The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
-
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/the-world-factbook/
@simon think also to the internet archive.org band their wayback machine. #github is owned by #microsoft so no guarantees on that forum.
-
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/the-world-factbook/
@simon thank you!
-
@simon @KanaMauna don't be ridiculous. There's no particular reason other than: the orange menace doesn't like the word "fact".
-
@simon @KanaMauna don't be ridiculous. There's no particular reason other than: the orange menace doesn't like the word "fact".
-
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/the-world-factbook/
There was a WB/IBRD World Book published but I remember some political/economic data were from the FUCKEDbook
-
-
2016 version made it into archive.org
Might be good to host the 2020 version and submit it there as well
The World Factbook 2016-17 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
liv, 870 pages, 12 leaves of plates : 29 cm +
Internet Archive (archive.org)
-
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/the-world-factbook/
@simon I think it was the word "fact" that let the fascists react. Although, as a European, I would never trust the CIA as a source of facts. Never.
Thanks for saving data. -
-
The CIA just stopped publishing their World Factbook and took every page, including the archived copies of previous versions!
This sucks. It was public domain, so I recovered the 2020 edition (the last one published as a zip file) and shared it to GitHub https://simonwillison.net/2026/Feb/5/the-world-factbook/
@simon is there a clearer metaphor of the United States closing itself off from the world and its government closing itself off from any public conversation? Stunning.
-
P Pteryx the Puzzle Secretary shared this topic
