With around 200 countries and more than 7.5 billion people, the world is
full of interesting, fun, and fascinating people, places, and things. In the
land of the Kiwis, for instance, you'll find the highest concentration of pet
owner on the world.And over in Nicaragua, you'll find one of the only two flags
in the world that features the color purple. Hungry for more facts about
the world and its ever-growing population? Read on to learn some interesting
facts about the Earth's past, present, and future
1.The entire world's population could fit inside Los Angeles.
The world's total
population is more than 7.5 billion. And obviously, that number
sounds huge. However, it might feel a little more
manageable once you learn that if every single one of those people stood
shoulder-to-shoulder, they could all fit within the 500 square miles of Los
Angeles, according to National Geographic.
2.North Korea and Cuba are the only places you can't buy Coca-Cola.
No matter where you go, it's comforting to know you can always enjoy a
Coca-Cola. Well, almost anywhere. While
this fizzy drink is sold practically everywhere, it still hasn't (officially)
made its way to North Korea or Cuba, according to the BBC. That's because
these countries are under long-term U.S. trade embargoes.
However, some folks say you might be able to snag a sip of the
stuff if you try hard enough (although it'll typically be a lot more expensive than what you would pay in the states—and probably
imported from a neighboring country such as Mexico or China).
3.There are more twins now than ever before.
You might think twins are a rarity, but they're actually becoming more
common than ever. "From about 1915, when the statistical record begins,
until 1980, about one in every 50 babies born was a twin, a rate of 2
percent," writes Alexis C. Madrigal of The
Atlantic. "Then, the rate began to increase: by 1995, it was 2.5 percent.
The rate surpassed 3 percent in 2001 and hit 3.3 percent in 2010. [That means]
one out of every 30 babies born is a twin."
Scientists believe this trend is due to the fact that older women tend
to have more twins, and women are choosing to start families later. Fertility
treatments such as in-vitro fertilization likely also play a role.
4.The hottest chili pepper in the world is so hot it could kill you.
The "weapons-grade" Dragon's Breath chilli pepper is
so hot it's downright deadly. If you ate one, it could potentially cause a
type of anaphylactic shock, burning the airways and closing them up.
"I've tried it on the tip of my tongue and it just burned and
burned," said Mike Smith, the hobby grower
who invented the Dragon's Breath along with scientists from Nottingham
University. So why make such an impractical pepper? As it turns out, the
chili was initially developed to be used in medical treatment as an
anesthetic that can numb the skin.
5.More people visit France than any other country.
France is a beautiful country, filled to the brim with delicious wines,
scrumptious cheese, and tons of romance. So it's no surprise that more people
want to visit France than any other country in the world, according to
the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.
In 2017, the European country welcomed 86.9 million people. Spain was
the second-most popular destination with 81.8 million visitors, followed by the
United States (76.9 million), China (60.7 million), and Italy (58.3 million).
La vie est belle!
