- Of the 25 countries in the world with the youngest populations, 16 have experienced major civil conflict since 1995. [Prospect, page 18]
- Only half of American adults have read a book since leaving high school. [Random House]
- In its first year, Ireland's 10p tax on plastic bags cut the number used by 1bn- 90 per cent of the previous total. [The Guardian, 23rd August 2003]
- The Eiffel Tower is six inches taller in summer than in winter. [Michelin Green guide]
- There are an estimated 3.8m unused fondue sets in British homes, worth around ?114m. [The Independent, 15th September 2003]
- Seven per cent of British schoolchildren have, have had or will have their father imprisoned. [The Economist, 13th September 2003]
- 70 per cent of Land Rovers-first built in 1948-are still on the road. [Top Gear]
- The Liechtensteinian national anthem has exactly the same melody as "God Save the Queen." [Radio 5 Live, 10th September 2003]
- Rats can run 100 yards in less than ten seconds and can jump six feet in the air. [The Mirror, 23rd August 2003]
- Only five countries have never had a single female member of government: Lebanon, Monaco, Saudi Arabia, Tonga and The Vatican. [Worldwide guide to women in leadership]
- One in six crown prosecution service workers took long-term sick leave last year. [Adam Smith Institute]
- 70 per cent of the trade tariffs paid by developing countries are to other developing countries. [US WTO ambassador Linnet Deily]
- 40 per cent of final year American university students have no idea when the American civil war occurred. [Kansas City Star, 15th April 2003]
