Data360: Where data meets development

From phone surveys to satellite imagery, the world is experiencing an unprecedented explosion of data. Over the past two decades, global data traffic has surged a thousand-fold. Today, 90 times more data is estimated to be generated across the world compared with 2010. 

But more data alone does not guarantee better decisions. Much of this data is fragmented, hard to access, and underutilized. The real challenge is turning data into impactful insights that can drive policies, investments, and results. That is why the World Bank has set a bold vision in our Knowledge Compact: to become a better knowledge bank by becoming an even stronger data bank.    
The launch of Data360, the World Bank’s new development data portal, marks a milestone in the journey to put data to work for social, economic, and sustainable development. Designed as the World Bank’s central platform for integrated development data, analytics, and knowledge, Data360 brings together previously scattered sources into one integrated, accessible, and actionable system.

Data360 consolidates 300 million data points for more than 200 economies, covering more than 10,000 indicators that are disaggregated by sex, age, employment, location, income, education level, and more. It gives users a 360-degree view of development challenges and progress across five focus areas: Digital, Infrastructure, People, Planet, and Prosperity. 

At the World Bank, Data360 also helps shape our work—from guiding policy discussions to supporting key commitments and targets, such as universal health coverage and energy access in Africa through Mission 300. It serves as the central hub for data behind major initiatives. For example, all the data used for our Scorecard indicators covering client context, vision, and results are also available in Data360. 

For policy makers, researchers, and partners, this means:

• Everything in one place: Curated datasets, country analytics, and key indicators from across sectors and countries are now accessible through a single interface—searchable by country, region, or topic. 

• A 360-degree view of any economy: Country profiles provide a complete picture of the development status of more than 200 economies, along with benchmarks, comparisons, flagship reports, and active projects. 

• Custom reports and data for impact: Users can create tailored reports with built-in analytics tools and access 2,000 World Bank publications, providing data-driven policy insights. 

Investing in data for the future

Data360 is also part of a broader effort to prepare development data for the artificial intelligence (AI) era. With advances in AI, the demand for high-quality development data and statistics—in forms that are readily discoverable and usable—will only grow. That’s why the World Bank is building partnerships and investing in capabilities to ensure development data is AI-ready. This means supporting reliable, trustworthy, and effective AI applications and minimizing data hallucinations and other undesirable outcomes. 

Already, Data360 is powering the next generation of World Bank Group data products, from the new Human Capital Data Portal to the Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard. In the past year alone, Data360 has seen more than 100 million page views from users worldwide, underscoring the global demand for accessible, reliable development data.

A global public good

Maximizing the value of Data360 as a global public good means going beyond access to data. The World Bank is now also making the governance and software tools for Data360 open source. This will allow countries to strengthen their own data governance and data management efforts, including creating open-data, Data360-style platforms, with World Bank technical and financial support.  

Collaboration is at the center of this effort. As co-chair of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data, the World Bank Group, along with the United Nations, is championing greater national and global investments in country data systems, institutions, and capabilities. Over the past decade, this partnership has grown into a network of 700 public and private organizations committed to harnessing the power of data for development.   

Through the Global Data Facility and partnerships with the African Development Bank, the InterAmerican Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, countries now receive support to modernize and digitize their national statistical systems. 

Botswana, for example, is harmonizing its data collection tools and strengthening data exchange across its national statistical system. Similar support is enabling countries such as Belize, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan to prioritize processes for data and statistics as part of a whole government strategy.  

Success in development hinges ultimately on our ability to measure it. By moving from scattered datasets to integrated platforms like Data360, we can turn the promise of the data revolution into better evidence, better decisions, and better outcomes for millions around the world.