M
API Matrix

openAFRICA API

Open Data / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)
77 Score
Grade B
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

openAFRICA is an open data platform hosting a large collection of datasets about African countries, covering topics like health, economics, demographics, and governance. No API key is required and the platform is built on CKAN, so you can use standard CKAN API calls to search and access datasets. It is ideal for research, journalism, and civic applications focused on Africa.

💡

Beginner Tip

Use the CKAN API at https://open.africa/api/3/action/package_search?q=YOUR_TOPIC to search datasets by keyword. The response includes metadata and resource download links—no authentication needed.

Available Data

repository name and description
star and fork counts
contributor data
issues and pull requests
commit history

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "status": "success",
  "data": {
    "result": "Data from openAFRICA",
    "description": "Large datasets repository of African open data",
    "timestamp": "2025-01-15T10:00:00Z"
  }
}

Field Reference

success Indicates whether the API request was processed successfully
result.count Total number of datasets matching the search query
result.results Array of matching dataset metadata objects
result.results[].title Title of the dataset
result.results[].organization.title Name of the organization that published the dataset
result.results[].resources List of data files or API endpoints linked to the dataset

Implementation Example 

const url = "https://africaopendata.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

{success: false, error: {...}} Unsupported CKAN action or incorrect endpoint path
✓ Use supported actions like package_search, package_list, or package_show?id=DATASET_ID
No results for search query The keyword may not match available datasets
✓ Try broader or different keywords, or use package_list to browse all available datasets
Slow or failed download of resources Individual dataset files are hosted externally by contributors
✓ Check the resource URL in the result object and download directly; some older datasets may have broken links

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 10/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 15/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 905ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS UNKNOWN
Category Open Data
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-07

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