CIA World Factbook

Answering all your where questions in one place

by Rachel
Newlin
CIA World Factbook
Bibliographic info: The World Factbook 2015-
16. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence
Agency, 2016.

Accessed online through

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-
world-factbook/index.html

Accessed in print through Federal

Depositories (Dominican University is one!)
Why use CIA World
Factbook?
Government information is usually accurate and
authoritative
Meant for U.S. policymakers

Government information is open-access and free

to all
No fees
No login required

Easy to use interface

Updated weekly
What can the World Factbook be
used for?
What does Finlands national flag look like?

Where is Finland?

What does Finland look like in real life?

What is Finlands GDP?

What is the unemployment rate in Finland?

How does government run in Finland?

What issues are facing Finland?

What can I find in the CIA
Factbook?

Your screen will look like this!

Finding your information
Background Geography People and
History Coordinates Society
Development Boundaries Nationality
Politics Climate Ethnic groups
Resources Languages
Hazards Religions
Populations
Birth rate
HIV/AIDS

*Not an exhaustive list of information topics

Finding your information
Government Economy Communication
Etymology GDP Telephone
Type Industries Broadcast
Capital Labor force media
Administrative Unemployment Internet use
divisions rate
Independence Tax rates
Constitution Exports
Legal system Debts

*Not an exhaustive list of information topics

Finding your information
Transportation Military Transnational
Airports Branches Issues
Pipelines Service age International
disputes
Roadways Expenditures
Refugees
Waterways
Trafficking
Ports

*Not an exhaustive list of information topics

Navigating your search
1. Think about your question
Spelling
Topic of interest
Navigating your search
2. Access

Make sure to access CIAs government webpage at

http://www.cia.gov

Hold cursor over Library tab

Click on Publications

World Factbook under tab labeled Resources

Navigating your search

CIA homepage
Navigating your search

Library tab
Navigating your search

World Factbook
Navigating your search

Factbook homepage
Navigating your search

3. Webpage options

Regional and World

Maps

Flags of the World

Drop-down list of
countries

Interactive map
Navigating your search

Once you have

clicked a country,
either through the
map or drop-down
list, you will enter the
profile of the country
of your choice.
Navigating your search

Click on + to retrieve info

Evaluating information
Data comes from U.S. government

Consider bias

Cross-check suspicious information

Consider national encyclopedias and

government agencies webpages for additional
info
Contact info
Email at newlrach@my.dom.edu with any
additional questions or queries