Library Guides: Country Research Guide for International Business -: Country Profiles

Library Databases

Statista This link opens in a new window
Wide range of statistics including consumer behavior, markets, industries, countries and trend forecasts.
Fitch Connect This link opens in a new window
*Country Risk--includes strategies, macroeconomic indicators, and Risk/Reward Ratings
*Country Forecast Reports
*Compare & Export tool--use for country comparisons, including import/export data
Business Source Complete This link opens in a new window
Select Country Report by "Publication Type" on the home search screen.
*Examples of helpful country reports included here are Political Risk Yearbook and Country Reviews from CountryWatch. Also an excellent source for magazine and journal articles about countries.
Mergent Online This link opens in a new window
Select a country under the small box along the right side of the page titled, COUNTRY PROFILES. Provides statistical data with country maps. Not all countries are listed.
Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window
Contains PRS Group's International Country Risk Guides with in-depth analyses of factors that could affect business, trade or investments in countries around the world.
FIND: Select "Search By Content Type" at top, then select "Country Information" under "People, Places and Things", then select the country and sources to search.
Passport This link opens in a new window
(Note: Always have to click 'Accept')
*Country Profiles provide excellent country specific overviews.
*Country Pulse provide news items about consumer trends within the country.
*Country Briefing gives Business Environment for a country based on World Bank Doing Business Report.
International Security & Counter Terrorism Reference Center This link opens in a new window
Not all countries are included
*Provides some Country Reviews from CountryWatch, CIA Factbook entries, and International Country Risk Guides Annual
*Limit publication type to Country Reports
Factiva This link opens in a new window
To find EIU Country Commerce reports:
- Click on Sources, start typing Economist Intelligence Unit, and select the title from the list
- In the search box type "country commerce [your country]"
*Every country may not be included

Online Resources

GlobalEDGE
Arguably the best free online resource for global business information developed and hosted by Michigan State University.
TIP: Select a country and the "Resources" in the left column for links to that country's government resources--great for statistics, labor regulations, costs, etc.
BBC News
Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries and territories, and background on key institutions.
*Includes audio and video clips from BBC archives
Select a country, territory or international organization
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Free website available from anywhere
Encyclopedia of the Nations
Contains country information such as population, history, ethnic groups, culture, language, transportation, government structure, technology, and contain notes about museums, media, libraries, technology, and much more.
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Free website available from anywhere
Nationmaster
A vast compilation of data from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, UN, and OECD. You can generate maps and graphs on all kinds of statistics for different countries.
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Free website available from anywhere
Economic Freedom of the World
Annual reports available that uses 42 distinct pieces of data to measure economic freedom in 141 nations.
Social Security Country Profiles
The Country Profiles serve as an overview of social security programs in the Americas, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe. Scheme descriptions are provided for over 170 countries and territories, and profiles of complementary and private pensions in 50 countries. Cover national social security programs established by statute that insure individuals against interruption or loss of earnings resulting from old age, disability; sickness and maternity; work injury or occupational disease; unemployment; and child rearing.