Comparing Europe’s Ten Largest Countries

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

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

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

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

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

Poland

Limited Government (President Bronislaw Komorowski)

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

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

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

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

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

Comparing Statistics

Country GDP per capita Literacy Rate Life Expectancy

France $36,100 99% 81.56 years

Spain $31,100 97.7% 81.37 years

Germany $39,700 99% 80.32 years

Italy $30,600 99% 81.95 years

Ukraine $7500 99.7% 68.93 years

Poland $20,900 99.7% 76.45 years

Sweden $41,900 99% 81.28 years

Norway $55,900 100% 80.44 years

Finland $37,000 100% 79.55 years

Russia $18,000 99.7% 69.85 years

Comparing Language and ReligionCountry Language Religion

France French Roman Catholic

Spain Castillian Spanish Roman Catholic

Germany German Protestant, Roman Catholic

Italy Italian, German, French, Slovene Christian (all faiths)

Ukraine Ukrainian, Russian Ukrainian Orthodox

Poland Polish Roman Catholic

Sweden Swedish Lutheran

Norway Bokmal Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran

Finland Finnish Lutheran

Russia Russian Russian Orthodox