CIA Ends World Factbook, Cutting Off Public Reference
CIA removed The World Factbook from its public website on Feb. 4, 2026, posting a valedictory notice and declining further comment.
Overview
The Central Intelligence Agency removed The World Factbook from its public website on Feb. 4, 2026, posting a valedictory page that said the resource had "sunset," the agency said.
The World Factbook, first published in 1962, issued an unclassified edition in 1971, was renamed in 1981 and went online in 1997, and it served as a widely used repository of country statistics for decades.
Teachers and librarians said the shutdown immediately disrupted classroom assignments and research, with Oklahoma City social studies teacher Taylor Hale and Boston Public Library government information specialist John Devine voicing concern, while the CIA declined additional comment.
The Factbook compiled concise country profiles, annual statistics and a copyright-free photo library of more than 5,000 images, and independent sources show portions of the data on the Internet Archive and other caches.
Independent technologists including Simon Willison have downloaded and republished parts of the Factbook and the Internet Archive hosts material through 2020, and educators and researchers said they will seek alternative data sources and ask officials for an explanation.
Analysis
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Sources (3)
FAQ
The World Factbook was a CIA-produced reference providing concise country profiles, annual statistics on geography, population, politics, economy, military strength, and a copyright-free photo library of over 5,000 images.
The CIA removed The World Factbook from its public website on February 4, 2026, posting a notice that the resource had 'sunset' and declining further comment.
The CIA provided no official reason for the discontinuation, though it follows Director John Ratcliffe's vow to end programs not advancing core missions.
Data is available on the Internet Archive through 2020, independent republishings by technologists like Simon Willison, and alternatives like Europa World Year Book, The New York Times Almanac, and The World Almanac.
Teachers and librarians report immediate disruptions to classroom assignments and research, with concerns from an Oklahoma City teacher and Boston library specialist.
History
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