
Citing data from the World Bank correctly is essential to acknowledge the source and enable readers to locate the information. The World Bank offers access to various materials, including still images, audio files, and data files, that can be used and cited in creative ways. When citing data from the World Bank, it is crucial to consider the specific format and guidelines provided by the World Bank itself, as well as general citation principles. The World Bank's citation guidelines ensure proper attribution and compliance with terms of use, while general citation principles help readers locate and understand the cited information. This may include providing the author or creator, date of publication, title or description, publisher, and other relevant details.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Author or creator | The person(s), organization, issuing agency or agencies responsible for creating the dataset |
| Date of publication | The year the dataset was published, posted or otherwise released to the public (not the date of the subject matter) |
| Title or description | Complete title or, if no title exists, a brief description of the data, including the time period covered |
| Publisher | Entity (organization, database, archive, journal) responsible for hosting the data |
| Format type | Include format type in brackets [ ] to describe format, not title information (e.g. data set, data file and codebook) |
| URL | "Retrieved from" if the URL takes you directly to the data table or database |
| Retrieval date | Required for non-static web pages that are regularly updated and not archived |
| DOI | A unique number used to precisely locate electronic items like webpages, articles, files, etc. |
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What You'll Learn

Citing World Bank data in APA style
Citing data from sources like the World Bank is important because it helps your readers locate the data, replicate your findings, and promotes "open data" values. When citing World Bank data in APA style, there are several key components that should be included in your citation.
Firstly, the author or organisation responsible for the data should be listed. In this case, the author would be The World Bank. Next, the publication date of the data should be included. This is typically the year, such as "2012". The title of the data or dataset is another crucial element of the citation. For example, "World Development Indicators".
The publisher or distributor of the data should also be mentioned. In many cases, this will be the World Bank itself, so you can use "Washington, D.C.: The World Bank (producer and distributor)". Additionally, the electronic location or URL from which the data was retrieved should be provided. For instance, "http://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators".
It's worth noting that if the data is from a static source, meaning it remains unchanged and accessible in its original form, you don't need to include a retrieved date. However, for non-static sources that are regularly updated and where older versions are not archived, a retrieved date is necessary. In such cases, use a generic homepage URL instead of a specific database URL, unless instructed otherwise by your instructor.
Here's an example of how your citation might look when citing World Bank data in APA style:
The World Bank. (2012). World Development Indicators. GNI per capita, Atlas method [Data file]. Retrieved from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD
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Citing World Bank data in MLA style
The Modern Language Association (MLA) writing style is a common format for academic papers and sources. When citing data from the World Bank, a few changes should be made to the standard MLA format.
Firstly, list "World Bank" as the author or compiler of the data, followed by a period. Do not include the word "the" before "World Bank." Then, provide the title of the page, dataset, or table in double quotation marks. For example, "Income Per Capita."
After the title, include the publication information. This includes the title of the publication, such as "World Development Indicators" in italics, followed by a comma. Then, add "The World Bank Group" in standard font, followed by the date of publication in day-month-year format.
Finally, place a comma after the date and include the full URL, without the "http" at the beginning, followed by a period. Here is an example of how the citation should look:
World Bank. "Income Per Capita." World Development Indicators. The World Bank Group, 15-07-2025, https://data.worldbank.org.
In-text citations for MLA style typically include the author's last name and the relevant page number in parentheses at the end of the sentence. However, when citing World Bank data, simply use "World Bank" in your parenthetical citation, as there are no specific page numbers. If you have used multiple World Bank data pages as sources, include a part of the title in your in-text citation to clarify which source you are referring to.
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Citing World Bank data in LaTeX
When citing data from the World Bank in LaTeX, there are a few key considerations and steps to follow. Firstly, the general approach is to treat the World Bank as the author or compiler of the data, as per the guidance provided by Purdue Online Writing Lab. Here is a step-by-step guide:
Begin by opening a new file, such as "mycitation.bib", and include the relevant information using the "@misc" command. Specify the author using curly braces, and separate the commonly used name ("World Bank") and the formal name ("The World Bank") with a two-branch command, as shown below:
Latex
@misc{WB:2014,
Author = {{\firstsecond{World Bank}{The World Bank}}},
Next, provide the title of the data you are citing, followed by the year of publication or retrieval:
Latex
Year = {2014},
Include additional details, such as the specific dataset or indicator from which the data was retrieved, along with the URL:
Latex
Note = {data retrieved from World Development Indicators, \url{http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN}},
}
Close the file ("mycitation.bib") and create a new file for your document, such as "mydocument.tex". Start by importing necessary packages, such as "natbib" and "url", and define any custom commands:
Latex
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{natbib}
\usepackage{url}
\DeclareRobustCommand{\firstsecond}[2]{#1}
\begin{document}
Now, you can cite the data in your document by referencing the label ("WB:2014" in this case) and providing the relevant bibliographic style ("\bibliographystyle{apa}"):
Latex
Data from \cite{WB:2014}.
\bibliographystyle{apa}
\bibliography{mycitation}
This will generate a citation for the World Bank data in your LaTeX document, properly formatted according to the specified style (in this case, APA). Remember to replace "mycitation" and "mydocument" with your preferred file names.
Additionally, when citing World Bank data, it is important to include the electronic location, such as the URL, to help readers locate the data easily. This is in line with the principles of open data, enabling readers to replicate your findings and promoting transparency.
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Citing World Bank data in text
When citing data from the World Bank, it is important to include all the necessary information to ensure that your reader can easily locate and verify the source. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do this effectively:
Begin with the name of the organization, "The World Bank". This is the author or creator of the data, and it is an essential piece of information for your citation.
Next, provide the year the data was published or made available to the public. This is crucial as it allows readers to understand the context and timeliness of the information. For example, "The World Bank (2014)".
Include the title of the publication or dataset. If there is no specific title, create a brief description of the data, ensuring it accurately represents the content. For instance, "The World Bank (2014). Life Expectancy data".
Provide the format type in brackets. For example, " [Data set]".
Add the retrieval statement, which indicates where the data was obtained from. Use "Retrieved from" if the URL leads directly to the data source, or "Available from" if it takes you to a general site with instructions on how to access the data. For example, "Retrieved from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN".
Finally, if you are citing a static source, one that remains unchanged and archived, you do not need to include a retrieval date. However, for non-static sources that are regularly updated, include the date you accessed the information. This ensures that others can locate the specific version of the data you referenced.
"The World Bank (2014). Life Expectancy data [Data set]. Retrieved from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN"
Remember, it is always better to include more information than necessary rather than omitting details that could help your reader locate and understand the cited data.
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Citing World Bank data: static vs non-static
When citing data from the World Bank, it is important to distinguish between static and non-static data, as this will impact the way the data is referenced and the applicable terms of use. The World Bank offers access to a wide range of data, with most data falling under the categories of still images, audio files, and video files.
Static data in the context of banking typically refers to common reference data that can be shared across positions and systems. This includes currency codes, industry codes, central bank codes, and country codes. While this type of data is generally considered static, it is important to note that it can change over time. The World Bank's definition of static data may vary, and users are encouraged to refer to the specific definitions provided by the World Bank for their data.
When citing static data from the World Bank, the citation format may differ depending on the specific type of data and the requirements stated in the World Bank's terms of use. The World Bank provides guidelines and templates for citing different types of data, such as still images, audio files, and video files. These citations usually include the title, World Bank Group, photographer or director name, URL, and license information.
In contrast, non-static data refers to dynamic or changing data. This could include real-time data feeds, market data, or any information that is regularly updated. Non-static data is often used for time-sensitive decision-making and analysis, requiring immediate access to the most current information. When citing non-static data from the World Bank, it is crucial to specify the exact date and time the data was accessed, in addition to the standard citation elements mentioned earlier.
It is worth noting that the World Bank provides open access to its data and encourages the exchange of knowledge. However, users must review and comply with the applicable terms of use, which may vary for different websites, services, and databases provided by the World Bank. These terms of use govern the reproduction and citation of the data and aim to protect the privileges and immunities of the World Bank Group and its member institutions.
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Frequently asked questions
The general format for citing data from the World Bank in APA style is as follows:
Author/Rightsholder (Year). Title of publication or data set [Data File]. Retrieved from http://xxxx
For example: The World Bank, World Development Indicators (2012). GNI per capita, Atlas method [Data file]. Retrieved from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD
If you are citing a specific indicator or data point from the World Bank data, you can include the specific indicator in the title and provide the direct URL to that indicator. For example:
Life expectancy, World Bank, (2014), data retrieved from World Development Indicators, http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.DYN.LE00.FE.IN
It depends on whether the website or data source is "static" or "non-static". If the website is archived and remains accessible in its current form, it is considered "static", and no retrieval date is needed. However, if the website is regularly updated and not archived, it is considered "non-static", and a retrieval date is required.
In addition to the basic elements, you may also include the following:
- Format type in brackets (e.g. data set, data file, codebook)
- Use "Available from" if the URL leads to a general site that houses data sets, and "Retrieved from" if the URL takes you directly to the data table or database
- DOI (Digital Object Identifier) to precisely locate electronic items











































