Research Guides: POLS 382: Comparative Political Parties (BMC): Country information

Basic Country and Government information

Political Handbook of the World 2022-2023 by Tom Lansford (Editor)
ISBN: 9781071853030

Publication Date: 2023

CIA World Fact Book
Provides detailed profiles of all of the countries of the world. Offers information on each country's geography, people, government, economy, communications, military, and transnational issues, as well as maps and flag images. Covers 2000 - present in PDF; current interactive edition is continually updated.

Foreign Government Info (from Northwestern Univ.)
Links to official websites for foreign governments
PARLINE Database on National Parliaments
The Inter-Parliamentary Union maintains this database of information about houses of parliament worldwide.
Political Parties and Leaders (from the CIA)
World Constitutions
World Elections
WorldLII: World Legal Information Institute
Provides "free, independent, and non-profit access to worldwide law." This portal consists of 1165 databases from 123 jurisdictions via 14 Legal Information Institutes around the world. Coverage varies.

China Data Online
Comprehensive database focusing on economic statistics of China, arranged by regions and categories. BRYN MAWR subscribes to the statistical modules only.
Statistical Agencies (International)
List of links to foreign governmental statistics departments.

International Country Risk Guide
The ICRG (International Country Risk Guide) Researcher's Dataset from the PRS Group comprises 22 variables in three subcategories of risk (political, financial, and economic), for 146 countries, over the period 1984 to the previous year. Data are annual averages of components published in the International Country Risk Guide.
UNdata
UNdata lets you search across many of the statistics produced by different agencies within the UN. Find statistics on a wide range of development-related issues and more. Also note the links to country statistical agencies, which can help you find (government-produced) statistics for the country you're researching.
Worldwide Governance Indicators
This World Bank dataset offers the following governance indicators for 213 countries: Voice and accountability, Political Stability and Absence of Violence, Government effectiveness, Regulatory quality, Rule of law, and Control of corruption. Covers 1996-2011.

Click the link for interactive data access to easily view charts and tables, or access the full dataset in Excel format.

World Development Indicators (WDI) Online
World Development Indicators (WDI) is the primary World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized international sources. It includes more than 1100 indicators on population, income, social, economic, financial, natural resources, and environment, covering 210 countries and 18 regional and income groups. Also includes the International Debt Statistics (IDS) database. Data ranges from 1960-present.

Afrobarometer
An independent, nonpartisan research project measuring the social, political and economic atmosphere in Africa. Afrobarometer surveys are conducted in more than 20 African countries and are repeated on a regular cycle. Part of the Global Barometer Survey series. Includes an online data analysis tool, downloadable data files, country reports, and publications.
Arab Barometer
Part of the Global Barometer Project, a network of regional studies on the attitudes of ordinary citizens. public opinion studies. Includes an online data analysis tool, downloadable data files, country reports and publications.
Asian Barometer
An independent, nonpartisan research project measuring the social, political and economic atmosphere in Asia. Asian Barometer surveys are conducted in 18 East and South Asian countries and are repeated on a regular cycle. Part of the Global Barometer Survey series. Includes an online data analysis tool, downloadable data files, and publications.
Eurobarometer
The European Commission monitors and reports public opinion in the E.U. Data concerns citizenship, social issues, health, culture, information technology, the environment, and the Euro. Provides opinion data twice yearly. Information is available for individual countries, regional groups, and the entire EU.