The ultimate list of worldbuilding questions

Worldbuilding is essential to crafting a rich and believable fictional world, and having a set of questions to guide the process can be a super valuable tool.

We've gathered some questions you can ask about each aspect of your fledgling world to fully understand and develop its various aspects and facets.

From military influence to gender roles, these questions cover various topics that can help you create a fully realized and immersive world.

Military influence

The military often plays a significant role in the government and society of a world and can influence the events and conflicts within the story. These ten questions will help you define the influence of the military in your world:

1. What is the size and strength of the military in the world?
2. What is the military's role in the government and society?
3. How does the military operate, and what are its rules and regulations?
4. How is the military funded, and what resources does it have?
5. Who is eligible to join the military, and what is the recruitment process like?
6. How is the military trained, and what is the emphasis of its training?
7. How does the military relate to other branches of the government and to other countries?
8. What is the military's history, and what events or conflicts have shaped it?
9. What is the military's reputation, and how is it viewed by the people of the world?
10. How does the military play a role in the conflicts and storylines of the story?

Religious influence

Religion often shapes the values, beliefs, and actions of the people in a world. These ten questions will help you define the influence of religion in your world:

1. What are the dominant religions in the world, and how do they compare in size and influence?
2. How does religion influence the government and society of the world?
3. What are the central beliefs and practices of the dominant religions?
4. How do different religions coexist, and what is the relationship between them?
5. What is the role of religious leaders and institutions in the world?
6. How does religion affect the daily lives of the people in the world?
7. Is religion a source of conflict or unity in the world?
8. What is the history of religion in the world, and how has it changed over time?
9. How does religion intersect with other aspects of the world, such as politics, economics, or social issues?
10. What is the role of religion in the conflicts and storylines of the story?

Technology influence

Technology plays a significant role in shaping society, and people will likely interact with it daily. These ten questions will help you define the influence of technology in your world:

1. What is the level of technological advancement in the world?
2. How does technology shape the government and society of the world?
3. What are the major technological innovations and industries in the world?
4. How does technology affect the daily lives of the people in the world?
5. What is the relationship between technology and other aspects of the world, such as the environment or social issues?
6. How is technology regulated, and who controls its development and distribution?
7. What is the history of technology in the world, and how has it changed over time?
8. What are the significant technological challenges or issues facing the world?
9. How does technology play a role in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
10. What is the role of science and research in developing technology worldwide?

Arts and culture influence

Arts and culture reflect the values, beliefs, and customs of the people in a world. These ten questions will help you define the influence of arts and culture in your world:

1. What are the dominant forms of art and entertainment in the world?
2. How do art and culture shape the government and society of the world?
3. What are the major cultural traditions and customs in the world?
4. How do different cultural groups coexist, and what is their relationship?
5. What is the role of the arts and culture in the economy of the world?
6. How do the arts and culture reflect the values and beliefs of the people in the world?
7. What is the history of the arts and culture in the world, and how have they changed over time?
8. How do the arts and culture intersect with other aspects of the world, such as politics, religion, or social issues?
9. What is the role of the arts and culture in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
10. How does the physical environment of the world influence its arts and culture?

Wealth distribution

Wealth often plays a significant role in shaping the society and relationships of the people in a world. These ten questions will help you define how wealth is distributed in your world and what that means for your society:

1. How is wealth distributed in the world?
2. What is the role of the economy in the government and society of the world?
3. What are the major industries and sources of wealth in the world?
4. How does wealth affect the daily lives of the people in the world?
5. What is the relationship between wealth and social class in the world?
6. What is the role of government in regulating the economy and redistributing wealth?
7. What is the history of the economy and wealth distribution in the world, and how have they changed over time?
8. How does wealth intersect with other aspects of the world, such as politics, religion, or social issues?
9. What is the role of wealth in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
10. What are the significant economic challenges or issues facing the world?

Agriculture and trade

The agriculture and trade industries often play a significant role in the economy of a society. These ten questions will help you define the role of agriculture and trade in your world:

1. What is the role of agriculture in the economy and society of the world?
2. What are the major crops and livestock produced in the world?
3. How does agriculture affect the environment and natural resources of the world?
4. What is the role of trade in the economy of the world?
5. What are the major trading partners and industries in the world?
6. How does trade affect the relationships between different countries or regions?
7. What is the history of agriculture and trade worldwide, and how have they changed over time?
8. How do agriculture and trade intersect with other aspects of the world, such as politics, religion, or social issues?
9. What is the role of agriculture and trade in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
10. What are the primary agricultural and trade challenges or issues facing the world?

Race relations

Race can shape the relationships, opportunities, and conflicts of the people in a world. These ten questions will help you define the status of race relations in your world:

1. What are the different racial or ethnic groups in the world, and how do they compare in size and influence?
2. How is race represented in the government and society of the world?
3. What is the history of race relations worldwide, and how have they changed over time?
4. How do different racial or ethnic groups coexist, and what is their relationship?
5. What are the major issues or conflicts related to race in the world?
6. How does race intersect with other aspects of the world, such as politics, religion, or social issues?
7. What is the role of race in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
8. What are the major cultural traditions and customs of the different racial or ethnic groups in the world?
9. How does race affect the daily lives and opportunities of the people in the world?
10. What is the government's role in addressing race issues and promoting equality?

Class relations

Social class can shape the relationships, opportunities, and conflicts of the people in a world. These ten questions will help you define the status of class relations in your world:

1. What is the social hierarchy in the world, and how does it compare to the real world?
2. What are the different social classes in the world, and how do they compare in terms of wealth, power, and influence?
3. How does social class affect the daily lives and opportunities of the world?
4. What is the history of social class in the world, and how have the class distinctions changed over time?
5. How does social class intersect with other aspects of the world, such as race, religion, or politics?
6. What is the role of social class in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
7. What are the major cultural traditions and customs of the different social classes?
8. How does social mobility work in the world, and what are the opportunities for people to move between classes?
9. What is the government's role in addressing social class issues and promoting equality?
10. What are the significant issues or challenges related to social class?

Gender relations

Considering gender is crucial for developing believable and well-rounded characters and exploring themes of identity and how gender can shape one's experiences and opportunities. These ten questions will help you define the role of gender in your world:

1. How are gender roles and expectations defined in the world?
2. How do different genders coexist, and what is the relationship between them?
3. What is the history of gender relations in the world, and how have they changed over time?
4. How does gender intersect with other aspects of the world, such as race, class, or social issues?
5. What is the role of gender in the conflicts and storylines of the story?
6. What are the major cultural traditions and customs related to gender in the world?
7. How does gender affect the daily lives and opportunities of your characters?
8. What is the role of government in addressing issues of gender and promoting equality?
9. What are the major issues or challenges related to gender in the world?
10. How have you represented non-binary and LGBTQ+ identities in the world? 

Don't be afraid to experiment and try new things. Use these initial questions as a starting point, but don't let them limit you. Instead, let them inspire you to explore your world and its inhabitants in even greater detail. With each new idea and insight, your world will become richer and more complex, until it feels like a fully-realized place with its own unique history, culture, and identity. Happy worldbuilding!