CIA World Fact Book

Have you been asked, or chosen, to write about a country you know very little about? Before you do significant in-depth research, it is generally helpful to begin with background material. You’ll want to find out  some basic information such as geographical information, the political and legal system, something about it’s economy, and, possibly, any significant transnational issues.

One of the primary places to obtain this information is The CIA World Fact Book. The online access provides information on all of these topics and more.  Information on issues such as the language(s) spoken, population,  and religion(s) can be found under the People and Society link drop down.  Mortality rates, drinking water sources, and other health related information can also be located here.

As with any website or other resource, you’ll want to verify the date the material was last updated, and ‘consider the source’ – what isn’t there? Is there a bias to the information? The CIA World Fact Book online is a great place to begin!

Written by Joan Policastri, Foreign, Comparative and International Law Librarian