Research Guides: Country and Culture Information : Get Started

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Researching Country Information

Some assignments may ask you to research information about a specific country. This information may include cultural, health, economic, or political information. This guide will provide you with resources to find such information.

Below are some best bet resources to find general information on countries and cultures. If you need research articles or additional sources, visit the Further Research tab on the left-hand side of this page.

Best Bet Resources for Country Information

CIA World FactBook
Filter by country and access information on flags, geography, society, environment, government, economy, energy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for each.
Country Studies Collection - Library of Congress
This collection contains electronic versions of eighty books originally sponsored by the U.S. Army and written by researchers affiliated with the Library’s Federal Research Division. Intended for a general audience, the studies provide descriptions and analyses of lesser-known countries or regions where U.S. military forces might be deployed.
Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life
Click link under View Online - Full Text Availability. Choose population in table of contents or search publication. Each section contains information on cultural information including location, language, folklore, religion, holidays, family, clothing, food, education, entertainment, and social and gender issues.
globalEDGE Country Comparator Tool
From Michigan State University, a tool which allows you to access and compare information from countries around the world. Information includes economy, trade, energy, people, government, infrastructure, education, health, and labor data.
World Health Organization (Health Information)
Choose Countries on the menu and search. Information provided includes health statistics, news stories, publications, and links to that country's health office website.