View source for The World Factbook

{{Short description|Reference resource produced by the CIA}}
{{Distinguish|Encyclopedia of the Central Intelligence Agency{{!}}''Encyclopedia of the Central Intelligence Agency''}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2026}}
{{Infobox book
| name              = The World Factbook
| author            = 
| language          = [[American English]]
| country           = United States
| genre             = [[Almanac]] about the countries of the world
| publisher         = [[Central Intelligence Agency]]
| isbn              = 
| title_orig        = 
| translator        = 
| image             = The World Factbook emblema.svg
| caption           = Emblem
| illustrator       = 
| cover_artist      = 
| series            = 
| subject           = [[General knowledge|General]]
| pub_date          = See [[#Frequency of updates and availability|frequency of updates and availability]], discontinued February 2026
| english_pub_date  = 
| media_type        = 
| pages             = 
| oclc              = 
| dewey             = 
| congress          = 
| preceded_by       = 
| followed_by       = 
| website           = ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20260131095511/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ The World Factbook]'' at the [[Wayback Machine]] (archived January 31, 2026)
}}

'''''The World Factbook''''', also known as the '''''CIA World Factbook''''',<ref name="featured">{{cite web | author = Central Intelligence Agency | title = Where in the World is Mt. Kilimanjaro? Visit the CIA World Factbook to Find Out | date= 2008-01-03 | url = https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2008-featured-story-archive/world-factbook.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090114015209/https://www.cia.gov/news-information/featured-story-archive/2008-featured-story-archive/world-factbook.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 14, 2009 | access-date = 2008-01-04 }}</ref> was a reference resource that was produced by the US [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) between 1962 and 2026 with [[almanac]]-style information about the [[countries of the world]]. From 1971 it was not classified, and available to the public in print since 1975, initially by the CIA, and later the [[Government Publishing Office]]. The ''Factbook'' was also available via a website, and could be downloaded. It provided a two- to three-page summary of the [[demography|demographics]], geography, communications, [[government]], [[economy]], and [[military]] of 258 international entities,<ref name="whatsnew">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook |author= |website=CIA |date=5 January 2023 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |archive-date=4 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104183935/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> including [[List of countries by date of recognition of the United States|U.S.-recognized countries]], dependencies, and other areas in the world.

''The World Factbook'' was prepared by the CIA for the use of [[Federal government of the United States|U.S. government]] officials, and its style, format, coverage, and content are primarily designed to meet their requirements.<ref name="cci"/> As a work of the U.S. government, it was in the public domain in the United States. It was frequently used as a resource for academic research papers and news articles.<ref name="press">{{cite press release |title=CIA World Factbook 2006 Now Available |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency |date= 2006-04-05 |url=https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/press-release-archive-2006/pr04052006.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070613001545/https://www.cia.gov/news-information/press-releases-statements/press-release-archive-2006/pr04052006.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 13, 2007 |access-date=2007-01-11 | quote =The World Factbook remains the CIA's most widely disseminated and most popular product, now averaging almost 6 million visits each month. In addition, tens of thousands of government, commercial, academic, and other Web sites link to or replicate the online version of the Factbook. * * * Included among the 271 geographic entries is one for the 'World', which incorporates data and other information summarized where possible from the other 270 country listings. }}</ref>

On February 4, 2026, following the restriction and closure since 2024 of other government-funded information websites, the CIA announced,  with no warning and no explanation, that ''The World Factbook'' was discontinued. It has been archived by The Mozilla Data Collective and the Factbook Archive.<ref name=mozilla/><ref name="fbarchive" /> A group of volunteers subsequently launched [[OpenFactBook]] with much of the same underlying information as ''The World Factbook''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pot |first=Justin |date=2026-05-02 |title=This free website is like Wikipedia meets the CIA |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/91517984/open-factbook-cia-world-factbook |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260517105529/https://www.fastcompany.com/91517984/open-factbook-cia-world-factbook |archive-date=2026-05-17 |access-date=2026-05-24 |work=[[Fast Company]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Data ==
[[File:WFB 2023.webp|thumb|upright|Cover of the U.S. government print edition of ''The World Factbook'' (2023 edition)]]

=== Sources ===
In researching the ''Factbook'', the CIA used the sources listed below, among other public and private sources.<ref name="cci">{{cite web | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = About The World Factbook—Copyright and Contributors | url = https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/copyright-and-contributors/ | access-date = 30 December 2021 | quote = ''The World Factbook'' is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information is provided by other public and private sources. The ''Factbook'' is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). | archive-date = 30 December 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211230131611/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/copyright-and-contributors/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>

* Antarctic Information Program ([[National Science Foundation]])
* [[Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center]] ([[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]])
* [[United States Census Bureau|Bureau of the Census]] ([[United States Department of Commerce|Department of Commerce]])
* [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] ([[United States Department of Labor|Department of Labor]])
* [[Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs]]
* [[Defense Intelligence Agency]] (Department of Defense)
* [[United States Department of Energy|Department of Energy]]
* [[United States Department of State|Department of State]]
* [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|Fish and Wildlife Service]] ([[United States Department of the Interior|Department of the Interior]])
* [[United States Maritime Administration|Maritime Administration]] ([[United States Department of Transportation|Department of Transportation]])
* [[National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency]] (Department of Defense)
* [[Naval Facilities Engineering Command]] (Department of Defense)
* [[Office of Insular Affairs]] (Department of the Interior)
* [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] (Department of Defense)
* ''[[Oil & Gas Journal]]''
* [[United States Board on Geographic Names]] (Department of the Interior)
* [[United States Transportation Command]] (Department of Defense)

=== Structure ===
Information on the listed entities was provided in the following categories: "introduction or background, geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues."<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Shuler |first=Jack |date=2003-07-01 |title=The CIA World Factbook: Marriage of Archive and Empire? |url=https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/reconstruction/vol3/iss3/10 |journal=Reconstruction: Studies in Contemporary Culture |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=1–16 |issn=1547-4348}}</ref>

== Copyright ==
[[File:WFB Main Page.png|thumb|right|''The World Factbook'' website as it appeared in January 2025]]

As a work of the U.S. government, the ''Factbook'' was in the [[public domain]] and could be redistributed in part or in whole without need for permission,<ref name="pd">{{Cite web |title=The World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) |author= |publisher=CIA |date= |access-date=11 January 2023 |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/faqs/#general |archive-date=11 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111164511/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/faqs/#general |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=cci/> although the CIA requested that the ''Factbook'' be [[Citation|cited]] if used.<ref name=pd/> Copying the official seal of the CIA without permission is prohibited by the US federal [[Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949]] ({{UnitedStatesCode|50|403m}}).

== Frequency of updates and availability ==
Before November 2001, ''The World Factbook'' website was updated yearly;<ref name="faqs-u2d">{{cite web | author =  Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How often is The World Factbook updated? | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/faqs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612214339/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/faqs.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 12, 2007 | access-date = 2009-01-26 | quote = Formerly our Web site (and the published Factbook) were only updated annually. Beginning in November 2001 we instituted a new system of more frequent online updates. The World Factbook is currently updated every two weeks. }}</ref> from 2004 to 2010 it was updated every two weeks;<ref name="faqs-u2d"/> From 2010 to 2026 it was updated weekly.<ref name="weekly">{{cite web | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = World Factbook Updates – October 22, 2010| date= 2010-11-24 | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/world-factbook-updates-november-24-2010.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110514231843/https://www.cia.gov/library/world-factbook-updates-november-24-2010.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 14, 2011 | access-date = 2010-12-01 | quote = Since 2004, The World Factbook website has been updated on a bi-weekly schedule. Culminating a three-month trial effort, we are pleased to announce that the Factbook will now be updated on a weekly basis. }}</ref> Generally, information available as of January 1 of the current year was used in preparing the ''Factbook''.<ref>{{cite web | author =  Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook – Notes and Definitions: Date of information | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612212505/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 12, 2007 | access-date = 2006-09-23 | quote = In general, information available as of 1 January 2007 was used in the preparation of this edition. Effective 31 December 2025, The CIA has terminated the ''World Factbook'' program. Although it may continue to appear online, the information it contains is no longer updated. }}</ref> Following efforts by CIA director [[John Ratcliffe]] to "end programs that don't advance the agency's core missions", the ''Factbook'' was discontinued on February 4, 2026,<ref name="shutdown">{{Cite web |title=Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell |publisher=CIA |date=February 4, 2026 |access-date=February 4, 2026 |url=https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/spotlighting-the-world-factbook-as-we-bid-a-fond-farewell/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260204183216/https://www.cia.gov/stories/story/spotlighting-the-world-factbook-as-we-bid-a-fond-farewell/ |archive-date=February 4, 2026 }}</ref><ref name="Klepper">{{Cite web |last=Klepper |first=David |date=2026-02-04 |title=CIA ends publication of its popular World Factbook reference tool |url=https://apnews.com/article/cia-world-factbook-ratcliffe-trump-fbec61ce16c4b3db59db9cefce0da043 |access-date=2026-02-05 |website=AP News}}</ref> with all pages made inaccessible.<ref name="Kaur05">{{cite news |last=Kaur |first=Harmeet |title=CIA terminates its World Factbook, overthrowing reference regime |date=2026-02-05 |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/us/cia-world-factbook-countries-cec|url-status=live|access-date=2026-02-06 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260205232151/https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/us/cia-world-factbook-countries-cec |archive-date=2026-02-05 |language=en}}</ref> No reason was given for the discontinuation.<ref name="Klepper"/>

=== Government edition ===
The first [[Classified information|classified]] edition of ''Factbook'' was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version in June 1971.<ref name="WBFhistory">{{cite web |author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook – History |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612194809/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/history.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2007 |access-date = 2007-03-03 | quote= The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971.}}</ref> ''The World Factbook'' was first available to the public in print in 1975.<ref name="WBFhistory"/> Until 2008 the CIA printed the ''Factbook''; from then until its discontinuation it was printed by the Government Printing Office<ref name="printgpo">{{cite web | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = CIA – The World Factbook – About :: History: 2008  | date= 2009-06-08 | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/history.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612194809/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/history.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 12, 2007 | access-date = 2009-06-08 | quote =  Printing of the Factbook turned over to the Government Printing Office. }}</ref> following a CIA decision to "focus Factbook resources" on the online edition.<ref name="noprint">{{cite book | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = CIA – The World Factbook 2008: Purchasing Information | year = 2008 | publisher = Government Printing Office | isbn = 9780160873614 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5lc9jxSKfuEC&q=world%20factbook&pg=PP2 | access-date = 2015-04-19 | quote = The Government Printing Office has assumed production of The World Factbook print edition. The CIA has decided to focus Factbook resources exclusively on the World Wide Web online edition... | archive-date = 2021-04-27 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210427071729/https://books.google.com/books?id=5lc9jxSKfuEC&q=world%20factbook&pg=PP2 | url-status = live }}</ref> In 2017, the printed book was officially discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 28, 2025 |title=Gallery of Covers |url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/gallery-of-covers/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250226220202/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/gallery-of-covers/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 26, 2025 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |website=CIA.gov}}</ref> The ''Factbook'' was made available via the [[World Wide Web]] beginning October 1994,<ref>Miller, Jill Young. "CIA puts data on the internet." ''Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel'' 12 December 1994.</ref> receiving about six million visits per month in 2006;<ref name=press/> it was also available for download.<ref>{{cite web | author = Central Intelligence Agency | title = The World Factbook Archives – The World Factbook | url = https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/ | access-date = 2021-06-05 | archive-date = 2021-06-05 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210605141839/https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/about/archives/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> The official printed version was sold<ref name="buy">{{cite web | author =  Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook – Purchasing Information | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/purchase_info.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612211848/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/purchase_info.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 12, 2007 | access-date = 2006-09-23 | quote = Other users may obtain sales information about printed copies from the following: Superintendent of Documents...National Technical Information Service }}</ref> by the [[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] and [[National Technical Information Service]]. In past years, the ''Factbook'' was available on [[CD-ROM]],<ref>{{cite web | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook 1999 – Purchasing Information (mirror) | year = 1999 | url = http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact99/11.htm | access-date = 2006-09-24 | quote = The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prepares The World Factbook in printed, CD-ROM, and Internet versions. | archive-date = 2021-12-22 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211222123438/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact99/11.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> [[microfiche]],<ref name=wfbems>{{cite web | author = Directorate of Intelligence | title = Publication Information for The World Factbook 1995 (mirror) | year = 1995 | url = http://www.ems.psu.edu/~williams/states/pubinfo.htm | access-date = 2006-09-24 | quote = This publication is also available in microfiche, magnetic tape, or computer diskettes. | archive-date = 2012-03-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120317101742/http://www.ems.psu.edu/~williams/states/pubinfo.htm | url-status = dead }}</ref> [[magnetic tape]],<ref name=wfbems/> and [[floppy disk]].<ref name=wfbems/>

=== Reprints and older editions online ===
Many Internet sites use information and images from the CIA ''World Factbook''.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=CIA | title = World Factbook - Frequently Asked Question (section) - I am using the Factbook online and it is not working. What is wrong? | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/faqs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612214339/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/faqs.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 12, 2007 | quote= Hundreds of 'Factbook' look-alikes exist on the Internet. The Factbook site at: www.cia.gov is the only official site.}}</ref> Several publishers, including Grand River Books,<ref>{{cite web | author =  Texas A&M University Libraries | title = Introduction to Comparative Politics POLS 329 | date = January 30, 2007 | url = http://library.tamu.edu/portal/site/Library/menuitem.95e060d328c5ba7869e19cf419008a0c/?vgnextoid=b6e4124698f60110VgnVCM1000007800a8c0RCRD | access-date = 2008-01-02 | quote = The world factbook (Handbook of the Nations). Detroit, Mich.: Grand River Books, 1981–.  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071011234640/http://library.tamu.edu/portal/site/Library/menuitem.95e060d328c5ba7869e19cf419008a0c/?vgnextoid=b6e4124698f60110VgnVCM1000007800a8c0RCRD |archive-date = October 11, 2007}}</ref> Potomac Books (formerly known as Brassey's Inc.),<ref>{{cite web | author = Potomac Books | title = The World Factbook 2008 CIA's 2007 Edition | url = http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=180790 | access-date = 2008-01-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090620061652/http://www.potomacbooksinc.com/Books/BookDetail.aspx?productID=180790 | archive-date = 2009-06-20 }}</ref> and [[Skyhorse Publishing]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Skyhorse Publishing |title=CIA World Factbook 2008, The |url=http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/details.php?TitleID=77 |access-date=2008-01-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030094818/http://www.skyhorsepublishing.com/details.php?TitleID=77 |archive-date=30 October 2008 }}</ref> have published the ''Factbook'' in recent years. Older editions since 2000 were available for download (but not browsing) from the ''Factbook'' website until 2026.<ref name="pd"/><ref name="Kaur05"/>

===Discontinuation===
Without previous warning, on February 4, 2026 the project's URL was redirected to a page announcing that ''The World Factbook'' had been discontinued. No explanation was given, and the CIA refused to comment [[On-the-record|on the record]].<ref name="shutdown" /><ref name="Kirk05">{{Cite news |last=Kirk |first=Rylee |last2=Walker |first2=Mark |date=5 February 2026 |title=C.I.A. World Factbook Ends Publication After 6 Decades |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/us/world-factbook-cia.html |access-date=9 February 2026 |work=[[The New York Times]] |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> All versions were removed from the CIA's website immediately, disrupting academic uses such as by the [[Boston University Questrom School of Business]], which was using it for [[open-book test]]s.<ref name="Kirk05" /> The Mozilla Data Collective has since published a dataset that includes the 260 world entities listed in the ''Factbook'', capturing "the final state of the public data (Jan 23, 2026) before the official website was retired."<ref name=mozilla>{{Cite web |title=World Factbook (JSON) |url=https://datacollective.mozillafoundation.org/datasets/cmll4w0ln00nemn07axe7mj09 |website=Mozilla Data Collective |language=en-US |publication-date=February 13, 2026}}</ref> There is also another website called "Factbook Archive" that contains the information of ''The World Factbook'' from 1990 to 2025.<ref name="fbarchive">{{Cite web |title=CIA World Factbook Archive |url=https://worldfactbookarchive.org/ |access-date=March 11, 2026 |language=en}}</ref>

The news channel [[CNN]] linked the discontinuation to [[2025 United States government online resource removals|other restrictions and closures of government-funded information websites]] since 2024, including closure of health sites, and restrictions on the [[Smithsonian Institution]] and the [[National Park Service]].<ref name="Kaur05"/>

== Entities listed ==
{{Main|List of entities and changes in The World Factbook}}
[[File:Map of the world by the US Gov as of 2016.svg|thumb|upright=1.4|Map of the world published by the ''CIA World Factbook'' in 2016]]

{{As of|July 2011}}, ''The World Factbook'' comprised 266 entities,<ref name="whatsnew"/> which can be divided into the following categories:<ref name="ents">{{cite web | author =  Directorate of Intelligence | title = The World Factbook – Notes and Definitions: Entities | url = https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070612212505/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/docs/notesanddefs.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = June 12, 2007 | access-date = 2011-07-12 | quote = 'Independent state' refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory. * * * There are a total of 266 separate geographic entities in ''The World Factbook'' that may be categorized as follows... }}</ref>

; Independent countries: The CIA defines these as people "politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory."<ref name="ents"/> In this category, there are 195 entities.
; Others: Places set apart from the list of independent countries. There are two of these: [[Taiwan]] and the [[European Union]].
; Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty: Places affiliated with another country. They may be subcategorized by affiliated country:
:* [[Australia]]: 6 entities
:* [[China]]: 2 entities
:* [[Denmark]]: 2 entities
:* [[France]]: 8 entities
:* [[Netherlands]]: 3 entities
:* [[New Zealand]]: 3 entities
:* [[Norway]]: 3 entities
:* [[United Kingdom]]: 17 entities
:* [[United States]]: 14 entities
; Miscellaneous: [[Antarctica]] and places in dispute. There are six such entities.
; Other entities: The [[World]] and the [[ocean]]s. There are five oceans and the World (the World entry is intended as a summary of the other entries).<ref name=press/>

== Reception ==
''[[Reference Reviews]]'' reviewed the online edition of ''The World Factbook'' in 2016, praising its "up-to-date facts and figures" through its weekly updates while expressing concern over its usability due to difficult [[Web navigation|content navigation]] and inadequate [[font size]]s.{{Sfn|Shores|2016|pp=1-2}}

The ''Factbook'' has been criticized for serving the interests of the United States by controlling how other countries are represented and for taking, at least in some cases, an ahistorical perspective.<ref name=":1" />

== See also ==
{{Portal|History|Literature|World}}
* [[National Security Agency]]
* ''[[World Leaders]]'', another regular publication of the CIA<ref>{{Cite web |author=Central Intelligence Agency |title=World Leaders |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612180914/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/world-leaders-1/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 12, 2007 |access-date=2007-10-25}}</ref>

; Alternative publications
* ''[[Europa World Year Book]]''
* ''[[The New York Times Almanac]]''
* ''[[The TIME Almanac]]''
* ''[[Whitaker's Almanack]]''
* ''[[The World Almanac]]''

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{reflist}}

=== General and cited sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{CIA World Factbook}}
* {{Cite journal |last=Shores |first=Mark |date=2016-05-16 |title=Countries of the World: Free and Subscription Information Sources |url=http://www.emerald.com/rr/article/30/4/1-5/339570 |url-access=subscription |journal=[[Reference Reviews]] |volume=30 |issue=4 |pages=1–5 |doi=10.1108/RR-06-2015-0162 |issn=0950-4125 |language=en}}
{{refend}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|World Factbook}}
{{Wikisource|The World Factbook|''The World Factbook''}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://ian.macky.net/pat/wdb3/index.html CIA ''World Factbook'' as XML]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080723185153/http://stephansmap.org/cia_world_factbook On stephansmap.org] – The CIA ''World Factbook'' accessible by location and date range; covers the years 2001–2007. All ''Factbook'' entries are tagged with "cia". Requires graphical browser with JavaScript.
* [http://www.theodora.com/wfb The current CIA ''World Factbook'' in Excel spreadsheet format]

=== Mobile versions of the ''Factbook'' ===
* [http://www.theodora.com/wfb/mobile.html Mobile menu of 36 years of CIA ''World Factbooks''], last updated February 2019
* [http://www.urbian.biz/apps/worldstats/index.html ''World Factbook'' for Android]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308121046/http://www.urbian.biz/apps/worldstats/index.html |date=March 8, 2012 }} – Optimized CIA ''World Factbook'' version for Android Devices

=== The ''Factbook'' by year ===
* [[Wayback Machine]] archives of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20070612212614/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/xx.html CIA-hosted ''Factbook''] (2007–2017)
* [http://www.theodora.com/wfb Countries of the World – 36 years of the CIA ''World Factbook''] (1982–2019)

{| class="wikitable"
! Original (Year) !! Archive (Date)
|-
! colspan="2" | [[University of Missouri–St. Louis]]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact92/index.html 1992] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080611065638/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact92/index.html June 11, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact93/index.html 1993] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080705202935/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact93/index.html July 5, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact94/index.html 1994] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080709010349/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact94/index.html July 9, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact95/index.html 1995] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080620021514/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact95/index.html June 20, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact96/index.html 1996] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20081001000410/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact96/index.html October 1, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact97/index.html 1997] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080719162227/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact97/index.html July 19, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact98/index.html 1998] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20081001000420/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact98/index.html October 1, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact99/index.html 1999] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20081001000430/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact99/index.html October 1, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2000/index.html 2000] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080627160805/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2000/index.html June 27, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2001/index.html 2001] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080615214401/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2001/index.html June 15, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2002/index.html 2002] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080526104901/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2002/index.html May 26, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2003/index.html 2003] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080615214416/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2003/index.html June 15, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2004/index.html 2004] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080615214426/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2004/index.html June 15, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2005/index.html 2005] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080513112327/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2005/index.html May 13, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2006/index.html 2006] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20220323101955/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2006/index.html March 23, 2022]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2007/index.html 2007] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20080612084300/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2007/index.html June 12, 2008]
|-
| [http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2008/index.html 2008] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20090401231649/http://www.umsl.edu/services/govdocs/wofact2008/index.html April 1, 2009]
|-
! colspan="2" | GPO Permanent Access
|-
| [http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/1991/world91b.txt 1991] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20110511092520/http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/1991/world91b.txt May 11, 2011]
|-
| [http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/1990/world12.txt 1990] || [https://web.archive.org/web/20110511092539/http://permanent.access.gpo.gov/lps35389/1990/world12.txt May 11, 2011]
|-
! colspan="2" | Theodora.com
|-
| [http://www.theodora.com/wfb1989/ 1989] || —
|-
! colspan="2" | Geographic.org
|-
| [http://www.geographic.org/wfb1987/ 1987] || —
|-
| [http://www.geographic.org/wfb1985/ 1985] || —
|-
| [http://www.geographic.org/wfb1982/ 1982] || —
|-
! colspan="2" | AllCountries.org
|-
| [http://www.allcountries.org/wfb1986/ 1986] || —
|-
! colspan="2" | WorkMall.com
|-
| [http://www.workmall.com/wfb1984/ 1984] || —
|}

{{Central Intelligence Agency}}
{{Serial almanacs, factbooks, and yearbooks about world and country news, facts, and statistics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Factbook, The}}
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