The World Factbook is prepared by the CIA (the Central Intelligence Agency).
The Factbook contains information about 267 world entities. There are maps, listing of independent states, dependencies, environmental issues, flag description, exports, exchange rates, health information and many other topics of international interest.
Information is received from many federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.
The publication has been available to the public since 1975 and available on the internet since 1997. The web edition is updated every two (2) weeks.
The 2010 edition commemorates the 63rd anniversary of establishment of the CIA.
The State Library has the Factbook in its collection, in paper, from the year 2000 to 2010. The call number to request an individual year edition is: PREX 3.15: (year you seek). The Library also has computers to access the Factbook available in room 341 and room 442 of the State House. Our hours are 9 AM to 5 PM, Mondays through Fridays.
