<sod> <!-- For information about using The World Factbook on Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Status of the porting of the CIA World Factbook -->
[[Image:Wfbcover.jpg|right|210px|World Factbook cover]]
 '''''The World Factbook''''' is an annual publication by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] of the [[United States]] with basic [[almanac]]-style information about the various [[countries of the world]]. The factbook gives a two- to three-page summary of the [[demography|demographics]], location, [[telecommunication]]s capacity, [[government]], [[industry]], [[military]] capability, ''etc'', of all [[diplomatic recognition|US-recognized]] countries and territories in the world.
 
 As ''The World Factbook'' is prepared by the CIA for the use of [[Federal Government of the United States|U.S. Government]] officials, the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. 
 
 ==Sources==
 Information is provided by:
 * [[Antarctic Information Program]] ([[National Science Foundation]]),
 * [[Bureau of the Census]] ([[United States Department of Commerce|Department of Commerce]]),
 * [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] ([[United States Department of Labor|Department of Labor]]), 
 * other public and private sources.
 
 ==Copyright==
Because this document is [[public domain]], i.e. not under [[copyright]], people are free not only to redistribute it, but also to modify it in any way they like, without permission of the CIA.
 
Many sites have used information and images from the CIA World Factbook, because of its public domain status, including the collaborative on-line encyclopedia [[Wikipedia]].
 
 Besides the World Factbook, the CIA puts out a directory of ''[[Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments]]'' each week.
 
The official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission as required by the [[Central Intelligence Agency Act|CIA Act of 1949]] (50 U.S.C. section 403m). Misuse of the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal penalties.
 
<blockquote> 
Federal law prohibits use of the words "Central Intelligence Agency," the initials "CIA," the seal of the Central Intelligence Agency, or any colorable imitation of such words, initials, or seal in connection with any merchandise, impersonation, solicitation, or commercial activity in a manner reasonably calculated to convey the impression that such use is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Central Intelligence Agency. [http://www.cia.gov/]
</blockquote> 
 
==Controversies==
===Factual controversies===
Controversy about the Factbook arose in [[1998]] when [[United Kingdom|British]] journalists noticed it contained some glaring errors -- most notably that "the [[United Kingdom]] gained its independence in [[1801]]".
 
The maps of countries in the Factbook also appear to have strange anomalies. For example, the map of the United Kingdom lists the town of [[Grangemouth]] in [[Scotland]], although it is only a small town and in no way a major city. Or is it?
 
===Political controversies===
The U.S. does not recognize the renaming of Burma by its ruling military junta to [[Myanmar]] and thus keeps its entry for the country under "Burma." Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries, such as [[Kashmir]] and [[Kosovo]], are not covered, but other areas of the world whose status is disputed, such as the [[Spratly Islands]], have entries. Maps depicting Kashmir have the India-Pakistan border drawn at the [[Line of Control]], but the region of Kashmir occupied by China drawn in hashmarks. The occupied [[Golan Heights]], [[Gaza Strip]], the [[West Bank]] are not shown as part of Israel and [[Northern Cyprus]] is not given a separate entry or listed as part of Turkey because "territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United States Government are not shown on U.S. Government maps."
 
"Taiwan" is listed alphabetically under "T", however when looking at the entry for [[China]] Taiwan is still shown as part of that country. Taiwan, interestingly, is listed next to last, after Zimbabwe, but before the [[European Union]]. Perhaps due to the U.S. recognition of the [[People's Republic of China]] and acknowledgement of its [[One-China Policy]], the Factbook was careful to use diplomatic language as not to offend Beijing&mdash;the official name of Taiwan under its "Government" section is given as "none" while the title "[[Republic of China]]" does appear in the Factbook due to a change on January 27, 2005 but it was changed back to "none" during its latest update on 10 February 2005 
 
See also: [[Abbreviations used in CIA World Factbook]]
 
 ==External links==
 * [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ 2004 CIA World Factbook]
 [[nl:CIA World Factbook]]
 [[no:The World Factbook]]
 [[zh:&#19990;&#30028;&#27010;&#20917;]]
[[Category:Almanacs]]
[[Category:Central Intelligence Agency]] <eod> <sod><!--

For information about using The World Factbook on Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Status of the porting of the CIA World Factbook

-->
[[Image:Wfbcover.jpg|thumb|World Factbook 2004 cover]]

 '''''The World Factbook''''' is an annual publication by the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] of the [[United States]] with basic [[almanac]]-style information about the various [[countries of the world]]. The factbook gives a two- to three-page summary of the [[demography|demographics]], location, [[telecommunication]]s capacity, [[government]], [[industry]], [[military]] capability, ''etc'', of all [[diplomatic recognition|US-recognized]] countries and territories in the world.
 
 As ''The World Factbook'' is prepared by the CIA for the use of [[Federal Government of the United States|U.S. Government]] officials, the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. 
 
 ==Sources==

 Information is provided by:

 * [[Antarctic Information Program]] ([[National Science Foundation]]),
 * [[Bureau of the Census]] ([[United States Department of Commerce|Department of Commerce]]),
 * [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] ([[United States Department of Labor|Department of Labor]]), 
 * other public and private sources.
 
 ==Copyright==
 
Because the Factbook is [[public domain]], i.e. not under [[copyright]], people are free not only to redistribute it, but also to modify it in any way they like, without permission of the CIA.

The official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission as required by the [[Central Intelligence Agency Act|CIA Act of 1949]] (50 U.S.C. section 403m). Misuse of the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal penalties. Also, "Federal law prohibits use of the words "Central Intelligence Agency," the initials "CIA," the seal of the Central Intelligence Agency, or any colorable imitation of such words, initials, or seal in connection with any merchandise, impersonation, solicitation, or commercial activity in a manner reasonably calculated to convey the impression that such use is approved, endorsed, or authorized by the Central Intelligence Agency. [http://www.cia.gov/]"

Many sites have used information and images from the CIA World Factbook, because of its public domain status, including this encyclopedia.
 
 Besides the World Factbook, the CIA puts out a directory of ''[[Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments]]'' each week.
 
==Oddities and controversies==
 
===Factual===
 
Controversy about the Factbook arose in [[1998]] when [[United Kingdom|British]] journalists noticed it contained some glaring errors &mdash; most notably that "the [[United Kingdom]] gained its independence in [[1801]]".
 
The maps of countries in the Factbook also appear to have strange anomalies. For example, the map of the United Kingdom lists the town of [[Grangemouth]] in [[Scotland]], although it is only a small town and in no way a major city.
 
===Political===
 
The U.S. does not recognize the renaming of Burma by its ruling military junta to [[Myanmar]] and thus keeps its entry for the country under "Burma."
 
Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries, such as [[Kashmir]] and [[Kosovo]], are not covered, but other areas of the world whose status is disputed, such as the [[Spratly Islands]], have entries.

Maps depicting Kashmir have the India-Pakistan border drawn at the [[Line of Control]], but the region of Kashmir occupied by China drawn in hashmarks.

The occupied [[Golan Heights]], [[Gaza Strip]], the [[West Bank]] are not shown as part of Israel.

[[Northern Cyprus]] is not given a separate entry or listed as part of Turkey because "territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United States Government are not shown on U.S. Government maps."

[[Taiwan]] has a separate entry not listed under "T", but at the bottom of the list, along the recently added entry for the [[European Union]]. The name ''[[Republic of China]]'' isn't used.

''See also'' [[Abbreviations used in CIA World Factbook]]
 
 ==External links==
 * [http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/ 2004 CIA World Factbook]
 [[nl:CIA World Factbook]]
 [[no:The World Factbook]]
 [[zh:&#19990;&#30028;&#27010;&#20917;]]
[[Category:Almanacs||World Factbook, The]]
[[Category:Central Intelligence Agency|World Factbook, The]] <eod>