The AVERAGE would know more about Austria than you think. Things like the capital being Vienna and the Danube River running through and it's bordering Germany, Switzerland, Poland and (the old ) Czeckoslavakia.
Yukon Jack, I seriously doubt that the average American knows all this. You do because you are from that part of the world, but don’t judge all North Americans by what you know.
Americans have probably heard the name Vienna, but would be hard pressed to tell you which country it is located in. I doubt many of them will be able to tell you that it is in Austria, they probably know it is somewhere in Europe.
As to Danube running through it and bordering Germany (this one perhaps, many of them have watched Sound of Music), Switzerland, Poland etc.? Forget it.
I remember a while ago they did carry out a test like this, asked Americans several questions to test their general knowledge. It was quite amusing.
Many of them could not tell the ‘God given’ rights mentioned in the constitution, life, liberty and pursuit of happiness (at least Al Bundy got two right, life, nudity and pursuit of happiness).
Many of them could not name their Senator, did not know how many Senators in the Senate and so on. You think they would know all this about Austria? Think again.
This subject, I totally agree with you, it is unfortunate that most schools in he U.S. have stopped teaching Geography, History, English. today you don't really see those subjects until college or possibly 11th or 12th grade in some high schools. Regulating Gym/Physical education to one or two days a week if at all. Cutting out the arts and music programs. Today, we are relying to much on others to teach our children and have lost the parental control we once had upon education.