McDonald's worldwide presence in scope

McDonald's recently found itself in the spotlight for reasons beyond its iconic menu items.

A lawsuit filed by the American Alliance for Equal Rights on January 12 indicated that McDonald's HACER National Scholarship Programme promoted racism.

McDonald's scholarship programme which was established in 1985, awards college scholarships to students with at least one Latino parent. So far, 17,000 students have enjoyed $33 million in scholarships.

The food giant announced on Friday, January 31 that it was extending the programme to non-Latinos who can prove their impact on the Latin community.

Despite the scholarship controversy, McDonald's has over 38,000 locations in more than 100 countries worldwide.

From its humble beginnings in San Bernardino, California, to its current status as a global fast-food giant, McDonald's has captured the hearts and stomachs of people from diverse cultures.

A snapshot of McDonald's global reach

- Asia-Pacific: Over 10,000 locations across countries like China, Japan, and Australia

- Europe: More than 7,000 locations in countries such as the UK, Germany, and France

- Americas: Over 14,000 locations in the US, Canada, and Latin America

- Middle East and Africa: A growing presence with over 1,000 locations