Welcome to the FAQs for opendata.swiss, Switzerland’s national open data portal. Whether you are a journalist, member of the public, developer, researcher, teacher or businessperson, these FAQs will provide you with answers to the most common questions about accessing, using, publishing and reusing data on our portal. Our objective is to help you discover and use the free, open data with ease.
For a deeper understanding of what open government data is and what makes it important, see the Federal Statistical Office (FSO)’s ‘OGD at a Glance’.
If you can’t find what you are looking for, you can contact us via our support page. We are here to help!
General information
- What is opendata.swiss?
- What is open government data (OGD)?
- Who manages this portal?
- What use can I make of open government data?
- How can students learn to use open data in an academic setting?
Using the portal
- How can I search for data?
- Do I need to create an account to access data?
- What formats is the data available in?
- Can I use this data for commercial purposes?
- How can I be sure that the data is up to date?
- Do you have any practical examples of data being used in everyday life?
- Do I need an API to access the data? What about the metadata?
- Can I use access data from the commercial register (Zefix)?
- How can I download the metadata relating to a dataset?
- Is there an advanced search function?
- How can I search for data relating to a specific geographical area (canton, region or commune)?
Publishing data
Legal considerations and licensing
- What licence is the data published under?
- Are there any restrictions on use?
- Can I cite the data in my articles, and how should I reference the source?
- Can I work with data providers on research projects?
- How does opendata.swiss protect privacy and personal information?
Support and contact details
- What should I do if I encounter a technical problem?
- How can I suggest a dataset to be added to opendata.swiss?
- Can I share a project or application using open government data?
- Can I suggest an improvement to the portal?
- Can I organise workshops or hackathons in partnership with opendata.swiss?
Généralités
1. What is opendata.swiss?
opendata.swiss is Switzerland’s national platform for open data, managed by the Open Government Data Office. It enables users to access a huge array of nearly 13 000 government datasets, issued by over 140 organisations, including federal, cantonal and communal authorities. The aim behind the platform is to promote openness in relation to data and to encourage data to be reused in order to promote innovation and transparency.
2. What is Open Government Data (OGD) ?
Open government data (OGD) refers to data produced, obtained or collected with the aim of fulfilling a public service mandate and which can be freely used, edited, analysed and transmitted without specific legal, financial or technical restrictions.
Open access to and use of structured, machine-readable open government data enables the delivery of efficient, transparent e-government services to the public, businesses, the public sector and the academic community.
For a deeper understanding of what open government data is and what makes it important, see the Federal Statistical Office (FSO)’s ‘OGD at a Glance’.
3. Who manages this portal?
The Open Government Data Office, which is part of the Federal Statistical Office (FSO), manages the portal. It supports organisations in publishing their open data. It also ensures that the catalogue’s quality standards are always upheld.
4. What use can I make of open government data?
Open government data can be useful in many areas of everyday life, without you even being aware of it. It feeds into services that you probably already use, such as:
- The SBB mobile application to plan your rail journeys in real time
- MeteoSwiss to check the weather forecast
- The Infectious Diseases Dashboard to monitor the spread of infectious diseases (influenza, tick-borne diseases, COVID-19, etc.)
- Real-time election results on polling day, updated from midday, when the last ballot box closes
Aside from these day-to-day uses, open data allows developers, journalists, researchers and members of the public to create innovative applications, analyse government datasets and strengthen government transparency. At opendata.swiss, you can discover numerous showcases (examples of data in use), which illustrate the potential that this data can have in fields as varied as transport, health, the environment and culture.
5. How can students learn to use open data in an academic setting?
When introducing students to using open data, it is important to start by explaining what open data is and why it is useful, i.e. that it enables you to better understand the world and develop critical thinking skills, while also promoting transparency. You can then show them how they can easily access data on opendata.swiss, choosing a straightforward, tangible dataset on a topic that will interest them (for example Cats – Evolution in Switzerland | opendata.swiss).
It can be helpful to arrange practical activities, such as data visualisation exercises or small-scale projects involving data analysis and interpretation.
Using the portal
6. How can I search for data?
You can find datasets by using the search bar or navigating by topic, organisation or keyword(s). If you are a new user, check out the Getting started guide.
7. Do I need to create an account to access data?
No, all of the data is available free of charge, with no need to register.
8. What formats is the data available in?
The data is available in standard open formats such as CSV, JSON, XML, GeoJSON, etc., as befits the nature of the data.
9. Can I use this data for commercial purposes?
Yes, unless stated otherwise the data is published under an open licence and can be used without restriction, which includes commercial uses.
10. How can I be sure that the data is up to date?
The ‘Last updated’ date tells you when the data was most recently modified. If you have any questions, you will find contact information at the bottom of the page for each dataset.
11. Do you have any practical examples of data being used in everyday life?
Lots! Here are a few examples:
- The SBB mobile application to plan your rail journeys in real time
- MeteoSwiss to check the weather forecast
- The Infectious Diseases Dashboard to monitor the spread of infectious diseases (influenza, tick-borne diseases, COVID-19, etc.)
- Real-time election results on polling day, updated from midday, when the last ballot box closes
12. Do I need an API to access the data? What about the metadata?
It is possible to access an opendata.swiss catalogue via an API (Using the opendata.swiss API – opendata.swiss handbook 1.0 documentation). The actual data is sometimes accessible via an
13. Can I use access data from the commercial register (Zefix)?
As stated by the Federal Commercial Registry Office, only some of the Zefix data can be viewed at opendata.swiss. The dataset is referenced on opendata.swiss, along with examples of abTitle=Zefix+-+Count+by+type&headers=%7B%7D&outputFormat=table”SPARQL queries that can be run using this data.
14. How can I download the metadata relating to a dataset?
There are several ways in which you can download the metadata for datasets published on opendata.swiss:
- via an XML export from the portal interface (where available)
- via the CKAN API for structured access to individual items of metadata
- or by accessing the global export in JSON-LD format at:
🔗 opendata.swiss/catalog.jsonld
These formats enable the metadata to be reused or incorporated into third-party systems or for deeper analysis to be applied.
15. Is there an advanced search function?
Yes, of course! To learn more and get the most out of this feature, you can simply consult our user handbook here.
16. How can I search for data relating to a specific geographical area (canton, region or commune)?
There is not currently an automatic filter allowing you to select datasets by geographical area. To find local data, we advise including the name of the canton, region or commune in the search bar. You can use multiple search terms to refine your results. Lastly, you can check the metadata, which often mentions the geographical area in question.
Publishing data
17. Who can publish data on opendata.swiss?
The opendata.swiss portal is a nationwide aggregation platform that enables users to access government data issued by the Swiss Confederation, cantons, communes and other organisations with a public service mandate.
The principles governing the data that is linked to on the portal are that it must:
- already be published in an accessible form (we do not provide a data hosting service)
- be of public interest
- originate from an official source that is identifiable and responsible for the quality of the data
Alongside public administrations, third parties may also be linked to on the portal, provided certain conditions are met. For example, private and state-related enterprises can publish data as long as there is a public interest.
What about private individuals?
There is a legitimate conversation to be had about including private citizens’ data, especially amid a context of increased public engagement. If an individual or a group of citizens has a dataset that is already published on a reliable platform and there is a public interest, it is conceivable that it could be referenced on opendata.swiss.
18. How can I become a data provider?
To find out all about the steps to follow, see our full guide:Becoming a provider (handbook).
Legal considerations and licensing
19. What licence is the data published under?
The data made available on opendata.swiss by federal authorities is subject to current Swiss legislation on the use of government data. Under this legislation, the source must often be cited; this is in any case recommended practice to ensure transparency and traceability.
Every dataset is accompanied by a symbol denoting the authorised type of use. These symbols are standardised and used by all services publishing government data in Switzerland.
You will find the main use categories in the terms of use.
We always recommend citing the source (author, title of dataset and link) in the interests of transparency and out of respect for the work of the data producers.
20. Are there any restrictions on use?
Not generally, no. Restrictions are rare and are always expressly stated in the metadata for that dataset.
21. Can I cite the data in my articles, and how should I reference the source?
Yes, you can of course cite government data in your articles. Reuse of data from opendata.swiss is encouraged, provided that the terms of use specific to each dataset are respected (in particular any requirement to provide the source).
To correctly cite the source, the recommendation is to include as a minimum:
- The name of the author or organisation responsible for publishing the dataset
- The exact title of the dataset
- The year of publication
- The URL for directly accessing the dataset at opendata.swiss
Example citation:
Federal Statistical Office, ‘Permanent and non-permanent resident population by language area, citizenship (category), sex and age’, 17 April 2025, https://opendata.swiss/en/dataset/standige-und-nichtstandige-wohnbevolkerung-nach-sprachgebiet-staatsangehorigkeit-kategorie-gesc
22. Can I work with data providers on research projects?
Yes, it is often possible to collaborate with data providers on research or in-depth analysis projects. Every dataset page published on opendata.swiss names a point of contact. This person or organisation can be contacted directly to discuss possible collaborations, ask technical questions or request additional information.
23. How does opendata.swiss protect privacy and personal information?
It is important to note that no personal information is published on opendata.swiss. Only aggregated, anonymised data is provided, in accordance with the ‘open by default’ principle. This data does not allow the individuals in question to be identified. Anonymisation is an essential condition for the data to be offered with open access.
Support et contact details
24. What should I do if I encounter a technical problem?
If the portal is unavailable or you discover any incorrect or incomplete data, send us an email. To help us resolve the issue, please provide the following details:
- Title and summary of the problem
- URL in question
- Your username and organisation
- Detailed description of the problem (steps to reproduce, what should have happened versus what did)
- Screenshots or useful files
25. How can I suggest a dataset to be added to opendata.swiss?
If you are looking for a dataset that is not yet available on the portal, you can suggest it to us by sending us an email. We will look into your suggestion to see whether it meets the public interest and quality criteria.
26. Can I share a project or application using open government data?
Yes, please do! This highlights how data can be reused and inspires the community. Submit your project.
27. Can I suggest an improvement to the portal?
We welcome your improvement suggestions! Please email us with your ideas in the form of a user story, specifying:
- On whose behalf you are making the suggestion (e.g. ‘As a data user’)
- Your specific request (e.g. ‘I would like to be able to subscribe to certain datasets’)
- Your aim (e.g. ‘so that I can keep up to date on news’)
We can help you to formulate your user story if needed.
28. Can I organise workshops or hackathons in partnership with opendata.swiss?
Absolutely! We encourage and support initiatives of this kind. Don’t hesitate to involve us in your project; we would be delighted to discuss it with you. Email us.
Find out more
- OGD strategies: The Confederation’s strategic framework for open government data
- ‘OGD at a Glance’ FAQs, published by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO): For a deeper understanding of what open government data is and what makes it important
- Publication handbook: Detailed guide for data providers and users
- Showcases: Discover projects based on Swiss open data
- Tools and tutorials: Discover the tools making it easier than ever to access and use open government data
- Contact : For all queries about publishing or using data
- Guides for publishing open government data (OGD) : A strategic guide for data owners and a practical guide for data stewards.
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