[Spotlight] Exploring Open Data Rankings and Measurements:
Unlocking the Power of Transparency with the Global Data Barometer, Open Data Watch and the OECD
By Joe Tansey, International Working Group Governmental Co-Chair
Unlocking the Power of Transparency: Exploring Open Data Rankings
In today’s data-driven world, transparency is more than just a buzzword — it’s a fundamental pillar of trust, innovation, and informed decision-making. Governments, organisations, and institutions worldwide are increasingly recognizing the value of making data publicly accessible. But how do we measure the effectiveness and impact of these efforts? This is where open data rankings come into play.
Open data rankings provide a crucial lens through which we can evaluate the availability, accessibility, and quality of data shared by various entities. These rankings not only highlight the leaders in transparency but also shed light on areas where improvement is needed. By examining these rankings, we gain insights into how well countries and organizations are meeting the growing demand for open, usable, and reliable data.
In this blog, we’ll delve into the significance of open data rankings, explore the methodologies behind them, and discuss what they reveal about the state of global transparency. Whether you’re a data enthusiast, a policy-maker, or just curious about how your country or organization stacks up, understanding open data rankings is key to navigating the landscape of digital transparency.
Global Data Barometer
Silvana Fumega, Director of the Global Data Barometer, emphasizes the urgent need for healthy data ecosystems in today’s digital age. Recognising this importance of such healthy data ecosystems, the GBD was established in 2020, building on the Open Data Barometer by examining broader data landscapes, including governance and infrastructure. However, unlike its predecessor, the GDB goes beyond the legal and technical dimensions of open data to explore broader data landscapes, encompassing governance, availability, and capabilities.
To achieve this, the GDB assesses essential data foundations — such as infrastructure, processes, and strategies — that underpin the effective collection, management, storage, publication, and use of data. This comprehensive approach is crucial for developing robust and inclusive data ecosystems. For its second edition, the GDB’s methodology has been refined to better highlight bright-spots of data use and address relevant cross-cutting themes. Overall, the GDB provides a benchmark that enables governments to align policies with the concept of ‘data for public good,’ fostering a healthier data ecosystem. The results of this second edition will be launched during the first semester of 2025.
You can find more information on the Global Data Barometer website and first edition report.
Open Data Watch
Jamison Henninger, the Open Data Manager from Open Data Watch, presented the results and methodology of the Open Data Inventory (ODIN)- a global index measuring the coverage and openness of official statistics in nearly 200 countries. ODIN, currently undergoing its 7th edition, is used by national statistical offices around to world as a tool to monitor progress on open data initiatives, as well as international organizations such as the World Bank (Statistical Capacity Indicators) and the UN (SDG Indicator 17.18.1).
ODIN 2022 results show that global progress has started to stagnate for the first time in ODIN history, with coverage scores declining primarily in environmental data. However, this can be partly attributed to the impact of the COVID pandemic. Though openness scores improved from the previous year, most countries still struggle with adopting open data licenses. The results for ODIN 2024 will be released in December 2024 and it remains to be seen whether results will show a return to the positive trend that has occurred each year since 2016. More information about ODIN 2024 is available in English, Spanish, French, and Arabic here.
OECD OURdata Index
Cecilia Emilsson, Policy Analyst at the OECD, presented the OECD OURdata Index (Open, Useful and Re-usable Data Index). Initially launched in 2015, the Index has become an important benchmark for evaluating the efforts of governments to design and implement national open government data policies.
The 2023 edition of the OURdata Index spans over 670 data points across 40 countries. It evaluates national open data initiatives through three key pillars: data availability, data accessibility, and government support for data re-use. It also assesses the availability and accessibility of 82 high-value datasets across ten thematic areas.
In the latest edition, Korea, France, and Poland rank top-three, demonstrating high performance across all three pillars. Despite these successes, the Index reveals areas for improvement for most countries, particularly in the systematic engagement with data users and in monitoring the impact of open data initiatives. Moreover, only 47% of high-value datasets are available across OECD countries.
The next edition of the OURdata Index is planned for 2025. For ongoing updates on the OECD’s work on open data, visit their official website.
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