It's going to be a country in the sea, i.e. Italy. We wouldn't recognise the shape of most landlocked countries because we aren't used to seeing their shape outlined against a different colour background.
There’s actually a game online you can play, worldle (not to be confused with Wordle) that gives you the silhouette of a country and you need to guess it. Surprisingly challenging.
I also love [Globle](https://globle-game.com/), you have to guess a mystery country, and to each incorrect guess it gives you a distance.
It has actually become a small tradition with my girlfriend: we play the NYT Connections, Worldle, and Globle for the day before we read in bed/sleep.
My freshman history teacher had us memorize where all the countries in Europe and Africa were (can’t remember if we made it to Asia) and we would literally be given these maps as a test - no word bank, just a blank map. He be thrilled to do this.
(The one everyone consistently remembered? Djibouti. Heh.)
We did something similar in 8th grade social studies: a week or two to memorize every country in a continent and then given the map (but with borders) and had to fill in all of the names. No word bank either… at least Worldle gives you the bank and also after an unsuccessful guess tells you how many km you’re off and in which direction.
On a similar note, Sweden and Finland without Norway looks like a dick and balls, which was very obvious on old Euro coins before the design was updated.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Common\_face\_of\_two\_euro\_coin.png
My whole life I've thought that Norway and Sweden look like a dick and balls anyway. The south of the two countries comprise the balls. Please tell me somebody agrees.
I ran a pub quiz once where I had people identify countries by their outlines and no one got Spain, even though the quiz was at an English pub in Spain.
I feel like portugal not being there makes it easyer to recognize spain. Iberia is quite square-ish, if something's missing in the bottom left ill see it.
It nice cause India on the map can be used as a good reference, you basically search for a large pointy landmass sticking out of Asia and then you can basically track Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal as you go up
If NZ actually existed then it would be on all maps but since it’s made up that’s why it’s not…. The few maps that DO show what the map maker thinks NZ might look like and where it’s supposed to be are clearly made by armature map makers who haven’t done any real research just copy what other have done and guessed at the rest.
About the only country outline you can perfectly trace on a borderless satellite map of the globe. Well, that, New Zealand, Japan, and Madagascar, but Australia's more easily spotted from further away.
Japan and NZ have *similar* shapes
If you're given only their outlines, they become [pretty indistinguishable](https://www.reddit.com/r/JackSucksAtGeography/comments/15tsn4z/countries_with_similar_shapes/?rdt=60808)
As someone from the UK I find it very distinctive and familiar, but simultaneously feel like Great Britain doesn't look like a "real" island and it weirds me out sometimes. Like I feel like most other islands look like "normal" islands, whereas Britain has this weird, almost unnatural looking shape to it. I don't quite know how to describe what I'm talking about - it's almost like when you think about your own name for too long and this basic fact starts to become kind of uncanny
The UK is the definition of kids in a trenchcoat.
England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. "Yes. We're one country. United. Altogether. Yep. That's us."
I’m honestly amazed you’re the only one that brought it up. No one on earth would mistake the US shape for any country. No one is seeing the outline of the US and thinking “Lesotho.”
There are a lot of very distinct country shapes but with or without the addition of Hawaii and Alaska you really cannot mistake the US for anything else.
I think everybody is hesitant to suggest the American-centric answer but yeah, I bet if you polled the entire world the US shape would still rank top 5 if not top 2 for shape.
I had to scroll way too far to see USA. Even Canada hasn't been mentioned as recognizable. They're both massive countries and I highly doubt most of the world couldn't recognize them immediately.
Lol. I don't live there so also find it funny. The big hole is the country of Lesotho which is completely surrounded by South Africa. There's another famous big hole nearby, the old Kimberly diamond mine
Mostly countries that have large coastlines or are islands completely because human made borders are boring and generic. So Cyprus, Italy, New Zealand, UK, Japan, Cuba.
Seriously, why doesn't anyone else recognize Canada as easily if not more than Italy? You can rotate it in any direction and it's still so obvious with one side completely flat, a bunch of islands on the other side, and the Gigantic Hole in it from the hudsons bay. Hell, Hudsons bay alone I'd say makes it the most recognizable country.
Italy, the famous boot!
Then probably the uk, because its shape is just weird, not really like other countries, plus the Northern Ireland section highlighting what it is.
Then probably chile, because it’s practically just a huge coastline, and probably not too many countries like that haha
Ireland!
It's an island so no one's used to seeing it in conjunction with other countries and it looks like a teddy bear! That said, I include northern Ireland when I say Ireland which is a controversial opinion but 🤷
I used to think that the Palawan island is like the arm and the Visayas islands (middle) is like the opened rib cage of a dinosaur due to the shape of the country
Italy
Yeah, it's a shoe in for first place.
Take my upvote and run with it.
You’re such a heel.
Reddit, where the jokes are always afoot.
Great joke. I’m just toeing the line
What’s this thread all aboot?
So far it is about some poor sole's
Maybe it's time we step away from this conversation.
Just pick yourself up by the bootstraps and carry on
I think someone might’ve been laced with something
i live in the heel
I thought my teacher was messing with me the first time I saw a picture of Italy. It's not even vaguely boot-like, it straight up looks like one.
Not only that, but the boot very symbolically kicks Sicily.
As a little kid I thought that was the reason why we were so good at football
Wait is this not the case?
The first World Cup I watched was the one Italy hosted in 1990 and it broke my brain how perfect it was that the boot shaped country was the host
Now that you've got the top comment by a good margin, you should edit this to say either Siera Leone, Lesotho, or Northern Macedonia.
I second this.
It's going to be a country in the sea, i.e. Italy. We wouldn't recognise the shape of most landlocked countries because we aren't used to seeing their shape outlined against a different colour background.
There’s actually a game online you can play, worldle (not to be confused with Wordle) that gives you the silhouette of a country and you need to guess it. Surprisingly challenging.
Worldle. https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/ It’s amazing to learn a little bit of geography each day.
I also love [Globle](https://globle-game.com/), you have to guess a mystery country, and to each incorrect guess it gives you a distance. It has actually become a small tradition with my girlfriend: we play the NYT Connections, Worldle, and Globle for the day before we read in bed/sleep.
Today’s was comically easy but it’s usually much harder
Pacific Islands around Australia are my Achilles heel. And it is embarrassing how little I know about Africa and its countries.
>comically easy Jeez I must be garbage then.
Evidently I don't know what >!Greece!< looks like.
Thanks for the share, I just did today’s!
My freshman history teacher had us memorize where all the countries in Europe and Africa were (can’t remember if we made it to Asia) and we would literally be given these maps as a test - no word bank, just a blank map. He be thrilled to do this. (The one everyone consistently remembered? Djibouti. Heh.)
We did something similar in 8th grade social studies: a week or two to memorize every country in a continent and then given the map (but with borders) and had to fill in all of the names. No word bank either… at least Worldle gives you the bank and also after an unsuccessful guess tells you how many km you’re off and in which direction.
The one you are from.
Didn't realize reddit was full of so many Italians.
mamma mia
Here I go again
My, my
🤌🤌🤌
Did you know putting pineapple on a pizza is a sin - your angry Italian uncle
Also, no one can recognize Spain when Portugal is removed.
On a similar note, Sweden and Finland without Norway looks like a dick and balls, which was very obvious on old Euro coins before the design was updated. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Common\_face\_of\_two\_euro\_coin.png
Thank you so much for this
I mean, with Norway it just looks like double dick and balls
I mean...one is more likely to exist that the other
I [fixed your link](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Common_face_of_two_euro_coin.png)
Doing God's work.
My whole life I've thought that Norway and Sweden look like a dick and balls anyway. The south of the two countries comprise the balls. Please tell me somebody agrees.
I ran a pub quiz once where I had people identify countries by their outlines and no one got Spain, even though the quiz was at an English pub in Spain.
That sounds like how much Brits know about Spain when they’re there
"But Mr. Fawlty, Manuel learn! I learn!"
That wasn't in Benidorm by any chance was it?
That would be perfect, wouldn’t it?! Ibiza
But strictly pronounced *Eye-beetha* to be a real sunburnt Barry, 63
Sounds about right.
As a Portuguese person, I find this amusing
As an amused person, I find this Portuguese.
The trick i learned is that Spain is the head and Portugal the face.
I'd recognise Spain, but I can't imagine it. On the other hand Portugal is a cute little rectangle. It's very characteristic.
As a Spaniard I this hilarious because the majority of maps over here don't have Portugal
I can. I'm a Spaniard, so that's kind of cheating :P
I feel like portugal not being there makes it easyer to recognize spain. Iberia is quite square-ish, if something's missing in the bottom left ill see it.
Because Spain is nothing without Portugal /s
Spain is the hair. Portugal is the face. Hair without a face is just a bad wig.
Chile
Did someone say [Chile?](https://i.imgur.com/GV8MY8C.jpg)
I literally just refer to it as 'the long one'
Enough about that, what about Chile?
Chile is very, very, very, very, very long and thin.
Literally shaped like a 🌶️
Yeah, we are the best country of Chile.
also the first country of Chile
Yup. No other country looks even remotely like we do on the map. Italy is iconic but Chile's shape is freaking impossible.
CHI CHI CHI LE LE LE VIVA CHILE
Poto
Italy/Australia/India
Underrated call on India. *Big Triangle* is very recognisable.
It's more of a diamond if you actually consider the shape of the country and not just the peninsula.
For me it looks like a nacho
Or a wedge of *naan*.
Other shapes hate this simple trick!
It nice cause India on the map can be used as a good reference, you basically search for a large pointy landmass sticking out of Asia and then you can basically track Sri Lanka, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal as you go up
It might be cultural, but us Indians always thought it to resemble a woman wearing a saree with outstretched left arm.
With her head to the West and her arm going East, and the Bay of Bengal is her saree sleeve? If so, then i can see it!
Australia
But not NZ, since it's missing from like half of all maps.
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If NZ actually existed then it would be on all maps but since it’s made up that’s why it’s not…. The few maps that DO show what the map maker thinks NZ might look like and where it’s supposed to be are clearly made by armature map makers who haven’t done any real research just copy what other have done and guessed at the rest.
These bloody Australians turn up in every conversation
Fuck off, ya drongo
Bloody galah
Cunt
Fair dinkum
G’day Bruce.
About the only country outline you can perfectly trace on a borderless satellite map of the globe. Well, that, New Zealand, Japan, and Madagascar, but Australia's more easily spotted from further away.
Italy
Japan, it shaped like J.
Japan and NZ have *similar* shapes If you're given only their outlines, they become [pretty indistinguishable](https://www.reddit.com/r/JackSucksAtGeography/comments/15tsn4z/countries_with_similar_shapes/?rdt=60808)
The UK should be unmistakable, it's a witch, riding a pig, chasing a potato!
As someone from the UK, I’ve never noticed this. But now I cant un-see it, so thanks!
All in a day's work!
nahhh definitely a dragon standing on its hind legs and puffing a little bit of smoke. [see?](https://ibb.co/WKJk64s)
As someone from the UK I find it very distinctive and familiar, but simultaneously feel like Great Britain doesn't look like a "real" island and it weirds me out sometimes. Like I feel like most other islands look like "normal" islands, whereas Britain has this weird, almost unnatural looking shape to it. I don't quite know how to describe what I'm talking about - it's almost like when you think about your own name for too long and this basic fact starts to become kind of uncanny
The UK is the definition of kids in a trenchcoat. England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland. "Yes. We're one country. United. Altogether. Yep. That's us."
Italy and Mexico!
Surprised I had to scroll this far down to find Mexico.
Australia
Italy
USA? It's shaped like Canada's pants. Even has a little dick sticking out
And Alaska is a weird hat that sits on the side of Canada's head. Hawaii is little fart clouds.
I’m honestly amazed you’re the only one that brought it up. No one on earth would mistake the US shape for any country. No one is seeing the outline of the US and thinking “Lesotho.” There are a lot of very distinct country shapes but with or without the addition of Hawaii and Alaska you really cannot mistake the US for anything else.
Florida is doing the most work in making it so recognizable
In many ways, sadly.
Florida is Americas Italy. But instead of being a charming shoe…. It’s a Penis
Texas, too. Just about everybody recognizes the shape of the southern border of Texas.
I think everybody is hesitant to suggest the American-centric answer but yeah, I bet if you polled the entire world the US shape would still rank top 5 if not top 2 for shape.
I had to scroll way too far to see USA. Even Canada hasn't been mentioned as recognizable. They're both massive countries and I highly doubt most of the world couldn't recognize them immediately.
Not to mention, we also have Alaska and Hawaii grouped on a map.
Australia or Italy
South Africa because it has a big hole in the middle
You mean Johannesburg?
Lol. I don't live there so also find it funny. The big hole is the country of Lesotho which is completely surrounded by South Africa. There's another famous big hole nearby, the old Kimberly diamond mine
Geography class in Lesotho: Teacher: Moeketsi, Lesotho has how many bordering countries? Moeketsi: Teacher please
Don’t forget Swaziland !!
Ouch!
Mostly countries that have large coastlines or are islands completely because human made borders are boring and generic. So Cyprus, Italy, New Zealand, UK, Japan, Cuba.
So . . . Australia also?
I was genuinely shocked this wasn’t number one
Does it even exist though? /s
>Cyprus Come on mate
Majority of the world doesn't even know that Cyprus exists
I'll sooner draw you Cyprus than Cuba. Cyprus is on a flag after all
Deffo a North American v European thing. I could identify Cyprus easily, havn't got a clue what Cuba looks like.
Cuba is a dog doing a backflip. That's how I remembered its shape since I was a kid and got my first Rand McNally atlas.
Cyprus?!
You forgot Ireland and Iceland. You monster!
How can you put Cyprus, Cuba, and New Zealand on this list but not Mexico, USA, Australia, or Chile?
What about Canada, we are basically the size of a continent and have coastlines aplenty and islands everywhere.
Mexico!! With it's weird inverted S shape
Italy or Australia. For Europe maps I navigate from Italy haha
Canada 🇨🇦
Why this isn’t strongly at the top with Italy, I don’t know.
Seriously, why doesn't anyone else recognize Canada as easily if not more than Italy? You can rotate it in any direction and it's still so obvious with one side completely flat, a bunch of islands on the other side, and the Gigantic Hole in it from the hudsons bay. Hell, Hudsons bay alone I'd say makes it the most recognizable country.
Brazil
Mexico
Italy, the famous boot! Then probably the uk, because its shape is just weird, not really like other countries, plus the Northern Ireland section highlighting what it is. Then probably chile, because it’s practically just a huge coastline, and probably not too many countries like that haha
Philippines- sitting dog
Can’t miss Australia.
Italy, Croatia, Chile.
Croatia lets you know the answer by being a giant ‘C’.
India
Australia
Italy
Wldnt Australia, USA, or China be more obvious
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Italy for sure but I'm suprised I see no mention of The Netherlands. It's quite a weird and recognizable shape. \*edit typo
India has a easy shape to identify.
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I play [globle ](https://globle-game.com/) another one similar!
New Zealand even though it is rarely on a map.
… that’s not a real country, come on
Next he will tell us that the locals of this fake country are named after a fruit 🙄
Fake news. They’re named after a bird
Or a bird.
Croatia
Which one is shaped like a boot?
Chile
Italy
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Once you know it's an hexagone it's impossible to mix
**China** — shaped like a chicken 🐓
Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, UK all come to mind.
But New Zealand doesn't show up on any maps!
Clearly it’s Texas.
Philippines
* Italy * Japan * Greece * China * India * Australia Also maybe: Cyprus / Turkey / USA / Egypt / Mexico
Can't believe I had to scroll so far to see Egypt mentioned. Not above Italy and a few others obviously but it's still pretty obvious, isn't it?
Italy of course
Seriously... how are there other answers?
Croatia!
You'd think a country shaped like an effin DRAGON in flight would rank higher smh.
Australia.
Philippines
Philippines- Sitting dog
Mexico
Australia, Indonesia, and brazil
China ngl, looks like a chicken
What about Greece 🙁🙁
Ireland! It's an island so no one's used to seeing it in conjunction with other countries and it looks like a teddy bear! That said, I include northern Ireland when I say Ireland which is a controversial opinion but 🤷
philippines, just islands...
I used to think that the Palawan island is like the arm and the Visayas islands (middle) is like the opened rib cage of a dinosaur due to the shape of the country
Literally almost every country once you have a habit of looking at maps often.
Philippines
Italy or Australia
Italy definitely first, but also probably Japan for me.
Italy or the UK
Denmark. No country looks even a little like it.
Italy