Who is World Data Lab?
World Data Lab uses state-of-the-art data science methodologies to model and forecast consumer trends, category spending, demographic shifts, and cities.
Our data, through our platform World Data Pro, is relied upon by leading international businesses and organizations for data-driven decision-making
How World Data Lab Can Help You
Global Data
Our data is consistent across time and space
Granular Demographics
Gender, age, spending groups, and subnational breakdowns
Forward Looking
State of the art projections through 2034
Our Values
Innovation
Embrace creativity and forward-thinking to inspire customers
Integrity
Operate with honesty, transparency, and ethical standards in all dealings
Empathy
Demonstrate compassionate and genuine desire to support each other
The World Data Lab Story
2014: The Journey Begins
In the midst of global development initiatives, Homi Kharas and Wolfgang Fengler, both seasoned World Bank alumni, discerned a glaring gap: the scarcity of trustworthy data on developing nations. Their response was the inception of World Data Lab (WDL) — a commitment to democratize data, making it universally interpretable and actionable.
Wolfgang's pioneering project, Population.io, caught the world's attention, leading him to share his insights on a global stage through a TED talk. This success positioned WDL at the forefront of translating complex global datasets into insights understandable to all.
2017: Debunking the Poverty Myth
From two simple tables in a co-working space in Austria, WDL unveiled its seminal project: the World Poverty Clock. This tool not only tracked poverty but used data to challenge the prevailing narrative, asking, "Are people genuinely growing poorer?”
This was only the beginning. Successive tools rolled out over the years, focusing on diverse global challenges: hunger, water scarcity, migration, skills, and more.
2018: Expanding Horizons and Sharpening Focus
With a foundation in understanding global poverty distributions, WDL recognized the potential to model broader spending behaviors. Market Pro (now World Data Pro) was developed, catering to commercial users by offering forecasts on population trends and purchasing powers. Leveraging Homi's expertise, WDL took a deep dive into understanding and defining the global consumer class.
The same year, recognizing the global nature of its work, WDL opened its US office.
2022: Addressing the Data Desert
Africa, a continent rich in potential yet underserved in data infrastructure, became WDL’s next focus. Establishing an office in Kenya, WDL was not only addressing a critical data gap but also empowering the continent with homegrown talent – African data scientists driving projects based on African insights.
This year also marked a significant evolution in the WDL journey. From measuring pre-existing indicators, they took a leap into crafting their own. The Internet Poverty Index was born.
2023: Growth, Investment, and New Leadership
Today, WDL stands as a beacon in the global data landscape. With a new expansive office, a team of more than 50 dedicated professionals, and bolstered by a Series A investment from esteemed partners like Sparring Capital Partners, CHI Impact Capital, and Catagonia, WDL is poised for even greater achievements.