150+ Great Trivia Questions

Trivia Question List

Trivia nights and tournaments can be a great way to bond with friends and family, but if you're the one stuck with organizing it, then coming up with enough questions that cover a broad range of topics can be difficult. How hard should your questions be? How many should you pick? Which categories should you pick them from? It can be a real challenge to create a question pool that challenges everyone while not being discouragingly difficult.

Whether you're running your own trivia night, pub quiz, or just an informal game with friends, this article lists over 150 trivia questions and answers that will help you put together the best game possible.

Which Question Categories Should I Pick?

The range of categories that you should pick for your trivia tournament depends on your audience. If you're running the event for kids, stick to the easy questions. If you're running it for a more academic crowd, pick the hard questions. If your crowd has a mix of abilities, pick a few questions from each category, including the easy and hard questions. This way, everyone will have a chance to shine.

How Difficult Should the Questions Be?

Getting the question difficulty right is one of the most crucial elements to designing a game of trivia; if the questions are too hard, it can be discouraging and boring for the participants, but if they're too easy, then you'll end up with a tie at the end of the night.

A good rule to follow is to create a mix of easy and hard questions. This way, there will be questions that everyone can answer, which will help improve the players' confidence and make the game more fun for everyone involved, but there will also be a good separation between the teams as people tackle the more difficult questions. If you're still in doubt, try picking questions that you yourself think you have a shot at answering. The chances are if you can answer them, the people you're organizing your trivia night or pub quiz for will be able to answer them too.

How Many Questions Should I Include?

Trivia is generally split into separate rounds, with short breaks in between during which the answers are called out, and people can socialize. Each round is typically about ten questions, short enough that it doesn't get boring for the participants but long enough to be substantial. The number of rounds that you include should be based on the time you have allotted. Each round typically takes fifteen minutes; ten to answer the questions and five for marking, so four rounds (or 40 questions) will bring you to a round hour.

Keep in mind, however, that this is an approximation. If you're eager to do some fast-paced trivia, then one round may take substantially less time, and if you're going for a more casual event, then it may take longer. Also, keep in mind that you can always cut the event short and skip over a few rounds if you feel that your audience is getting bored. Trivia is flexible, so don't sweat too much over how many questions to choose.

Easy Trivia Questions

If your trivia game or quiz is intended for a younger audience, these questions are easy enough to be appropriate while still difficult enough to provide a challenge. If your quiz is for an older group, sprinkling in a few easy questions will help to boost confidence and make the game more enjoyable overall; no one likes impossible trivia!

Q. How many continents are there?

A. Seven

Q. Who is the current U.S President?

A. Donald Trump

Q. What color is cyan?

A. Blue

Q. What is the chemical formula of water?

A. H2O

Q. In what city is the Louvre museum located?

A. Paris, France

Q. How many U.S states are there?

A. 50

Q. How many years are in a millennium?

A. 1000

Q. Which athlete is known as the fastest man on earth?

A. Usain Bolt

Q. What is the tallest mountain in the world?

A. Mount Everest

Q. What's the scientific name for the process that plants use to convert sunlight to energy?

A. Photosynthesis

Q. Which musician is known as the King of Pop?

A. Michael Jackson

Q. What's the longest river in the world?

A. The Nile

Q. What common species of butterfly have orange and black wings?

A. Monarch Butterfly

Q. Dogs are canines, cats are___?

A. Felines

Q. Who was the first man on the moon?

A. Neil Armstrong

Hard Trivia Questions

If your audience is on the more intelligent side, these hard trivia questions will be perfect. If they're a mixed bunch, these are great for challenging some of the more knowledgeable players.

Q. Which countries border Azerbaijan?

A. Armenia, Georgia, Russia, and Iran

Q. Which four elements were discovered in the Swedish town of Ytterby?

A. Yttrium, Ytterbium, Erbium, and Terbium

Q. How many countries are part of the United Nations?

A. 193

Q. Who was the U.S. Vice President in 1980?

A. Walter Mondale

Q. What two colors are on the Tongan flag?

A. Red and white

Q. Which year did Freddie Mercury die?

A. 1991

Q. What's the last element on the periodic table?

A. Oganesson

Q. What was the name of the first dog in space?

A. Laika

Q. How many studio albums did AC/DC release?

A. 16

Q. Who won the Academy Award for best actress in 2000?

A. Hilary Swank

Q. What river flows parallel to the Euphrates?

A. The Tigris

Q. In Harry Potter, what does the spell Scourgify do?

A. Cleans objects

Q. Which country boasts the world's best men's volleyball team?

A. Brazil

Q. Which country governs Fraser Island?

A. Australia

Q. Which singer released the single "I Know" in 1999?

A. Fiona Apple

General Knowledge Trivia Questions

General knowledge is the backbone of trivia, and these questions that don't particularly fit into any other category are perfect to use as a base for your game. Pick out ten or so of these, add in a few from the other categories that interest you, and you've got yourself a perfect, well-rounded game of trivia or pub quiz.

Q. Who was the first female prime minister of the UK?

A. Margaret Thatcher

Q. What is the name of Germany's national airline?

A. Lufthansa

Q. What is the Japanese name for freshwater eels?

A. Unagi

Q. Who wrote War and Peace?

A. Leo Tolstoy

Q. What acronym is used to refer to the U.S. Republican Party?

A. GOP

Q. Which fast-food chain's logo is known as the "Golden Arches"?

A. McDonald's

Q. Where does a Muscovite live?

A. Moscow, Russia

Q. What's the name of the youngest son of Prince William and Duchess Catherine?

A. Prince Louis of Cambridge

Q. What does UFO stand for?

A. Unidentified flying object

Q. What was the last play that Shakespeare wrote?

A. The Two Noble Kinsmen

Q. What is the collective noun for a group of crows?

A. A murder

Q. What is Superman's Achilles heel?

A. Kryptonite

Q. What was the Soviet equivalent of the CIA?

A. The KGB

Q. What acronym is commonly used to refer to the President of the United States?

A. POTUS

Q. What is the second book of the Bible?

A. Exodus

Q. What kind of weather event was named "Katrina"?

A. A cyclone

Geography Trivia Questions

Geography questions are a key element to any well-rounded game of trivia. These ones are of mixed difficulty, so pick and chose which ones suit your audience the best.

Q. What's the capital of Australia?

A. Canberra

Q. Which continent gets the least amount of rainfall?

A. Antarctica

Q. Where is the headquarters of the United Nations?

A. New York

Q. How many (U.N.-recognized) countries are there in the world?

A. 195

Q. What's the name of the deepest lake in the world?

A. Lake Baikal

Q. What is the name of the world's largest desert?

A. The Sahara Desert

Q. On what island would you find the city of Palermo?

A. Sicily

Q. Which continent is the island of Cyprus in?

A. Europe

Q. What is the world's second-largest country?

A. Canada

Q. What is the northernmost world capital?

A. Reykjavik, Iceland

Q. Which countries make up the U.K?

A. England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

Q. New Zealand is comprised of two main islands. What are their names?

A. North Island and South Island

Q. In which city is the world's highest skyscraper located?

A. Dubai

Q. Which country is Mount Kilimanjaro located in?

A. Tanzania

Q. On what island would you find the city of Honolulu?

A. Oahu

Music Trivia Questions

Many people pride themselves on their knowledge of music, so these questions are essential to include in any good trivia game. This list includes questions about current music, classical music, and everything in between, which gives people with different interests and tastes an equal chance to excel.

Q. What is Led Zeppelin's most-sold album?

A. Led Zeppelin IV

Q. Which wind instrument requires two reeds to play?

A. The bassoon

Q. Who is the lead singer of the band Paramore?

A. Hayley Williams

Q. Who sang the song "Rocketman"?

A. Elton John

Q. What is the top-selling album of all time?

A. Michael Jackson's Thriller

Q. Which famous composer is credited with writing "Moonlight Sonata"?

A. Beethoven

Q. Taylor Swift has an album titled 19__?

A. 1989

Q. Composer Pyotr Tchaikovsky was born in which country?

A. Russia

Q. Who sings "Castle on the Hill"?

A. Ed Sheeran

Q. The Clash frontman Joe Strummer was born with what name?

A. John Mellor

Q. Which pop sensation sang "Can't get you out of my head"?

A. Kylie Minogue

Q. Finish these Beatles lyrics: "When I was younger, so much _____"

A. Younger than today

Q. What was Elvis Presley's middle name?

A. Aaron

Q. What year was Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson's hit song Uptown Funk released?

A. 2015

Q. Which musician has won the most Grammy awards of all time?

A. Georg Solti

Q. Who was the drummer for the Beatles?

A. Ringo Starr

Pop Culture Trivia Questions

Pop culture is all around us, meaning that almost everyone with a pair of eyes and ears has a shot at answering these. This makes pop culture questions ideal for trivia, as everyone has a chance, but those who are knowledgable about celebrities, actors and actresses, and popular book series can really shine.

Q. What are the names of the four Hogwarts Houses?

A. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin

Q. Natasha Romanoff is also known as which superhero?

A. The Black Widow

Q. In which Star Wars movie is the line "I am your father" said?

A. The Empire Strikes Back

Q. Which acclaimed DJ died in Oman in 2018?

A. Avicii

Q. Where did Friends' Ross and Rachel get married?

A. Las Vegas

Q. What's the name of Ellen DeGeneres' wife?

A. Portia de Rossi

Q. What band did the drummer of Nirvana go on to sing for?

A. Foo Fighters

Q. What's the name of Kim Kardashian's brother?

A. Rob

Q. Who is the Lord of the Rings?

A. Sauron

Q. Who is He-Man's nemesis?

A. Skeletor

Q. What's the real name of YouTube gaming star Pewdiepie?

A. Felix Kjellberg

Q. What popular video sharing platform was shut down in late 2016?

A. Vine

Q. The hit show Pretty Little Liars stars which actress as the character Aria Montgomery?

A. Lucy Hale

Q. Which member of the pop group One Direction was the first to leave the band?

A. Zayn Malik

Q. Who did pop singer Katy Perry divorce in 2012?

A. Russell Brand

Q. Which artist has the most streamed song on Spotify?

A. Ed Sheeran

History Trivia Questions

History trivia questions are a great, all-rounder type of question that most people have at least a shot at getting right. You can bulk up your question pool with some of these and ensure that there's something for everything in your game.

Q. Which British king reigned during the time of the American Revolution?

A. George III

Q. According to Greek mythology, everything that King Midas touched turned into what?

A. Gold

Q. Who was the first Founding Father to sign the Declaration of Independence?

A. John Hancock

Q. During which century was the "Age of Enlightenment"?

A. The 18th century

Q. In 1958 Chinese dictator Mao Ze Dong initiated the Great __ ____?

A. The Great Leap Forward

Q. Who was the first Norman King of England?

A. William the Conqueror

Q. The assassination of which political figure triggered the beginning of World War I?

A. Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand

Q. During what century did the Black Plague sweep over Europe?

A. 14th century

Q. What city was the last capital of the Ottoman Empire before its collapse in the early 1900s?

A. Istanbul

Q. What year was the Berlin Wall erected?

A. 1961

Q. When was the tomb of Tutankhamen discovered?

A. 1922

Q. Who was the president of the U.S. during the Civil War?

A. Abraham Lincoln

Q. In which city was Joan of Arc put to death?

A. Rouen

Q. Who was the last British Monarch from the Royal House of Hanover?

A. Queen Victoria

Movie and TV Trivia Questions

Questions based on movies and TV series are fantastic for those who might not know much about science, history, or other specialized topics but who pay attention to what goes on around them in day-to-day life. From the Oscars to the stars of the latest TV series, these questions are great for television-savvy trivia players.

Q. Who stars as Jake Peralta in NBC's Brooklyn Nine-Nine?

A. Andy Samberg

Q. Who is the world's highest-paid actor?

A. George Clooney

Q. How many films are in the James Bond franchise?

A. 26

Q. What's the highest-grossing film at the box office?

A. Avatar

Q. Who directed the Godfather?

A. Francis Ford Coppola

Q. Who stars as Meredith Grey in Grey's Anatomy?

A. Ellen Pompeo

Q. Greta Gustafson is better known as which famous actress?

A. Greta Garbo

Q. How many movies are in the Star Wars franchise?

A. 9

Q. The Shawshank Redemption is based on a novella by which author?

A. Stephen King

Q. Who won the Academy Award for best actor in 2016?

A. Leonardo DiCaprio

Sports Trivia Questions

Sport questions are essential for every trivia game or pub quiz and allow people who are more athletically inclined to really shine. Make sure to include at least a few of these gems in your pool of questions!

Q. What's the name of the Australian National Men's Soccer team?

A. The Socceroos

Q. Which two teams faced off in the 2018 Super Bowl?

A. The New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles

Q. Which country has the highest-ranked cricket team in the world?

A. India

Q. Which team did Babe Ruth start out playing for?

A. Boston Red Sox

Q. What number does basketball player Kobe Bryant wear?

A. 33

Q. Which city hosted the 2004 Olympic Games?

A. Athens

Q. Athlete Ash Barty is known for playing what sport?

A. Tennis

Q. Who holds the world record in the woman's 100-meter sprint?

A. Florence Griffith-Joyner

Q. Is skateboarding an Olympic sport?

A. Yes, it has been introduced for the 2020 Olympic games

Q. Which surfer was attacked by a shark on live television in 2015?

A. Mick Fanning

Science Trivia Questions

Science trivia isn't for everyone, so make sure that at least some of your contestants have taken a science class or two before throwing in any of these questions. That being said, all it really takes is some basic chemistry and biology to be able to have a good shot at answering these questions.

Q. How many elements are there on the periodic table?

A. 118

Q. Who invented the telephone?

A. Alexander Graham Bell

Q. What element has the chemical symbol K?

A. Potassium

Q. What gas makes up the greatest percentage of the earth's atmosphere?

A. Nitrogen

Q. If someone suffers from ancraophobia, they are afraid of what?

A. The wind

Q. Why is the statue of liberty green?

A. It's made of copper, which oxidises to form a greenish hue

Q. The mineral pyrite is also known as what?

A. Fools Gold

Q. Which scientist developed the Periodic Table?

A. Dimitri Mendeleev

Q. What are the four states of matter?

A. Gas, liquid, solid, and plasma

Q. How many bones are in the adult human body?

A. 206

Q. What compound makes the leaves of plants appear green?

A. Chlorophyll

Q. Who invented the battery?

A. Count Volta

Q. How many elements did Marie Curie discover?

A. Two

Q. What is the rarest blood type in humans?

A. AB negative

Q. Who invented the thermometer?

A. Galileo

Funny Trivia Questions

Trivia isn't necessarily known for being a funny game, but throwing in some of these questions will definitely get you a few laughs. They all have surprising, sometimes paradoxical answers and therefore are also great to throw in if you want a trick question or two to increase the difficulty of your quiz.

Q. Where was the first king of England born?

A. France

Q. Where was the fortune cookie invented?

A. The U.S.A.

Q. What kind of animal is the horned toad?

A. A lizard

Q. What's the population density of popes in the Vatican City? (number of popes per square mile)

A. 5.9 popes / square mile

Q. How long is ninety-mile beach in New Zealand?

A. 55 miles

Q. Where were sausages invented?

A. Ancient Mesopotamia, or modern day Iraq.

Q. What do honey bees collect?

A. Pollen

Q. Before Australia was discovered, what was the biggest island in the world?

A. Australia; it still existed before it was discovered!

Q. Saint Valentine, whom Valentine's Day is named after, is the patron saint of which three groups?

A. Lovers, epileptics, and beekeepers

Q. What's the German word for winter?

A. Winter

Q. What are the names of Snow White's seven dwarves?

A. Sleepy, Sneezy, Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Dopey, and Bashful.

And there we have it; over 150 great trivia questions for you to use in your next trivia game or pub quiz! I hope you found the questions you were looking for, and good luck organizing your event!

© 2019 K S Lane

Comments

QUIZKINGZ on December 05, 2019:

Great Trivia Questions! Very informative.

K S Lane (author) from Melbourne, Australia on July 13, 2019:

Thanks very much for your comment, Pamela! I usually play cards with my family too, but I have a group of friends that all love Trivia.

Pamela Oglesby from Sunny Florida on July 12, 2019:

You have listed numerous great question to us for a good game of Trivia. I like playing Trivia, but I haven't played it for quite some time as when the family is around we play cards and other games. Thanks for the great suggestions.