Open Data
at the World Bank
Open about what we do
Open about what we know
Open to new engagement
Supporting others to be open
data.worldbank.org
data@worldbank.org
@worldbankdata
Agenda
I.
Overview of the Open Data Initiative
II. A tour of the World Bank Open Data site
III. Data Tools
IV. What we’ve learned
data.worldbank.org
Motivation
• Part of a broader move, including new Access to
Information Policy
• Aim is to stimulate use of development data to help
solve development problems
• Builds on global Open Data initiatives
Open Development
Open Data
Share tools and essential information on the global
economy and Bank’s operations
Open Knowledge
Enable researchers, students, local communities to collect
data, measure results, increase knowledge
Open Solutions
Work together to find solutions to development problems
Open Data: Legally Open
You are free to use our
data for commercial and
non-commercial purposes
at no cost…
Open Data: Terms of Use
Users are encouraged to use the data
and share with third parties.
You can use it freely
You can re-use it freely
You can redistribute it freely
We ask for attribution
For commercial and non-commercial purposes
Open Data: Technically Open
It’s data that’s technically open
You can search for it and find it easily online
It’s available in an editable electronic format or an API


xls, json, txt, csv, xml, html,
doc, API, odt, ods etc.
PDF, images (JPG, GIF,
PNG), other proprietary
formats.
World Bank Open Data Initiative
• data.worldbank.org
• Launched by Robert Zoellick
in April 2010
• +11 million visits since launch
• Internationally acclaimed
• 1/3 of all web traffic at the
World Bank is for open data
• Over 85 major datasets listed
in the catalog. 8,000+
indicators
• Acts as a central index and
starting place for all data
across the bank
New data.worldbank.org
In five languages
English | Español | Français | ‫ | العربية‬中文
Data By Country & Region
New country pages
Data By Topic
Data By Topic
Metadata
Data by Indicators
See the data
Chart an indicator
Map an indicator
Map an indicator
How can you use this?
Justin Lin using Open Data
when communicating: http://bit.ly/w6kWv3
Here’s an example
Embed tables, charts, maps
Widgets for blog posts and sites
Easy to share
Data catalog
•
•
•
•
One-stop listing of
sources
Download entire dataset,
access query tool
Global, regional,
specialized datasets
40+ data compilations
– 30 datasets included
in DataBank, 8000+
indicators
– 20 datasets
accessible through
an API, 5895+
indicators
– 1200 indicators in
multiple languages
microdata.worldbank.org
Documentation
Documentation
Quick data results through search
External applications use World Bank data
Google Public Data Explorer
In 37 languages…!
DataBank usage
• Second most popular data section
• 150 downloads per month
Create custom queries
8,000+ indicators in DataBank
New DataBank
 Quicker and
simpler access to
data
 Secured user login
for saving and
sharing
Widgets for blogs
and sites
 Social Media
Integration
 iPad compatibility
 English, French,
Spanish, Chinese
Arabic (in 2 months)
Save and share reports, charts, maps
Enhanced visualizations
Widgets for blogs and sites
World Bank Jobs portal using DataBank widgets
Other products and tools
Central location for data books, CDs, visualization tools,
mobile applications
DataFinder 3.0
mobile app for iPad/iPhone, Android, BlackBerry
Android
Data Visualizer: Bubble charts
devdata.worldbank.org/DataVisualizer/
Build for re-use
Data Portals
Open Data
API
Widgets
from the
Data
Visualizer
Widgets
from the
DataBank
Analytical Tools
PovcalNET
Adept
wbopendata
analyze poverty
data using
different
poverty lines
and for
different
country
aggregates
automate and
standardize the
production of
analytical
reports using
survey datasets
direct access
to latest
version of
the Bank’s
data through
the Stata
interface
Creating incentives for data use
• First global competition to create
innovative software applications for
development
• Must use some World Bank data,
and address one of the MDGs
• Aim is to bring together software
developers and development
practitioners
• Apps for Climate aims to bring
together the best ideas from
scientists, application developers,
civil society organizations, and
development practitioners
Engage with users
Widgets for blog
posts and sites
Respond to
feedback
Link to social
media
Data support
Thank you!