'the most convenient and reliable starting point for information on international affairs. Its coverage is unparalleled for a one-volume resource, and it has never let me down' - George J. Mitchell, American special envoy to the Middle East 'The most comprehensive guide to world political and economic affairs' - Robert Thomson, Publisher, Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal 'a ... Read moremiracle of compression: the key facts about the entire world crisply collated in [its] tightly edited pages. It is an essential desktop guide for anyone who needs to think, write or talk about the nature and future of our unimaginably odd and constantly surprising planet' - Godfrey Smith, The Sunday Times 'All you need to know about the population of various states and countries, officials, exports, constitutions, governments, diplomatic representatives, religion, finance and basic histories' - The New York Times 'full of invaluable material about every country in the world. For someone like me who spends much of my time travelling, it is an invaluable treasure trove. I would warmly recommend it to other readers' - The Right Honourable Christopher F. Patten, CH, Chancellor of Oxford University 'should be in every office which is concerned with world trade and, indeed, in every school which produces the future traders. It is an essential tool of all global thinking' - Geographical Magazine Bestselling Reference title - 'Originally designed for statesmen but now used by anyone needing information on the politics, cultures, and economies of the world, this yearbook is one of the longest-running annual publications in history' - Library Journal Show Less