Country Information
For more detailed background and analyses, use the profiles prepared by Europa and CQ.
To find comparative statistics, refer to statistical compendia.
To find information and indicators related to constitutions, regime characteristics, levels of peace and press freedom, refer to governance.
Country Profiles
- CIA World Factbook This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
(Searches through citations and the full text)
Information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 266 world entities. - CQ Political Handbook of the World This link opens in a new window
This link opens in a new window
(Searches through citations and the full text)
Provides brief country and political system information from standard sources such as Freedom House, Pippa Norris’ “democracy type” adapted from Freedom House rankings, and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Also includes maps. Note: You can also search across all of the CQ Press reference resources here. - Europa World Plus This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Combines the Europa World Year Book and the nine-volume Europa Regional Surveys of the World series. Provides up-to-date political and economic information for more than 250 countries and territories.
- State Department Background NotesThe State Department profiles each country's economy, history, geography, demographics, and recent political history.
Statistical Compendia
Compare countries on different measures (literacy, GDP, population) by using statistical compendia (collections of and directories to statistical sources).
- WDI: World Development Indicators This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
Statistical data for development indicators and time series data for over 200 countries and 18 country groups. Data includes social, economic, financial, natural resources, and environmental indicators. Covers 1960 - present.
Note: For data documentation, see the print reference book: World Development Indicators, at call number Ref HC 59.15 .W656. - Data Planet This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
(Searches through citations, subject indexing, and abstracts)
Creates interactive statistical tables, charts and maps from over 4.3 billion licensed and public domain datasets on many areas of research, from traffic to international trade. - UNData This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
(Searches through citations and the full text)
A single gateway to the UN's 24 statistical databases and 60+ million records). - ProQuest Statistical Abstracts of the World This link opens in a new window
- This link opens in a new window
(Searches through citations, subject indexing, and some full text)
Search the statistical abstracts of 40 countries at one time. Statistical abstracts provide a point of entry to the vast array of data available about countries.
Governance Information, Indicators, and Datasets
- Comparative Constitutions ProjectThese researchers are collecting data on the characteristics of constitutions.
- Comparative Study of Electoral Systems (CSES)Participating studies include common questions in their post-election surveys.
- Database of Political InstitutionsContains 125 variables primarily measuring electoral rules and the political system.
- Fragile States IndexAnalyzes stability risks of 178 countries against twelve social, economic, and political risks.
- Freedom HousePublishes Freedom in the World and Freedom of the Press, annually assessing civil liberties and media independence in 200 countries and territories.
- Global Peace IndexRanks 144 countries against 23 indicators ranging from military expenditure to respect for human rights.
- Manifesto Project DatabaseThe project is based on quantitative content analyses of parties’ election programs from more than 50 countries covering all free, democratic elections since 1945.
- Our World in Data -- CorruptionOffers visualizations of data drawn from Transparency International, World Bank, and others regarded political corruption of states around the world.
- Polity IVMeasures regime characteristics (democracy/autocracy) for all states over 500,000 from 1800 to 2008.
- V-DemAll countries, 1900-present, on various measures of democracy. Measures these democratic qualities: Electoral, Liberal, Participatory, Majoritarian, Consensual, Deliberative, and Egalitarian. Also provides subcomponent measures re. elections, judiciary, etc.
Comparative Political Data Guide
Looking for more data sources and suggestions?
- Comparative Political DataGould Library's directory of comparative political data sources.
