Bookmark Alert: NationMaster!

NationMaster, is great way to get comparative country statistics in friendly graph, map, or pie chart (you choose) fashion. It contains a vast compilation of data from such sources as the CIA World Factbook, UN, and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) . Using the handy search engine query, you can generate maps and graphs on all kinds of statistics with ease. Manager/Developer Luke Metcalfe explains how the site came into being back in 2003. "The idea for NationMaster arose as I was surfing around the CIA World Factbook. It's a great read but I felt the individual figures (like number of TVs, or kilometres of coastline) didn't mean much on their own. They'd be more illuminating if they were placed alongside other countries and shown relative to population." 5,912 stats, 3,728 maps and 6,098 profiles later NationMaster just keeps racking up rave reviews and appearances on countless best-sites lists. Says the New York Times "... an astounding and easy-to-use collection of facts, statistics, charts, maps and trivia on every country in the world."

NationaMaster also features StateMaster which does for states of the United States what NationMaster does for the world.

If you are concerned about authenticity and authorship, all statistics on the site are cited.

You can do key word searches or browse categories that include Media and Internet along with Crime, Disasters, Education, Health, Industry, Labor, Lifestyle, and Religion to name a few. These general categories are further broken down. So under Media you can search Cinema attendance, mobile phones, newspaper circulation, radio use, phone service, and much more. Under Internet you can search broadband access, number of websites, users (per capita), internet charges, and more.

This site is rich and deep and right at your fingertips.