10 points about Europe are as follows-

i) Europe is the second smallest continent in the world and consists of just 4 million square miles.

ii) Europe unlike some continents is designated for political more than geographical reasons.

iii)700 million people live in Europe. However birth rates are relatively stagnant – and has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world.

iv)However despite being low in fertility, Europeans are high in generosity and the ten most generous countries in terms of charities are all European. One of the more positive facts about Europe.

v)Much of the shape of Europe is a result of World War 1 and 2. The First World War caused the complete alteration or dissolution of four empires – the German, Ottoman, Russian and Austro-Hungarian. World War 2 meanwhile resulted in the death of 2.5 percent of the world’s population.

vi)One of the most interesting facts about Europe is that it is believed that Europe is named originally after ‘Europa’ who was a Phoenician Princess from Greek Mythology.

vii)The smallest country in Europe is The Vatican city – actually only 110 acres in total and with a population of just more than 800. It is located within Rome and is the home of Catholicism. 

viii) Interestingly 80 to 90 percent of Europe was once covered in forest. In the West one of the perhaps sadder facts about Europe is that this number now stands at only 3 percent.

ix)One of the facts about Europe that is up for the most debate is the number of countries comprising the continent which varies slightly by definition. Approximately there are 50 states or ‘self governing political entities). This is not to be confused with the 27 member states of the EU. Interestingly there are around 70 former countries once a part of Europe that no longer appear on maps due to war and changing boarders.

x) Europe produces slightly over 18 percent of the world’s oil.

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1. The EU’s Europe Day should not be confused with the Europe Day of the Council of Europe, which falls on May 5.
2. Europe is named after the Phoenician princess Europa of Greek myth who was seduced by Zeus disguised as a bull.
3. Europa climbed on to his back and he carried her off into the sea and took her to Crete.
4. Europe covers 3.93 million square miles, which is roughly eight per cent of the Earth's surface.
5. The whole of Europe is only two per cent larger in area than Canada.
6. Britain became an offshore island of Europe only 10,000 years ago when the North Sea formed.
7. About 733 million people, which is 11 per cent of the world’s population, live in Europe.
8. It has been estimated that one in 10 Europeans is conceived in an Ikea bed.
9. The largest country entirely in Europe is Ukraine.
10. Geographically, Europe is not a continent. Its boundary with Asia was a Greek idea to name the two sides of the Hellespont (now the Dardanelles)
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