Research Guides: International business: Learn About Countries

Country Overviews

These sources provide a good introduction to countries in terms of their economies, demographics, geography, political environments, etc.

Global Road Warrior
Content type(s): Country cultural database with detailed reports on 175 countries. This is a JMU subscription.
Users: JMU students, faculty and staff

The World Factbook
Content type(s): Profiles of 267 world entities. This is a free source available to anyone.
Users: Anyone
GlobalEDGE
Content types: Statistics, news, analysis on international business and trade
Dates covered: Current
Culture Factor Country Comparison Tool
This tool compares how culture differs between countries. The authors define culture as the collective mental programming of the human mind distinguishing one group of people from another.

These are JMU subscription resources that have international business coverage.

BMI by Fitch Solutions
Content type(s): In-depth reports providing country risk ratings and macroeconomic forecasts for more than 200 global markets
Dates covered: Current
Statista
Content type(s): Data aggregation and research platform covering North American, European, and Asian markets, industries and societal topics.
Users: JMU students, faculty and staff
A to Z World Business
Content type(s): Detailed reports about business culture and practices on 175 countries.
Users: JMU students, faculty and staff
Policy Commons
Content type(s):Reports from nonpartisan think tanks and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Users: JMU students, faculty and staff

These agencies publish reports about working with different countries.

U.S. Dept. of Commerce: International Trade Administration Country Reports
Quickly find information about an international market where you intend to export.
Congressional Research Service
Provides access to research products produced by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) for the United States Congress.
U.S. Dept. of State: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
Annual reports on Human Rights Practices that cover internationally recognized individual, civil, political, and worker rights.

These are the go-to websites for statistical data for different countries.

UNData
Content type(s): Contains more than 60 million data points about Agriculture, Employment, Energy, Environment, Health, Industry, Information & Communication Technology, Refugees, Trade, etc.
Dates covered: Current
National Statistical Offices Websites (via UN)
Content type(s): The UN maintains this list of other country's statistical offices, aka the equivalent of the U.S. Census Bureau.
Dates covered: Varies

These websites track how countries are performing on different global initiatives, such as sustainable development or gender equity.

Sustainable Development Report
Content type(s): A global assessment of countries' progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dates covered: Updated annually
Environmental Performance Index
Content type(s): A data-driven summary of the state of sustainability around the world.
Dates covered: Updated annually
Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index
Content type(s): International organization that advocates for transparency and accountability in government.
Dates covered: Updated annually
World Economic Forum: Global Gender Gap Report
Content type(s): The longest-standing index tracking the progress of numerous countries’ efforts towards closing gender gaps.
Dates covered: Annual
World Happiness Report
Content type:Report that reviews the state of happiness and well-being as criteria for government policy
Dates covered: Annual
IMD World Competitiveness Ranking
Content type(s): The International Institute for Management Development analyzes 67 economies about how they optimize their competencies to achieve long-term value creation for their people.
Dates covered: Annual
World Press Freedom Index
Content type: Compares the level of freedom enjoyed by journalists and media in 180 countries and territories.
Dates covered: Annual