Fact Check: "Mercosur and EFTA represent nearly 300 million people."
What We Know
Mercosur (Southern Common Market) is a South American trade bloc that includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay as full members, with Bolivia in the process of joining. The population of these countries combined is approximately 295 million people, based on recent estimates (World Bank, 2023).
On the other hand, the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) consists of four member countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The total population of EFTA member states is around 14 million (Eurostat, 2023).
When we combine the populations of Mercosur and EFTA, we arrive at a total of approximately 309 million people (295 million from Mercosur and 14 million from EFTA), which exceeds the claim of "nearly 300 million people."
Analysis
The claim that "Mercosur and EFTA represent nearly 300 million people" is factually accurate in terms of the combined population, as the total is indeed around 309 million. However, the phrase "nearly 300 million" could be considered a slight understatement, as it does not reflect the actual combined figure accurately.
The sources used to derive these population estimates are reputable. The World Bank provides reliable demographic data, and Eurostat is the statistical office of the European Union, which ensures the credibility of the population figures for EFTA countries.
While the claim is technically correct, the wording may lead to some confusion regarding the exact population size. The phrase "nearly" suggests a figure that is closer to 300 million than it actually is, as the combined total is significantly above that threshold.
Conclusion
Verdict: Unverified
The claim that "Mercosur and EFTA represent nearly 300 million people" is misleading. While the combined population does approximate 309 million, the use of "nearly" implies a number closer to 300 million than the actual figure. Therefore, while the claim is based on accurate data, it does not fully represent the reality of the population size.
