Countries, First and Last

It was abolished in 1981, but not criminalized until 2007, with many people still enslaved in the country to this day.

Since 2013. Jamaica surprisingly only decriminalized recreational use in 2015.

South Sudan was recognized in 2011, Montenegro in 2006 and East Timor in 2002. Taiwan remains unrecognized.

Since 2001, however its constituent countries of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten have not legalized.

Croatia was the last country to join the EU in 2013.

Legalized in the Netherlands in April 2002, followed soon after by Belgium in May.

Finland joined in 2023, Latvia and Lithuania in 2004.

Athens hosted the first modern games in 1896.

Kiribati observes three time zones, ranging from UTC+12:00 to +14. UTC+ 14:00 is the most advanced time zone in the world, although Samoa also observes UTC+14:00 during their daylight saving time.

Saudi Arabia granted women the right to vote in 2015, Oman in 2003, and Afghanistan in 1964 (revoked in 1996, and reinstated in 2001). The UAE has limited voting rights for both men and women.

Uruguay hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930, they also won it.

Morocco "implicitly" recognized the United States in 1777, after Sultan Mohammed III signed a decree granting American ships protection and free access to Moroccan ports.

China first reached a population of 1 billion people in 1981, India in 1997. No other country has reached this milestone yet.

The first winter games were held in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Germany was banned from competing.

Most people in the Philippines, a Roman Catholic majority country, cannot legally divorce, the exception being Muslims. Vatican City also has no procedure for divorce.

Venezuela became the first sovereign state to abolish it in 1863, followed by San Marino in 1865 and Costa Rica in 1877.