Comparing Europe’s Ten Largest Countries

1. Comparing Europe’s Ten Largest Countries

2. France • Limited Government (President Hollande) • Language is French (100%) • Religion is Roman Catholic (83 – 88%) • Customs include wine and bread-heavy meals, high-end fashion, and the celebration of Bastille Day (signifying the end of World War II) • GDP per capita of $36,100 • Industries include machinery, chemicals, and automobiles. • Capital City of Paris • Literacy Rate of 99% • Life Expectancy of 81.56 years • Location: Western Europe, neighbor to Belgium, Spain, Italy, and the Mediterranean Sea

3. Spain • Limited Government (Constitutional Monarchy) King Juan Carlos and President of Government Mariano Rajoy • Language is Castillian Spanish (74%) • Religion is Roman Catholic (94%) • Customs include bullfighting, soccer, and Flamenco dancing • GDP is $31,100 • Industries include textiles and apparel, food and beverages, and metals • Capital City of Madrid • Literacy Rate is 97.7% • Life Expectancy is 81.37 years • Neighbors the Mediterranean Sea, Portugal, France, and the Pyrenees Mountains

4. Germany • Government is a LIMITED Federal Republic (President Gauck) • Language is German • Religion is 34% Protestant and 34% Roman Catholic • Popular foods include Bratwurst, Sundays are “Holy Days” or Quiet Days…and there are “Quiet Hours” during the work week (usually from 1 -3) when people eat lunch or take naps! • GDP per capita is $39,700. • Germany is one of the most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, and other products. • Capital city is Berlin • Literacy Rate is 99% • Life Expectancy is 80.32 years • Located in Central Europe between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

5. Italy • Italy’s government is LIMITED (President Giorgio Napolitano) • Languages are Italian, German, French, and Slovene • Religion is 80% Christian and 20% Atheist and Agnostic • Kisses are common greetings in Italy, and appearances are important to Italians. Also, they celebrate the same major holidays of Christians in the Western Hemisphere (Christmas, Easter, etc.) • GDP is $30,600 and major industries include tourism, machinery, iron and steel production, food processing, and chemicals • Capital City is Rome • Life Expectancy is 81.95 years • Literacy Rate is 99% • Italy is in Southern Europe, and it is a peninsula extending into the Mediterranean Sea northeast of Tunisia

6. Ukraine • Limited Government (President Viktor Yanukovych) • Languages are Ukrainian (67%) and Russian (24%) • Ukrainian Orthodox is the primary religion (50.4%) • Football is the most popular sport, weaving and embroidery are customs, and people usually gather in large groups during holiday celebrations. • GDP per capita is $7500 and major industries include coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metal production. • Capital city is Kyiv • Life Expectancy is 68.93 years • Literacy Rate is 99.7% • Located in Eastern Europe, borders the Black Sea, near Poland, Romania, Maldova, and Russia

7. Poland • Limited Government (President BronislawKomorowski) • Language is Polish (97.8%) • Religion is Roman Catholic (89.8%) • Eat big breakfasts • GDP per capita is $20,900 and major industries include machine building, iron and steel production, coal mining, chemical production, and shipbuilding • Life Expectancy is 76.45 years • Literacy Rate is 99.7% • Capital City is Warsaw • Located in Central Europe, East of Germany

8. Sweden • Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy • Language: Swedish • Religion is 87% Lutheran • Saint Lucia is a nationally celebrated saint, fish and potatoes are common foods, the Swedish are some of the world’s biggest coffee drinkers • GDP is $41,900 and major industries include iron and steel, precision equipment, processed foods, and motor vehicles. • Life expectancy is 81.28 years and the Literacy Rate is 99% • Capital City is Stockholm • Sweden is located in Northern Europe, borders the Baltic Sea, between Finland and Norway

9. Norway • Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy • Language is Bokmal Norwegian and Religion is 85.7% Church of Norway (Evangelical Lutheran) • Fish is a staple food, holidays include Norwegian Constitution Day, and traditional construction is made from wood • GDP is $55,900 and major industries include petroleum and gas, food processing, and shipbuilding • Life Expectancy is 80.44 years, Literacy Rate is 100% • Capital City is Oslo • Located in Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, West of Sweden

10. Finland • Government Type: Republic (Limited Government) • Language is Finnish (91.2%) and Religion is Lutheran Church of Finland (82.5%) • Has holidays similar to those celebrated in Western Christian Culture, however, on Palm Sunday, children dress as witches and trick-or-treat (similar to Halloween) • GDP is $37,000 and major industries include metals, electronics, machinery, scientific instruments, and shipbuilding • Life Expectancy is 79.55 years, Literacy Rate is 100% • Capital City is Helsinki • Located in Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Sweden and Russia

11. Russia • Government Type: officially a Federation and Limited • Language is Russian, religions are 15-20% Russian Orthodox, 10-15 % Muslim…Russia has a large population of non-worshippers and non-believers • Ballet, Nesting Dolls are common culture traits in Russia, most meals are home-cooked • GDP per capita is $18,000 and major industries include mining, machine building, and defense industries (radar, missiles, etc.) • Life Expectancy is 69.55 years, literacy rate is 99.7% • Located in Northern Europe, also part of the Asian Continent

12. Comparing Statistics

13. Comparing Language and Religion