Lehigh Library and Technology Services Guide

Finding Information on Countries Via the Web

Aneki.com http://www.aneki.com/

Kind of information: country profiles and rankings
Source: CIA World Factbook and other sources
Especially good for: rankings, synthesized profiles

Provides country profiles using World Factbook data but slightly more elaborate; plus maps, rankings, picture of flag.

BBC Country Profiles http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/country_profiles/default.stm

Kind of information: country profiles and rankings
Source: BBC broadcasting
Especially good for: summaries of news-related background

Profiles for each country include overviews, basic facts, media information, timeline, audio of national anthem, and related stories

Country Background Notes http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/

Kind of Information: Brief country profiles
Source: U.S. State Dept.
Especially good for: Basic history, statistics and narrative information.

Pick your country from the directory of the proper continent. (Note the date next to the title; this is the date last updated.) Information includes historical profile, some industry, and goverment information as well as statistics and description.

Country Studies http://memory.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

Kind of Information: In-depth Country profiles published between 1988 and 1998
Source: Library of Congress Federal Research Division
Especially good for: in-depth profiles of more obscure countries, though slightly out of date

Online versions of book format publications produced for the U.S. Army. Concentrates on obscure countries. Each document "presents a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of countries throughout the world and examines the interrelationships of those systems and the ways they are shaped by cultural factors." The site can be searched across countries by various subjects, or browsed within countries.

CIA World Fact Book http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/

Kind of Information: Country profiles
Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Especially good for: Maps, short summaries of country information and statistics

Compare these country profiles with the State Department's, above, which are sometimes more current.

Economist Country Briefing http://www.economist.com/countries/

Kind of Information: political and economic country profiles and news
Source: Economist magazine
Especially good for: Financial data, forecasts, up-to-date political news.

Gives news, economic profiles, forecasts and spreadsheet of economic indicators for countries covered. Additional information may be available for purchase.

EmbassyWorld http://www.embassyworld.com/

Kind of Information: Links to embassy web sites for countries around the world
Source: Embassyworld.com
Especially good for: Maps, embassy links for non-U.S. embassies in other countries.

Find lists alphabetically or search by embassy country and location. Also includes maps. Advertising segment has real estate info.

Portals to the World http://www.loc.gov/rr/international/portals.html

Kind of Information: Links to electronic resources on countries
Source: Library of Congress
Especially good for: selected, in depth information sources

In addition to categorizing the best web sites on different subjects related to the country, also includes pointers to Library of Congress resources on the country.

Rulers http://rulers.org/

Kind of Information: Lists of Rulers/Heads of State of Countries
Source: Unknown.
Especially good for: current and historical rulers.

The lists of heads of state/rulers/presidents, etc. given here vary in how far back they go; but all are very current. Dates of office and birth and death dates are also given.

Encyclopedia Britannica http://search.eb.com/

Kind of Information: Encylopedia Entries
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Especially good for: Historical and geographical overviews

Try looking up the encyclopedia entry on your country. Use list of retrieved headings, hypertext links, and "Index" markers to zero in on the facts you want. Geographical profiles, maps, and flags are included, as well as historical essays.

Electronic Embassy http://www.embassy.org/

Kind of Information: Links to embassy sites
Source: TeleDiplomacy, Inc.
Especially good for: Embassy and diplomatic information

A list of all the embassies in Washington, DC, with links to their web sites if they have them. A good source of PR material.

Handbook of International Economic Statistics http://purl.access.gpo.gov/GPO/LPS2917

Kind of Information: Charts and maps of economic data.
Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Especially good for: Maps of comparative economic data

This is a grab bag of economic data points.

Nationmaster http://www.nationmaster.com

Kind of Information: comparative statistics, maps, and flag images
Source: U.S. Central Intelligence Agency
Especially good for: fugitive facts and comparing statistics

The Nationmaster site allows you to compare economic, population, communication and other statistics, using data from the CIA World Fact Book. Compare specific countries or see top or bottom country listings. The best place to find out things like ISPs or TVs per capita. Also includes flags and maps.

last modified: 5/03 j.heise