Use Cases
World Bank API vs Africa API: Which One for African Data?
Compare World Bank API and Africa API queries, geographic coverage, source selection, authentication, and refresh information.
Use the World Bank API when you need its development indicators across countries worldwide. Africa API combines selected World Bank series for African countries with other datasets, including markets, trade and government records.
Start with the metric and geography your application needs. Africa API does not ingest every World Bank database or series; use indicator discovery to check what is available.
Africa API is not affiliated with the World Bank. WDI-derived observations use world_bank_wdi in the source field. Check that field when you need a particular upstream dataset.
Side-by-side comparison
| World Bank API | Africa API | |
|---|---|---|
| Geographic scope | Economies worldwide | African countries; observations vary by metric and country |
| Core content | Development indicators from WDI and other World Bank databases | Selected indicators plus country signals, markets, FX, trade, elections, policies and government records |
| Update cadence | Depends on the series and its revisions | Depends on the source; check observation dates and source refresh records |
| Authentication | None required | Bearer API key (free to create) |
| Response format | JSON or XML, page-based pagination | JSON; query parameters and schemas are documented per route |
| Country identifiers | ISO3 codes and World Bank region codes | ISO2 codes plus a geography hierarchy (/v1/geographies) |
| Provenance | See the selected World Bank database and indicator metadata | Observation source field and /v1/sources/* refresh reporting |
| Cost | Free | Free tier; paid plans for higher volume |
When to use the World Bank API directly
- You need indicators for countries outside Africa in the same workflow.
- You need a specific World Bank database (IDS debt statistics, Doing Business archives) that Africa API does not ingest.
- You cannot manage an API key and only need annual macro series.
A typical World Bank request looks like:
GET https://api.worldbank.org/v2/country/zmb/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?format=jsonWhen to query Africa API
- Your application combines African country records and indicators with other Africa API datasets.
- You need a supported exchange, FX series, fuel-price observation, grid signal, disaster alert or government record. Check Coverage for the countries and sources included.
- You want to discover metrics through
/v1/indicators, request country rankings, or fetch a country profile.
To request the WDI-derived GDP series for Zambia:
curl "https://api.africa-api.com/v1/data?country_code=zm&metric_key=gdp_current_usd&source=world_bank_wdi" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $AFRICA_API_KEY"To inspect other available observations in a country snapshot:
curl "https://api.africa-api.com/v1/countries/zm/signals" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $AFRICA_API_KEY"Source selection and freshness
A WDI-derived series in Africa API identifies its source as world_bank_wdi. Pin it with source=world_bank_wdi when comparing the two APIs: without a source filter, Africa API applies its default source preference where providers overlap.
Compare the metric definition, unit, country and observation year as well as the value. Africa API's latest ingestion can differ from the World Bank's latest revision. /v1/sources/world_bank_wdi reports the latest successful refresh; it does not establish that every series is complete.
You can use both APIs in one application, for example Africa API for a supported country snapshot and the World Bank API for a global comparison. That requires handling both response formats and checking that the series definitions match.
Related docs
DataAfrica API (api.dataafrica.io): Migration Guide
Map selected api.dataafrica.io queries to Africa API, check differences in metrics and geography, and review endpoint checks recorded in June 2026.
Countries
Get reference records for 54 African countries, country profiles, and selected latest observations. Data coverage and reporting periods vary by metric and source.