Europe is a continent rich in diverse cultures and histories, with each country offering a unique blend of traditions, customs, and values. But have you ever wondered which pair of countries have the least similar culture in Europe?
One way to answer this subjective question is by analyzing the data from the Country Similarity Index. The index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries, using a variety of statistics. An analysis of the cultural data suggests that Finland and North Macedonia have the least similar culture. However, Finland’s culture is also far different from another country in the Balkans, Albania.
Finland – North Macedonia
North Macedonia, a small country in the southeastern Europe, boasts a rich history influenced by various civilizations, including the Roman and Ottoman Empires. On the other hand, Finland, a sparsely populated country located on the Baltic Sea, was under Swedish rule for several centuries before becoming independent.
Finnish culture emphasizes egalitarianism and simplicity. Finns are known for their reserved nature, value for personal space, and respect for privacy. In contrast, Macedonians are known for their warmth, hospitality, and strong family bonds. Due to their traditional values, they also have a much higher rate of marriage and a much lower rate of divorce.
Their languages are not part of the same family as well. Finnish is a Finno-Ugric language, so it has complex grammar and extensive use of vowel harmony. In contrast, most countries in Europe primarily speak Indo-European languages. Another big difference is that Macedonians use the Cyrillic alphabet, while Finland uses the Latin alphabet.
Another significant difference is that North Macedonia is more religious than Finland. Furthermore, most of their people are Orthodox Christian. However, due to their significant Albanian population, Islam is widespread as well. In contrast, the Protestant denomination has the most followers in Finland.
Their food is quite different as well, in part due to their extremely different geography and climate. Since North Macedonia is landlocked, far less seafood is eaten there than in Finland. Furthermore, grapes are a much bigger part of the Macedonian diet, due to their abundant vineyards. Finland has a colder climate, so rye and barley are more commonly consumed.
Finland – Albania
Another pair of countries that have vast cultural differences are Finland and Albania. The biggest cultural difference between these countries is religion. Most people in Albania are Muslim, however it does have a significant percentage of Catholics and Orthodox Christians, as well. In contrast, Finland is mostly Protestant.
The sporting culture in these countries is significantly different as well. Ice hockey is much more popular in Finland. Like most European countries, football is the most widely followed sport in Albania. Furthermore, Albania has never won an Olympic medal, while Finland has won a whopping 480 medals. Helsinki also hosted the Olympics in 1952.
Finnish society is structured around equality, trust, and cooperation, leading to a harmonious and prosperous nation. Albania, on the other hand, has experienced a tumultuous history. The Mediterranean country has faced challenges due to political instability, corruption, and economic reforms in the last few decades.
Another difference is that Albanians tend to smoke more tobacco. However, since Albania has many Muslims, it drinks significantly less alcohol per capita than Finland. Since Islam prohibits the consumption of pork, pigmeat is not nearly as popular in Albania as it is in Finland. Lamb is one meat that is more commonly eaten in Albania.
