Open Data At The World Bank
An Overview
Development Data Group
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
Open
• data freely available
Accessible
• data easy to use and re-use
Searchable
• data easy to find
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
Everything changed on April 20…
Before…
After…
Subscriptions
Free!
Custom query tool
New website, downloads, API
Restrictions on use
Minimal restrictions on use
English
+Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese
Not searchable
Searchable
Scattered datasets
Data catalog
Legally Open
You are free to use our
data for commercial and
non-commercial purposes
at no cost…
Terms of use
• Users are encouraged to use the data.
– extract, download, and make copies
– Share with third parties.
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Attribution
No Endorsement
No Association
No Warranties
Technically Open
Technically Open
Open Data videos
English, Spanish, Multilingual
HOW TO FIND DATA
data.worldbank.org
In five languages
English, Spanish,
French, Arabic, Chinese
WDI is primary source for
data.worldbank.org
Data By Country & Region
Data By Country
Data By Topic
Data By Topic
Data by Indicators
See the data
Embed chart,
map, or graph
Chart an indicator
Embed!
Map an indicator
Embed!
Map an indicator
Embed!
Easy to share
Data catalog
Bulk downloads in
Excel, CSV, XML
• One-stop listing of sources
• Download entire dataset,
access query tool
• Global, regional, specialized
datasets
• 40+ data compilations
– 20 datasets included in
dataBank, 7000
indicators
– 11 datasets accessible
through an API, 3000+
indicators
– 1200 indicators in
multiple languages
Reports available In five languages
External applications use World Bank data
External applications use World Bank data
In 37 languages…!
Google Public Data Explorer
databank.worldbank.org: custom queries
Thousands of indicators in dataBank
Using the data retrieval system allows
users to create customized tables
Custom charts
databank.worldbank.org: custom queries
chart
Customized maps
databank.worldbank.org: custom queries
metadata
DataFinder: iphone/ipad app
World Bank Opens Microdata Library – A New Way to
Access Survey Datasets
The Microdata Library is a service established to facilitate access to
microdata that provides information about people living in
developing countries. It includes:
– Acquisition of microdata
– Detailed documentation of how the data have been collected and
compiled
– cataloguing of the information
– Preservation of the data
– Dissemination
• The Central Microdata Catalog operates as a portal for
microdata documented in compliance with international
standards and practices.
microdata.worldbank.org
microdata.worldbank.org
What we’ve learnt: engage with users
Widgets for blog
posts and sites
Respond to
feedback
Link to social
media
Get users to the data quickly
Track (and share) metrics
Create communities around the data
Use Open Tools for Open Data
Use the tools you give to others
Open Data for meaningful data mash-ups
• Project locations geo-referenced
on a pilot basis from publicly
available documents
• Basis for displaying projects on
maps
• New “Mapping for Results”
application allows overlay with
other indicators, such as those for
measuring the MDGs
maps.worldbank.org
What they are saying…
What they are saying…
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
• Cash prizes available
Supporting others to do Open Data
Supporting others to do Open Data
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
Data support
• Metadata
– Definitions
– Sources
• Helpdesk – data@worldbank.org
• Feedback directly from the site