Reference Sources (Encyclopedias & more)

Country Watch provides up-to-date news as well as information and data on each of the recognized countries in the world. Includes geographical, political, economic, corporate, and environmental information.

The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities.

Primarily for historical research. Contains the electronic versions of 80 books previously published in hard copy as part of the Country Studies Series by the Federal Research Division. Intended for a general audience, books in the series present a description and analysis of the historical setting and the social, economic, political, and national security systems and institutions of select countries throughout the world.

Brings together different kinds of sources to show different perspectives on issues that matter on a global scale. Search or click browse issues to find information centered on individual countires.

Provides amazingly quick and easy access to the complete range of publicly-available statistics produced by more than 100 U.S. government agencies.

A standard source for the quantitative facts of American history. You can access data on social, behavioral, humanistic, and natural sciences including history, economics, government, finance, sociology, demography, education, law, natural resources, climate, religion, international migration, and trade.

Provides access to its extensive collection of social science data using a Web based interface.

U.S. Census Bureau's Statistical Abstract data present here ranges from the most recent edition to the historical abstracts compiled throughout the decades.