International Business  

The CIA offers maps you can download to use in your projects.

Country profiles include information and statistics on the country's geography, population, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, and relations with other countries. Includes many small countries that may not be covered by other sources.

Up-to-date reports from the Economist Intelligence Unit provide insight on country developments such as economic trends and forecasts, country risk, business environment, currency and interest rate forecasts, financial outlooks, industry conditions, political developments, and regulations.

Covers smaller number of countries than the ViewsWires above, but contains useful forecasts of population, economic indicators, disposable income, inflation, exchange rates, trade balance, and more.

The Economist is an important periodical for international news. This link should take you to a page in the ABI/INFORM database that will allow you to search for articles on your country in The Economist.

Free marketing-related statistics for countries: GDP measured at purchasing power parity, consumer expenditure, annual disposable income, etc. Lifestyle indicators may include food expenditure, Internet users, car registrations, consumer electronics. Market size figures may include soft drinks, tobacco, cosmetics/toiletries, & tourism.
Use pulldown menu to change country.
Factfiles are free--but other reports on this site are not free.

Provides GDP figures, key economic indicators, and economic forecasts for many countries.

Provides links to many sources, some country pages will have a have useful link to a U.S. government produced Country Commercial Guide.

This site provides tax and regulatory information on many countries. Each country has a "Highlights" document that offers brief information. For many larger countries you can download a Guide that offers more extensive information.
Use the pull-down Guide selector or Highlight selector to find your country.

This source by the U.S. Department of State provides quick statistics and information on a country's economy, geography, people, history, government, U.S. relations, and more. Includes reports for small countries that may not be covered elsewhere.

Each Study presents a book length survey of the country, with chapters on history, geography & population, social systems, education & culture, economy, agriculture, industry, transportation & trade, science & technology, government, political process, foreign relations, criminal justice & security, and national defense. Studies are not updated every year; site also offers country profiles that are updated more often.

Reports are available on a large number of countries. A report will rank the country's regulations compared to other countries and provide details on regulations related to starting a business, getting credit, licenses, employing workers, investments, taxes, trade, contracts, bankruptcy, etc.

Searching the Ernst & Young online library for a particular country can lead to very interesting reports. Available information will vary by country and not all publications are in English. You might find a book-length report like Doing Business in Bulgaria that can be downloaded in PDF.

This e-book offers "analysis of the risks involved in trading with, or investing in 155 countries, giving each one a unique risk and business climate rating." Unfortunately, content is starting to get a bit old.

Lists reports by the International Monetary Fund relating to specific countries. Some of these may be economic reports that are more technical than you might want.

The international accounting firm provides many full text reports on investing in or doing business in specific countries. These are published on various sites for KPMG offices in various countries. You can use the "Select Site" link from the main KPMG site (top right) to go to the site for a specific country--most KPMG country sites have some publications in English, often titled "Investment in [county name]." Alternatively do a Google search like this: KPMG "investment in China"

Legal guides written by law firms that cover business regulations in various countries, states, and provinces.