Simon WillisonFeb 5

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/

Spotlighting The World Factbook as We Bid a Fond Farewell

Somewhat devastating news today from CIA: One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. There's not even a hint as to why they decided …

Simon Willison’s Weblog
Show threadPseudo NymFeb 5

@simon

2016 version made it into archive.org

Might be good to host the 2020 version and submit it there as well

https://archive.org/details/worldfactbook2010000unse_h9e8

The World Factbook 2016-17 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

liv, 870 pages, 12 leaves of plates : 29 cm +

Internet Archive
Show threadPetra van Cronenburg
@pseudonym 👍🏼 @simon
Feb 5 at 8:27amWeb