Research Guides: International Resources: Country Studies and Maps

Web Sites & Datababases

Background Notes
(U.S. Department of State)
Facts about the land, people, history, government, political conditions, economy, and foreign relations
Country Guides / Library of Congress
Sponsored by the U.S. Army and written by a multidisciplinary team of social scientists who provide a basic understanding of the observed society in a dynamic rather than static portrayal. Each print book is viewable online and offers analysis of political, economic, social, and national security systems and institutions. Particular attention is given to the people who make up the society, their origins, dominant beliefs and values, and much more.
Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology Formally FedStats, now it's integrated into the FCSM website.
Global EDGE
A comprehensive research tool for academics, students and business people, provides insight into global business activities. Includes country profiles with corporate culture and risk, statistics, industry overviews, news, and more.
HeinOnline.org
Added to Goucher Library in 2018
Traveler's Health
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Info on vaccines needed, and precautions, by country.
United Nations - Official Document System
The Official Document System (ODS) is an online database of UN documents that was first launched in 1993 and updated in 2016. ODS has full-text, born-digital UN documents published from 1993 onward, including documents of the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and their subsidiaries, as well as administrative issuances and other documents.
United States Census Bureau's International Statistics (2017)
From Statistical Abstract, this section presents statistics for the world as a whole and for many countries on a comparative basis with the United States. Data are shown for population, births and deaths, social and industrial indicators, finances, agriculture, communication, and military affairs.
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The U.S. Census Bureau is terminating the collection of data for the Statistical Compendia program effective October 1, 2011. The Statistical Compendium program is comprised of the Statistical Abstract of the United States and its supplemental products - - the State and Metropolitan Area Data Book and the County and City Data Book. In preparation for the Fiscal Year 2012 (FY 2012) budget, the Census Bureau did a comprehensive review of a number of programs and had to make difficult proposals to terminate and reduce a number of existing programs in order to acquire funds for higher priority programs. The decision to propose the elimination of this program was not made lightly. To access the most current data, please refer to the organizations cited in the source notes for each table of the Statistical Abstract.
University of Maryland 'Online Sources of International Statistics'
Has more than just statistics! Includes information about countries and regions of the world.
U.S. Census Library Infographics
World Maps and Country Profiles
(WorldPress.Org)
Maps, statistical profiles, news

World Fact Book
Maps, statistical profiles, economic overview, transnational issues.
Global Health Observatory (GHO) Large, comprehensive collection of up-to-date health data and analyses on the situation and trends for global health priorities, from the World Health Organization.