By intelligence officials for intelligent people

The World Factbook is published annually by the CIA. It is an almanac-style volume running to some 900 pages. Here you will find facts related to intelligence gathered by the CIA. The book is updated every year with new facts added and amendments made, as appropriate.

In general, information available as of January 1, 2008 was used in the preparation of this edition. Provides brief information on the geography, people, government, economy, communications, and defense of countries and regions around the world. Contains information on international organizations. Designed to meet the specific requirements of United States Government Officials in style, format, coverage, and content. Includes 3 unattached maps.

PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS: “Excellent for answering quick reference questions on the nations of the world.” —American Reference Books Annual“A valuable, easy-to-use worldwide information source.” —World Affairs Council Booknotes“Excellent . . . a wealth of unclassified data is provided. . . . An indispensable reference for those involved in global political, military, diplomatic, or economic affairs.” —Sea PowerThe World Factbook, produced annually by the CIA, has become the ultimate, authoritative source of information on all the nations of the world. It provides current data for more than 250 countries and territories, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Potomac Books publishes a commercial version of The World Factbook in order to extend the limited audience reached by the CIA’s own publication. This current Potomac Books edition is identified by the year 2008, following the pattern used in our other annual publications. The CIA completes its volume late each year, and Potomac Books republishes it the following year.Topics addressed include the political climate, natural resources, environment, population, ethnic groups, GDP, agriculture, industries, defense expenditures, literacy rate, religion, legal system, and much more. Key data are grouped under the headings of geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues. The World Factbook also contains maps of each country and of key territories. In addition, readers will find handy appendixes on international organizations and groups, international environmental agreements, and a cross-referenced list of geographic names. The World Factbook provides the indispensable reference for curious individuals concerned about a rapidly changing world.

A country-by-country guide to the world. From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, The CIA World Factbook 2017 offers complete and up-to-date information on the world’s nations. This comprehensive guide is packed with data on the politics, populations, military expenditures, and economics of 2016. For each country, The CIA World Factbook 2017 includes: • Detailed maps with new geopolitical data • Statistics on the population of each country, with details on literacy rates, HIV prevalence, and age structure • New data on military expenditures and capabilities • Information on each country’s climate and natural hazards • Details on prominent political parties and contact information for diplomatic consultation • Facts on transportation and communication infrastructure Also included are appendixes with useful abbreviations, international environmental agreements, international organizations and groups, weight and measure conversions, and more. Originally intended for use by government officials, this is a must-have resource for students, travelers, journalists, and businesspeople with a desire to know more about their world.

This factbook presents numbers and facts behind the stories of international migration and remittances, drawing on authoritative, publicly available data. It provides a comprehensive picture of emigration, skilled emigration, immigration, and remittance flows for 210 countries and 15 country groups. Some interesting facts: More than 215 million people, or 3 percent of the world population, live outside their countries of birth. Current migration flows, relative to population, are weaker than those of the last decades of the nineteenth century. The volume of South-South migration (migration between developing countries) is larger than migration from the South to high-income OECD countries. International migration is dominated by voluntary migration, which is driven by economic factors. Refugees and asylum seekers made up 16.3 million, or 8 percent, of international migrants in 2010. Worldwide remittance flows are estimated to have exceeded $440 billion in 2010, of which developing countries received $325 billion. Remittances proved to be resilient during the recent global financial crisisùthey fell only 6 percent in 2009 and registered a quick recovery in 2010. The top migrant-destination country is the United States, followed by the Russian Federation, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. The top immigration countries, relative to population, include Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Andorra, and the Cayman Islands.

The World Factbook is published annually by the CIA. It is an almanac-style volume running to some 900 pages. Here you will find facts related to intelligence gathered by the CIA. The book is updated every year with new facts added and amendments made, as appropriate.