_THE WORLD FACTBOOK_ (ISSN 1553-8133 ; also known as the _CIA WORLD FACTBOOK_) 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 National Technical Information Service and 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 including U.S.-recognized countries, dependencies, and other areas in the world.

_The World
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. However, it is frequently used as a resource for academic research papers and news articles. As a work of the U.S. government , it is in the public domain in the United States
United States .

CONTENTS

* 1 Sources * 2 Copyright

* 3 Frequency of updates and availability

* 3.1 Government edition of the _Factbook_ * 3.2 Reprints and older editions online

* 4 Entities listed

* 5 Territorial issues and controversies

* 5.1 Political * 5.2 Factual

* 6 See also * 7 References

* 8 External links

* 8.1 Mobile versions of the _Factbook_ * 8.2 The _Factbook_ by year

SOURCES

In researching the _Factbook_, the CIA uses the sources listed below. Other public and private sources are also consulted.

* Antarctic Information Program ( National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation ) * Armed Forces Medical Intelligence Center (Department of Defense ) * Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce ) * Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor ) * Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs * Defense Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense) * Department of Energy * Department of State * Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior ) * Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation ) * National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense) * Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Department of Defense) * Office of Insular Affairs (Department of the Interior) * Office of Naval Intelligence (Department of Defense) * _Oil "> The World
World Factbook website as it appeared in December 2014

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

FREQUENCY OF UPDATES AND AVAILABILITY

Before November 2001 _The World
World Factbook_ website was updated yearly; from 2004 to 2010 it was updated every two weeks; since 2010 it has been updated weekly. Generally, information currently available as of January 1 of the current year is used in preparing the _Factbook_.

GOVERNMENT EDITION OF THE _FACTBOOK_

The first, classified , edition of _Factbook_ was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version in June 1971. _The World Factbook_ was first available to the public in print in 1975. In 2008 the CIA discontinued printing the _Factbook_ themselves, instead turning printing responsibilities over to the Government Printing Office. This happened due to a CIA decision to "focus Factbook resources" on the online edition. The _Factbook_ has been on the World
World Wide Web since October 1994. The web version gets an average of 6 million visits per month; it can also be downloaded. The official printed version is sold by the Government Printing Office and National Technical Information Service . In past years, the _Factbook_ was available on CD-ROM , microfiche , magnetic tape , and floppy disk .

REPRINTS AND OLDER EDITIONS ONLINE

Many Internet sites use information and images from the CIA _World Factbook_. Several publishers, including Grand River Books, Potomac Books (formerly known as Brassey's Inc.), and Skyhorse Publishing have re-published the _Factbook_ in recent years.

ENTITIES LISTED

Main article: List of entities and changes in The World
World Factbook

As of July 2011, _The World
World Factbook_ consists of 267 entities. These entities can be divided into categories. They are: Independent countries This category has independent countries, which the CIA defines as people "politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory". In this category, there are 195 entities. Others The _Other_ category is a list of other places set apart from the list of independent countries. Currently there are TWO: Taiwan
Taiwan and the European Union
European Union . Dependencies and Areas of Special
Special Sovereignty This category is a list of places affiliated with another country. They may be subdivided into categories using the country they are affiliated with:

* Australia
Australia : six entities * China
China : two entities * Denmark
Denmark : two entities * France
France : eight entities * Netherlands
Netherlands : three entities * New Zealand
New Zealand : three entities * Norway
Norway : three entities * United Kingdom
United Kingdom : seventeen entities * United States
United States : fourteen entities

Miscellaneous This category is for Antarctica
Antarctica and places in dispute. There are SIX entities. Other entities This category is for the World
World and the oceans . There are FIVE oceans and the World
World (the World
World entry is intended as a summary of the other entries).

TERRITORIAL ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES

POLITICAL

Areas not covered Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries, such as Kashmir
Kashmir , are not covered, but other areas of the world whose status is disputed, such as the Spratly Islands , have entries. Subnational areas of countries (such as U.S. states or the Canadian provinces and territories ) are not included in the _Factbook_. Instead, users looking for information about subnational areas are referred to "a comprehensive encyclopedia" for their reference needs. This criterion was invoked in the 2007 and 2011 editions with the decision to drop the entries for French Guiana , Guadeloupe , Martinique , Mayotte , and Reunion . They were dropped because besides being overseas departments , they were now overseas regions , and an integral part of France. Kashmir
Kashmir Maps depicting Kashmir
Kashmir have the Indo-Pakistani border drawn at the Line of Control , but the region of Kashmir
Kashmir administered by China
China drawn in hash marks. Northern Cyprus Northern Cyprus , which the U.S. considers part of the Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus , is not given a separate entry because "territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United States Government are not shown on U.S. Government maps." Taiwan/Republic of China
China The name "Republic of China" is not listed as Taiwan
Taiwan 's official name under the "Government" section, due to U.S. acknowledgement of Beijing's One- China
China policy according to which there is one China
China and Taiwan
Taiwan is a part of it. The name "Republic of China" was briefly added on January 27, 2005, but has since been changed back to "none". Of the _Factbook_'s two maps of China
China , one highlights the island of Taiwan
Taiwan highlighted as part of the country while the other does not. (See also: Political status of Taiwan
Taiwan , Legal status of Taiwan
Taiwan ) Disputed South China
China Sea Islands The Paracel Islands
Paracel Islands and Spratly Islands , subjects of territorial disputes, have entries in the _Factbook_ where they are not listed as the territory of any one nation. The disputed claims to the islands are discussed in the entries. Burma/Myanmar The U.S. does not recognize the renaming of Burma
Burma by its ruling military junta to _Myanmar_ and thus keeps its entry for the country under the _Burma_ name. FYROM/ Republic of Macedonia The Republic of Macedonia is entered as _Macedonia_, the name used in its first entry in the _Factbook_ upon independence in 1992. In the 1994 edition, the name of the entry was changed to the _Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia _, as it is recognised by the United Nations
United Nations (pending resolution of the Macedonia naming dispute ). For the next decade, this was the name the nation was listed under. Finally, in the 2004 edition of the _Factbook_, the name of the entry was changed back to _Macedonia_, following a November 2004 U.S. decision to refer to the country using this name. European Union
European Union On December 16, 2004, the CIA added an entry for the European Union
European Union (EU) for the first time. ) The "What's New" section of the 2005 _Factbook_ states: "The European Union continues to accrue more nation-like characteristics for itself and so a separate listing was deemed appropriate." United States
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges and Iles Eparses
Iles Eparses In the 2006 edition of _The World
World Factbook_, the entries for Baker Island , Howland Island , Jarvis Island , Kingman Reef , Johnston Atoll , Palmyra Atoll and the Midway Islands were merged into a new United States
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges entry. The old entries for each individual insular area remain as redirects on the _Factbook_ website. On September 7, 2006, the CIA also merged the entries for Bassas da India
Bassas da India , Europa Island , the Glorioso Islands , Juan de Nova Island , and Tromelin Island into a new Iles Eparses
Iles Eparses entry. As with the new United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges entry, the old entries for these five islands remained as redirects on the website. On July 19, 2007, the Iles Eparses
Iles Eparses entry and redirects for each island were dropped due to the group becoming a district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands in February. Serbia and Montenegro/Yugoslavia The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) broke apart in 1991. The following year, it was replaced in the _Factbook_ with entries for each of its former constituent republics. In doing this, the CIA listed the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY), proclaimed in 1992, as _Serbia and Montenegro_, as the U.S. did not recognize the union between the two republics. This was done in accordance with a May 21, 1992, decision by the U.S. not to recognize any of the former Yugoslav republics as successor states to the recently dissolved SFRY. _ A map of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro from the 2000 edition of The World
World Factbook_. Notice how the disclaimer is printed in the upper right hand corner. One can see how the capital cities of both republics are individually labeled on the map. These views were made clear in a disclaimer printed in the _Factbook_: "Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been recognized as a state by the United States." Montenegro and Serbia were treated separately in the _Factbook_ data, as can be seen on the map. In October 2000, Slobodan Milošević was forced out of office after a disputed election. This event led to democratic elections and U.S. diplomatic recognition. The 2001 edition of the _Factbook_ thus referred to the state as _Yugoslavia_. On March 14, 2002, an agreement was signed to transform the FRY into a loose state union called Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro ; it took effect on February 4, 2003. The name of the Yugoslavia entity was altered in the _Factbook_ the month after the change. Kosovo
Kosovo On February 28, 2008, the CIA added an entry for Kosovo
Kosovo , which declared independence on February 17 of the same year. Before this, Kosovo
Kosovo was excluded in the _Factbook_. Kosovo
Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute; Serbia continues to claim Kosovo
Kosovo as part of its own sovereign territory . Kosovo's independence has been recognised by 111 out of 193 United Nations
United Nations member states , including the United States. East Timor/Timor-Leste On July 19, 2007, the entry for East Timor
East Timor was renamed _Timor-Leste_ following a decision of the United States
United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN).

FACTUAL

The Factbook is full of usually minor errors, inaccuracies, and out-of-date information, which are often repeated elsewhere due to the _Factbook_'s widespread use as a reference. For example, Albania
Albania was until recently, described in the _Factbook_ as 70% Muslim
Muslim , 20% Eastern Orthodox , and 10% Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic , which was based on a survey conducted in 1939, before World
World War II ; numerous surveys conducted since the fall of the Communist regime since 1990 have given quite different figures. Another example is Singapore
Singapore , which the _Factbook_ states has a total fertility rate of 0.78 children per woman, despite figures in Statistics Singapore
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. This low and inaccurate value then gets cited in news articles which state that Singapore
Singapore has the world's lowest fertility, or at least use the figure for its shock value. Another serious problem is that the Factbook never cites its sources, making verification of the information it presents difficult if not impossible.

In June 2009, National Public Radio (NPR), relying on information obtained from the _CIA World
World Factbook_, put the number of Israeli Jews living in settlements in the West Bank
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_."

Scholars have acknowledged that some entries in the _Factbook_ are out of date.

SEE ALSO

* _ World
World Leaders _, another regular publication of the CIA * National Security Agency academic publications

Alternative publications

* _Europa World
World Year Book _ * _The New York Times Almanac
Almanac _ * _The World
World Almanac
Almanac and Book of Facts _ * _TIME Almanac
Almanac with Information Please _ * _Whitaker\'s Almanack _

REFERENCES

_ This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html.

* ^ Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency (2007-04-25). "Intelligence & Analysis – Products". Retrieved 2010-10-23. The DI publishes unclassified reference aids that are available to the public. The annual World
World Factbook is a comprehensive compendium of profiles on more than 260 countries and other entities. (Archived by WebCite at https://www.webcitation.org/5th2WIAtu) * ^ Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency (2008-01-03). "Where in the World is Mt. Kilimanjaro? Visit the CIA World
World Factbook to Find Out". Retrieved 2008-01-04. * ^ A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence (2011-07-12). "CIA – World Factbook". Retrieved 2011-07-14. The World
World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. * ^ _A_ _B_ _C_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Contributors and Copyright Information". Retrieved 2006-09-23. The World
World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency
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
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). * ^ _A_ _B_ _C_ "CIA World
World Factbook 2006 Now Available" (Press release). Central Intelligence Agency. 2006-04-05. Retrieved 2007-01-11. The World
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. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
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
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
World Factbook when used. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): How often is The World
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
World Factbook is currently updated every two weeks. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2010-11-24). " World
World Factbook Updates – October 22, 2010". Retrieved 2010-12-01. Since 2004, The World
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. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
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. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
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. * ^ 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. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2008). _CIA – The World
World Factbook 2008: Purchasing Information_. Retrieved 2015-04-19. The Government Printing Office has assumed production of The World
World Factbook print edition. The CIA has decided to focus Factbook resources exclusively on the World
World Wide Web online edition... * ^ Miller, Jill Young. "CIA puts data on the internet." _Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel_ 12 December 1994. * ^ Central Intelligence Agency. "CIA Download Page". Retrieved 2007-06-10. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
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 Service * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (1999). "The World
World Factbook 1999 – Purchasing Information (mirror)". Retrieved 2006-09-24. The Central Intelligence Agency
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prepares The World
World Factbook in printed, CD-ROM, and Internet versions. * ^ _A_ _B_ _C_ Directorate of Intelligence (1995). "Publication Information for The World
World Factbook 1995 (mirror)". Retrieved 2006-09-24. This publication is also available in microfiche, magnetic tape, or computer diskettes. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): I am using the Factbook online and it is not working. What is wrong?". Retrieved 2006-09-24. Hundreds of “Factbook” look-alikes exist on the Internet. The Factbook site at: www.cia.gov is the only official site. * ^ Texas A&M University Libraries. "Introduction to Comparative Politics POLS 329". Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-01-02. The world factbook (Handbook of the Nations). Detroit, Mich.: Grand River Books, 1981–. * ^ Potomac Books. "The World
World Factbook 2008 CIA\'s 2007 Edition". Retrieved 2008-01-02. * ^ Skyhorse Publishing. "CIA World
World Factbook 2008, The". Archived from the original on 30 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Notes and Definitions: Entities". Retrieved 2011-07-12. "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
World Factbook that may be categorized as follows... * ^ _A_ _B_ _C_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Why don’t you include information on entities such as Tibet or Kashmir?". Retrieved 2008-08-24. Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands). Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries are not covered. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World
World Factbook – Spratly Islands". Retrieved 2006-09-24. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Why doesn\'t The World
World Factbook include information on states, departments, provinces, etc., in the country format?". Retrieved 2007-05-26. The World
World Factbook provides national-level information on countries, territories, and dependencies, but not subnational administrative units within a country. A comprehensive encyclopedia might be a source for state/province-level information. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Why has The World
World Factbook dropped the four French departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion, and French Guiana?". Retrieved 2007-05-26. The reason the four entities are no longer in The World
World Factbook is because their status has changed. While they are overseas departments of France, they are also now recognized as French regions, having equal status to the 22 metropolitan regions that make up European France. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence (2011-04-08). "World Factbook Updates – April 8, 2011". Retrieved 2011-04-11. The Indian Ocean
Ocean island entity of Mayotte became an overseas department of France on 31 March. The change in status makes it an integral part of France and so its description is now included in the France
France country profile of The World
World Factbook. (Archived by WebCite at https://www.webcitation.org/5xpDpGjbr) * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World Factbook – China
China (map)". Retrieved 2009-12-27. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Why are the Golan Heights not shown as part of Israel or Northern Cyprus with Turkey?". Retrieved 2006-09-23. Territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United States Government are not shown on US Government maps. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World Factbook – Taiwan". Retrieved 2006-09-23. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Why are Taiwan
Taiwan and the European Union listed out of alphabetical order at the end of the Factbook entries?". Retrieved 2006-09-23. Taiwan
Taiwan is listed after the regular entries because even though the mainland People's Republic of China claims Taiwan, elected Taiwanese authorities de facto administer the island and reject mainland sovereignty claims. * * * The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these are likely to be expanded in the future. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2005-01-27). "The World
World Factbook – Taiwan". Archived from the original on 2005-01-30. Retrieved 2010-10-17. * ^ "China". _CIA World
World Factbook_. CIA. Retrieved February 2, 2013.

* ^ "Paracel Islands". _CIA World
World Factbook_. CIA. Retrieved February 2, 2013. * ^ "Spratly Islands". _CIA World
World Factbook_. CIA. Retrieved February 2, 2013. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World
World Factbook – Burma". Archived from the original on November 3, 2010. Retrieved 2006-09-23. since 1989 the military authorities in Burma
Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World
World Factbook – Macedonia". Retrieved 2006-09-23. * ^ _A_ _B_ Directorate of Intelligence (1992). "The World
World Factbook 1992 – Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations". Retrieved 2006-09-23. Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia have replaced Yugoslavia. * ^ "Official site of the U.N., List of UN Member States". Un.org. Retrieved 2013-03-29. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (1994). "The World
World Factbook 1994 – Notes, Definitions, and Abbreviations". Retrieved 2006-09-23. The name of Macedonia was changed to The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM). * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2004-11-30). "The World
World Factbook – Macedonia)". Archived from the original on 2004-12-07. Retrieved 2010-10-17. * ^ Staff reporter (2004-11-04). "US snubs Greece over Macedonia". BBC News. Retrieved 2006-09-23. Greece has protested strongly at a decision by the US to refer to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) simply as "Macedonia". * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World
World Factbook – European Union". Retrieved 2006-09-23. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence. "The World
World Factbook – Why doesn\'t The World
World Factbook include information on states, departments, provinces, the European Union, etc., in the country format? (mirror)". Retrieved 2007-06-02. The World
World Factbook provides national-level information on countries, territories, and dependencies, but not on subnational administrative units within a country or supranational entities like the European Union. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World
World Factbook – United States
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges". Retrieved 2006-09-23. * ^ For an example of a redirect, see what happens with the profile for Kingman Reef. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2006-09-19). "The World
World Factbook – Iles Eparses
Iles Eparses (mirror)". Retrieved 2007-11-10. * ^ For an example of a redirect, see what happens with the profile for Juan de Nova Island (mirror). * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2007-07-19). "CIA – The World Factbook 2007: What\'s New". Retrieved 2007-07-20. The five former entities of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island, previously grouped as Iles Eparses (Scattered Islands), now constitute a district of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. * ^ Department of State (August 1999). "Serbia and Montenegro (08/99) (See Yugoslavia)". Archived from the original on January 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-03. ( Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been recognized as a state by the United States.) * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (1992). "1992 CIA World
World Factbook: Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro (mirror)". Retrieved 2006-10-29. * ^ Department of State. "Chiefs of Mission by Country, 1778–2005: Serbia and Montenegro". Retrieved 2006-10-30. On May 21, 1992, the United States
United States announced that it did not recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which was composed of the Republics of Serbia and Montenegro, as a successor state of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. * ^ White, Mary Jo (2000-01-31). "767 Third Avenue Associates v. United States: Brief For Amicus Curiae United States
United States of America Supporting Appellees and Supporting Affirmance in Part and Reversal in Part" (MS Word). Retrieved 2010-10-17. Since 1992, the United States has taken the position that the SFRY has ceased to exist, that there is no state representing the continuation of the SFRY, and that five successors have arisen—the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Serbia and Montenegro) (“FRY(S&M)”), the Republic of Slovenia ("Slovenia"), the Republic of Croatia ("Croatia"), the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina ("Bosnia-Herzegovina"), and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia ("FYROM") * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2000). "CIA World
World Factbook 2000 – Country Maps (mirror)". Retrieved 2007-02-06. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (1999). "CIA – The World
World Factbook 1999 – Serbia and Montenegro". Archived from the original on 1999-11-09. Retrieved 2010-10-17. Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro have asserted the formation of a joint independent state, but this entity has not been formally recognized as a state by the US. The US view is that the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) has dissolved and that none of the successor republics represents its continuation. * ^ For an example, see the profile for the FRY in the 1999 World Factbook. * ^ Staff reporter (2000-10-07). "Kostunica sworn in as president of Yugoslavia". CNN. Archived from the original on September 22, 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-30. * ^ Directorate of Intelligence (2001). "CIA – The World
World Factbook – Notes and Definitions". Archived from the original on 2002-08-03. Retrieved 2010-10-17. The entity of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro is now officially known as Yugoslavia. *