The World Factbook (also known as the CIA World Factbook) is a reference resource produced by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with almanac-style information about the countries of the world.

The World Factbook is prepared by the CIA for the use of U.S. government officials, and its style, format, coverage, and content are primarily designed to meet their requirements.

However, it is frequently used as a resource for academic research papers. As a work of the U.S. government, it is in the public domain in the United States.

Information was provided by the Bureau of the Census, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence
Agency, Defense Nuclear Agency, Department of State, Foreign Broadcast Information Service, Maritime
Administration, National Science Foundation (Polar Information Program), Navy Operational Intelligence
Center, Office of Territorial and International Affairs, United States Board on Geographic Names, United States Coast Guard, and others.