Fact check: 1/3 of US citizens can’t find their state on a map

1. Summary of the results

The claim that "1/3 of US citizens can't find their state on a map" cannot be directly verified from the provided sources. While there is substantial evidence of geographic illiteracy among Americans, the specific "1/3" statistic is not supported. Instead, the data shows:

• 11% of young Americans couldn't locate the United States itself on a map ^[1]
• Only 16% of Americans could locate Ukraine on a world map in a 2014 survey ^[2]
• Americans particularly struggle with identifying Midwest and New England states, while finding iconic states like California and Texas easier ^[3]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The sources reveal a broader and more concerning picture of geographic literacy:

• Only 14% of young Americans could correctly identify four Middle Eastern countries ^[4]
• Even college-educated Americans struggle, with only 23% able to locate all four Middle Eastern countries ^[4]
• The problem extends beyond state recognition to global geography, with only 17% able to find Afghanistan on a map ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement has several issues:

• It oversimplifies a complex issue by focusing only on state recognition, while the problem encompasses broader geographic knowledge deficits
• It uses a specific statistic (1/3) that isn't supported by the available data
• It fails to acknowledge that geographic literacy varies significantly based on:
• The specific regions being identified ^[3]
• The age of the participants (multiple surveys specifically focused on young Americans)
• Education level ^[4]

The statement appears to be an oversimplification of a real and documented problem, but uses an unverified statistic to make its point.