Countries Closest to United States by Continent

For each continent, can you name the 5 countries that are closest to the United States?

Quizzes-by-continent concept: Quizzer6794

Not including the external territories of the U.S. or other countries

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Last updated: July 23, 2019

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First submitted	November 16, 2015
Times taken	116,978
Average score	83.3%
Rating	4.99

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North America
0 mi	Canada
0 mi	Mexico
53 mi	Bahamas
93 mi	Cuba
471 mi	Jamaica

South America
1,053 mi	Colombia
1,121 mi	Venezuela
1,612 mi	Ecuador
1,756 mi	Peru
1,758 mi	Brazil

Europe
1,852 mi	Portugal
2,026 mi	Iceland
2,514 mi	Ireland
2,555 mi	United Kingdom
2,815 mi	Spain

Asia
2 mi	Russia
1,366 mi	Japan
1,664 mi	China
2,042 mi	North Korea
2,300 mi	South Korea

Africa
3,074 mi	Cape Verde
3,161 mi	Morocco
3,276 mi	Mauritania
3,341 mi	Algeria
3,529 mi	Senegal

Oceania
1,035 mi	Kiribati
2,127 mi	Marshall Islands
2,485 mi	Tuvalu
2,509 mi	Samoa
2,700 mi	Nauru

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100 Recent Comments

+24

Level 81

Oct 23, 2016

Very US-centric ;)

Level 65

Oct 23, 2016

I thought the same thing!

Level 76

Oct 29, 2016

Wouldn't the US have to be an answer, at least once, to qualify for uscentricity?

Level 65

Nov 13, 2016

well the US isn't an answer in this quiz ;)

Level 71

Mar 9, 2018

Even if the US isn't an answer, it's pretty much at the center of the quiz.

Level 72

Jun 30, 2019

yea for it to be the center, the other stuff needs to be around it, so quite correct. In all senses of the word.

Level 76

Oct 29, 2016

The Europe answers depend on whether you count the Azores, which are a part of Portugal just as Hawaii is a part of the US, as a part of Europe. We have, but if we hadn't, then Portugal would drop off this list and be replaced by France.

Level 86

Nov 6, 2016

It's a bit complicated. I guess the distance for Ecuador and Peru is taken with Hawaii?

Level 36

Nov 12, 2016

Hawaii is about 5.000 km farther away from Ecuador and Peru than Florida. :P

Level 49

Dec 31, 2021

then i dont get how Guyana isnt closer than Ecuador

Level 49

Dec 31, 2021

ok i get it now

whats confusing is, you think that NA is directly on top of SA, but really SA is entirely east of Alabama

Level 87

Jul 8, 2018

Ah, I wondered how Portugal could be so dramatically closer to the U.S. than Spain.

Level 62

Oct 19, 2022

Azores and Madeiras Islands.

Level 80

Dec 29, 2016

Isn't Denmark one of the closest countries by virtue of Greenland?

Level 76

Dec 29, 2016

Greenland is physiographically a part of North America, not Europe. If you have a look at a world map, Greenland is way closer to the North American mainland than the European one.

Level 57

Mar 19, 2017

Greenland is a Denmark territory

Level 57

Jan 22, 2019

Greenland is not part of the European continent, though. However, the Azores are not part of the European continent either, but are apparently being counted.

Level 76

Jan 22, 2019

Which continent would you place the Azores in? (It is far closer to the European mainland than the North American one).

Level 38

Feb 24, 2022

How about Africa?

Level 63

Sep 9, 2022

Debatable. The Azores actually sit on three continental plates (African, European and North American). In fact, that's why they exist; they're volcanic islands that rose out of these fault lines. Only the westernmost two islands are tectonically in North America though, the rest straddle the Europe-Africa border.

Level 31

Jan 17, 2017

how is the average score on this so high?

+16

Level 61

Jan 18, 2017

Many if not most of the people who take geography quizzes on JetPunk are people who have mastered the countries of the world quiz - that tends to skew the results.

+10

Level 65

Jan 20, 2017

Didn't you know? everyone on Jetpunk is a genius. :)

Level 72

Jun 30, 2019

Or will be after spending a few months here.

Level 51

Jan 21, 2017

Technically, isn't the US closest to the US?

Level 35

Jun 3, 2017

lol

Level 72

Jun 30, 2019

how would that even be possible. Unless, ofcourse, you count alternate universes, or slightly out of phase ones.

Level 51

Jan 21, 2017

Got Marshall Islands with 0:02 left :P

Level 75

Mar 19, 2017

I typed it three times but must have been spelling it wrong. Probably forgot an L.

Level 32

Mar 5, 2017

Forgot Tuvalu :|

Level 25

Mar 19, 2017

Typed all the Oceanian countries :)

Level 55

Mar 19, 2017

Congrats on making 2500 quizzes!

Level 76

Mar 19, 2017

Thanks man :)

Level 71

Mar 19, 2017

Why is Russia not in the North America list? Less than 3 miles apart at their closest separation.

Level 70

Mar 19, 2017

Are you suggesting that Russia is a part of North America?...... really

Level 66

Mar 20, 2017

My bad - I'd flipped the question round in my head and was looking at the countries closest to North America, rather than which North American countries were closest to the US.

Level 51

May 22, 2018

part of eastern russia (such as kamchatka) is actually on the north american tectonic plate.

Level 76

Oct 20, 2021

It was, once.

Level 47

Mar 19, 2017

Only 99% of people get Canada... I am disappointed in society.

Level 52

Dec 22, 2021

Happens, haven't seen people not answering correctly whether India and Pakistan share a border or not?

I've seen, so I think maybe some people are just beyond our limits of thinking. :)

Level 58

Mar 19, 2017

i got 27 of 30 my first try and only did better than 30 percent stuff it

Level 72

Mar 18, 2020

Why do people get mad if they get 90% right? What does it matter what others get.

(Only scenario where I think it could matter is if there were prizes, and like significant prices not a stuffed animal or even a weekend trip. But like rentfree living and free groceries the rest of your life)

Level 22

Mar 20, 2017

Algeria? The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and perhaps even Liberia are all closer to the US.

Level 76

Mar 20, 2017

Yes, and No, No, No, No and No. (Get a globe and some string, and be surprised!)

Level 45

May 23, 2018

only the gambia was a bit surprising ti me. the others are clearly to far away.

Level 72

Jun 30, 2019

yea senegal being on, but not gambia was a surprise.

Will have to dust of that globe :)

Level 77

Feb 19, 2020

Senegal makes it on the list from the Cap Vert peninsula, the westernmost point of mainland Africa

Level 21

Jun 26, 2021

Yes France is also closer than Algeria

Level 52

Dec 22, 2021

But not closer than Portugal, Iceland, Ireland, the UK, and Spain.

Level 44

Mar 20, 2017

More people got Ireland than Russia?

Level 44

Feb 24, 2018

the closet neighbor that isn't touching the US is Russia by virtue of Alaska, which BTW was a part of Russia at one time, its sad...

Level 72

Mar 18, 2020

People are conditioned to think from left to right. Plus most maps have the same layout (americas left, asia right)

Level 52

Dec 22, 2021

Yes, this might sound awkward but it really really confusing.

I mean, when it comes to the US borders, people mostly forget about the Alaskan or Hawaiian, or Aleutian part of the US. So, it's more common to forget Russia as one of the closest neighbors.

Level 35

Mar 20, 2017

1 second left phew

Level 53

Mar 22, 2017

Is this the only quiz counting Russia as part of Asia and not Europe? I'm not complaining, just curious. Most of its land is in what we would typically call Asia, but this is the first I've seen it included in the Asia category. Seems inconsistent.

Level 76

Mar 22, 2017

There is the occasional one, but not many. Russia's usually listed as European because most of its population lives there, but in this quiz, I don't know how else we could manage a Closest Country quiz with its Asian part being so close to Alaska.

Level 45

May 23, 2018

its talking about the closest a country is, no matter the continent. its using territory as a whole and being u.s.centric.

Level 35

Jun 3, 2017

Is it funny that I have exactly 196 poi- oh wait I'm gonna bring up this discussion again...

Level 32

Nov 28, 2017

Why did neither France or Denmark count?

Level 63

Jun 24, 2021

Why would they? The caveats clearly stated external territories (the Greenland/St. Pierre and Miquelon you’re using) are not included!

Level 60

Mar 5, 2018

First I was wondering why North Korea was listed as closer to the United States than South Korea. But then I remembered: Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.

Level 49

Apr 2, 2018

Denmark is the closest in Europe due to that Greenland is part of Denmark

Level 76

Apr 2, 2018

See our answer to AJS, above.

Level 47

Jan 22, 2019

Forgot Molossia

Level 65

Aug 22, 2019

I assume it was a close call between guyana/suriname and ecuador/peru?

Level 76

Aug 22, 2019

Guyana misses out by just 10 miles, and Suriname by 278 miles.

Level 52

Dec 22, 2021

See the explanation I gave above! I really drew a right angle triangle to explain it!

Level 66

Oct 15, 2019

I always remember every Oceanian country except Samoa :/

Level 16

Oct 20, 2019

what about denmarks greenland and frances south american exclave? nice quiz though! :)

Level 43

Apr 12, 2022

French Guiana is further than other countries on the South America list (as are Guyana and Suriname).

Level 49

Oct 20, 2019

I thought Norway would have been closer than Spain

Level 35

Oct 20, 2019

Did you count Puerto Rico (USA)?

Level 76

Oct 20, 2019

We didn't; please note the instructions.

Level 15

Oct 20, 2019

yee

Level 61

Oct 23, 2019

how is algeria closer to the us than gambia which is inside senegal?!

Level 76

Oct 23, 2019

Gambia's further away than Senegal because, as you say, it is "inside" Senegal (not strictly true, but we know what you mean). As for Algeria, time for you to get a globe and some string and check it out. Projecting a circular world onto a flat map creates distortions.

Level 66

Apr 23, 2023

Senegal stretches further out than Senegal. Dakar is the westernmost point on Afro-Eurasia.

Level 36

May 6, 2020

I believe the 1% that didn't get Canada forgot it on purpose :|

Level 51

Jul 8, 2020

100%

Level 56

Mar 3, 2021

Didn't get Iceland until the last 20 seconds.. :p

Level 65

Jun 1, 2021

I think that Russia should be on the Europe category because in the Countries Of The World quiz Russia is a part of Europe or you could just make a category that says EurAsia but it might ruin the point of the quiz.

Level 43

Apr 12, 2022

But the European side of Russia is further from USA than the 5 listed European countries, and the Asian side of Russia is literally Alaska's doorstep.

Level 21

Jul 4, 2021

All North American countries are closest to USA but then it would be just like a Countries of North America quiz.

Level 21

Jul 4, 2021

Norway and Finland and Sweden can also be there.

Level 52

Dec 22, 2021

But not in the top 5 list.

Level 66

Apr 23, 2023

No, they can't...

Level 42

Oct 20, 2021

What about French Guyana being closer than some in Europe?

Level 65

Jan 19, 2022

Martinique and Guadeloupe are even closer

Level 61

Mar 1, 2022

Except those aren't in Europe, so they can't qualify France.

Level 47

Mar 2, 2022

If the Azores are accepted for Portugal, then Canary should be accepted for Spain and counted in Africa (even if it might sound strange).

Level 43

Apr 12, 2022

If the Azores declare independence from Portugal.... which continent will the new country be part of? It's on a triple junction.

Level 9

May 9, 2022

Im sorry but Guyana or Suriname is much closer to US than Brasil in south america.

Level 66

Apr 23, 2023

I'm sorry, but you're obviously wrong.

Level 63

Apr 29, 2024

I understand why you might think that but Guyana really is just a few km further away than Brazil. You can meassure distance on Google Maps to check it.

Level 41

Sep 2, 2022

Flat maps make land masses appear stretched so it heavily distorts the position and size of land mass also Suriname and Guyana is on the right of the US whereas Brazil more closer and is under the US.

Level 20

Jan 15, 2023

Missed Nauru :[

Level 61

Feb 19, 2023

26/30 , sorry but the time limits don't give enough time to think.

Level 66

Apr 23, 2023

It does give enough time. You just need to have better spatial reasoning and ability to visualize a map in your head. It seems that most everyone else can do that.

Level 69

Jun 5, 2023

1:58 used

Level 11

Nov 19, 2023

i am from Poland, and i am 28/30

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