M
API Matrix

Humanitarian Data Exchange API

Health / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)
87 Score
Grade A
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

The Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) API provides programmatic access to thousands of open humanitarian datasets covering crises, conflicts, disasters, and development indicators worldwide, shared by UN agencies, NGOs, and governments. Registration is free and an API key is available through your HDX account. It is a powerful resource for researchers and developers working on humanitarian or global development projects.

💡

Beginner Tip

Start by searching datasets with the /api/3/action/package_search?q= endpoint before downloading anything — it lets you filter by country, organization, or topic to find exactly what you need without browsing the full catalog.

Available Data

Response fields: humdata org
Humanitarian Data Exchange data via REST API
JSON-formatted response data
Freely accessible without authentication

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "result": "Data from Humanitarian Data Exchange",
    "description": "Humanitarian Data Exchange (HDX) is open platform for sharing data across crises and organisations",
    "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:00:00Z"
  }
}

Field Reference

result.results List of dataset objects matching your search query.
result.count Total number of datasets matching the search query.
result.results[].name URL-safe slug identifier for the dataset.
result.results[].title Human-readable title of the dataset.
result.results[].resources List of downloadable files associated with the dataset, each with a download URL and format.
result.results[].organization.title Name of the organization that published the dataset.

Implementation Example 

const url = "https://data.humdata.org/";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

Action not found error HDX uses the CKAN API, and the endpoint path must start with /api/3/action/ followed by the exact action name.
✓ Consult the HDX API documentation at https://data.humdata.org/api/3 for the full list of valid action names.
Empty search results Search terms may not match dataset tags or titles if the query is too specific or misspelled.
✓ Try broader terms (e.g., 'flood' instead of 'flash flood 2023') and use the fq (filter query) parameter to narrow down results.
403 Forbidden on private datasets Some datasets on HDX are restricted and require authentication or membership approval.
✓ Register for an HDX account and include your API key in the Authorization header for access to restricted datasets.

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 15/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 20/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 393ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Health
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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