How many times has someone pointed to American's inability to locate things on a maps an evidence that Americans are stupid and insular? Oops, looks like we're not alone...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6074202.stm

One in five British children cannot find the UK on a map of the world, a magazine's research suggests.

National Geographic Kids said it also found fewer than two thirds of children were able to correctly locate the US.
The magazine, which questioned more than 1,000 six to 14-year-olds, said it found several London children did not know they lived in England's capital.
Teachers' union the NASUWT said the findings were "nonsense" and did not reflect staff and pupils' hard work.
National Geographic Kids also discovered 86% of the children interviewed failed to identify Iraq and one in 10 could not name a single continent.
Boys seemed to show a slightly better geographical knowledge than girls, with 65% able to locate a number of countries around the world compared with 63% of girls.

How are children going to be able to get as much out of their life if they fail to have an understanding of the shape of the world?
Professor Alan Smithers

Scottish children appeared to be the most geographically aware with 67% able to point out the most countries, out of England, the US, France, China and Iraq, on a world map.
Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said the findings were "rather frightening".
"These results underline the need for education to concentrate on the essentials.
"How are children going to be able to get as much out of their life if they fail to have an understanding of the shape of the world?"
Compulsory geography
The Department for Education and Skills said geography was a compulsory subject on the National Curriculum for five to 14-year-olds.
A spokesman said all 14-year-olds should be taught to use atlases and globes, as well as learning about places and environments in the world.
Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: "The constant desire for groups to produce statistics to do down the English education system is quite appalling and does nothing to recognise the excellent work of children and staff."
The magazine carried out the study to mark its UK launch and highlight "gaps in children's geographical knowledge".
Environmentalist David Bellamy said the world was still an undiscovered place for many children. "Making geography fun and exciting is so important because it makes children aware of the importance of caring for the environment and, by learning about the world, it helps bring other people's worlds and cultures closer to their own."

Well for one their not stupid, it's just that they haven't been taught how to read the world map it seems. Not all countries have the best educational system out there to begin, be glad that some kids over there actually know how to so they can teach their friends how to read the map. Neglected education is somewhat of a problem in some places in the world, even here. Your school could have taught you everything that you needed to know for that school and then some, but transfer, and you might find out that some schools don't even get have way through the curriculum before the end of the year because they couldn't progress that fast because maybe they had children who learned slower who knows.

These kids are 6-14. Many adults in the US of A have the same problems. I'd rather see a study of adults in the UK.

But aside from that 'minor' nitpick, the reason Americans look so stupid in terms of geographic knowledge is because we don't just have to know where America is on a globe, but where 50 states are located within our country. That's not an easy task. Go ask some UK adults where Idaho is. They won't know. Ask them where West Virginia is. Ask them where Kansas is. Like most Americans, they might get Texas, California, Florida, and maybe even New York. But for the most part, I'd guess we're all just about equal in terms of geographic knowledge. The studies are just biased in favor of making us feel stupid because it grabs our attention, makes us talk, and ultimately sells. It's marketing, that's all.

We're actually much worse at geography than Britain. This is an attestment to our educational system, as well as the superiority of well-run European nations in regards to knowledge of the world outside of thier country.

More French people know where we are than Americans. That's sad.

What sucks about this is that I loved Geography and know where most of this **** is. But the world is full of stupid people I guess.

Kaz, what's your source?

I find it hard to believe that 34% of Americans could locate the Survivor island. I don't even think Survivor had that high of ratings. They were high, but I doubt that high.

These results are from a recent study conducted by National Geographic-Roper 2002 Global Geographic Literacy survey

http://www.edven.com/news_us_geo_illiteracy_stats.html

The only site I was able to find. I've read quite a few books that back up the 10% statistic for Americans not identifying the US.

But were they Geography books, like the National Geographic magazine that did the survey you posted?

I think that's the worst one. It's one thing to not care about where other countries or states are, and simply focus on where you yourself are... but people should at least have a general idea of continents and oceans. That's like not knowing that the earth is round.

Well, it's not my fault, it's their parents AND teachers fault.

Thats a embarrasment to the US of A residents. Forgein People, can locate US of A and they americans cant.

That made me wonder how did the US of A troops make their way to Iraq.

Thats the worst one, I just can't belive it. It's easy to locate Pacific Ocean.