C.1] Continents, Countries, Capitals and Their Currencies

1. Seven Continents Overview

1.1 Continents and Their Key Characteristics

1.2 Important Facts

• Asia is the largest and most populous continent.
• Africa is the second-largest continent and has the largest number of countries.
• Antarctica is the only continent without a permanent population.
• Europe is the smallest continent by area but has the highest population density.
• Australia is often considered a continent and a country.

2. Major Countries, Capitals, and Currencies

2.1 List of Major Countries with Capitals and Currencies

2.2 Important Notes

• Eurozone Countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Ireland, Cyprus, Malta, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Finland.
• Major Currencies in Global Trade: USD, EUR, JPY, CNY, and GBP are the most widely used.
• Common Currency Confusions:
  • INR is the currency of India.
  • BRL is the currency of Brazil.
  • ZAR is the currency of South Africa.
  • AED is the currency of the UAE.
  • QAR is the currency of Qatar.
• Currencies of Newly Independent Countries:
  • Nigeria: NGN
  • Bangladesh: BDT
  • Pakistan: PKR
  • Iran: IRR
  • Turkey: TRY
  • Israel: ILS
  • Vietnam: VND
  • Thailand: THB
  • Malaysia: MYR
  • Philippines: PHP

2.3 Frequently Asked Questions (SSC, RRB)

• Which country has the highest population? – India (approx. 1.4 billion)
• Which country has the largest area? – Russia (approx. 17.1 million km²)
• Which country is known as the “Land of the Rising Sun”? – Japan
• Which country is known as the “Land of the Midnight Sun”? – Norway
• Which country is known as the “Land of the Thunderbolt”? – Thailand
• Which country is known as the “Land of the Long White Cloud”? – New Zealand
• Which country is known as the “Land of the Lion”? – South Africa
• Which country has the longest coastline? – Canada
• Which country has the longest river? – Canada (Mississippi-Missouri River system)
• Which country has the highest GDP? – United States
• Which country has the highest GDP per capita? – Luxembourg
• Which country has the highest life expectancy? – Japan
• Which country has the lowest life expectancy? – Central African Republic

2.4 Currency Conversion and Exchange

• USD to EUR: 1 USD ≈ 0.93 EUR (as of 2023)
• USD to INR: 1 USD ≈ 82 INR (as of 2023)
• USD to CNY: 1 USD ≈ 7.2 CNY (as of 2023)
• USD to JPY: 1 USD ≈ 149 JPY (as of 2023)
• USD to BRL: 1 USD ≈ 5.25 BRL (as of 2023)
• USD to ZAR: 1 USD ≈ 15.8 ZAR (as of 2023)
• USD to AED: 1 USD ≈ 3.67 AED (as of 2023)
• USD to QAR: 1 USD ≈ 3.64 QAR (as of 2023)
• USD to NGN: 1 USD ≈ 1,500 NGN (as of 2023)
• USD to BDT: 1 USD ≈ 95 BDT (as of 2023)
• USD to PKR: 1 USD ≈ 165 PKR (as of 2023)
• USD to IRR: 1 USD ≈ 420,000 IRR (as of 2023)
• USD to TRY: 1 USD ≈ 9.3 TRY (as of 2023)
• USD to ILS: 1 USD ≈ 3.4 ILS (as of 2023)
• USD to VND: 1 USD ≈ 3,400 VND (as of 2023)
• USD to THB: 1 USD ≈ 34.5 THB (as of 2023)
• USD to MYR: 1 USD ≈ 4.85 MYR (as of 2023)
• USD to PHP: 1 USD ≈ 57.5 PHP (as of 2023)
• USD to COP: 1 USD ≈ 450 COP (as of 2023)
• USD to PEN: 1 USD ≈ 3.9 PEN (as of 2023)
• USD to ARS: 1 USD ≈ 90 ARS (as of 2023)
• USD to CLP: 1 USD ≈ 860 CLP (as of 2023)

2.5 Key Terms and Definitions

• Capital: The administrative, political, and often economic center of a country.
• Currency: A system of money used in a country or region.
• Eurozone: A group of European Union (EU) member states that have adopted the euro as their official currency.
• Exchange Rate: The rate at which one currency is exchanged for another.
• Floating Exchange Rate: A system where the value of a currency is determined by market forces of supply and demand.
• Fixed Exchange Rate: A system where the value of a currency is pegged to another currency or a basket of currencies.
• Inflation: The rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services is rising.
• Devaluation: A reduction in the value of a currency relative to other currencies.
• Revaluation: An increase in the value of a currency relative to other currencies.
• Currency Peg: A policy where a country’s currency is fixed at a specific exchange rate relative to another currency or basket of currencies.
• Foreign Exchange Reserves: The stock of foreign currency held by a country’s central bank to stabilize its currency and support international trade.

2.6 Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Confusing INR with Ruble (Russia uses RUB).
• Confusing BRL with Brazilian Real (BRL is the correct code).
• Confusing ZAR with South African Rand (ZAR is the correct code).
• Confusing AED with UAE Dirham (AED is the correct code).
• Confusing QAR with Qatari Riyal (QAR is the correct code).
• Confusing NGN with Nigerian Naira (NGN is the correct code).
• Confusing BDT with Bangladeshi Taka (BDT is the correct code).
• Confusing PKR with Pakistani Rupee (PKR is the correct code).
• Confusing IRR with Iranian Rial (IRR is the correct code).
• Confusing TRY with Turkish Lira (TRY is the correct code).
• Confusing ILS with Israeli Shekel (ILS is the correct code).
• Confusing VND with Vietnamese Dong (VND is the correct code).
• Confusing THB with Thai Baht (THB is the correct code).
• Confusing MYR with Malaysian Ringgit (MYR is the correct code).
• Confusing PHP with Philippine Peso (PHP is the correct code).
• Confusing COP with Colombian Peso (COP is the correct code).
• Confusing PEN with Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN is the correct code).
• Confusing ARS with Argentine Peso (ARS is the correct code).
• Confusing CLP with Chilean Peso (CLP is the correct code).