World Geography – SBI Clerk Study Notes
SBI Clerk exams test solid knowledge of basic world geography, map reading, and current affairs.
These notes give a clear, concise, and exam‑ready overview.
1. Simple Explanation
World geography is the study of physical (landforms, climate, oceans) and human (countries, capitals, political boundaries, economic zones) features that divide the planet into continents, oceans, and major regions.
For the SBI Clerk exam you need to:
| Category | What to know |
|---|---|
| Continents & Oceans | Names, order, approximate area |
| Countries & Capitals | 1st‑25th by area & population, key capitals |
| Physical Features | Mountains, rivers, deserts, forests, seas |
| Political Geography | Borders, disputed areas, major alliances |
| Economic Geography | Oil & gas basins, manufacturing hubs, trade routes |
| Time Zones & Latitude/Longitude | How to read a world map, key meridians |
2. Key Points
2.1 Continents & Oceans
| Continent | Approx. Area (km²) | Population (2024 est.) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia | 44.58M | 4.73B | Himalayas, Gobi Desert, largest population |
| Africa | 30.37M | 1.44B | Sahara, Nile, Serengeti |
| North America | 24.71M | 592M | Rockies, Mississippi River |
| South America | 17.84M | 430M | Andes, Amazon River |
| Antarctica | 14.00M | 1–5k (researchers) | Ice sheet, polar climate |
| Europe | 10.18M | 747M | Alps, Danube, EU integration |
| Australia (Oceania) | 8.56M | 42M | Great Barrier Reef, Outback |
Oceans (in order of size)
- Pacific (∼165M km²)
- Atlantic (∼106M km²)
- Indian (∼71M km²)
- Southern (∼71M km²) – overlaps Indian & Atlantic
- Arctic (∼14M km²) – smallest, polar ice
2.2 Top 20 Countries by Area
| Rank | Country | Area (km²) | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17,098,242 | Moscow |
| 2 | Canada | 9,984,670 | Ottawa |
| 3 | China | 9,597,000 | Beijing |
| 4 | United States | 9,525,067 | Washington D.C. |
| 5 | Brazil | 8,515,767 | Brasília |
| 6 | Australia | 7,692,024 | Canberra |
| 7 | India | 3,287,263 | New Delhi |
| 8 | Argentina | 2,780,400 | Buenos Aires |
| 9 | Kazakhstan | 2,724,900 | Nur‑Sultan |
| 10 | Algeria | 2,381,741 | Algiers |
| 11 | DR Congo | 2,344,858 | Kinshasa |
| 12 | Greenland (Denmark) | 2,166,086 | Nuuk |
| 13 | Saudi Arabia | 2,149,690 | Riyadh |
| 14 | Mexico | 1,964,375 | Mexico City |
| 15 | Indonesia | 1,904,569 | Jakarta |
| 16 | Sudan | 1,886,068 | Khartoum |
| 17 | Libya | 1,759,541 | Tripoli |
| 18 | Iran | 1,648,195 | Tehran |
| 19 | Mongolia | 1,564,110 | Ulaanbaatar |
| 20 | Peru | 1,285,216 | Lima |
2.3 Capitals of Major Countries (Top 10 by Population)
| Rank | Country | Capital |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | China | Beijing |
| 2 | India | New Delhi |
| 3 | United States | Washington D.C. |
| 4 | Indonesia | Jakarta |
| 5 | Pakistan | Islamabad |
| 6 | Brazil | Brasília |
| 7 | Nigeria | Abuja |
| 8 | Bangladesh | Dhaka |
| 9 | Russia | Moscow |
| 10 | Mexico | Mexico City |
2.4 Major Physical Features
| Feature | Location | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Everest | Himalayas, Nepal/Tibet | Highest peak (8,848 m) |
| Amazon River | South America | Longest river, largest discharge |
| Sahara Desert | North Africa | Largest hot desert |
| Great Barrier Reef | Australia | Largest coral reef system |
| Gulf of Mexico | Americas | Major shipping & oil hub |
| Arctic Sea | North Pole | Climate change indicator |
| Indian Ocean | South of Asia | Major maritime trade route |
2.5 Political Geography Highlights
- Border Disputes: India‑China (Aksai Chin, Arunachal), India‑Pakistan (Siachen, Kashmir), India‑Bangladesh (Rohini, Kalapani), Ethiopia‑Somalia (Ogaden), Saudi Arabia‑Yemen (Gulf of Aden).
- Key Alliances:
- NATO (32 members) – focus on Europe & North America.
- BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa – emerging economies.
- ASEAN – 10 Southeast Asian members.
- Economic Zones:
- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – high oil & gas reserves.
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