ODIN 2026/27 Update:
The People and Processes Driving Data Assessments Forward
27 July 2026
Established Purpose, New Phase
For over a decade, the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) has independently measured the coverage and openness of official statistics published by National Statistical Offices (NSOs). The current 2026/27 phase is underway and on track, with 11 trained researchers assessing national data across 23 categories and 60+ indicators for 198 countries. This process began two months ago in May and is set to finish by September 2026. The results will be published in December 2026.
The purpose of ODIN is to identify critical gaps in the coverage of official statistics, promote open data policies, and encourage dialogue between NSOs and data users. By design, it does not account for non-governmental data sources, such as data produced by international organizations, or directly assess adjacent open data categories, such as data interoperability and data quality, but the key metrics of openness and coverage provide some overlapping insights. The ODIN score encompasses three main data categories: social, economic, and environmental statistics. See the full methodology here.
Inside the Rigorous Review Process
ODIN does not simply check if data are online. It is a complex undertaking and on average takes 35–40 hours of work for each country, depending on various factors, to thoroughly assess data coverage and openness. Overall, the process has five stages: assessment, documentation, review, country feedback, and quality control.
First, the researchers review official websites, data portals, publications, formats, metadata, licenses and terms of use, and various disaggregations. Then there is an internal review process of evaluating assessment results for quality control. Once this step is complete, there is a window to conduct country reviews when countries can review the datasets and scoring evidence identified during the research stage. Afterwards, the researchers review country feedback and make updates where supporting evidence is provided. The last step is performing final quality control checks before publication.
There are 11 ODIN researchers who serve as assessors and reviewers from many different countries across Africa, Europe, South America, North America, and the Middle East. The researchers work closely with ODW staff, and some have been a part of the process for many years. In the following sections, they weigh in on why open data is the foundation for public accountability, how data reflect countries’ infrastructure and priorities, and what data gaps tell us about the pathway to greater inclusion.
Get to know the ODIN researchers by exploring their profiles below.
The Researchers behind the Rankings
RESEARCHER PROFILES (scroll right or use the ▶ to meet each of the ODIN assessment team members)
Name: Relance Kataliko
Pronouns: He/Him
Location: Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/relance-kataliko/
QUOTE: “Availability of data alone is not enough—truly open official statistics should be findable, usable, timely, machine-readable, and well-documented.”
How has working on ODIN changed the way you think about open data and official statistics?
Working on ODIN has deepened my appreciation for the distinction between data availability and data usability. Before joining the project, I often viewed open data primarily through the lens of access and public availability. Through the ODIN methodology, I have come to appreciate that truly open official statistics must also be timely, well-documented, machine-readable, and easy to reuse. The availability alone is not enough. The assessment process has also given me a greater appreciation for the work of NSOs. Producing official statistics is part of the process but ensuring that data can be easily accessed, interpreted and reused is equally important. I now look at official statistics from the perspective of the end user and ask not only if data exist but whether someone can actually find and use them.
What are some of the most challenging parts of completing an ODIN assessment?
One of the most challenging aspects is identifying the correct dataset when countries organize and publish official statistics in very different ways. The same indicator may appear under different names, or be published by different government institutions, or even be embedded within statistical yearbooks rather than available as a stand-alone dataset. It requires careful desk research and an understanding of the methodology.
