"Presents easy-to-understand information on 200 countries and dependencies from around the world. Entries discuss a variety of topics in detail, from banking and securities to climate, from government data to demographic statistics. Also includes biographical essays on national leaders."

"Presents the cultural similarities within a country that set it apart from others by examining over 200 countries to document the myriad ways in which culture defines and separates the nations of the world as much as geographical borders do. Surveys each country's shared values, behaviors and cultural variations from foods and rituals to pastimes and arts, using a standard entry format for easy comparison."

Published by the Central Intelligence Agency, the World Factbook provides basic statistical information in the World.

"Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries and territories, and background on key institutions. They also include audio or video clips from BBC archives."

"Background Notes are factual publications that include facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations of independent states, some dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty."

Access links to the official websites of foreign governments, as well as links to specific agency websites.

This portal that allows you to search across multiple UN statistical databases at once.

Provides statistical summaries of individual countries.

Access Country Briefs, overviews, statistics and other World Bank publications on countries around the world.