The OECD Factbook is an essential tool providing a global overview of world economic, social and environmental trends. It brings together in a single publication 100 indicators that are essential for evaluating the relative position of any OECD country, both at a given moment and over time, in the following fields :

The 2006 edition will present many new features, including indicators on the "brain drain," Tsunami recovery, aid, and cultural and leisure activities.  It also includes data on key non-OECD member countries, namely Brazil, China, India, The Russian Federation and South Africa.

The 100 indicators are all presented as a double page spread. On the left page, you will find systematic definitions of the indicators used, comment on the extent of comparability of data from national sources, and a guide to other statistical and analytic publications from the OECD. These texts are essential to understand where the data come from and how they can be used.

The OECD Factbook 2006 will also be available online as part of SourceOECD, the service which delivers online OECD books, periodicals and statistical databases.  The OECD Factbook 2006 will also available in French from May 2006.