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The World Factbook, also known as the CIA World Factbook,[1] is a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) with almanac-style information about the countries of the world. The official print version is available from the Government Printing Office. Other companies—such as Skyhorse Publishing—also print a paper edition. The Factbook is available in the form of a website that is partially updated every week. It is also available for download for use off-line. It provides a two- to three-page summary of the demographics, geography, communications, government, economy, and military of each of 267 international entities[2] including U.S.-recognized countries, dependencies, and other areas in the world.

The World Factbook is prepared by the CIA for the use of U.S. government officials, and its style, format, coverage, and content are primarily designed to meet their requirements.[3] However, it is frequently used as a resource for academic research papers and news articles.[4] As a work of the U.S. government, it is in the public domain in the United States.[5]

Sources

Cover of the U.S. government print edition of The World Factbook (2016–17 edition)

In researching the Factbook, the CIA uses the sources listed below. Other public and private sources are also consulted.[3]

Copyright

The World Factbook website as it appeared in December 2014

Because the Factbook is in the public domain, people are free under United States law to redistribute it or parts of it in any way that they like, without permission of the CIA.[3] However, the CIA requests that it be ci

The World Factbook is prepared by the CIA for the use of U.S. government officials, and its style, format, coverage, and content are primarily designed to meet their requirements.[3] However, it is frequently used as a resource for academic research papers and news articles.[4] As a work of the U.S. government, it is in the public domain in the United States.[5]

In researching the Factbook, the CIA uses the sources listed below. Other public and private sources are also consulted.[3]

Copyright

public domain, people are free under United States law to redistribute it or parts of it in any way that they like, without permission of the CIA.[3] However, the CIA requests that it be cited when the Factbook is used.[5] Copying the official seal of the CIA without permission is prohibited by U.S. federal law—specifically, the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. § 403m).

Frequency of updates and availability

Before November 2001 The World Factbook website was updated yearly;[6] from 2004 to 2010 it was updated every two weeks;[6] since 2010 it has been updated weekly.[7] Generally, information currently available as of January 1 of the current year[8] is used in preparing the Factbook.

Government edition

The first classified edition of Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version in June 1971.[9] The World Factbook was first available to the public in print in 1975.[9] In 2008 the CIA discontinued printing the Factbook themselves, instead turning printing responsibilities over to the Government Printing Office.[10] This happened due to a CIA decision to "focus Factbook resources" on the online edition.[11] The Factbook has been on the World Wide Web since October 1994.[12] The web version receives an average of six million visits per month;[4] it can also be downloaded.[13] The official printed version is sold[14] by the Government Printing Office and National Technical Information Service. In past years, the Factbook was available on CD-ROM,[15] microfiche,[16] magnetic tape,[16] and floppy disk.[16]

Reprints and older editions online

The first The first classified edition of Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version in June 1971.[9] The World Factbook was first available to the public in print in 1975.[9] In 2008 the CIA discontinued printing the Factbook themselves, instead turning printing responsibilities over to the Government Printing Office.[10] This happened due to a CIA decision to "focus Factbook resources" on the online edition.[11] The Factbook has been on the World Wide Web since October 1994.[12] The web version receives an average of six million visits per month;[4] it can also be downloaded.[13] The official printed version is sold[14] by the Government Printing Office and National Technical Information Service. In past years, the Factbook was available on CD-ROM,[15] microfiche,[16] magnetic tape,[16] and floppy disk.[16]

Reprints and older editions online

[2] which can be divided into the following categories:[21]

Independent countries
The CIA defines these as people "politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory."[21] In this category, there are 195 entities.
Others
Places set apart from the list of independent countries. Currently there are two: Taiwan and the European Union.
Dependencies and Areas of Special Sovereignty
Places affiliated with another country. They may be subcategorized by affiliated country:
Miscellaneous
Antarctica and places in dispute. There are six such entities.
The Factbook contains some errors (usually of a minor nature), inaccuracies, and out-of-date information, which are often repeated elsewhere due to the Factbook's widespread use as a reference.[citation needed][dubious – discuss] For example, Albania was until recently, described in the Factbook as 70% Muslim, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholic, which was based on a survey conducted in 1939, before World War II; numerous surveys conducted since the fall of the Communist regime since 1990 have given quite different figures.[citation needed] Another example is Singapore, which the Factbook states has a total fertility rate of 0.78 children per woman, despite figures in Statistics Singapore which state that the rate has been about 1.2–1.3 children per woman for at least the past several years, and it is unclear when, or even whether, it ever dropped as low as 0.78.[68] This low and inaccurate value then gets cited in news articles which state that Singapore has the world's lowest fertility, or at least use the figure for its shock value.[69][70] Another serious problem is that the Factbook never cites its sources, making verification of the information it presents difficult if not impossible.[citation needed]

In June 2009, National Public Radio (NPR), relying on information obtained from the CIA World Factbook, put the number of Israeli Jews living in settlements in the West Bank and Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem at 250,000. However, a better estimate, based on State Department and Israeli sources put the figure at about 500,000. NPR then issued a correction. Chuck Holmes, foreign editor for NPR Digital, said, "I'm surprised and displeased, and it makes me wonder what other information is out-of-date or incorrect in the CIA World Factbook."[71]

Scholars have acknowledged that some entries in the Factbook are out of date.[72]

See also

Alternative publications

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Directorate of Intelligence (2011-07-12). "CIA – World Factbook". Retrieved 2011-07-14. The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.
  2. ^ a b c Directorate of Intelligence. "The World Factbook – Contributors and Copyright Information". Retrieved 2006-09-23. 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).
  3. ^ a b c "CIA World Factbook 2006 Now Available" (Press release). Central Intelligence Agency. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2007-01-11. 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.
  4. ^ a b Directorate of Intelligence. "The World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Can I use some or all of The World Factbook for my Web site (book, research project, homework, etc.)?". Retrieved 2006-09-23. The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by anyone at anytime without seeking permission.* * * As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.
  5. ^ a b Directorate of Intelligence. "The World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How often is The World Factbook updated?". Retrieved 2009-01-26. 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.
  6. ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2010-11-24). "World Factbook Updates – October 22, 2010". Retrieved 2010-12-01. 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.
  7. ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World Factbook – Notes and Definitions: Date of information". Retrieved 2006-09-23. In general, information available as of 1 January 2007 was used in the preparation of this edition.
  8. ^ a b Directorate of Intelligence. "The World Factbook – History". Retrieved 2007-03-03. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971.
  9. ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2009-06-08). "CIA – The World Factbook – About :: History: 2008". Retrieved 2009-06-08. Printing of the Factbook turned over to the Government Printing Office.
  10. ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2008). CIA – The World Factbook 2008: Purchasing Information. ISBN 9780160873614. Retrieved 2015-04-19. 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...
  11. ^ Miller, Jill Young. "CIA puts data on the internet." Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 12 December 1994.
  12. ^ Central Intelligence Agency. "CIA Download Page". Retrieved 2007-06-10.
  13. ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World Factbook – Purchasing Information". Retrieved 2006-09-23. Other users may obtain sales information about printed copies from the following: Superintendent of Documents...National Technical Information ServiceNational Public Radio (NPR), relying on information obtained from the CIA World Factbook, put the number of Israeli Jews living in settlements in the West Bank and Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem at 250,000. However, a better estimate, based on State Department and Israeli sources put the figure at about 500,000. NPR then issued a correction. Chuck Holmes, foreign editor for NPR Digital, said, "I'm surprised and displeased, and it makes me wonder what other information is out-of-date or incorrect in the CIA World Factbook."[71]

    Scholars have acknowledged that some entries in the Factbook are out of date.[72]

    Alternative publications