Imagine having access to an ever-expanding collection of over 1.7 million datasets, spanning climate patterns, public health statistics, and more. This is the reality of data.europa.eu, Europe’s central open data hub. Open data is driving transparency, innovation, and efficiency across industries and public services. By exploring the platform’s evolution, we can see how it empowers both businesses and individuals, transforming raw numbers into actionable insights.

This sculpture is a tribute to EU Open Data, and represents the vast number of datasets made available through data.europa.eu. It stands as a tangible symbol of transparency, knowledge, and collaboration, shaping a future built on shared information.

It emphasizes that Open Data is not just a tool; it is a commitment—to trust, innovation, and collective progress. The European Union has been a global leader in making information accessible, empowering citizens, researchers, and policymakers to create a more informed, engaged, and connected society.

The sculpture represents datasets published in data from data.europa.eu across time

The availability of open data in Europe has nearly doubled since 2019, reflecting a strong commitment to accessibility. Key moments, such as the pandemic-driven peak in 2020, highlight the crucial role of open data in crisis response and innovation. In March 2020, the number of datasets surpassed 1,055,326, coinciding with the global effort to share COVID-19-related information.

Open Data Maturity in 2024: Progress and Challenges

The Open Data Maturity Report 2024 provides a comprehensive assessment of how European countries are advancing in open data policies, platform functionalities, data quality, and impact measurement. Key findings include:

• Leading countries in open data maturity: France (100%), Poland (98%), and Slovakia (96%).
• Significant improvements in governance and policy frameworks, with the EU-wide policy maturity increasing from 62% in 2018 to 79% in 2024.
• Enhanced data quality and accessibility, with more automatic updates and user-friendly metadata structures.
• Stronger impact measurement, tracking how data is reused in governance, economy, society, and environment.

These advancements show Europe’s commitment to making data more accessible, reusable, and impactful.

The Benefits and Applications of Open Data

1. Enhancing Transparency in Governance – Open data empowers citizens by providing access to government spending records, environmental policies, and decision-making processes, fostering trust and accountability.
2. Driving Innovation in Technology – Open data fuels applications like weather prediction tools, urban planning solutions, and AI-driven research.
3. Advancing Research and Development – Universities and research institutions leverage open data to model climate change, improve public health strategies, and develop new technologies.

Why Open Data Matters Now More Than Ever

In an interconnected world, data is a key driver of progress. By consolidating and updating datasets regularly, platforms like data.europa.eu generate a ripple effect of knowledge-sharing.

For businesses, this resource reduces data acquisition costs and fosters innovation.

For governments, it enhances efficiency and transparency.

For citizens, it fosters data literacy, empowering society to tackle major challenges such as inequality and climate change.

As data.europa.eu continues its growth trajectory, the responsibility lies with all of us—policy-makers, businesses, and citizens—to leverage this resource for the greater good. Explore the datasets. Create solutions. Demand transparency. The potential of open data is boundless, and its benefits are waiting to be unlocked.