What is the Metric System?
The metric system, otherwise known as the International System of Units (SI), is the most widely used system of measurement worldwide. It is based on seven fundamental units: the meter for length, the kilogram for mass, the second for time, the ampere for electric current, the kelvin for temperature, the mole for amount of substance, and the candela for luminous intensity. All other units are derived from these seven units, making it one of the greatest scientific and engineering achievements of the modern age.
History of the Metric System
The use of the metric system evolved from ancient times when people initially used devices such as scales, hourglasses and a balance of weights to measure different things. Eventually, primitive devices were replaced with sophisticated measuring instruments like rulers, yardsticks and devices to measure angles. The metric system was first formulated in France in 1790 by the French Academy of Sciences and was later adopted by the government throughout the country. Since then, it has become the main system of measurement used throughout the world and continues to evolve as technology and science progress.
Which Countries Use the Metric System?
The metric system is now the primary system of measurement used in all countries worldwide with the exception of the U.S., Liberia, and Myanmar. All other countries either have adopted the metric system as the main system of measurement or have dual systems which both use metric measurements.
Here is a list of countries that use the metric system either exclusively or partially:
• Afghanistan
• Algeria
• Andorra
• Angola
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Armenia
• Australia
• Austria
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Bulgaria
• Burkina Faso
• Cambodia
• Cameroon
• Canada
• Central African Republic
• Chile
• China
• Colombia
• Cook Islands
• Costa Rica
• Croatia
• Cuba
• Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Denmark
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Egypt
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Estonia
• Ethiopia
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Georgia
• Germany
• Ghana
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guatemala
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Guyana
• Haiti
• Honduras
• Hungary
• Iceland
• India
• Indonesia
• Iraq
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kazakhstan
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Kuwait
• Kyrgyzstan
• Laos
• Latvia
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Madagascar
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mali
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Mexico
• Micronesia
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Niue
• North Korea
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Russia
• Rwanda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Samoa
• San Marino
• Sao Tome and Principe
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Serbia
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Solomon Islands
• Somalia
• South Africa
• South Korea
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Syria
• Taiwan
• Tajikistan
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Togo
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Turkmenistan
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Ukraine
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• Uruguay
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Venezuela
• Vietnam
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe
Reasons Why Countries Use the Metric System
The widespread use of the metric system is a testament to its superiority in several aspects:
• Global Reach: The metric system is used by virtually all countries in the world and unifies measurements, making it easy to understand and compare quantifications among different countries.
• Simplicity: The metric system is easier and simpler to use than other systems, making it more commonplace in everyday usage and easier to teach.
• Metric Prefix Simplicity: Unlike other systems, the metric system uses a single set of prefixes regardless of the quantity being measured.
• Consistent Measurements: The metric system allows for consistent measurement worldwide, meaning that you do not need to worry about converting units when measuring something in a different country.
• Flexibility: The metric system is easier to modify and extend than other systems, making it easier to adapt to changes in science and technology.
The metric system is the most widely used system of measurement worldwide, with virtually all countries using it either exclusively or partially. With its ease of use and capacity to evolve with technology, it’s easy to see why it’s become the go-to measurement system of choice for so many countries. The metric system continues to be a major contributor in global scientific and engineering success for future generations.
