Background & Tools

Europa World Yearbook (O'Neill Reference Desk JN1 .E85) This annual work covers political and economic information in over 250 countries and territories. It includes statistics, directory information and current analysis.

Background Notes (US State Department) facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations for each country.

Country Studies From the Library of Congress. Historical, political and social overviews.

Economist Country Briefings Basic political and historical information as well as current economic information, data and forecasts.

Portals to the World Links to information about each country from the Library of Congress.

World Bank Countries and Regions Information about WB activities in each country, and also basic data and statistics.

World Factbook (CIA) Includes basic facts and figures about each country.

World Legal Information Institute (Worldlii) Provides cross-database searching for legal materials of all types for countries around the world. Includes government departments and agencies, court cases, legislation, treaties, journals and more.

For Statistics, click the Statistics tab above.