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 Religion
Country
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