The 2003 CIA World Factbook

About this book

The 2003 CIA World Factbook is a government‑produced reference work that compiles concise statistical and descriptive entries for every recognized nation. The opening pages present raw figures, such as the United States’ FY 02 military outlay of $11.39 billion and its 2.9 percent of GDP, followed by brief notes on transnational issues, then move straight into country‑by‑country profiles. Each entry begins with a historical sketch, geographic data, demographic tables, and a rundown of political structures, economic indicators, and infrastructure details, as illustrated by the extensive Austria section that covers everything from Alpine terrain to parliamentary composition and trade balances.

Written in a straightforward, data‑driven prose typical of early‑2000s intelligence publications, the Factbook’s tone is factual rather than narrative, with a focus on uniformity across entries. It will appeal to researchers, students, and anyone who needs reliable, snapshot‑style information on world politics, geography, and economics without the embellishment of travel writing or academic commentary.