Information Commissioners
About us
An independent monitoring body dedicated to verifying the open governance commitments of nations worldwide. We provide neutral, data-driven analysis to foster accountability.
Welcome to a new era of civic clarity. The Government Data Openness Index empowers nations to build trust through accessible information. We celebrate the leaders turning public records into public utility, fostering a brighter, more accountable future for all citizens.
Our methodology goes beyond simple checkboxes. We assess the usability, frequency, and legal frameworks supporting data availability. This positive reinforcement model highlights where nations excel and where they have the exciting potential to grow.
We count and verify high-value datasets such as census demographics, national maps, and legislation. It is not just about quantity; it is about the "open by default" standard. We look for machine-readable formats (CSV, JSON) rather than static PDFs, ensuring developers and researchers can easily utilize this information to build tools that serve the public interest.
Fiscal clarity is the bedrock of trust. We analyze the publication of Executive Budget Proposals, Enacted Budgets, and Audit Reports. Countries scoring high here provide their citizens with a clear window into how public funds are allocated. This metric encourages governments to present financial data in simplified, citizen-friendly dashboards alongside the raw data.
Public contracting allows businesses of all sizes to compete fairly. We evaluate the completeness of tender data, award notifications, and contract implementation details. An open procurement system reduces barriers to entry for small businesses and ensures taxpayers receive value for money. We celebrate portals that offer API access for real-time monitoring.
Knowing who ultimately owns and profits from companies is vital for market integrity. We track the existence of public registers that disclose the "beneficial owners" of corporate entities. This transparency helps prevent conflicts of interest and supports ethical business practices. High scores are awarded to nations with searchable, free-to-access central registers.
Scores reflect the aggregate performance across all four pillars.
| Rank | Country | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|
| #1 |
Estonia
|
98.5
|
| #2 |
New Zealand
|
96.2
|
| #3 |
Denmark
|
95.8
|
| #4 |
South Korea
|
94.1
|
| #5 |
Canada
|
92.4
|
| #6 |
Norway
|
91.8
|
| #7 |
United Kingdom
|
91.2
|
| #8 |
Australia
|
90.5
|
| #9 |
France
|
89.9
|
| #10 |
Sweden
|
89.1
|
| #11 |
Finland
|
88.5
|
| #12 |
Singapore
|
88.2
|
| #13 |
Germany
|
87.9
|
| #14 |
Netherlands
|
87.4
|
| #15 |
Japan
|
86.8
|
Data is more than digits; it is the currency of trust. When governments embrace openness, they unlock tremendous value for society. This overlaps perfectly with modern ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, providing investors and citizens with the proof they need to believe in a nation's trajectory.
By shining a light on beneficial ownership and procurement, we actively dismantle the shadows where corruption hides. This fosters a clean business environment, attracting ethical foreign investment and boosting economic stability. Openness is not just a policy choice; it is a growth strategy.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Public registers make it nearly impossible for bad actors to move illicit funds.
Reliable data streams allow for accurate measuring of environmental impact and social equity progress.
Common queries about our methods and mission.
We aggregate public data sources to score nations on a hundred-point scale based on accessibility, machine readability, and legal frameworks for global information sharing transparency.
Our system scans government portals daily to check for dataset uptime, while qualitative legal assessments regarding ownership laws are reviewed by experts on a quarterly basis.
Public participation is encouraged through our community submission portal where users can flag broken links, suggest new datasets, or report discrepancies in current government transparency records.
Revealing the true owners of companies helps prevent tax evasion and money laundering, ensuring that the economic environment remains fair and open for all legitimate businesses.
We primarily focus on national-level datasets to ensure fair global comparison, though we are piloting a municipal program for major cities to track local budget openness.
Governments should publish data in open formats without passwords, license it for reuse, and ensure that procurement and budget details are complete and easy to find.
An independent monitoring body dedicated to verifying the open governance commitments of nations worldwide. We provide neutral, data-driven analysis to foster accountability.
@2026 informationcommissioners.org