The Economist has launched an iPhone and iPod app based on its World in Figures book, which is published annually.

The World in Figures app, which costs 69 pence, has data on 190 countries.

It is of use to journalists who need to access country stats, and of interest to a much wider audience, despite some of the data being a little old.

The app includes ‘ranking topics’, with stats on daily newspapers per country and press freedom. Data – whether it be cinema visits, Oscar-winning films, aid donors, or stats on disease – can be shared by email or posted to Facebook.

There are also a series of trivia flashcards, which can also be shared by Twitter.

Last month, the Economist released figures to say its news iPhone and iPad apps had been downloaded two million times.