This is the classic reference work that provides annually updated information on all the countries of the world. Free online access to the full text is available with every copy of the book.Following recent research into customer needs, a wealth of extra content has been included in this new expanded edition, including political profiles, government histories, extended economic overviews and a global thematic focus section. All political, economic and social change conveyed by precise statistical accounts for every country world-wide is revised or re-verified yearly by a dedicated editorial team. The book now comes with online access at no extra cost. The online website is fully searchable and updated regularly. It can be accessed remotely and full usage statistics can be made available at any time. Half page line maps with state names and boundaries, location of major cities and names of bordering countries give the reader a clearer picture of the political geography.This edition is fully updated and contains more information and analysis than ever before. A foldout colour section provides a political world map and flags for all 192 countries. Each copy comes with online access to the full text at no extra cost. Unlimited-user upgrades are also available for libraries who wish to network the data.

Table of Contents

Time Zones Map Flags of the World/Map of the World (Colour Pullout Section) Key World Facts Chronology of World Events from April 2007 to March 2008 Addenda PART 1 In Defence of Scepticism by Barry Turner International Organizations PART 2: Countries of the World A-Z, including the following sections: Key Historical Events Territory and Population Social Statistics Climate Constitution and Government Government Chronology Recent Elections Current Administration Current Leaders Defence International Relations Economy Energy and Natural Resources Environment Industry International Trade Communications Social Institutions Culture Diplomatic Representatives Further Reading Abbreviations Place and International Organizations Index Index of Current Leaders

About the Author

BARRY TURNER is the seventh editor in the 145-year history of The Statesman's Yearbook. He has a PhD in Political History and has worked as a journalist, broadcaster and author for over 30 years. He is editor of the annual The Writer's Handbook.

Reviews

'The most comprehensive guide to world political and economic affairs.' - Robert Thomson, Publisher, Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal 'The Stateman's Yearbook is a well respected world reference book. We feel great privilege in sharing information on our country with the rest of the world' - Statistical Institute of Belize Reviews of Previous Editions: 'the most convenient and reliable starting point for information on international affairs. Its coverage is unparalleled for a one-volume resource, and it has never let me down.' -- George J. Mitchell, US Senator 'full of invaluable material about every country in the world. For someone like me who spends much of my time travelling, it is an invaluable treasure trove. I would warmly recommend it to other readers' -- The Right Honourable Christopher F. Patten, CH, Chancellor of Oxford University 'All you need to know about the population of various states and countries, officials, exports, constitutions, governments, diplomatic representatives, religion, finance and basic histories' -- The New York Times 'a miracle of compression: the key facts about the entire world crisply collated in [its] tightly edited pages. It is an essential desktop guide for anyone who needs to think, write or talk about the nature and future of our unimaginably odd and constantly surprising planet. Buy this book and qualify at once as a citizen of the world.' -- Godfrey Smith, The Sunday Times 'On the desert island of the imagination this title should certainly be up there with the Bible and Shakespeare.' - Parliamentary Maritime Review 'You need more than one of everything because no information is value-free - except perhaps in [Palgrave's] annual The Statesman's Yearbook...a masterpiece of pure quantification.' - Daily Telegraph (Victoria Glendinning's choice of Top Reference Book) 'The book should be in every office which is concerned with world trade and, indeed, in every school which produces the future traders. It is an essential tool of all global thinking.' - Geographical Magazine 'This venerable reference work remains as indispensable as ever before...the information contained in this one volume is prodigious and if a researcher could only have one volume to hand, this would be it.' - Contemporary Review 'In a volatile political world, this annual publication brings a sane voice to its presentation of the vital information every diplomat needs. And all in one volume. An essential purchase.' - London Diplomat '... a magnificent achievement. It says a lot about the editorial team that they were able to produce such a detailed survey. And - in this era of unreliable information - it is a very reliable and highly respected publication.' Keith Suter, Australian Institute of Management