Washington — Updated Feb. 5, 2026
The CIA announced Wednesday that it is discontinuing the World Factbook, the agency’s long-running country reference guide, after more than six decades. A brief notice posted to the CIA’s website gave no explanation for the decision.
The move follows pledges by Director John Ratcliffe to eliminate programs he judges not central to the agency’s core missions. It also comes amid broader efforts in Washington to reduce staffing at the CIA and the National Security Agency, a shift that has left intelligence agencies operating with slimmer personnel levels.
The Factbook began in 1962 as a printed, classified handbook for intelligence officers, offering statistical and descriptive profiles of foreign countries — covering economies, militaries, resources and societies. Its usefulness prompted other federal agencies to rely on it, and an unclassified edition for the public appeared within a decade.
Moved online in 1997, the World Factbook became a widely used resource for journalists, students and trivia enthusiasts, drawing millions of annual visits.
The CIA did not respond Wednesday to requests for comment about discontinuing the publication.
