answer: The Sahara. It is the largest hot desert on Earth.

14. On which continent would you find the Great Barrier Reef?

Answer: Australia. The reef stretches over 1,400 miles along Queensland's coast.

15. What is the capital city of Japan?

Answer: Tokyo. It is one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world.

Landmarks & World Facts

16. Which country is known as the Land of the Rising Sun?

Answer: Japan. The name reflects its position east of the Asian mainland.

17. What canal connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

Answer: The Panama Canal. Ships use it to avoid sailing around South America.

18. Which African country was formerly known as Abyssinia?

Answer: Ethiopia. The name change to Ethiopia became official in the 20th century.

19. What is the largest country in the world by land area?

Answer: Russia. It spans eleven time zones across Europe and Asia.

20. Which continent has no permanent human population?

Answer: Antarctica. Scientists and support staff live there temporarily, but there is no native population.

Keep practising

Geography trivia rewards steady practice. Capitals, borders, and physical features start to stick once you see them in different contexts. For a full challenge with picture rounds and open-ended questions, try the Geography category on PlayTrivia or jump into solo mode and pick your favourite topic.

Ready to test yourself? Play a quiz on PlayTrivia.