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https://github.com/factbook/factbook.json

World Factbook Country Profiles in JSON - Free Open Public Domain Data - No API Key Required ;-)
https://github.com/factbook/factbook.json

africa america asia countries economy europe factbook git-scraping government json oceania opendata people publicdomain religion world

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World Factbook Country Profiles in JSON - Free Open Public Domain Data - No API Key Required ;-)

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#  `factbook.json` - World Factbook Country Profiles in JSON 



What's the World Factbook?



The World Factbook [1][2] published by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)

offers free country profiles in the public domain (that is, no copyright(s), no rights reserved, no license).



- [1] [The World Factbook](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/)

- [2] [Wikipedia Article: The World Factbook](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Factbook)



**Note: All country profiles use the original / official two-letter GEC (formerly FIPS) codes and NOT the ISO codes (you

 might be used to) e.g. `au.json` for Austria (and NOT `at.json`), `gm.json` for Germany (and NOT `de.json`), and so on.** 



## Background



For a little background on this factbook project from the humble author, 

see the all-in-one page talk slides / notes titled [Turn the World Factbook into Open (Structured) Data](https://github.com/geraldb/talks/blob/master/factbook.md).



Find some more notes on [query examples (and import instructions) for MongoDB](MONGO.md) 

from another talk. Happy exploring the world with JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) datasets / documents.



## Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Qs) & Answers



### Q: Thanks for this fantastic work!  Do you know any open source REST HTTP API for the World Factbook?



A:  Not sure I understand your question ;-).  factbook.json is a REST HTTP API for the World Factbook.   



For example, to request the country profile (data) for Germany (`gm`) using the REST HTTP API ( - no API key required ;-) - )  try  and so on.



### Q: Why not just use the ISO country codes? Not a bug, a feature request.



A: The factbook has many more entities / countries than ISO and sometimes with a different definition - 

it's NOT an easy 1:1 mapping, see [Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/references/country-data-codes/).



### Q: I noticed that you've got Zambian data under ZA for the African region... It should be South African data...



A: See why not ISO codes -  Uhhh... nevermind, I see it's stored under SF. Weird, but, ok :)



### Q: Can you update the datasets? 



A: Since August 2021 the datasets get auto-updated using / fetching the original

online CIA World Factbook country profile datsets (cached in [`cache.factbook.json`](https://github.com/factbook/cache.factbook.json)) weekly, that is,

every Thursday. See the [GitHub Actions log](https://github.com/factbook/factbook/actions) for details.  



### Q: The World Factbook front-page says "for 266 world entities" - but here I find only 260 (thus, 6 entities short)? What's the story?



> The World Factbook provides basic intelligence on the history,

> people, government, economy, energy, geography, communications,

> transportation, military, terrorism, and transnational issues

> for 266 world entities.

>

> (Source: [`cia.gov/the-world-factbook`](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/))



A: Since March 2006

the United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges (`um`)

country profile consolidates

seven profiles into a single new one

(but keeps entities count as before):



- Baker Island  (`fq`)

- Howland Island (`hq`)

- Jarvis Island (`dq`)

- Johnston Atoll (`jq`)

- Kingman Reef (`kq`)

- Midway Islands (`mq`)

- Palmyra Atoll (`lq`)



### Q: What happened to the Western Sahara (`wi`) country profile?



A: In December 2020 the World Factbook dropped coverage of the Western Sahara (`wi`). Why?

In a deal with Morocco the United States recognizes the claim

of Marocco over the Western Sahara and in return

Morocco starts official diplomatic relations with Israel.



```

Code, Name,           Category,      Region

wi,   Western Sahara, Miscellaneous, Africa

```



## Examples



Europe/Austria - `au.json`: 



```json

{

  "Introduction": {

    "Background": {

      "text": "Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire,

               Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War..."

    }

  },

  "Geography": {

    "Location": {

      "text": "Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia"

    },

    "Geographic coordinates": {

      "text": "47 20 N, 13 20 E"

    },

    "Map references": {

      "text": "Europe"

    },

    "Area": {

      "total": {

        "text": "83,871 sq km"

      },

      "land": {

        "text": "82,445 sq km"

      },

      "water": {

        "text": "1,426 sq km"

      }

    },

    "Area - comparative": {

      "text": "about the size of South Carolina...",

    },

    "Land boundaries": {

      "total": {

        "text": "2,524 km"

      },

      "border countries": {

        "text": "Czech Republic 402 km, Germany 801 km, Hungary 321 km, Italy 404 km,

                 Liechtenstein 34 km, Slovakia 105 km, Slovenia 299 km, Switzerland 158 km"

      }

    },

    "Climate": {

      "text": "temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and

               some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains;

               moderate summers with occasional showers"

    },

    "Elevation": {

      "lowest point": {

        "text": "Neusiedler See 115 m"

      },

      "highest point": {

        "text": "Grossglockner 3,798 m"

      }

    },

    "Natural resources": {

      "text": "oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony,

               magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower"

    },

    ...

}

```



## The World Factbook Summary (~~266~~ 260 Entries)



The World Factbook includes ~~266~~ 260 entries -

195 sovereign countries /

2 others /

~~58~~ 52 dependencies /

5 miscellaneous /

5 oceans /

1 world:



### Sovereign Countries (195)



**A**

`af` Afghanistan

`al` Albania

`ag` Algeria

`an` Andorra

`ao` Angola

`ac` Antigua and Barbuda

`ar` Argentina

`am` Armenia

`as` Australia

`au` Austria

`aj` Azerbaijan

**B**

`bf` The Bahamas

`ba` Bahrain

`bg` Bangladesh

`bb` Barbados

`bo` Belarus

`be` Belgium

`bh` Belize

`bn` Benin

`bt` Bhutan

`bl` Bolivia

`bk` Bosnia and Herzegovina

`bc` Botswana

`br` Brazil

`bx` Brunei

`bu` Bulgaria

`uv` Burkina Faso

`bm` Burma

`by` Burundi

**C**

`cb` Cambodia

`cm` Cameroon

`ca` Canada

`cv` Cape Verde

`ct` Central African Republic

`cd` Chad

`ci` Chile

`ch` China

`co` Colombia

`cn` Comoros

`cg` Congo DR

`cf` Congo

`cs` Costa Rica

`iv` Cote d'Ivoire

`hr` Croatia

`cu` Cuba

`cy` Cyprus

`ez` Czechia

**D**

`da` Denmark

`dj` Djibouti

`do` Dominica

`dr` Dominican Republic

**E**

`ec` Ecuador

`eg` Egypt

`es` El Salvador

`ek` Equatorial Guinea

`er` Eritrea

`en` Estonia

`wz` Eswatini

`et` Ethiopia

**F**

`fj` Fiji

`fi` Finland

`fr` France

**G**

`gb` Gabon

`ga` The Gambia

`gg` Georgia

`gm` Germany

`gh` Ghana

`gr` Greece

`gj` Grenada

`gt` Guatemala

`gv` Guinea

`pu` Guinea-Bissau

`gy` Guyana

**H**

`ha` Haiti

`ho` Honduras

`hu` Hungary

**I**

`ic` Iceland

`in` India

`id` Indonesia

`ir` Iran

`iz` Iraq

`ei` Ireland

`is` Israel

`it` Italy

**J**

`jm` Jamaica

`ja` Japan

`jo` Jordan

**K**

`kz` Kazakhstan

`ke` Kenya

`kr` Kiribati

`kn` North Korea

`ks` South Korea

`kv` Kosovo

`ku` Kuwait

`kg` Kyrgyzstan

**L**

`la` Laos

`lg` Latvia

`le` Lebanon

`lt` Lesotho

`li` Liberia

`ly` Libya

`ls` Liechtenstein

`lh` Lithuania

`lu` Luxembourg

**M**

`ma` Madagascar

`mi` Malawi

`my` Malaysia

`mv` Maldives

`ml` Mali

`mt` Malta

`rm` Marshall Islands

`mr` Mauritania

`mp` Mauritius

`mx` Mexico

`fm` Micronesia

`md` Moldova

`mn` Monaco

`mg` Mongolia

`mj` Montenegro

`mo` Morocco

`mz` Mozambique

**N**

`wa` Namibia

`nr` Nauru

`np` Nepal

`nl` Netherlands

`nz` New Zealand

`nu` Nicaragua

`ng` Niger

`ni` Nigeria

`no` Norway

`mk` North Macedonia

**O**

`mu` Oman

**P**

`pk` Pakistan

`ps` Palau

`pm` Panama

`pp` Papua New Guinea

`pa` Paraguay

`pe` Peru

`rp` Philippines

`pl` Poland

`po` Portugal

**Q**

`qa` Qatar

**R**

`ro` Romania

`rs` Russia

`rw` Rwanda

**S**

`sc` Saint Kitts and Nevis

`st` Saint Lucia

`vc` Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

`ws` Samoa

`sm` San Marino

`tp` Sao Tome and Principe

`sa` Saudi Arabia

`sg` Senegal

`ri` Serbia

`se` Seychelles

`sl` Sierra Leone

`sn` Singapore

`lo` Slovakia

`si` Slovenia

`bp` Solomon Islands

`so` Somalia

`sf` South Africa

`od` South Sudan

`sp` Spain

`ce` Sri Lanka

`su` Sudan

`ns` Suriname

`sw` Sweden

`sz` Switzerland

`sy` Syria

**T**

`ti` Tajikistan

`tz` Tanzania

`th` Thailand

`tt` Timor-Leste

`to` Togo

`tn` Tonga

`td` Trinidad and Tobago

`ts` Tunisia

`tu` Turkey

`tx` Turkmenistan

`tv` Tuvalu

**U**

`ug` Uganda

`up` Ukraine

`ae` United Arab Emirates

`uk` United Kingdom

`us` United States

`uy` Uruguay

`uz` Uzbekistan

**V**

`nh` Vanuatu

`vt` Vatican City (Holy See)

`ve` Venezuela

`vm` Vietnam

**Y**

`ym` Yemen

**Z**

`za` Zambia

`zi` Zimbabwe



### Other (2)



`tw` Taiwan

`ee` European Union



### Dependencies (52)



Australia (6):

`at` Ashmore and Cartier Islands

`kt` Christmas Island

`ck` Cocos (Keeling) Islands

`cr` Coral Sea Islands

`hm` Heard Island and McDonald Islands

`nf` Norfolk Island



China (2):

`hk` Hong Kong

`mc` Macau



Denmark (2):

`fo` Faroe Islands

`gl` Greenland



France (8):

`ip` Clipperton Island

`fp` French Polynesia

`fs` French Southern and Antarctic Lands

`nc` New Caledonia

`tb` Saint Barthelemy

`rn` Saint Martin

`sb` Saint Pierre and Miquelon

`wf` Wallis and Futuna



Netherlands (3):

`aa` Aruba

`uc` Curacao

`nn` Sint Maarten



New Zealand (3):

`cw` Cook Islands

`ne` Niue

`tl` Tokelau



Norway (3):

`bv` Bouvet Island

`jn` Jan Mayen

`sv` Svalbard



United Kingdom (17):

`ax` Akrotiri (Sovereign Base)

`av` Anguilla

`bd` Bermuda

`io` British Indian Ocean Territory

`vi` British Virgin Islands

`cj` Cayman Islands

`dx` Dhekelia (Sovereign Base)

`fk` Falkland Islands

`gi` Gibraltar

`gk` Guernsey

`je` Jersey

`im` Isle of Man

`mh` Montserrat

`pc` Pitcairn Islands

`sh` Saint Helena

`sx` South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

`tk` Turks and Caicos Islands



United States (~~14~~ 8):

`aq` American Samoa

`gq` Guam

`bq` Navassa Island

`cq` Northern Mariana Islands

`rq` Puerto Rico

`vq` US Virgin Islands

`wq` Wake Island

`um` US Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

(Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll)



### Miscellaneous (5)



`ay` Antarctica

`gz` Gaza Strip

`pf` Paracel Islands

`pg` Spratly Islands

`we` West Bank

~~`wi` Western Sahara~~



### Oceans (5)



`xq` Arctic Ocean

`zh` Atlantic Ocean

`xo` Indian Ocean

`zn` Pacific Ocean

`oo` Southern Ocean



### World (1)



`xx` World



## Build Your Own Up-to-Date Country Profiles



See the [`factbook`](https://github.com/factbook/factbook)

command line tool and scripts for details.



## Real-World Usage



Q: Anybody using these datasets?  I don't know really. Add your project here - yes, you can!



[Thomas Derflinger](https://github.com/tderflinger) writes:



> I used your JSON data files to import them into a Mongo database.

> Then I used Apollo to set up a GraphQL API in front of it.

> Using the project chi-country-facts (https://github.com/tderflinger/chi-country-facts)

> you can query World Factbook data comfortably using GraphQL (there also exists a web GraphQL playground).

> This enables easy data querying and extraction.

>

> Another project of mine is Visual World Facts (https://visual-world-facts.pages.dev),

> where I try to visualize the World Factbook data in new ways.

> For example, I visualized the GDP by PPP of world countries with a treemap, which can lead to new insights.



## License



![](https://publicdomainworks.github.io/buttons/zero88x31.png)



The datasets and scripts are dedicated to the public domain. Use it as you please with no restrictions whatsoever.



## Questions? Comments?



Send them along to the [Open World Database (world.db) and Friends Forum/Mailing List](http://groups.google.com/group/openmundi). 

Thanks!