World Bank Data Catalog

World Bank Data Catalog is an online metadata repository developed and maintained by the World Bank Group, headquartered in Washington, D.C. Launched in 2012, this platform serves as a comprehensive directory of the World Bank's datasets and data products. It is designed to help users discover, understand, and access data relevant to development work. The catalog includes descriptions of over 14,000 datasets, covering a wide range of topics such as economics, health, education, and infrastructure. Each entry in the catalog includes detailed metadata, such as data sources, collection methods, update frequency, and access restrictions. World Bank Data Catalog attracts approximately 8 million annual visitors, with a significant portion of its users from government agencies, research institutions, and non-governmental organizations. The platform does not generate direct revenue, as it is part of the World Bank's open data strategy, funded by member country contributions and international partnerships. The catalog is built using the Open Knowledge Foundation's CKAN software, an open-source data management system. It employs a faceted search interface, allowing users to filter datasets by topic, region, country, and format. World Bank Data Catalog supports linked data principles, enabling connections between related datasets and external sources. The platform also provides a DOI (Digital Object Identifier) for each dataset, ensuring persistent citation and tracking of usage. Regular updates are made to the catalog as new datasets are added or metadata is revised. The catalog includes datasets from various World Bank departments, including the Development Economics Vice Presidency and the Poverty Global Practice. In addition to its web interface, the catalog offers a RESTful A