16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh
Religions
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)
Languages
Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9% note: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2001 census)
Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)
Muslim 95% (Sunni 75%, Shia 20%), other (includes Christian and Hindu) 5%
Languages
Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9% note: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2001 census)
Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski and other 8%
The 2008 global financial crisis slowed overall global economic growth for a number of years, however, some countries never felt the impact as hard. Instead, their GDP levels stabilized and per capita income increased. These top 10 richest countries have done well in the past decade and their fortunes improve with each passing year.
10 – Austria
The alpine nation has a population of about 8.5 million people with a healthy per capita income of $39,711, which is about four times higher than the per capita income for the average person globally. Its robust service sector and its proximity to Germany provide a ready market for its steel, iron and agricultural products. The Capital city, Vienna is the fifth richest metropolis in Europe behind Hamburg, London, Luxembourg, and Brussels.
9 – Ireland
The Emerald Isle has a per capita income of about $39,999 with a population of about 4.8 million people. The main industries that boost its economy are textiles, mining, food production, staple products in any economy. In OECD (Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development) rankings, Ireland actually places 4th overall.
8 – Netherlands
With 16.8 million people, and a per capita GDP of $42,447, the Dutch are more than just a tulip country. Its success comes from three key sectors: mining, agriculture, and manufacturing. Many people do not know that the Netherlands is actually a kingdom of four countries: Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands and Sint Maarten but the Netherlands makes up 98% of the total land area in the Kingdom.
7 – Switzerland
The GDP per Swiss citizen is $46,424. Swiss banking and financial institutions keep this country and its economy afloat. It is important to note that some of the wealthiest people and companies in the world own Swiss bank accounts and therefore Switzerland has excess capital to use for investment purposes. Zurich and Geneva, Switzerland's most well known cities, have consistently ranked among the top ten highest living standard cities in the world.
6 – The United States
While most nations on the list have small populations (relatively), it is impressive that the world's largest economy, the United States, can maintain a per capita GDP of $47,084, considering its population of over 310 million people. Reasons behind its success include its large domestic automotive industry, technological sector that foster innovation, and a system of democracy that protects entrepreneurial and intellectual property rights.
5 – Singapore
This tiny city-state has a per capita income of $56,797, which is five times the average per capita income for an ordinary individual in the world. The basis of Singapore's wealth is its financial services sector, a chemical export industry, and its liberal economic policies that encourage growth and innovation. Singapore has the second busiest port in the world, exporting $414 billion of goods in 2011 alone.
4 – Norway
This Nordic nation's per capita GDP of $56,920 allows its 4.97 million people to reap the benefits of a small yet robust economy. Driven by fishing, natural resources, and major petroleum exploration, Norway is the eighth largest exporter of crude oil, 9th largest exporter of refined oil, and 3rd largest exporter of natural gas in the world.
3 – The United Arab Emirates
This Middle Eastern federation of emirates has a land area of about 32,278 sq. miles, which means it could easily fit within New York State (54,556 sq. miles). With a population of 9.2 million people, it's a bit more populated than the state of New Jersey. A third of the $57,744 per capita economy comes from oil revenues, while the service sector and telecommunications also contribute significantly. The UAE is the second largest economy in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia.
2 – Luxembourg
A symbol of wealth, number two on the list has a per capita GDP of $89,862, which is nine times the world average. The backbone of this strong economy is its vibrant financial sector, prudent fiscal policies, and dynamic industrial and steel sectors. Banking in Luxembourg is the largest sector of its economy with an asset base of over $1.24 trillion alone.
1 – Qatar
Qatar ranks number one on the list of the top 10 richest nations because of its high GDP per capita of $91,379, which is just $8,621 shy of $100,000. Qatar has a well developed oil exploration industry where the petroleum industry accounts for 70% of its government revenue, 60% of its GDP and 85% of its export earnings. Because of its wealth and economic success, it has been chosen as the host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first Arab nation to ever hold this role.
Etiquette holds a special place in the structure of all culture, however, for the Japanese, it can be considered more than just a part of culture; it is paramount.
Japanese etiquette is symbolic, meaningful, and dynamic; it changes frequently based on the situation, the relationship, the region, and with time. With Tokyo and Osaka both topping the charts as the world's safest cities, and Asian influence growing in the West, visitors are flocking to the East Asian giant to discover what makes Japan so special. Here are a few tips on how to behave.
Meeting and Greeting Etiquette
Present and accept all business cards with two hands (Thinkstock)
Greetings in Japan are filled with ritual. Although they will shake hands with foreigners, do not expect them to shake hands amongst themselves. Japanese greetings are made with a bow. Bowing properly is an easy way to forge a good first impression. Failing to bow correctly is the equivalent of giving a limp handshake in the United States.
A bow can range from a small nod of the head to a deep bow. The level at which someone bows corresponds to the relationship with the person as well as the respect you want to show. Simply put, the deeper the bow, the more respect you show.
In Japan, the written order of names is reversed; the last name comes first and first name comes last (e.g. Full Name: Uematsu Nobuo, First Name: Nobuo, Last Name: Uematsu). In conversation, a title is typically added to the name that is appropriate with the relationship:
–San: Common neutral title for adults. –Kun: Informal title for young men –Chan: Informal title for young children or very close friends or acquaintances. –Sama: Formal version of -san –Sensei: Title used for professionals, teachers, or highly educated people.
Business cards have a special place in Asian culture and are treated very differently than in North America. A card is considered to be a direct representation of the person whose name is printed on it and the quality of their work. As such, the act of taking a business card and quickly placing it into a pocket or wallet like a receipt is considered highly offensive.
Key Points:
A handshake is appropriate if that is your common greeting.
Watch a few Japanese bows before attempting one yourself.
Appending a person's name with –san is equivalent to using "sir" or "ma'am."
Invest in high quality business cards.
Print cards in both Japanese and English. Include your title or position.
Present your card with both hands and have the Japanese writing face up.
Bow while facing the person and be prepared to receive business cards.
Look at them very carefully and treat them delicately; don't wrinkle, fold, or scratch them.
House Rules
If invited to a home, make sure to bring a gift with you. Play it safe with a food or liquor based gift. Fruit is especially prized or a bottle of saké or whiskey will go over well with most hosts.
We've all been in this situation; Our guests are arriving and we could use a few more minutes for final preparations. For that exact reason, it has become a common custom in Japan to arrive at a person's home 5 minutes after the invitation time. It isn't considered being rude, it's the epitome of fashionably late.
After being invited into the home, remember to always remove your shoes; walking into a home with shoes on is considered unclean. There are often slippers provided for visitors, but be sure to wear clean socks at all times just in case. There will likely be a different set of slippers for the bathroom. Be sure to use them as wearing the same pair of slippers in and out of the washroom is considered unhygienic.
If you are staying with a Japanese family, don't be taken aback by an offer to use their bath. Taking a bath is meant to be a relaxing experience at the end of the day, but taking a bath comes with its own set of rules.
Key Points
Bring a small gift to any home you are invited to.
Wait 5 minutes after the scheduled invitation time before knocking.
Be sure to wear clean socks as you'll be expected to remove your shoes.
Use the bathroom slippers provided.
Rinse yourself before slipping into the bath.
Don't soap yourself in the bath, get out, and clean in the shower.
Why go through all this hassle for a bath? Because everyone will be sharing the same bathwater.
Table Manners
A traditional Japanese meal of Shrimp, Fish & Rice (Thinkstock)
While in Japan, if eating at a restaurant or at a locals home, wait until placed before you take a seat. If no chairs are present, kneeling down on your knees, and sitting on the heels of your feet is the proper way to take your place at the table.
Key Points
Guests of honour sit at the center of the table, usually the farthest place from the door - historically the safest spot in the room.
The guest of honour is also the person who takes the first bite. Start eating after he has.
An equivalent to “Bon Appétit" is “itadakimasu", which translates roughly to “I humbly receive".
You can lift small bowls of rice and soup to your mouth to avoid spills, but bigger bowls should be left on the table, especially if the plate is shared.
If it's shared, you have to use the provided chopsticks to serve yourself. If those aren't included, use the opposite ends of your own chopsticks.
Once the meal is done, replace everything as it was served, that means putting the lids back on the plates and not leaving your chopsticks in your dish.
If you finish every grain of rice in your bowl, it means you're satisfied. It's not considered impolite to leave food on your plate; it signifies that you want more. Conversely, leave an empty glass and you will be served again; leave a bit in your glass if you're finished.
Like most places: burping, loud munching, and blowing your nose at the table are bad manners. Pointing with your chopsticks, sticking them vertically on the dish, or waving them above the dish — these are all considered bad manners.
Last, a note on gratuities: Tipping is not required nor expected anywhere in Japan, even in the tourism industry. Often times, Japanese will not even accept tips given, which may be interpreted as a rude gesture. Offering a gift is the preferred way to show gratitude. For example: If you've an amazing hotel bartender during your entire stay, you can always buy him a small present to show your thanks.
Physical Appearance
There is no strict dress code in Japan. The rules are similar to North America, that is, dress appropriately for the situation, either formal or informal. The kimono is still worn for special occasions but in no way mandatory.
Public display of tattoos is somewhat taboo in Japan. They have become known as a symbol of the Yakuza, the organized criminal gangs of Japan. There are many public areas that will ban people with tattoos including public baths, shrines, and temples. If possible, cover your tattoos as much as possible in mixed company.
Conclusion
It is important to note that these are but a general subset of Japanese etiquettes and they undoubtedly vary regionally. They do provide, however, an indication of the level of ceremony and deep respect of social conduct common in various Japanese settings
149 million square kilometers (57.5 million square miles) of land is a huge area. It's actually all the land area on earth. But with 7,125,000,000 people sharing our planet, it boils down to 48 people sharing each square km.
Geography isn't fair: In New York City there are 10,725 people sharing each square kilometer; in Singapore, density is over 7,300; in Hong Kong, nearly 6,400; these places can feel as cramped as an endless subway ride. However, there are also regions like Western Sahara, where the crowd thins out to a soothing - if not lonely - 2.25 persons in the same space. So where in the world can you go if you want to get away from everyone? Pack your binoculars for these next ten destinations - you'll need them to spot the nearest human.
10 – MAURITANIA
Mauritania - officially the Islamic Republic of Mauritania - slides into 10th place with a population density of 3.36 people per kilometre square, a statistic that speaks to the nation's climate: 90% of the West African country is made up of desert, forcing one-third of the population to the less arid South-Western coast and the capital of Nouakchott. As a result of massive drought, the country's desert has been expanding since the 1960's. And, in spite of its substantial natural resources - it is the 39th largest country in the world - Mauritania has one of the lowest GDPs in Africa with over 20% of its population living on less than 1.25 USD per day.
9 – SURINAME
Suriname is a tiny country perched on the North-Eastern coast of South America. It is the continent's smallest nation, and also one of its least-densely populated. At 3.26 inhabitants per square kilometer, the only Dutch-speaking country across the Atlantic from the Netherlands has a population of about 540,000, half of which is located in the country's capital, Paramaribo, in the North. 12.6% of the country is protected under preservation laws that aim to foster its forests and animals – endless expanses of untouched rainforests and savannah extend below the northern 20% of the country, and into Brazil.
8 – ICELAND
The name alone screams isolation - who would want to live in a place called Iceland? Truly, however, the country is temperate and its low population density is largely due to its natural wonders - the volcanoes, geysers, sand, and lava fields that riddle the land. Sitting at a cool 3.15 people per square kilometer, Iceland is the ideal travel destination if you're looking for peace, beauty, and a fair amount of Scandinavian socialism. The country has the smallest population - roughly 324,000 people - of any NATO member. It also has no army, which is perfect if you're looking to storm its vastly empty beaches in search of Norse tombstones and 13th-century sagas
7 – AUSTRALIA
The travel destination that is on the tip of everyone's tongue also has one of the world's smallest person-per-km ratios: there are roughly 23,766,500 Aussies spread over the 7.69 million square kilometres of island, a density off 3.09. However, the number is just as misleading as the statistics for other occupants of the list - most Australians live on cities that hug the coast, leading to a roughly sketched ring that circles an vast expanse - the Australian Outback - largely deserted, more of a travel destination than inhabitable landmass. The deserted Outback makes the continent the world's driest, flattest, most arid and least hospitable to organic growth, in spite of the rain forests and mountain ranges that occupy other areas of the country.
6 – FRENCH GUIANA
Neighbouring Suriname to the West, French Guiana sits on the North-Eastern coast of South America and comes in 6th with a population density of 2.65 people per square km. Although it is technically part of France and the European Union (French Guiana's currency is the Euro), it is largely detached and independent of from its densely populated French colonizer. Half of the population lives in Cayenne, a city in the North of the nation on the Atlantic coast. Tropical and ancient forests, mangroves, savannas and wetlands make up most of the uninhabited landmass, making it impressively biodiverse and - thankfully - well protected by natural reserves.
5 – NAMIBIA
Although only slightly less populated than French Guiana, Namibia's uninhabited areas differ greatly from its South-American counterpart with the Namib Desert's arid, dry soil taking up a large part of the country. The Southwestern African country sits on the Atlantic Ocean and borders similarly-sparsely populated Botswana to the East. The last census puts its population density at 2.56 people per square km. In spite of its mostly desert and dune-like geography, the country itself is temperate, as it is fairly elevated. Warmbad to the south is the only place where the country's temperatures match its landscape. Droughts in the country are common, though not as common as countries further north in the Sub Saharan region.
4 – MONGOLIA
The country that is known primarily for Genghis Khan and impressive breeds of horses is also one of the world's least-densely populated: a mere 1.92 people occupy each square kilometer of this enormous landmass. The difficulty in occupying much of the land, coupled with the fact that it is bordered by both Russia and China go a long way in justifying its low population density, however, a quickly-growing population could change this nation's ranking in coming years. Winter in Mongolia is subject to winds coming in from Siberia, making Ulaanbaatar, with an average temperature of -1.3 degrees Celsius, the world's coldest capital.
3 – PITCAIRN ISLANDS
The Pitcairn Islands, one of the world's most remote inhabited locations, are located in the far South Pacific. Made up of four volcanic islands belonging to the United Kingdom, only one of the four islands, Pitcairn, is inhabited, with a population of 56 and a density of 1.19 people per square kilometer. Indeed, the 56 people descend from four original colonizing families. Much of the Pitcairn islands are inaccessible, or difficult to access, due to high limestone cliffs covered in sharp coral that form a barrier to the more inhabitable interior. Pitcairn itself is quite fertile and friendly to human habitat. Part of it's low population stems from it's remote nature, and the fact that it currently has no landing strip for airplanes, though yachts and cruise ships are welcome in its harbour.
2 – FALKLAND ISLANDS
With a population of 0.21 people per square kilometer, the Falkland Islands, another territory under UK jurisdiction, is the second-least densely populated territory on Earth. An archipelago comprised of 778 islands, with a total population of 2,932 inhabitants, has seen growth recently due to an immigration influx. The two main islands, West & East Falkland, are untouched breeding grounds for a variety of birds. The islands themselves are hilly and mountainous, with a cold, windy, and humid clime. Although the tiny population produces a very low GDP, its GDP per capita is quite high and the islands rank well on the human development index.
1 – GREENLAND
The world's least-densely populated territory is Greenland, with a rate of 0.03 people per square kilometer. The country belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark and has been inhabited for over 4500 years by native peoples from Canada and Nordic settlers from Scandinavia. Most of Greenland is covered in ice, with the population residing mainly along the west coast, where lack of glacial cover has given way to rocky coast. If Greenland's ice were to melt, sea levels around the world would rise by 7m - a telling statistic for the geography and inhabitation of the three islands. With a population of roughly 56,000, Greenland is the number-one recommended spot if you want to feel like you've left all of humanity behind.
With a café on nearly every corner in countless cities around the globe, it comes as no surprise that coffee is one of the top commodities worldwide. As the global third most consumed beverage, after water and tea, coffee beans are in high demand everywhere. The top producing nations each produce millions of kilograms of coffee beans that find their way into the hands of eager consumers.
Second only to oil, coffee is the world's second most traded commodity, with about half a trillion cups drank per year. Not only used for brewing a cup of joe, the coffee bean (through decaffeination) provides caffeine for beverages (cola), pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
These are the ten nations that the International Coffee Organization named in its 2014 production statistics as the world's top producers of coffee:
10 – Guatemala
Guatemalan Coffee Workers Empty Beans for Sorting – Thinkstock.comGuatemala produced 210,000 kilograms of coffee beans in 2014, and their production numbers have remained fairly consistent over the past few years. Coffee beans are most abundant in Guatemala in years where the temperature hovers between 16 and 32°C, and at altitudes between 500 and 5,000 metres above sea level.
Guatemala came into the coffee game predominantly to find an export to replace indigo and cochineal, two of their early exports that were rendered useless once chemical dyes were invented in the 1800s. At the time, the government began a policy of support for the industry by offering trade and tax benefits. In the 1960's the government further pushed for greater global demand for Guatemalan coffee through the establishment of Anacafé (Asociación Nacional del Café), a marketing association which, to this day, continues to promote the nation's coffee products worldwide.
9 – Uganda
The Ugandan Virunga Mountains - Thinkstock.comWhile Uganda may not come to mind when you think of coffee production, at 240,000,000 kilograms produced in 2014, it is the Central African nation's top-earning export. The nation grows both Robusta beans – a crop native to the Kibale forest area – as well as Arabica beans from nearby Ethiopia.
Coffee is a vital part of the Ugandan economy, with a large portion of the population working in coffee related industries. Coffee production was initially a reasonably unsuccesful state controlled sector, however, after government privatization in 1991, a strong revival of the sector was seen, leading to a 5100% increase in production since 1989. However, the government does still exert control on the industry, with flow out of the country controlled by the Uganda Coffee Development Authority.
8 – Mexico
Ancient Pyramids in Mexico - Thinkstock.comIn 2014, Mexico produced over 240,000,000 kilograms of coffee beans. The nation predominantly produces high quality Arabica beans and is responsible for majority of U.S. coffee imports.
In the 1990s there was a crisis in Mexico's coffee production, as the International Coffee Agreement was dismantled and worldwide coffee prices and export quotas were no longer strictly controlled, leading to an inability for Mexico to compete in the global market. This decline in coffee prices and production led to lost income and social issues throughout the nation of Mexico. While coffee production declined over the 90s and into the 2000s, steady demand from the United States has led to a recovery in the Mexican coffee market, from an all time low of 1.7 million bags (60 kg) in 2005, to 4.0 million in 2014.
7 – Honduras
Green and Red Coffee Berries on Tree, Honduras - Thinkstock.comHonduras produced 279,000,000 kilograms of coffee in 2014, a marked decrease from 2011's crop of 354,180,000 kilos. Their downfall has been attributed to a lack of national branding – while most people recognize Colombian or Ethiopian coffee, beans from Honduras are mainly used in blends and are therefore less recognizable to the average consumer.
However, coffee remains a vital part of the Honduran economy; it is the largest producer in Central America, the coffee industry continually provides employment and revenue for a large part of the population, and it likely kept the nation's economy afloat during the 2009 political crisis and coup d'état.
6 – India
Cup of Coffee with Cinnamon, Sugar, and Raw Beans - Thinkstock.comWhile India may not be the first nation that comes to mind when it comes to coffee production, they produced 344,760,000 kilograms of beans in 2014. Not just any region of the diverse nation is suited for coffee production, the majority of growing is done in the hilly tracts of South Indian states. The beans are grown by small growers in monsoon rainfall conditions, and often planted alongside spices such as cardamom and cinnamon, which gives the coffee a spicy taste and aroma.
As might be expected, coffee isn't the most popular beverage in the country of 1.25 billion people, this title goes to tea. As such, 80% of India's coffee production is bound for export purposes, with the main buyers being Europe and Russia.
5 – Ethiopia
Coffee Roasted in the Traditional Ethiopian Manner - Thinkstock.comEthiopia produces large volumes of coffee beans every year, with 397,500,000 kilograms in 2014 alone. Ethiopia is the geographic home of Arabica coffee, the most popular beans worldwide. It is no small part of their economy – over half of Ethiopia's foreign income is a result of coffee – and it is estimated that 15 million citizens are employed in coffee production.
Ethiopia has a very rich coffee culture. For over 1100 years, beans with a stimulating effect have been noted in the nation by unlucky farmers and shepherds whose herds happened to eat them. Since domestication of the plant and the beginning of farming the coffee bean, regional variants of the Arabica bean have been developed, each with their own characteristic name and taste. The Harar, Limu, Sidamo, and Yirgacheffe beans are all trademarked varieties of the Arabica bean, with the rights owned and protected by the government of Ethiopia.
4 – Indonesia
Palm Civets are Producers of the World's Most Expensive Coffee - Thinkstock.comThough they may not be as internationally known as a top producer, the nation of Indonesiaproduced over 540,000,000 kilograms of coffee beans in 2014. Indonesia has opted for a quantity over quality method, as the climate is better suited for the production of lower-quality Robusta beans (less valued than the Arabica beans that come from nations like Brazil and Colombia).
Coffee production was introduced to Indonesia by Dutch colonists and production continued on after colonization as Indonesia's climate is well suited for the plant. Coffee plantations currently cover over 1 million hectares of Indonesia's territory, with over 90% of the cropland being worked by small-scale producers.
One high quality coffee that Indonesia is famous for is Kopi Luwak, an expensive bean that has a unique production method. The palm civit, a cat like animal which lives in the jungles of South East Asia, eats the raw coffee berries yet cannot process the hard beans on the inside of the berry. The digestive juices of the civit partially break down the bean, and upon defecation the "deposits" are collected, cleaned, and sold as Kopi Luwak beans. Think that's weird? Because only 500kg of the "Cat Poop Coffee" is produced per year, a cup of coffee brewed from these beans can sell for up to $80.
3 – Colombia
Coffee Fields in the Colombian Andes Mountains - Thinkstock.comColombian coffee is famous worldwide, perhaps partially due to the well-known advertisements for the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia which featured a character named Juan Valdez. However, climate has recently been playing a negative role in Colombian coffee production. Between 1980 and 2010, temperatures have slowly risen, as has precipitation, both factors that jeopardize the climate requirements necessary to produce the type of bean favored in Colombia. Even with the effect of climate, with an output of 750,000,000 kilograms of coffee beans in 2014, Colombia remains a key player in the international coffee game.
2 – Vietnam
Traditional Vietnamese Coffee - Thinkstock.comWhile many are familiar with Vietnamese coffee, a signature drink where the coffee is mixed with sweetened condensed milk, Vietnam is the second largest coffee producing nation in the world – 1,650,000,000 kilograms in 2014 alone. While there was understandably a hiatus during and after the Vietnam war, coffee remained a huge part of the Vietnamese economy, with the only greater export rice being rice.
1 – Brazil
Brazil Tops the Worlds Coffee Producers - Thinkstock.comWhile Brazil is perceived as the leading exporter of gorgeous models, they also are the undisputed largest coffee-producing nation in the world. In 2014, Brazil produced a staggering 2,720,520,000 kilograms of coffee beans. It is not a new development, as Brazil has been the highest global producer of coffee beans for over 100 years.
Coffee plantations cover about 27,000 square kilometers of Brazil with the majority located in Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, and Parana, three southeastern states where the climate and temperature are ideal for coffee production. Brazil also distinguishes itself from other coffee producing nations in that Brazilians process coffee with the dry process (unwashed coffee), where the coffee cherries are dried in the sun rather than washed in a wet process.
