Americans are split on the recent drone strike ordered by President Trump that killed Iran’s highest-in-command general, and on what action the US should take next. But despite everyone sounding off about the aftermath of the attack and the possibility of war with Iran, one thing that many can agree on is that they have no clue where the country in question actually is.
A recent survey, taken just days after the news of the killing spread, but before Iran retaliated upon US bases in Iraq, showed that just 23% of American voters could locate the country on a world map. When they were shown a more zoomed-in map, eliminating the Americas, East Asia, and Australia from the options (as well as the option to throw your hands up, say “screw it” and point to the middle of an ocean) that number only rose to 28%. How would you have done on this quiz?
Morning Consult’s data editor who oversaw the survey also shared the results on Twitter
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Image credits: morningconsult
Image credits: jpiacenza
Image credits: morningconsult
Image credits: morningconsult
Image credits: morningconsult
Image credits: morningconsult
Image credits: morningconsult
A similar experiment in 2017 had Americans trying to point out North Korea on a map, and in 2014, they were asked to find Ukraine, with similar results. Disturbingly, in both surveys, there was a positive correlation between not knowing where the country in question was, and being in favor of airstrikes or deploying US troops there. That’s right: people are more likely to want to send their country’s beloved troops to places they can’t even envision.
The recent survey on Iran didn’t identify any such correlation between geographical knowledge and opinions on the implications of the strike, but it did reveal some other unfortunate truths. If you want to get smug about party lines, we’re going to have to stop you right there, because Democrats and Republicans both scored under 30%, with independents not scraping much higher (a margin of error of 2% makes those few percentage points not worth squabbling over.)
What’s more, even college-educated respondents struggled to locate Iran, with well below half responding correctly. Geography is usually lumped into “social studies” in US high schools, with many teachers reporting that they spend little time on it, and realistically, few people are learning geography after they graduate if they’re not majoring in it.
The data editor explained the survey’s findings
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Image credits: morningconsult
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Image credits: morningconsult
A much lighter survey once asked Americans to label European countries, with hilarious results. Admittedly, quizzing Europeans on their knowledge of American states doesn’t go too well either, but isn’t that a bit of a false equivalence? There’s a huge difference between not knowing the parts of another individual country, and not knowing the locations of entire major players in world history and news.
The results of the Europe challenge may be amusing, but it’s hard to see the funny side of geographical ignorance when it involves countries that deeply affect and are affected by the politics of one’s own. We’re not asking anyone to memorize a world map or the historical timeline of another country in five minutes, but if you see a country’s name in the news five times a day and you realize you’re not sure where it is in relation to yours, Wikipedia is free.
A lot of commenters had a hard time believing how people can be this wrong
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Maybe the United States should spend less money going to war, and more money on their education system
As an American stuck in a dumb public school, looking at a bleak future and fighting for a scholarship, i think that might be nice....
Load More Replies...I don't expect people to get it right, but at least knowing the general area would be nice. Also...Dumbfuckistan made me giggle. 😅
When you realise that some located Iran in ...USA
Load More Replies...The best way to learn geography is to have a global map in a toilet with no wifi
I would definitely be better at geography in that circumstance.
Load More Replies...Yeah, obviously that was the point of this whole thing.
Load More Replies...I really hope there ARE lot of trolls who responded to that survey. Thinking otherwise is scaring the bejeezus outta me.
Load More Replies...Rick Merser, talking to Americans again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...So in balance, can this test be given to people from other countries? Results would be interesting.
I remember someone asking people on the street in Hawaii if they knew where the middle east was, the answers were hysterical ... but then again, all you have to do is watch the Canadian icon, Rick Merser in 'Talking to Americans' to fully understand this and the map thing every time it happens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...come on, with all the memes going around and all the guesses IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN it is so clear that the asked People weren't taking it seriously
Something about this whole test is wrong, but I don't know what. Because I refuse to believe that even the dumbest idiot would choose any ocean thinking that is where Iran is. I mean, COME ON!
There are always going to be trolls, who's purpose it is to make life difficult for someone. You could have a poll advocating for the execution of crying toddlers and there would still be people for it.
Load More Replies...Reckon a good chunk of these people are taking the p**s...at least I hope
nope ... I'll bet a good many of them were dead-serious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...I call BS on this. Anyone who's been to a pizza parlor know that Iran isn't in Italy and anyone with a 3rd grade education knows it's not in North America, Antarctica, or the ocean.
Why would anyone think it's in the middle of the ocean? Something seriously wrong with the survey, I think.
Hey they don't know where most of Canada is either and we're right above them.
I can't believe people in the US still ask me if, as a Canadian, I grew up in an igloo? - mind-blown o.0
Load More Replies...While most Americans don't travel beyond the country's borders (Mexico and Canada aside), if you had to ask the average South African who has just finished school where America is, they would doubtless fail miserably. That's what happens when your 'pass' rate is 30% (government schools, private are still up there with the best of them). Clearly basic maths is not a requirement anymore.
You'd expect every news network to add maps to their stories on the thing going on in Iran, but apparently you don't get that in the US? If our countries kills people abroad to instigate a war and then puts out propaganda, they are sure to include maps, so we now what we're going to bomb.
Rick Mercer~Talking To Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...New Rule: The United States is not allowed to go to war with another country unless 75% of its citizens can find that country on a map. There it is, world peace. Where's my Nobel Prize?
I'm not so sure what that map indicates; it's far from entirely being that people didn't know where Iran is. Clearly a lot of people have it confused with Iraq, which is somewhat understandable. More troubling are those who identified Iran as being in the Balkans, in Europe, and those who placed it in the continental United States, which is ridiculous. But what is utterly asinine is that some people placed it in a body of water; did they have Iran confused with Atlantis or something? Still, if you compare maps they did a much better job than identifying the placement of North Korea; those guesses were all over the place.
i imagine just one person didn't mean to click but accidently clicked in the ocean
My elementary school classrooms had U.S. and world maps hung either side of the blackboard. Perhaps this should be federal law.
Speaking as an American, this kind of makes me sad that some Americans really believe these things, but it also makes me wonder if some people got it wrong on purpose. If that's the case, you just made yourself look even more stupid.
I honestly don't expect everyone to know every county on world map. However, how dumb, stupid and uneducated you have to be not to know your own county and oceans?
i can understand people put iran in irak, or syria or any around country… but Italy? France? Did people go to school in America? Italy? really? it's the first country we learn to identify… the country who's shapes like a boots… come on… so many morons. but i bet they know every c**p about the kardashians and how cost beer.
how (or where ) on earth can you take this seriously??? The UK? Australia??
Who dared to offend her majesty the queen by placing 'Iran' in what is meant to be their closest ally. they are a bit brainless aren't they. (Not all of you just most)
The analogy of Americans is like the frog in a well. To that frog the well is the world.
HOW IS AUSTRALIA IRAN! I get Iraq, but seriously.
Hm. The map seems to be missing a country between Egypt and Jordan. How many Americans noticed?
It's because they don't teach geography in school any more! We had 8 years in grammar school, and world history along with American history in high school. We're not all that smart, not putting more money into education, and paying teachers what they deserve..
As a former secondary school and college professor of economic and global history, in metropolitan Los Angeles, I have heard and seen much worse than this...map recognition died when public education dropped geographic knowledge during the rush to standardised examinations in the early 1990s. I am not surprised. -Dr M, retired history professor
can't help but laugh when the old saying gets proven to be too true again and again: "most Americans - including their leaders know absolutely nothing about other countries until they invade them ... and even then it's highly questionable" - and then they wonder why they are mocked and criticized
US should invest money in to their health care and school system as well as for ecology instead of wars for sure. Well I am interested how Europe will end in the test plus if they will be asked to identify one of many states in US. I am European and I laughed when I saw result for similar test until my US friend give me similar test for US and guess what. I have fail for a lot of states
Look I get not being able to pinpoint exactly. There are many places I would struggle to find exactly in a map, I'm from Ireland and I might not be able to accurately position all the counties (not sure, never tried lol). I might even be one of those who flip Iraq and Iran... I definitely couldn't find Uzbekistan. But how... in the name of f**k... can you not identify your own f*****g How do any Americans not know where America *is*.
Not surprising. Most Americans couldn't find their own a*****e with both hands and a map!
Sad proves that our so called institutions of learn have failed but these people would be the first to claim to know everything about the mid east
Should try an anatomy survey - Where's my brain? Or maybe they should just join the dots, make a picture, win a major prize :)
Can you annoying people just stop, though some Americans can be stupid not ALL are stupid. I could say I go to school in a different country and I’m stupid, what that doesn’t mean is the education system isn’t good, it’s just the person and how much they are committed to learn.
1. American school systems are failing us. 2. These same failed students vote 3. A governance/economics/history test should be given to everyone each election. If you pass it, you get to vote. Most Americans today would fail the citizenship test given to people applying for citizenship.
I may get a ton of down votes but I don't see a purpose here. Not ever person knows where all 200+ countries are. Looking at the map it appears most people knew the general area. I know Iran is in the Middle East and know where that area is. Do I know exactly where their boarders are or all the coutries around them, no.
Yes they are. They were asked to point out the country of Iran in the map not "where do Iranians live"
Load More Replies...Its the percentage that correctly guessed, not the demographic make up of respondents.
Load More Replies...Maybe the United States should spend less money going to war, and more money on their education system
As an American stuck in a dumb public school, looking at a bleak future and fighting for a scholarship, i think that might be nice....
Load More Replies...I don't expect people to get it right, but at least knowing the general area would be nice. Also...Dumbfuckistan made me giggle. 😅
When you realise that some located Iran in ...USA
Load More Replies...The best way to learn geography is to have a global map in a toilet with no wifi
I would definitely be better at geography in that circumstance.
Load More Replies...Yeah, obviously that was the point of this whole thing.
Load More Replies...I really hope there ARE lot of trolls who responded to that survey. Thinking otherwise is scaring the bejeezus outta me.
Load More Replies...Rick Merser, talking to Americans again: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...So in balance, can this test be given to people from other countries? Results would be interesting.
I remember someone asking people on the street in Hawaii if they knew where the middle east was, the answers were hysterical ... but then again, all you have to do is watch the Canadian icon, Rick Merser in 'Talking to Americans' to fully understand this and the map thing every time it happens: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...come on, with all the memes going around and all the guesses IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN it is so clear that the asked People weren't taking it seriously
Something about this whole test is wrong, but I don't know what. Because I refuse to believe that even the dumbest idiot would choose any ocean thinking that is where Iran is. I mean, COME ON!
There are always going to be trolls, who's purpose it is to make life difficult for someone. You could have a poll advocating for the execution of crying toddlers and there would still be people for it.
Load More Replies...Reckon a good chunk of these people are taking the p**s...at least I hope
nope ... I'll bet a good many of them were dead-serious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...I call BS on this. Anyone who's been to a pizza parlor know that Iran isn't in Italy and anyone with a 3rd grade education knows it's not in North America, Antarctica, or the ocean.
Why would anyone think it's in the middle of the ocean? Something seriously wrong with the survey, I think.
Hey they don't know where most of Canada is either and we're right above them.
I can't believe people in the US still ask me if, as a Canadian, I grew up in an igloo? - mind-blown o.0
Load More Replies...While most Americans don't travel beyond the country's borders (Mexico and Canada aside), if you had to ask the average South African who has just finished school where America is, they would doubtless fail miserably. That's what happens when your 'pass' rate is 30% (government schools, private are still up there with the best of them). Clearly basic maths is not a requirement anymore.
You'd expect every news network to add maps to their stories on the thing going on in Iran, but apparently you don't get that in the US? If our countries kills people abroad to instigate a war and then puts out propaganda, they are sure to include maps, so we now what we're going to bomb.
Rick Mercer~Talking To Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFgPX0hnNfA&t=87s
Load More Replies...New Rule: The United States is not allowed to go to war with another country unless 75% of its citizens can find that country on a map. There it is, world peace. Where's my Nobel Prize?
I'm not so sure what that map indicates; it's far from entirely being that people didn't know where Iran is. Clearly a lot of people have it confused with Iraq, which is somewhat understandable. More troubling are those who identified Iran as being in the Balkans, in Europe, and those who placed it in the continental United States, which is ridiculous. But what is utterly asinine is that some people placed it in a body of water; did they have Iran confused with Atlantis or something? Still, if you compare maps they did a much better job than identifying the placement of North Korea; those guesses were all over the place.
i imagine just one person didn't mean to click but accidently clicked in the ocean
My elementary school classrooms had U.S. and world maps hung either side of the blackboard. Perhaps this should be federal law.
Speaking as an American, this kind of makes me sad that some Americans really believe these things, but it also makes me wonder if some people got it wrong on purpose. If that's the case, you just made yourself look even more stupid.
I honestly don't expect everyone to know every county on world map. However, how dumb, stupid and uneducated you have to be not to know your own county and oceans?
i can understand people put iran in irak, or syria or any around country… but Italy? France? Did people go to school in America? Italy? really? it's the first country we learn to identify… the country who's shapes like a boots… come on… so many morons. but i bet they know every c**p about the kardashians and how cost beer.
how (or where ) on earth can you take this seriously??? The UK? Australia??
Who dared to offend her majesty the queen by placing 'Iran' in what is meant to be their closest ally. they are a bit brainless aren't they. (Not all of you just most)
The analogy of Americans is like the frog in a well. To that frog the well is the world.
HOW IS AUSTRALIA IRAN! I get Iraq, but seriously.
Hm. The map seems to be missing a country between Egypt and Jordan. How many Americans noticed?
It's because they don't teach geography in school any more! We had 8 years in grammar school, and world history along with American history in high school. We're not all that smart, not putting more money into education, and paying teachers what they deserve..
As a former secondary school and college professor of economic and global history, in metropolitan Los Angeles, I have heard and seen much worse than this...map recognition died when public education dropped geographic knowledge during the rush to standardised examinations in the early 1990s. I am not surprised. -Dr M, retired history professor
can't help but laugh when the old saying gets proven to be too true again and again: "most Americans - including their leaders know absolutely nothing about other countries until they invade them ... and even then it's highly questionable" - and then they wonder why they are mocked and criticized
US should invest money in to their health care and school system as well as for ecology instead of wars for sure. Well I am interested how Europe will end in the test plus if they will be asked to identify one of many states in US. I am European and I laughed when I saw result for similar test until my US friend give me similar test for US and guess what. I have fail for a lot of states
Look I get not being able to pinpoint exactly. There are many places I would struggle to find exactly in a map, I'm from Ireland and I might not be able to accurately position all the counties (not sure, never tried lol). I might even be one of those who flip Iraq and Iran... I definitely couldn't find Uzbekistan. But how... in the name of f**k... can you not identify your own f*****g How do any Americans not know where America *is*.
Not surprising. Most Americans couldn't find their own a*****e with both hands and a map!
Sad proves that our so called institutions of learn have failed but these people would be the first to claim to know everything about the mid east
Should try an anatomy survey - Where's my brain? Or maybe they should just join the dots, make a picture, win a major prize :)
Can you annoying people just stop, though some Americans can be stupid not ALL are stupid. I could say I go to school in a different country and I’m stupid, what that doesn’t mean is the education system isn’t good, it’s just the person and how much they are committed to learn.
1. American school systems are failing us. 2. These same failed students vote 3. A governance/economics/history test should be given to everyone each election. If you pass it, you get to vote. Most Americans today would fail the citizenship test given to people applying for citizenship.
I may get a ton of down votes but I don't see a purpose here. Not ever person knows where all 200+ countries are. Looking at the map it appears most people knew the general area. I know Iran is in the Middle East and know where that area is. Do I know exactly where their boarders are or all the coutries around them, no.
Yes they are. They were asked to point out the country of Iran in the map not "where do Iranians live"
Load More Replies...Its the percentage that correctly guessed, not the demographic make up of respondents.
Load More Replies...
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